Most Halloween costumes don’t fit perfectly the first time you try them on. Costumes are usually made of unique materials and pieces that may not appear on everyday clothing. So, they may cause slight discomfort, restrict movement, or look weird from certain angles.
Many people put up with costumes not fitting right since they’re only wearing it for a costume party or two. Yet, even though you’re not wearing your costume every day, you should still look and feel your best in it. If you have a costume that you wish fit you just a little bit better, consider costume alterations.
Can You Get Costume Alterations?
Yes, you can absolutely get costume alterations. While many people try to tackle Halloween costume adjustments at home, turning to a professional tailor will create the best results. Fixing a loose thread or re-attaching a button may be easy enough at home, but adjusting the fit of a costume is something you should turn to a tailor for.
Fitting a Costume is Best Handled by the Professionals
Tailors can provide complex alterations to make the costume fit like it was made for you. While most tailors can handle costumes, you may want to consider finding a local tailor with lots of Halloween costume experience.
Costumes can have sensitive materials and complex designs, so it’s beneficial to turn to someone who has altered similar outfits before.
Types of Costume Repair You Can Get
You can dress up as just about anything you want for Halloween. So, your costume may be extremely different from someone else’s. Therefore, costume repairs can greatly vary depending on the style of the costume and the materials.
Below are some common costume alterations tailors can perform.
Shortening or Lengthening a Costume
Whether it’s a dress, skirt, pants, or sleeves, you may need to shorten or lengthen the fabric to get an ideal fit. Most costumes can be adjusted a size or two, but it may depend on the style and material. If the costume’s size is way off, there might not be a way to make it fit you perfectly.
To adjust the length of a costume, you just need to sew a hem to get the costume to a desired length. While this process is doable from home, you need to be very precise and use the exact thread color to make it look right. So, it’s often easiest to turn to a professional to help you fix your costume size.
Replacing Zippers
Halloween costumes frequently have zippers, which may break if the outfit isn’t the best quality. Without a good zipper, there isn’t an easy way to take the costume on and off. Luckily, tailors can usually replace zippers effortlessly. The same can be done with zipper alternatives such as buttons and clasps.
You can also change the closure method altogether. If you don’t like zippers, ask your tailor if there’s a way to replace it with buttons or a corset. While this may not be practical in every scenario, it can sometimes make it easier to take the costume on and off. It could also make the costume look nicer and improve its quality, so it’s worth considering if you’re having zipper issues.
Adding or Removing Embellishments
Costumes are more likely to have unique embellishments than regular clothes will. This could include sequins, feathers, embroidery, and so much more. These additions often add to the costume’s stylish appearance, but they can sometimes be annoying if they’re too flashy, getting caught on things, or falling off.
If you want to remove, reattach, or add embellishments, tailors can help. Sometimes, you love a costume, but a few tweaks would make it more perfect for your vision. Adding or removing these pieces yourself could damage the rest of the costume, so it’s safest to have a tailor carefully handle the material.
Changing or Slimming Sleeves
Sometimes Halloween costumes fit perfectly everywhere except the sleeves. If everything looks perfect while the sleeves are baggy, that could prevent you from feeling your best at Halloween parties. Slimming sleeves usually requires special knowledge and techniques, so a tailor can adjust the sleeves so they fit perfectly.
In some cases, you may want to add or remove sleeves to adjust the costume’s appearance. Maybe a sleeveless pumpkin costume would look better with long sleeves. Or a long-sleeved witch costume might look better with shorter sleeves. These are advanced costume alterations that a tailor can help you with.
Feature Additions
Costumes are a great way to bring your imagination to life. So, if there’s anything you think your costume is missing, ask a tailor if they can add it. A common addition is pockets, which is something many costumes lack. Yet, having pockets can make your outfit way more convenient.
Many people like to add things to Halloween costumes to make them more specific. For example, you might buy a plain cape and want to add symbols to it to make it look like a specific character’s cape. That’s something that a tailor can easily do if needed.
So, don’t be afraid to get lots of costume alterations to make your Halloween costume perfectly fit what you’re looking for.
Schedule Your Costume Alterations Before Halloween!
Many people deal with uncomfortable or unflattering costumes because they think it fits good enough. Yet, tailors can help you make sure Halloween costumes fit like they were made for you. If you’re looking to get costume alterations, schedule them well before Halloween events so you can ensure your outfit will be in perfect shape for costume parties and other festive celebrations.
If you live in or near Houston, consider Memorial Tailors for your costume alterations. Our talented tailors and seamstresses have experience adjusting all types of costumes. With our alteration services, you’ll be able to move easier and feel more comfortable in your costume.
We love seeing clients getting into the Halloween spirit, so schedule an appointment today to get your costume ready for Halloween (or contact us for more information).