Fittings

Jager1219

So my dress came in and yesterday I went to the salon to try it on & get a quote for how much they would charge for alterations.  I was extreamly lucky when purchasing my dress that the designer was able to merge two dresses together.  So it was completely custom made.  They also made it to my measurements (bust, waist, and hips) rather than using a size chart.  So needless to say, there's not much that needs to be done and it really fits nicely.  So I'm wondering if what I was quoted for alterations makes sense to you ladies:

It needs to be let out a bit at the hip (seamstress said this should be very easy to do).
It needs to be shortened by about an inch (probably will be a bit more once they let it out at the hip because then it will lengthen).  This is a difficult hem because the dress tiers down and the tiers aren't straight (it's curved up in the middle to make you look taller if that makes sense).
The dress comes with the bustle strings already attached (the bustle basically just falls into the dress so it looks like the extra fabric doesn't exist), but the seamstress said that she always re-does them?
Sewing into the dress the belt which I separately purcahsed.

The quote for all the above is 600.  Does that sound reasonable to you?

cayharrop

No, this sounds a bit on the high side, talk to the manager or owner, make them show you what they charge other customers-or see an independent seamstress, but make them give you some sort of credit for having to find another seamstres; did they warn you thatyou would have to pay this much?  If not then what sort of compesation will they provide to you,
Don't make it easy for them!  Just my opinion.

Jager1219

The salon I bought the dress from was just for the dress.  I was just fortunate that the designer was in the store doing a trunk show the day I purchased my dress and was willing to change the dress so much (on top of doing the sizing to my measurments as opposed to a size chart).  I knew upfront that any alterations would be additional when I purchased the dress.  I don't HAVE to use them, I can do my alterations anywhere.  That's why I scheduled the appointment to get in the dress and see what they're estimate was for alterations.  I personally don't know of any good tailors in my area that I would trust with the dress.  I'm willing to pay a little more to use them because I know that they do good work.  I just don't want to get completely raked over the coals for no reason.

Also - don't know if this matters, but they said that I would need 4 fittings (including yesterday if I used them).  Yesterday they pinned the dress along with giving me the estimate.

QueerFemme

I think that is ridiculous price for alterations, honestly.  2-4 fittings isn't unreasonable, but $600.00 is very very high.

Jager1219

I figured that 3 fitting sounded right (first to pin, second to remeasure the hem after dress has been let out, third to make sure everything is good & press the dress).  I did go in with a mind-frame that $500 was about average but I expected a little less since it was less work than I was expecting.

Also - more helpful information - the salon did say that their alterations min. charge is 550.

QueerFemme

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_fittings-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:bb686bfa-df8d-481a-a0ad-ca4942f895fcPost:95a06533-0a96-4926-ad63-eec9b541b87e">Re: Fittings</a>:
[QUOTE]I figured that 3 fitting sounded right (first to pin, second to remeasure the hem after dress has been let out, third to make sure everything is good & press the dress).  I did go in with a mind-frame that $500 was about average but I expected a little less since it was less work than I was expecting. Also - more helpful information - the salon did say that their alterations min. charge is 550.
Posted by Jager1219[/QUOTE]

Unless you are at Kleinfelds, I think they are overpriced and you should get estimates from other seamstresses.  My alterations were on the high end, and they were either $340.00-360.00.  I realize it's a different area, but the bay area isn't cheap either.  My seamstress had to remove embellishments on my dress to take in the bust and reapply the embellishments. Do a hem, take in the waist, and do a bustle.   

I mean, I guess if 550 is their minimum, 600 isn't bad. But, that sounds outrageous to me.

Karmasmom

$600 seems really high for what sound like relatively simple alterations. You might want to put a post on your local board asking for recommended seamstresses. I just looked on the Connecticut board and there was a recommendation for Bridget Kellogg in New Milford. Not sure what their rates are but a bride just recently recommended them. Check on that board for that and any other recommendations local brides can give you. Good luck.

[Deleted User]

I don't know how prices in your area compare to other areas. It doesn't seem that high to me. I spent I think about $60 to have the zipper to be changed from a zipper to corset & then $80.00 just to have it bustled. The type of bustle I choose was a ballroom bustle (bustle goes under dress) but it was the one that looked best with my dress. I know that was a lot, but I was nervous about the zipper change and figured if I did the alterations where I bought the dress, if they messed it up, they would have an easier time replacing it and also less chance of a mess up because they would be familiar with working on with that style of dress.

Jager1219

Thanks everyone.  I'll think I'll take a look around and see what other people quote me for price.  If it's a small difference, I'll stick with my salon b/c like PP said, I know the salon will do a good job and won't mess it up.  But if it's substantial, I'll reconsider.

Karmasmom - I have no clue what my bustle is called because I honestly have never seen it before.  I don't think it's a ballroom bustle based on photos I've seen when googling "ballroom bustle".  But it could be something similar but because my dress tiers down in layers, you don't get a "bump" in it and the fabric literally disappears and it looks like the dress had no train at all.

JoanE2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_fittings-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:bb686bfa-df8d-481a-a0ad-ca4942f895fcPost:2e8be280-e6c6-4d63-a5cc-7699bc496075">Re: Fittings</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks everyone.  I'll think I'll take a look around and see what other people quote me for price.  If it's a small difference, I'll stick with my salon b/c like PP said, I know the salon will do a good job and won't mess it up.  But if it's substantial, I'll reconsider. Karmasmom - I have no clue what my bustle is called because I honestly have never seen it before.  I don't think it's a ballroom bustle based on photos I've seen when googling "ballroom bustle".  But it could be something similar but because my dress tiers down in layers, you don't get a "bump" in it and the fabric literally disappears and it looks like the dress had no train at all.
Posted by Jager1219[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Is the bustle under the dress rather than over?  Sounds like it is a European bustle. </div><div>
</div><div>I agree w/ PPs, I'd check other seamstresses.  $600 sounds way too high.  It's also seems kinda weird that $550 is the minimum.   

</div>

Samby86

$600 seems very high. My seamstress charges $35 an hour, and she only had to do 6 hours for my dress. I am short, so she had to hem a lot off. Also, I have a ton of beading around the bust, and she had to pull that in, which means redoing a bunch of beading.