A well-fitted garment can instantly make you look more polished, stylish and elegant so a skilled tailor can be your ally when it comes to customising your clothes to fit you perfectly.

Do you need to alter a garment or perhaps there is a custom-made article of clothing that you would like to create? Discover the best tailors in Malta and Gozo on Yellow. 

What Can a Tailor Do?

A tailor is a professional whose job is that of sewing, mending and altering clothing with a particular emphasis on suits, coats and more formal structured garments. Conversely, a seamstress is usually more focused on the sewing of different garments, although alterations are also something that seamstresses are capable of doing. 

Off-the-rack garments (particularly for more formal items like suits) are made to fit a broad range of body types and therefore do not take into consideration the specific physical characteristics of a particular individual. So, sleeves that are a bit longer than needed, trousers that are bunched up at the ankles or a suit jacket that is slightly too loose will make your overall appearance sloppy, irrespective of how expensive your garment. A tailor is trained to notice the things that make your garment's fit less than perfect and alter them to make them look like they have been specifically sewn for you. 

A tailor can expand or take in waists and re-do hems to make your trousers fit perfectly, taper pants and jeans for a more streamlined look, replace broken zippers, take in the sides and shorten the sleeves of shirts, expand or slim a dress.

Tailoring Services in Malta and Gozo

There are various tailors offering their services in Malta and Gozo. It is possible to ask for different types of alterations ranging from simple ones (such as hems) to more complex ones (like taking in of a suit jacket). They can also create bespoke garments (particularly suits and coats) that fit your measurements exactly.

The price of alterations varies according to the complexity of the intervention required. It is advised to consult with the tailor (and if possible even visit with your garment) to get a more accurate idea of the cost involved.

Some tailors are also open on Saturday so it is easier to schedule a visit when you're less busy.

Top Tips for Alterations and Well-Fitting Clothes

A tailor can instantly make a ready-made item look more expensive by fitting it exactly to your proportions. So what are the things to keep in mind when thinking about creating a curated collection of well-fitting pieces?

• Not all fabrics are the same: While a skilled tailor can work with almost every fabric, some fabrics are much easier to alter than others. A luxury fabric like silk is more difficult to work with while a natural fabric like cotton is quite easy to work with.
• Choose the best size: An experienced tailor can alter a garment significantly to make sure that it fits you properly. However, buying garments that are already close to your body size will help to guarantee an even better fit after alteration since the intervention required would be smaller would not be so extensive.
• Pay attention to the details: As they say, it's all in the details. So, before buying a garment, it is important to pay attention to how buttonholes are finished, good-quality buttons and hardware, These details can make a difference between an article of clothing that looks refined and clothes that looks shabby.
• Select what to get tailored: Choose wisely which items to alter - a trendy top that you'll probably only wear for one season may not be the best candidate for alterations but a classic white shirt, a timeless dress or your favourite pair of jeans are worth the expense of tailoring.
• Keep proportions in mind: Anything you wear will doubtlessly look better if the proportions are correct. So, try to avoid tops that go beyond your hip bone since these can make your legs look shorter, choose monochromatic palettes for a sleeker appearance and opt for well-cut blazers that will give you a more cohesive overall look.

Are you trying to sharpen your look? Check out our top 10 fashion essentials every woman should own and the 5 tips to keep in mind when thinking about your work summer wardrobe.