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Wondering which clothing stores offer free tailoring? For a spinoff post from our recent roundup of the best made-to-measure clothing for workwear and beyond, today we're listing stores that offer free alterations. You may not even know that some of your favorite department stores and brands offer them!
As someone who's only five feet tall and can't always buy petite sizes, I know how frustrating it is to have to pay to get a lot of clothes altered (and it ain't cheap). I don't want to know how much I've spent over the years on getting pants hemmed, for example. (I really should learn to sew… but I probably won't.)
{related: tips on wearing kids' clothes when you're petite}
Tips on Free Alterations on Workwear
Here are two important things to consider regarding free alterations:
(1) With some clothing items, such as 100% cotton garments, it may be best to pass up the free alterations and first wash/dry your purchase before taking it to your own tailor, in case it shrinks a bit. (However, the store might still alter your clothes for free — can't hurt to ask!)
{related: the most common tailoring alterations for women}
(2) If you're getting alterations done at a store on a new pair of pants, make sure that the heel height of the shoes you're wearing is the same as the height of the shoes you'll regularly wear with the pants.
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{related: a guide to suiting alterations}
10 Clothing Stores That Offer Free Tailoring
Nordstrom: Nordstrom offers free basic alterations for members of The Nordy Club, which is free to join. (Nordstrom also offers paid alterations for clothing that customers have bought elsewhere.)
Lands' End: Hemming (and cuffing) is free of charge (not just for men's clothes, as the site makes it seem). Each product page will note if the service is available on that item.
Banana Republic: Free basic alteration are available for customers who use the Banana Republic Luxe credit card.
Brooks Brothers: Free alterations are provided for pants bought online (4–6 weeks extra for delivery; no returns/exchanges). (Note: With a quick look around the site, I could only find the option available for men's pants, not women's, which, OK. Jacket alterations are only available in-store.)
J.Crew: Free standard alterations are available on on full-price clothing (pants, jackets, and skirts) that are purchased with a J.Crew Credit Card (exceptions: leather, suede, beaded fabrics).
Uniqlo: Some items on Uniqlo's website can be altered (and some alterations are free); if so, you'll see an “alterations” option underneath the size selection. (Add two business days to delivery times.) If the option is unavailable online, you can bring (select) pants to your local store to be altered, but it's best to call first.
Athleta: Free hemming is provided for pants at some locations; contact your local store.
Lululemon: Free hemming is available on tops and pants at all stores.
Dillard's: You can get free alterations in store on full-price tailored items and unfinished pant bottoms. There is a fee for sale tailored items and ready-to-wear items (for coats, sleeves, pant bottoms, skirts/dresses); contact your local store.
Ralph Lauren: Free alterations are available at full-price stores, i.e., not outlets or factory stores.
Note: Stores that no longer offer free alterations include Athleta, Club Monaco, Madewell (temporarily), and Saks.
Readers, do you know of other clothing stores that offer free tailoring? Have you had good/bad experiences with stores' tailoring services, including those above?
Stock photo via Stencil.
