Really good tailors in the San Francisco Bay Area

[Girardian]

I'm ISO a *really* good tailor in the San Francisco Bay Area. You know, someone who you can take a Kiton jacket to and feel at ease? Someone who knows how to do functional buttons on a sleeve well. Etc.

Any recommendations?

 

[rogerm]

Jon Minor on Geary Street always gets a nod.

I took some stuff to him and this guy really knows his stuff. He does work for Wilkes Bashford too. He charges the same as department stores, and he's the best I know of. The bay area is a wasteland for tailors, and Jon is the best. He can also be a little cranky because he's overworked too.

-R

 

[LabelKing]

There is also this Oxford Tailors on Post, I believe.

 

[BringingSuitsBack]

As I received no replies to an earlier post on the matter - I thought I would follow-up in this thread on my experience with Jon Minor.

He is a little chatty during the fittings and 1 hour worth of work took over 3.5 (for only 7 pants, 3 sportcoats) , prices reflect the lack of competition (i.e. $20 to hem pants, $20 per button-hole on sportcoats ($160/jacket), $65/jacket to have light shaping done on sportcoats) - which though high compared to New York I don't have much to compare to in SF.

The significant downside was that his minimum estimate for time for the work was 4-6 weeks, and he was unable to give a specific date that he could commit to even at the far end of the spectrum. Nor was he able to stagger the work and finish some items earlier. Unfortunately, he told me this at the end of the fitting.

As a result, I'm carrying everything with me on the next trip to back to NY to have done there. Not great detail but hopefully the pricing and time commitment (both in the fitting, and to have the work completed) is helpful to some.

 

[coatandthai]

Originally Posted by BringingSuitsBack

He is a little chatty during the fittings and 1 hour worth of work took over 3.5 (for only 7 pants, 3 sportcoats)

OMG, you had to spend 3.5 hours at the tailor? I would have **** my wrists.

 

[Will]

As I received no replies to an earlier post on the matter - I thought I would follow-up in this thread on my experience with Jon Minor.

He is a little chatty during the fittings and 1 hour worth of work took over 3.5 (for only 7 pants, 3 sportcoats) , prices reflect the lack of competition (i.e. $20 to hem pants, $20 per button-hole on sportcoats ($160/jacket), $65/jacket to have light shaping done on sportcoats) - which though high compared to New York I don't have much to compare to in SF.

QUOTE]

That's roughly the same rate that I pay Macchione at Macchione Custom Tailor on Market Street. Good skill in run-down premises and takes about two weeks for sleeve buttons.

 

[southgate house]

I take everything to Andreas Gorges tailoring at 110 Sutter near Montgomery. The prices are slightly lower than you quoted ($15 for pant hems), and I have always been very impressed by his work. For most of my major alterations (installing working sleeves buttons on a new OTR suit, or taking in the back and neck) he usually does one fitting, then bastes the suit, then does another fitting before the final alteration is made. He is also very friendly, and does made to measure. The location is convenient to anyone who works around Montgomery.

 

[BringingSuitsBack]

Thank you very much for the feedback - it would be terrific to be able to develop a relationship with a local tailor - I'll look into both and report back (if there is hope that one is open on a Sunday, I'll report back next week)

My thanks again

oh - and yes, it pushed the limits of my goodwill to make smaill talk for that long (at least without a drink or meal)

 

[A Harris]

He fit you for 3.5 hrs and then you took the jackets/slacks elsewhere?? Or am I misreading?

 

[DandySF]

For alterations, Victor Tailor is one of the best tailors in San Francisco. He's right next to Wilkes Bashford. His number: 415 397 6312. He does work for many of the high-end stores that don't have in-house tailors. He can typically turn things around in about a week or so.

 

[BringingSuitsBack]

After the fitting he was so vague on the timeframes (at six weeks I've mentally moved over to a MTM garment and not - very - simple work being done) and unwilling to commit to a time that was even out past the six weeks (pointing to a jacket for which he had done buttonholes and commenting that he had needed it for 2 months) that I lost that good feeling of confidence that one wants when trusting one's clothes to a tailor

 

[coatandthai]

I go to Bob Stankovic in Menlo Park. He takes maybe 5 minutes (perhaps even less) to mark up an OTR suit for me (usually sleeves, a bit of a roll on the neck, waist on coat, pants waist and cuffs). Typically costs me ~$125. Am I not getting enough done? In other words, what could possibly take 3.5 hours??? Is there another, higher level of tailoring that one can get that is more along the lines of bespoke?

 

[Will]

Originally Posted by coatandthai

I go to Bob Stankovic in Menlo Park. He takes maybe 5 minutes (perhaps even less) to mark up an OTR suit for me (usually sleeves, a bit of a roll on the neck, waist on coat, pants waist and cuffs). Typically costs me ~$125. Am I not getting enough done? In other words, what could possibly take 3.5 hours??? Is there another, higher level of tailoring that one can get that is more along the lines of bespoke?

The other original poster had multiple garments.

Your guy's prices are in the right area for OTR adjustments.

You could have him sew live buttonholes on the sleeves if you wanted to spend another $160-$200.