South Lake Tailor

She did a great job on my wedding dress last year. She had it done in 2 weeks which was great. It fit me perfectly. My only downfall with this place is she only takes cash and the place is very crammed and small. She needs to hire help because she let this lady go in front of me even though I was patiently waiting because my measurements were going to take longer. Good job overall but the business could improve.

Tailored my suit for my wedding and she did a fantastic job. It was quick and exactly the fitting I was looking for.

I LOVE This tailor. She is the best and she is so nice! She always makes my clothes look PERFECT and she has STYLE herself. She has fixed dresses, casual clothes and my suits and business attire for me.

The lady that runs this shop is very pleasant and does a fantastic job. It’s hard to find a good tailor and I’ve been going to the same one in downtown Los Angeles for about 15 years. I can be skeptical about Unilocal reviews but I gave it a shot and I’ve been there a number of times and her work is fantastic. Her prices are reasonable. I’ve seen some complaints about her prices being too high but let’s face it: you get what you pay for. I’m sure there are a lot of tailors out there that charge less but considering her work is very good, that’s enough for me. The mark of a good tailor is someone who only has to do the work once and it lasts. The fit is also very good because she knows what she’s doing. Apparently, she’s been a tailor for more than 20 years. Five star review!

I went to this place for the first time. The service is quick and easy. They only do alterations and tailoring — no laundry service, which is a good thing. (The laundry places that do alterations seem to be to busy.)
I was in there Thursday with 2 pants and came back on Saturday for a finished job.

The lady was so nice! I had just a hem fixed and it was ready next day. Price was very good and the hem looks great. I will definitely come back if in need for any alterations.

Fast, friendly, and timely! Came in with my brothers and my brother’s groomsmen to get our suits tailored, she completed everything ahead of schedule. She also tailored my mom’s gown in a timely manner. Lastly, my dad and I just dropped off his new suit last minute for the wedding and she stayed after work and waited for us. Accommodation! We trusted her with our Ludlow suits and my mom’s gown from Saks so if you’re concerned so was I and I just picked up some stuff and am completely satisfied. Be specific and terse when you give instructions and you’ll be fine. It’s a tad expensive but so was our clothing.

I really wanted to like this tailor. Great location, cute architecture in the shop, great reviews. I came in with high hopes, and even rescheduled a dentist appointment to make sure I had enough time to tailor a few dresses. I waited patiently for about 15 minutes while Luong was pinning a suit and then tried on the four dresses I brought in to be tailored slightly.
This is when I became disappointed.
I have a somewhat ample chest measurement on a small averagely thin 5’3 frame which anyone with this issue can confirm makes dress shopping a challenge. If you go petite, the chest is too tight, if you go misses, the shoulders are too large, and the hem is too long.
So, because of this issue, I know what can and cannot be tailored from experience, and also the experience of working as a costume fabrication assistant in a theater which involved tailoring and a lot of other things. It is just difficult to pin tight clothing on yourself, and I thought her expertise with thin fabrics might be better than mine.
To nearly all of the dresses, she just said «You should return them, I dont want to tailor them.» She took a v neck dress that just fit a little loose in the chest because I sized it up to be tailored down, and she said she had to pull the v neck up almost to my collar bone– which is a very unflattering church marm like look for a woman who is top heavy. Its not like it was lower than just showing a little cleavage, which is much more flattering on someone with my figure than putting the v neck up to my collar bone. I said, no, I dont think that is flattering because I have large boobs. She responded «Ohhhh you want it more sexy?» With a pained judgemental look on her face.
She did say one modest shift dress was something she could work with for $ 65, but that she didnt have time for at least two weeks and that I should come back.
I didnt come back, I went to Tip Top Cleaners, who was recommended by Anne Taylor down the street, who apparently Macy’s and Talbots also send their customers to, and the tailor there made all the alterations in one week despite saying she was going to be on vacation and my saying there was no rush. I also got all of the alterations done for $ 80.
I will probably never go back to South Lake Tailor, and it is too bad.

From the warm friendly service to the exceptional alterations done on the tuxedo and suits brought in this was a great experience. Will definitely be returning in the future to have alterations done.

Very Professional an timely service!

Fantastic tailor. She is extremely efficient and is such a sweet lady. Best of all, her prices are very reasonable. Plenty of parking located in the back.

Not thrilled with this tailor at all. I took in all of my work pants to be hemmed (I’m 5 ft tall) and found that after a few months, many of the hems that she did are already unraveling. Then I brought in a dress I wanted hemmed for my bachelorette party. The dress is hilariously tacky and was on the clearance rack. It’s a size 10 and I“m like a size 6. I could see on her face instantly that she didn’t want to do it. She told me to take the dress back and get a refund and go buy a dress that fit because it would be too much work to do it and it would be expensive. She quoted me $ 100 to fix it (the dress cost $ 100). I left that day and went to Express Tailor on Washington and Lake. They charged me $ 30 and did the sewing in a day and a half. South Lake Tailor seems expensive for what it is. She’s ok and I see by the ratings that some people love her but I’m personally not impressed.

I came here with 4 pairs of work pants a dress that needed to be taken in. I got the dress on sale at a Nordstrom Rack for about $ 6! To get the top taken it, the tailor was going to charge me $ 60. Um… no.
The pants were all just a little too long. She charged me $ 10 per a pants, which seems reasonable. However, some of them were just too short after she took them in.

After losing 15 pounds I was swimming inside my tux. I tried it on a week before an event and realized drastic measures were in order. Luong saved the day. Her work is excellent. My tux fits better than it ever did. I would highly recommend this business.

Luong is wonderful. She is very professional, knows her trade well, and does an excellent job. I first came here with little expectation, in need of a tailor on the fly, and have since found my go-​to. She has always exceeded my expectations and correctly refined my clothing, even when I thought I knew better. At times when I’ve been on the fence about a decision or didn’t quite know how to address a need she provided helpful advice and guidance in an honest and productive way.
On top of this all, Luong has always expressed a humble and gracious attitude. From what I can see she is a pleasure to work with for all her customers.
Lucky me, I found a great tailor in Pasadena on my first try ( Unilocal helped a bit too).

I came here based on a recommendation from a coworker. Since I am 5’1″ petite, most of my clothes need moderate alterations. I was looking to take in and shorten a theory dress and blazer. Since theory clothing isn’t the cheapest, I wanted a good tailor.
I had gone to other tailors (all around Los Angeles) and have been told there was no need to get these items done (despite me looking like I was drowning in my outfit).
The Alterations: I tried on the dress and told her I just wanted it to fit better. Her recommendations were beyond what I even knew a tailor could do! It was great! I loved the way the dress and jacket look!
Price: No, this won’t be the cheapest place but I think the quality of work and service are worth the price.
Service: The tailor is very nice and professional. I will say that I have been back since the dress and jacket (I was so happy with the results). You will receive honest feedback. She will tell you how much it will cost upfront and sometimes tell you it is not worth it. However, if you feel strongly about something, she will be happy to do it for you. I appreciate an honest opinion.
Parking: ample lot parking. There are a few spots with a free hour.
Overall: I have found my tailor and don’t mind driving from studio city. It is a trek but worth it since it trust her.

Don’t come here unless you want to
get ripped off. I came here for the first time because it is closer to my house and I brought in a blazer to have it taken in and she wouldn’t even attempt it saying that it would cost too much for me $ 100. I was denied and turned away. So I drove back to my old trusty tailor in Arcadia where I used to live and she is doing it for $ 35 and will have it ready in four days. Fast, fair and friendly.

I’ve been going to Luong for a little over a year, and she is a pleasure to work with. The reviews here are polarizing, but here are some key facts that I’ve learned in working with her:
— Communicate clearly what you want from her. Though she may have an idea, it’s important that she understands what you are looking for
— If you are unhappy about an alteration, TELL her. She is always willing to work with you to fix whatever issue you had with your alteration
— Price: I’ve paid less (and sometimes more) for alterations elsewhere, and I’ve found that for Pasadena, South Lake Tailor is fair. They can be slightly higher than other places, but I keep returning because I get great customer service from Luong.

Fast service, very professional, and sooo happy with my alterations!
But let’s rewind a bit. It’s Wednesday on a very warm November afternoon. I met my dressmaker’s husband inside a parking lot in Old Town Pasadena conveniently during lunch break.
The husband asks, «Congratulations on getting married! When is the big day? Two or three weeks?»
«Three days,» I replied. I received the dress in my hands and hung it up in the back seat. That’s when it dawned on me… I’m walking down the aisle in three days…
… and I totally forgot I needed to alter my dress.
Crap.
CrapCrapCrap.
I turned out of the parking lot and headed home so I could get ready for work. In the meantime, I poked around Unilocal for great tailors around my area… but who were decently priced… and who could do an amazing job… in very little time.
Thursday rolled around, and I called The South Lake Tailor because they were the first business to pop up on my Unilocal search. I gave South Lake a call:
«Hello, I have a question: how fast can you alter a wedding dress?»
«Two to three weeks,» the woman replied.
«Oh. Um… What about just altering the hem… like shortening a dress?»
«Two or three days.»
I paused. «How about twenty-​four hours?»
«Bring the dress to the store so I can take a look at it.»
«I will see you in fifteen minutes!»
I exited Old Town and found my way to the sleepy little shopping area on South Lake Avenue. I made my way to the shopping area that was an alley lined with antique shop windows. Nestled in between storefronts was the South Lake Tailor, which was a tiny little shop the size of an oversize closet. A thin, vietnamese woman with long hair and red lips asked if I could be helped. I told her that I called in recently regarding the hem on my dress. I explained to her that I get married on Saturday and I was in dire need of a great tailor who could work quickly. I tried on the dress for the tailor, and realized that the dressmaker had already pinned the length with a safety pin, so all the tailor had to do was tell me it was possible. The tailor said that she could do this by tomorrow. The tailor marked my dress with chalk all the way around my dress and had me take it off. I also asked if she could steam the wrinkles out while she was at it. «For you,» she replied, «I will. I will do it for you because you are getting married!»
I thanked her and ran out the store.
I returned the next morning and saw my dress hanging inside the cleaners. It was perfect! The length was perfect and there wasn’t a wrinkle in sight! And as promised, the charge was $ 25 (cash only.) I happily handed her $ 30 and told her I couldn’t wait to come back for my altering needs.
The South Lake Tailor definitely saved my wedding dress! I’m so happy she did such a big favor for me, and that it was affordable.

I used to take my pants to Men’s Wearhouse (Westfield Santa Anita Mall, Arcadia) but they no longer tailor pants if they are purchased elsewhere. Bummer, because I was happy with their work and it was right across the street from my house.
After searching for a number of new tailors, I selected South Lake Tailor with reservation based on some of the reviews I read and decided to test her with two pairs of men’s dress slacks. Both pairs of pants required major work such as the waist taken in/​out, and the legs redone because the pant legs were quite baggy. I was hesitant but really wanted to wear these pants.
A week later I picked up my pants and they turned out great. I tried both on with dress shoes I brought along with me and they fit and looked terrific. In fact, I am wearing one of these dress slacks now.
The owner is friendly and pleasant while her shop is small (there isn’t a whole lot of room to move around). There is plenty of parking in the back. All in all, I’ll be coming back to South Lake Tailor in the future.