Dress Alteration Costs

A.a.A.

I just went and had a consultation with a seamstress today. I bought my dress in California, and brought it with me when I moved back to Hawaii, so I can't have the shop do the alterations.
I know I need to look around and get more quotes, but this is what the first lady quoted me:
shorten straps, open up arm holes, take in sides and hips, hem, and bustle = $350. That is almost half the cost of my dress! Is that normal? I almost had a heart attack! My FMIL is a fairly good seamstress, but she already looked at the dress and said she wouldn't be able to do it. Keep in mind that my dress has no embellishments on it, just some ruching in the torso area, and it is taffeta.
Any suggestions on seamstresses in Honolulu? TIA!

mdjs

I know several people in the past used Lani Roberts, but I don't know what her rates are like.  I have her number written down as (808) 739-2308.

HTH!

A.a.A.

thanks! i will give her a call... I am willing to spend some time looking around to get the best deal I can!

m_eblin

I'm in Southern California and I am getting my dress hemmed and the lace bodice taken in a tad, plus a bustle for $300...seems normal even if it's in Hawaii.

HappyGoLuckyGal

My alterations were $500. My dress is lace and needed a lot of work, but it still sucks big time.

ally_ruth

I was in a similar delimma-buying the dress in CA and getting alterations in TX.  Many of the local bridal shops only alter dresses if you buy from them.  I lucked out and found a great seamstress recomended by fellow co-workers where were also getting married.

I only had to have the hem shorten and bustled and that was $135.  Not too bad I guess.  A friend of my paid about $400 for her alterations and her dress had lace trim at the bottom (not sure what else was done). 

jaymers99

i paid about $200 at david's bridal for hem and bustle.  i thought it was a lot.  review in my bio.

my co-worker recently went to the seamstress in 99 ranch for her daughter's prom dress based on a recommendation.  she said they do a lot of gowns and their prices are very reasonable.  she just picked it up this past weekend...i'll ask her about it tomorrow...

jackcody

I got a quote for the hem and taking in the sides/waist, for $350 on Maui, from the store that I bought the dress in.  

HTH

daveandjess2010

I'm having the sides taken in, hem, bustle and a slight modification of the neckline - it came to about $500.  My dress is silk without a lot of embellishment, just ruching in the bodice.  Annoyingly expensive, yes - but my dress was a sample, so I got a pretty good deal, knowing that I would have to have some serious alterations done.  The boutique I got my dress from in Chicago has a seamstress on staff, so I just went with her for convenience - I was too lazy to shop around, but may have been able to find something a little cheaper.

sandyhorne

My dress, no embellishments) needs taken in on the sides and let out slightly in the hips and the shop I bought it at here in Vegas said the alterations shouldn't be more than $40-$60.  I have my fitting appt in a couple of weeks so we'll see if that's true.

caiandcullen

yeah, i'm having the back taken in, the hem, and the bustle - plus making the straps detachable and mine was $500. granted, it was from the pronovias store, so it may be a flat fee (and i get as many fittings/alterations i need)......... so $350 is so-so i guess.

when i was back home this xmas, i bought a business suit from ann taylor and had it tailored by this woman named angel. my mom has been going to her since i was like 3 and she alters all my mom's chanel, st. john's suits, etc so she does a good job and it pretty cheap (my suit was $40 for jacket sleeves hem and pants hem).

her info is:
angel tailor
1400 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814-3675
(808) 951-7810

hth!

MiniWheats

I paid $500 for my alterations also but that was at the boutique I bought it from.  I almost fainted....lol.  Looking back though, they did alot to the dress and it fit me like a glove

kaesha

I had huge alterations to mine - taken in all over, shortened beaded straps, and a fancy pants bustle put in - it cost me 310$ here and I also thought that was lots, but now I'm not so sure!

jaymers99

Hi Aubrey!  I just talked to my co-worker...she said they did a really good job on her daughter's prom dress.  The dress had 2 layers (one crinoline or something to make it poofy) and a cross-over type hem.  It was $40 + $18 for pressing.  The friend she got the recommendation from had a dress with sequins taken in for $40 too, and she was really happy with the work.  Here is a pic of her daughter's prom dress for reference:
http://img.davidsbridal.com/dp/s08_8567.psd.xml?cmp-color=top,x88062A&cmp-end=1&wid=330&hei=460&cvt=jpeg

The place she went to is in 99 Ranch Market:
El'gant Alterations 2
(808) 836-5826

I'm planning to call them to see how much they charge to clean wedding gowns

iluvhawaii

I had my dress altered in California, and my needs were very similar to yours.  I paid $350.00