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Irena's Studio is a gem!!! I was initially hesitant to trust someone in general with something as important as my wedding dress, but Lily (the owner) did an amazing job and knew exactly what alterations would flatter my body. During our first meeting, Lily was thorough, clear, and explained each recommendation and steps of the alteration process. I loved how for each visit, Lily took a step by step approach to alter my dress so that she could confirm that I was happy before moving forward to other aspects. I also appreciated that if I had a recommendation or question, Lily really listened and did not make me feel rushed during my appointment. I received so many compliments on my dress during the wedding and my photos came out so good as well. I'm so grateful for Lilys expertise and would highly recommend her!
Lily is the wedding dress tailor of your dreams. She made my dress feel like it was made for me to begin with! There really isn't anything that she can't do within the realm of tailoring your wedding dress. The alterations were so seamless, and she and her team work diligently to finish what you need within a reasonable timeline. I never knew that the process could be so detailed, and I met with her four times before my wedding day. She is worth every penny, and I came here because my friend also went to her, and the power of the referral is that you know you're going to get a great job done for what you're paying for. The pictures speak for themselves.
It's always been my dream to wear my aunt's wedding dress from her 1983 wedding. The 80s puff sleeves and the fact that I couldn't zip it up the back (my aunt was smaller than me) necessitated an expert tailor experienced in vintage wedding dress alterations. Cue Lily at Irena's Studio! Working with her for my June wedding was definitely one of the best decisions I made throughout the planning process. Right from the very first fitting, Lily's kindness, patience, professionalism and keen attention to the most minute details were apparent. Over the course of four fittings, Lily and her team transformed my aunt's 80s dress into something more modern and timeless, while still maintaining the integrity of the original dress. I was so happy with how it turned out! Alterations included: completely redesigning the puff sleeves into cap sleeves, making the sash thinner, removing the underlying crinoline so the dress would be less poofy, removing some decorative bows on the skirt and bodice, replacing the zipper, expanding/adjusting the whole bodice to fit me, and fixing some of the buttons and loops for the bustle which had broken. She charged a reasonable flat rate which I was able to pay in three installments. I really appreciated Lily's expert eye and deft skills. I would try on the dress at each fitting and she would notice small ways to make the dress that much better for me-little tweaks here and there that made it fit like a glove. In addition, I was able to bring in my reception dress for tailoring during the process and she got it back to me fitting perfectly in no time as well (it just needed to be taken in around the bodice). I cannot recommend Lily and her team at Irena's Studio enough! They really helped make my wedding day wonderful!
Cannot underscore how fantastic Lily & her team are. Pricing was very fair- she did a compete overhaul of my veil, and my dress fit like a glove. Lily is lovely, so easy to work with and genuinely made the alterations process so smooth. She's so kind and literally made me feel better about myself and my dress every time I saw her. I adore her. Thank you Lily!!!
Irene's Studio is the best in town! Lily is an amazing seamstress and I've visited her for all my alterations needs. She is always so kind, accommodating, and communicative. Most recently, she altered my wedding dress and I couldn't have been happier with how the dress fit to my body, while keeping the detail and elegance of the dress in tact -- you couldn't tell any changes were made. Amazing work! I felt so confident and comfortable on the big day. I could not recommend her enough. Thank you for everything!
Lily was like my fairy godmother for my wedding dress alterations. I needed a number of alterations on a dress with lots of beading, sequins, and floral lace. By the end, she helped me close up a deep V neckline, fix the bra area, adjust my off-shoulder sleeves, remove an inner layer of tulle, as well as hem, bustle, and take in the dress! She had me come in multiple times throughout the process to ensure each step was to my liking and fitting well. She also helped me take in the dress more than originally planned as my measurements were changing. I had a long train and she bustled it to perfection (required 9 points/buttons due to the train length). People accidentally stepped on my dress while dancing and the buttons all still held up nicely. I was able to comfortably dance. I was completely blown away by her skill and she was also so sweet and made me feel at ease during a stressful season of wedding planning. On top of that, her pricing is very reasonable. I didn't consult with other seamstresses but I highly doubt they could have quoted me a more competitive price. I would recommend her to anyone looking for alterations of any kind. Although I think the word is out so book an appointment with her sooner than later :) My wedding was in March and I had my first appointment with her in October. It was a great timeline for the complexities in alterations that I needed.
Finally had time to write this review after everything going on from wedding, but knew I had to take the time for Lily. She saved my dress before my wedding and worked incredibly hard and quickly to make sure it would fit perfectly for the big day. I like many others had the unfortunate experience of dealing with Janene's bridal alterations. They tried pressuring me to have them alter both my dresses but they overcharged me by thousands of dollars and were going to do the amount of work others could but take longer and not meet deadlines. My reception had so many issues and thank god I had a bad feeling leaving it in Janene's hands and held on to. I was pressured into giving them my other dress since they said I wouldn't have a dress for the wedding at all so I let them alter my ceremony dress that only needed simple hemming but they charged over thousand dollars for. I have photos attached for reference the lace trim that Lily had to not only hem but reapply the lace trim at bottom so that it would have same affect just shorter. Couldn't find the after photo but just know it turned out perfect length and was able to bustle. I'm glad I listened to my instincts and found Irena's studio and took my reception dress there because Lily helped to make sure I had realistic price and worked hard to make sure my dress was done for my wedding which isn't easy with a lace glitter dress with floral trim. It was easy to come back for fittings for alterations, parking was street parking but easy to get. Every time I would come in Lily was so kind to ask me how I was doing and hear some of my stresses out that were occurring from wedding. I love how she doesn't demand additional cost besides what she quotes you and she doesn't make you pay everything up front like Janene's so you can have faith that she will show you her work speaks for itself. I recommended her to all my friends for their future wedding and if you were like me and got some weird vibes from Janene's alterations I suggest you save yourself time and money and go here instead. You'll have a much more pleasant experience that you need for your wedding dress experience.
I don't know where to begin. If I could give 10 stars, I would. There is no doubt that Lily is an amazing woman. I found her on Google and as you can see, there are many who agree with me about her work. I brought my wedding dress to Lily, and she transformed it into something I could never have imagined. Between the time I bought the dress and the last fitting, I lost a lot of weight. I took on board many of Lily's suggestions and it turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Thanks so much, Lily, for making this dress fit me like a glove. The process of altering this dress was a challenge. I am so glad I found the right person to share my alteration vision with and also to receive some advice on how to make it into something beautiful. Lily, you have a forever customer in me. Having worked with Lily, I highly recommend her. There is no disappointment with her. Her ideas are solid, she's a pro and knows what works. Of course she puts her clients' vision first, but her advice on certain changes is right on. If you look at my first picture, my dress was wayyyyyyy too big and long. In the end, we decided to cut the dramatic training. The decision had to be made. It would be impossible for me to dance my first dance in that dress. We both agreed that I should cut it, and I'm so glad I did. Although the dress was beautiful, I ended up falling even more in love with it as we made changes to it. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication you put into making your clients happy, Lily.
I came here for my second reception dress after having a bad experience with Janene's Bridal alterations team for my ceremony dress and I am so glad I did! Lily did a great job with my alterations and was able to squeeze me in for a few appointments right before my wedding and honestly was such a pleasure to work with. She is so sweet and you can tell she really cares about each person and truly just wants them to look and feel beautiful in their dress. It seems like there are a lot of people who have trouble with the alterations at Janene's Bridal and having gotten one dress altered here and one dress altered there, I can say my experience with Lily/Irena's Studio was MUCH, MUCH better. (Long story short, my experience with Janene's alterations: Crazy expensive quote, things were not finished or even started when I came in for my appointments, and they didn't inform me that they couldn't alter certain parts when I bought my dress) Definitely would recommend coming here for getting your dresses altered! She prefers cash so also be ready to pay in cash.
Irena did a beautiful job altering my wedding dress and fit me in during what was an incredibly busy time of year. The dress was ready right on time and perfect. She instills confidence, is calm, caring, friendly, and most of all a master at her craft. So grateful I found her!
Lily worked wonders on my lace wedding dress on a tight schedule. Her attention to detail was amazing and she made me feel so at ease throughout the process. I never felt rushed during the fittings, and I could tell that she was committed to getting the fit just right, even if it took an extra fitting. Thank you, Lily and company!
Irena did a beautiful job on my wedding dress. Even though it was a simple alteration of a hem and bustle, she did an incredible job with the intricate lace, and the way she bustled my dress was perfect! Plus she is the sweetest woman and made me feel so special at each fitting.
The ladies at Irena's studio saved my wedding dress! The dress arrived at the dress shop 3 inches too short. The bodice was also too short and didn't end at my natural waist. I'm 5'10 and for some reason, the women at the bridal store never measured me for length. Everyone knows it's a lot harder to add length than it is to hem things, so when I arrived at Irena's studio, I was a bit worried. The ladies at Irena's studio came up with a brilliant solution that not only made the dress the perfect length, it actually made the dress look better than the original version! I'm so happy with the result. Lily and everyone working there were extremely kind, encouraging, and easy to work with. They answered all my questions and made me feel confident that everything would work out. I would recommend this studio to anyone!
6 years ago
Fast and professional! I've been to Irena's couple times now! Lily is truly the best!I've brought a lot of different stuff over, Pants, tops, dress ..etc requires all different kind of alteration. Whatever you need she can figure it out and give you the honest opinion. If Something are not worth alteration, she'll tell you straight up! And for the pieces that need some discussion, just trust her expertise! This is also my favorite alteration place because they have a very decent fitting area unlike most of the alteration place. You feel like in Nordstrom's fitting room! Nice big mirror, fitting platform, real fitting room (also with mirror! )Couches for your companion if you are with friends, bathroom in the back! read more
6 years ago
Lily was an absolute sweetheart to work with. Her attention to detail and careful craftswomanship to perfecting the fit is unmatched and incomparable. I had four fittings and by the second, the dress was already near perfect. She is truly a wonderful, warm, and thoughtful human. I am so grateful to have found Lily for my wedding dress alterations. The experience was amazing and I will be coming back to Lily for my other alteration and tailoring needs. Highly recommend. She is now my go-to! read more
Business owner information
Lily S.
Hi Kim: Thank you so much for thoughtful review.…
6 years ago
I can't say enough good things. If you need to have your wedding dress altered, this is the place to go! Friendly, professional, and the dress fit perfectly! read more
6 years ago
Navigating a wedding during a global pandemic is really stressful, however, every time I saw Lily, that stress melted away a little. Her attention to detail and determination to perfect a garment is unmatched. And as an added bonus, she's really kind and has a very caring spirit. I had about four fittings for my two wedding gowns, and plan to go to her for all my future tailoring needs. read more
6 years ago
Came to Lily for some alterations (mostly deesses that I wanted converted into shirts) and to fix the lining on a vintage bag. Everything turned out beautifully -- such attention to sewing detail and my body contours. She helped me realize my vision on how to transform these clothing pieces. Doesnt hurt that she is super kind too. Now she'll be my go to! read more
4 years ago
Probably the best customer service I've had. They were able to fit me in during a very busy season to fix two dresses for my wedding that were ruined by another tailor. I cannot believe how lovely and attentive they were, continually asking if I felt comfortable and if the changes they were making were correct. Not only did I feel taken care of but both dresses fit like a glove, incredible attention to detail and tailoring. I cannot recommend it enough, thank you for saving the day!!! read more
Business owner information
Lily S.
Hi Alex.…
3 years ago
5 years ago
I love the owner and the worker here. They are very professional and so sweet. My sister came here to get her wedding dress alter and I would go with her to every session. I asked the owner if she can help me alter my dress that I am going to wear to my sister's wedding too and she made it happen for me. I worked in customer service and I would say this place is the best and the owner here is on top for her customer service skill. Thank you so much for making my sister look gorgeous in her wedding grown and thank you for making me look so good in my dress too. Thank you for treating my son with love. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Last week, I was in a total jam because I am in a wedding and I needed my dress hemline fixed - but the bride didn't decide on shoes until one week before the big day. Got the shoes, but at 5'2 - I was still swimming my dress!!! So I had to find someone to fix the dress within a matter of six days so I could get to the wedding. Lily was one of the first to respond and offer me a fair price for an insane rush job with a slit as well- most people were charging 90-100 (ugh Bay Area) but she charged $60.00 and was super kind and sweet while I frantically told her what I needed. Great customer service, price, and I love how the dress looks!!! She even offered me some cold water and steamed my dress (for free!!!!). Go see Lily- she'll take care of you ! read more
6 years ago
Lily is a consummate professional with excellent customer service skills. She does great work (and a lot of my friend's alterations) and now I see that she's offering bridal gown alterations and even has beautiful vintage bridal gowns for sale. This is a cute, relaxed space on one of my favorite streets in Oakland - Piedmont Avenue. read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
I cannot say enough great things about Lily and Irena's Studio. I visited Lily in early spring of 2020 to have some minor alterations made on my wedding dress. She was so kind and took the time to discuss all of my needs. Like many I had to cancel my wedding due to COVID and decided to elope instead. I purchased a new dress and Lily altered it for me and made it fit like a glove. I cannot thank Lily enough for helping as plans shifted and for all of her kindness. She will finish the alterations on my wedding dress when it's safe for us to have the larger wedding. Thank you Lily! read more
3 years ago
Lily is one of the kindest seamstresses I've had the pleasure of working with. I bought my wedding dress online (I couldn't fathom spending thousands of dollars on a wedding dress) but when it arrived it didn't fit right. I was nervous bringing it in to be altered as I wasn't sure if there would be too much to fix and I'd have to buy a new dress. My wedding was on May 28th, 2023 and I made an appointment in January 2023 to bring my dress to Lily in February. I HIGHLY recommend calling her in advance - she's super sought out and busy with the wedding season. At my first appointment of four, Lily took her time to not only figure out areas she'd need to alter for my dress but also took her time to get to know me! She is so sweet and kind and was not judgmental about me buying my dress online. Every fitting was great and she took my feedback well when I told her certain areas of the dress felt awkward. Overall I had a great experience - Lily was wonderful to work with and her pricing is very reasonable. read more
4 years ago
Irena's Studio is the best! Lily is so kind, warm, and very skilled. She hemmed my dress and created a beautiful bustle. Her communication and turnaround time is speedy. Can't recommend her enough. read more
5 years ago
Business owner information
Lily S.
Hi Mia.…
3 years ago
I just left this studio with a damaged dress. I went in for a consultation. I tell her my concerns and she proceeds to pin my dress using safety pins. I was quoted between $250 for hemming and tapering, and $500 for the same services plus adjusting the back of the dress. I had another alterations quote I was looking to compare it to, so I told her that I would think about it and let her know. She then says to me that I should have told her that I wasn't committing to the service because she would have used other pins. She then proceeds to tell me it's because it damages the fabric (it's a satin dress). Then she shows me the damage she made to the fabric. How is that my responsibility!?!? My intention was to receive a quote, I never verbalized a commitment to hiring her for the service of altering my wedding dress. I don't know why that assumption was made. I now have a damaged dress, that apparently is my fault. read more
Business owner information
Lily S.
As the owner, I pride myself on providing the best service to my…
6 years ago
Business owner information
Lily S.
Hi Julia.…
5 years ago
Lily is amazing and has strong pride and work ethnic . I have 2 wedding dresses altered couple months before my wedding and super last minute dance formal dress fixed a week before that. She is very communicative and deliver her works on point and on time. We all know about wedding dress story nightmare which can be over promising and deliver late, but working with Lily will make sure you don't have to go through that. She is also very sweet and I feel like I gain a friend here :) highly recommend people booking with her! read more
Business owner information
Lily S.
Hi Tam.…
6 years ago
6 years ago
Business owner information
Lily S.
Melissa, Thank you for your kind words.…
8 years ago
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Irena's Studio is now called Rena Studio and is owned and operated by Lilly. She did an amazing alteration of a new skirt for my wife. We are both very satisfied with the results. We look forward to many years of work for us by Lily just as we did with Irena! Thanks Lilly! read more
7 years ago
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