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What would the normal cost (in NYC or Long Island) to take in/alter a skirt? My friend gave my daughter a beautiful Chanel skirt and the length is perfect but the waist is too big. I brought it to a local place and the guy was looking at it, pinned it, etc. All of a sudden, he looked inside and saw the Chanel label and then the small double Cs on the waist and he tells me it will be "at least" $40. I thought it should only be about $10-$15 to do this?
The skirt is wool and has a silk lining. There are no seams that need to be opened or anything. It would be a simple sewing up both sides to take it in evenly. Really not much to it in but I can't sew and don't want to try.
Actually -- 40 bucks sounds like a deal. Here's the thing -- you don't want to screw up that skirt. What has to happen is that the waistband needs to be taken off and redone to fit the waist, the side seams need to be taken in, in both the skirt and lining, and very possibly the back darts need to be resewn, and the waistband needs to be resewn on.
If he doesn't take the waistband off and merely sews on new fasteners to tighten the band, the flap will be positioned in a place where it may be floppy or just look messy.
Also -- I tightened up someone's skirt waist band that was elastic and charged her 10 bucks. I work out of my house, and don't normally do mending like that.
What would the normal cost (in NYC or Long Island) to take in/alter a skirt? My friend gave my daughter a beautiful Chanel skirt and the length is perfect but the waist is too big. I brought it to a local place and the guy was looking at it, pinned it, etc. All of a sudden, he looked inside and saw the Chanel label and then the small double Cs on the waist and he tells me it will be "at least" $40. I thought it should only be about $10-$15 to do this?
The skirt is wool and has a silk lining. There are no seams that need to be opened or anything. It would be a simple sewing up both sides to take it in evenly. Really not much to it in but I can't sew and don't want to try.
$10 - $15 would be if the waist had elastic. If there is a waist band or an invisible side zipper, both the band and zipper have to be removed first then they get repositioned after the side seams are taken in/adjusted. That is labor by itself. And of course if there are darts in front or back, that's extra work too. You stated there is a lining, so the darts have to be redone on it too so I think $40.00 is very reasonable, especially for NYC.
Don't forget there is also lining to deal with. Essentially double the work. $40 sounds about right. $10-15 if there aren't any darts or lining and the skirt is a simple shape.
$40 sounds exceptionally reasonable. The skirt is lined, it likely has a waistband, and since its Chanel, the fabric might require extra care.
I've had a few skirts taken in before and have paid in the $50-75 ange.
Incidentally, since this is a Chanel, I personally wouldn't let just any seamstress or tailor touch it.. I'd ask for a recommendation from the Chanel or St John department if you have a Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, etc nearby.
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