1. Janet Ghilarducci

0

San Carlos, CA

Janet Ghilarducci

5.0 (44 reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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Response time

8 hours

Response rate

100%

Services - Janet Ghilarducci

Clothing reproduction

Custom tailoring

Janet Ghilarducci Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Janet Ghilarducci

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Myself & my fiance could not recommend Janet Ghilarducci enough. My fiance had a custom made dress for our reception done at a shop in SF. She spent around $2k, and when it was time to pick it up she was rushed, and they convinced her that they could not remove this "webbing", and told, "most people wouldn't even notice". It was an unfinished product and we couldn't believe it. They over promised and under delivered. In comes Janet. My fiance booked an appointment, and we feared maybe it couldn't be fixed or be too expensive, and we were wrong! Janet did a fantastic job! Very reasonable, did not take much time at all, and a very pleasant experience! We even brought in a jacket and she was able to make adjustments for it in no time.

After!
Michelle I.

Janet saved the day when I needed a super last minute wedding reception dress alteration. She had me come in as soon as I reached out and was able to do a quick fix within a couple of days, within a reasonable budget! As an added bonus, she is super nice and easy to work with!

Carolyn B.

If I could give Janet 10 stars I would. She is simply amazing at her craft. I made an appointment and all I told her was that I wanted it to fit like a glove. I went in there, knowing that the dress would need a major overhaul. I put my trust in Janet, I just knew I was in good hands. With every fitting appointment, she explained what she had already done and what she like to continue to do. The dress was a bit revealing for me, so I asked her to put an insert of similar color and wow did it turn out just perfect. I will not hesitate to recommend. Thanks again Janet for making me feel so beautiful in my dress on my wedding day.

My Nana's dress was from 1955 and Janet made it fit like a glove.

Let's get the record straight: Janet is a literal genius. I married in early August and Janet Frankensteined my late grandmother's wedding dress into a masterpiece. She did a beautiful job and I cannot recommend her services enough.

Before and after alterations
Elizabeth H.

Excellent work. Timely, professional, perfectionist. I used Janet to fill in the back of my wedding dress. I loved everything else about the dress, except the back was unflattering for me. She was able to hem the dress/cut off the train, and fill in the back in a way that looked great, was very comfortable, and much more flattering. I highly recommend Janet for custom alterations. I joke that if I need to, I will be using her for my second marriage lol! I'm so funny

Brittany E.

Janet was incredible to work with on my wedding dress! Her attention to detail and precision resulted in a perfect fit. I couldn't be happier with how my dress turned out. Highly recommend! Thank you Janet!

Janet & her team SAVED my wedding dress! It was mistakenly ordered 4 sizes too small and they made the most intricate and perfect alterations to ensure it turned out perfectly! Cannot rave about them enough!

Custom silk wedding gown- got a little wet after a rainy weekend in Yosemite but still loved every inch of it.
Nada N.

As a designer myself who obsesses over details, I wholeheartedly recommend working with Janet. I just could not find the exact wedding dress I had in my mind- it was simple, modern, romantic, well tailored and out of quality fabric. Janet is great to work with- from fabric selection, to detailing and problem solving to the final product she knows dress making inside and out. She fixed every little stitch until my dress fit perfectly and takes pride in her work. The experience and communication throughout was great, she even altered my dress two weeks before the wedding as a result of some aggressive exercising :)

Perfect corset back from scratch, by Janet
Yifan L.

Janet did a wonderful job altering my wedding gown, turning it into my dream dress for the big day. I really appreciated her eye for detail, clear passion for what she does, no-nonsense perfectionism, and friendliness (complete with some good-natured sarcasm). Admittedly, Janet was not on my original list of people to call while searching for tailors in the Palo Alto / Menlo Park area, but I'm grateful to my friend for sending me her way after coming across her website by chance. Janet works out of her home in Palo Alto, as well as a studio space in San Carlos, and was flexible with scheduling around my work hours. We ended up having everything altered and ready to go more than two months before the wedding, which opened up my schedule and helped ease the month-of craziness. Janet really took the time to get to know me, and my preferences, and to give me her full attention and energy during our appointments. I never felt like "just another bride" when I visited Janet; in fact, it felt like I was going over to hang out with a friend or fun (and slightly quirky--in the best way possible) aunt. In terms of craftsmanship, Janet excels. She took an already gorgeous dress and made it exquisite and 100% me. My dress was a sample that was several sizes too large, and though I liked the style very much as it was, I had been dreaming of a corset back (instead of the zipper/button closure that the dress had). After some thought, Janet decided she would be able to create the corset back, and I could tell how much fun she had with the process (even though it was tedious at times!). She also helped me choose and attach a built-in bra, as well as the perfect beaded belt to take my dress up another notch. I got so many compliments from friends and family, and my groom couldn't believe how amazing it turned out! Janet's services are not inexpensive by any means, but seemed really reasonable given other quotes I'd received, and the amount of care and skill she employed. The only thing that I would recommend for improvement is to be very open about pricing and changes in pricing, especially as the project changes or evolves. I ended up paying more than Janet's original quote because the corset back and belt addition was more than she had anticipated, but didn't find this out until the end. However, Janet admitted to wishing she'd realized this sooner, and I believe she is conscientious about making this very transparent for future clients. Though I haven't gotten a wedding dress altered before (and can't compare people's experiences going through bridal salons), working with Janet was one of the best decisions I made during the wedding planning process. She really is a hidden gem who puts her clients first and holds her work to the utmost standards. One of my good friends (and a bride to be) accompanied me to an appointment, and liked Janet so much that she hired her to alter her wedding dress, too!

Kelsey K.

Janet could not have done a better job altering my dress. It fit perfectly and I felt gorgeous and comfortable. The top of my dress was sheer, and she chose the perfect fabric to line the inside of the top so I didn't have to wear anything underneath. She got everything right, from the length of the skirt to the amount she brought the shoulders up in order to make the V-neck less deep.

Elaine B.

I bought a wedding dress at Nordstrom and spent weeks going back and forth to San Francisco for alterations. Their alterations team did not listen to me or take any care with their work and with only a few days left until my wedding, the dress had been so badly worked that half of the top was off the shoulder while the other half was on the shoulder. I couldn't believe the unprofessionalism of the Nordstrom team (stay away!). I reached out to Janet in a panic and she was a lifesaver. She fit me into her schedule immediately and worked to fix the dress in only two days. By taking the time and care to do the job correctly, she was able to fix the work Nordstrom did and she completely saved my wedding! Regardless of where you buy your dress, when it comes to alterations, I would highly advise you call Janet first!

You would have never guessed the dress I wore started out with just some small lace on the back

If I could give her 6 stars, I absolutely would. Janet is a true artist - she takes incredible pride in her work and does a fantastic job. I came to her with a real major alteration project for my wedding dress. I had fallen in love with a dress, but I needed to have some significant alterations done to make it more modest. That included: adding a back from essentially nothing, adding sleeves, and adding a lining to part of the front. Add to that there was delicate lace all over the bodice - I gave her a stack of matching spare lace to work with. Plus, she did the hem and a bustle as well. Needless to say it was a huge task and of course I had a pretty condensed timeline. Janet did an AMAZING job. I was getting compliments all day on how beautiful the dress was and I couldn't be more pleased. Yes, she is more expensive than other tailors and admits that freely. But her quality is impeccable and I wouldn't have wanted to risk someone else making a mess of such an important piece of clothing.

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2 months ago

Janet was sweet and took the straps in on my wedding dress and sewed in cups. No complaints here!

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5 days ago

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9 months ago

I brought in 9 pairs of jeans and trousers to be fitted for me. Exquisite work on each item!

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Janet G.

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1 year ago

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Janet G.

Thank you for the wonderful review, Anna! I love you too.

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Ask the Community - Janet Ghilarducci

I have a fur jacket with a seam coming loose. It's an old favorite. Is this something you could fix?

Yes. I have a $60 minimum

Hi - I see mainly wedding dress alterations. Do you do pants/jeans shortening? Dan

Yes

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Janet Ghilarducci

“Add to that there was delicate lace all over the bodice - I gave her a stack of matching spare lace to work with.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

Read more highlights

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Exceptional Service at Fancy Alterations - Mariam Is Absolutely Amazing!…read more I cannot say enough wonderful things about Mariam at Fancy Alterations in Redwood City! For the grand opening of my beauty salon, HairGlim, I trusted Mariam with the clothing alterations for my entire team, and she did an absolutely phenomenal job! Every single piece was tailored with incredible precision, attention to detail, and professionalism. Mariam made sure everyone looked elegant, polished, and absolutely perfect for such an important milestone in our business. What truly makes Mariam special is not just her exceptional talent, but also her kindness, patience, dedication, and genuine passion for her work. She treated every outfit as if it were her own, making sure everything was flawless. Preparing for a grand opening can be stressful, but Mariam made this part of the experience completely effortless. The results exceeded all my expectations, and our entire team looked fantastic! If you're looking for someone who genuinely cares about quality, perfection, and customer satisfaction, Mariam at Fancy Alterations is the person to trust! Thank you so much, Mariam, for helping make our special day even more memorable. You have earned a loyal customer, and I will absolutely be returning! Five stars simply aren't enough for this level of service!

My wedding dress for my elopement was altered exactly how I envisioned. I had the front hemmed…read moresince it was a bit too long, added bustles to the back, and had the sides taken in slightly for a more fitted look. The consultation was very helpful in finalizing the details and pricing, and I appreciated the discount for paying in cash. They set a clear pickup date and time, and at the final try-on I was extremely happy with the result. I would definitely recommend them for wedding dress alterations! Just be sure to allow at least two months specifically for wedding dress alterations, as noted on their website.

Magic Alterations

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Sarah is a terrific tailor and a lovely person. She can do everything from very complicated to…read moresimple

I am beyond disappointed with my experience at this alterations shop, especially considering these…read morealterations were for my wedding events. I brought in my Untamed Petals welcome party dress over two months ago to have the hem shortened, sleeves altered, and dress taken in. From the very beginning, I repeatedly asked for an estimate of what the alterations would cost, but I was never given a clear price. Had I known what I would eventually be charged, I would have taken my dress elsewhere. Throughout those two months, the older woman working on my dress had me come in multiple times for fittings specifically to ensure the dress was being altered to fit my body correctly. I made the time to attend these appointments, trusting that the repeated fittings meant everything was being carefully measured and adjusted. This makes the final result even more frustrating and disappointing. Fast-forward over two months, and I finally picked up my dress today, just 10 days before leaving for my wedding. Not only was I shocked to be told the alterations would cost $550, but the dress now barely zips up! The woman helping me was visibly struggling to get the zipper closed. After multiple fittings over the course of two months, how is it possible that the final fit is this poor? What was the purpose of having me come back repeatedly if the dress was ultimately going to be this tight? When I questioned the price, the cost was blamed on the light beading on my Untamed Petals dress. While I understand that certain fabrics and embellishments can require additional work, this should have been communicated and discussed before the alterations were completed, not when I arrived to pick up my dress. Unfortunately, the disappointment didn't stop there. I also dropped off four pairs of my fiancé's pants that he needed for our wedding. One pair was cut too short, and rather than taking accountability for the mistake, the explanation I received was that she had been extremely stressed. I understand that running a business can be overwhelming, but customers should not have to pay the price for someone else's stress, especially when trusting a professional with clothing for such an important occasion. Between the lack of upfront pricing, the $550 surprise alteration bill, the multiple fittings that still resulted in a poorly fitting dress, and the mistake with my fiancé's pants, this entire experience has been incredibly frustrating. I trusted this business with clothing for one of the most important weekends of my life, and instead of feeling excited, I am left stressed and disappointed just days before my wedding. I would strongly encourage anyone considering this shop, especially brides, to get a written estimate upfront and be extremely cautious when trusting them with time-sensitive alterations. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this business based on my experience.

Atherton Dry Cleaning & Quality Alterations

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Service really stands out here! The owner is very kind and straightforward, and communicates…read moreclearly in advance if there are any issues. The clothes are ready on time, and the packaging is neat and careful--you can tell they put a lot of effort into it. This will definitely be my go-to dry cleaner from now on.

I have been a longtime Atherton Dry Cleaning customer, probably 15+ years, and while I'd never…read moreposted a review, we knew and were known by Angela and Stanley Shu, the wonderful former owners. If I'd posted then, it would have been 5 stars. One time they made a mistake - my 2 (very) expensive and relatively new Canali flat-front dress pants were picked up by another customer. When I inquired and showed Angela the claim check, she worked really hard to find my clothes - using cameras (she sent me a screenshot showing me dropping them off, to confirm) she made customer inquiries, calling customers who may have picked up same day, or with similar claim numbers. And it took her 15 days (giving me periodic updates), but she literally tracked my clothes to another customer. And I got them back. What really satisfied me wasn't my relief in not losing some rather expensive pants, but the level of concern and customer service that Atherton Cleaners showed. And it was the same with Stanley , who was often working customer drop off and pick up on Saturdays which is usually when my wife or I stopped in. In addition to doing a good job, the Shu's sincerely cared about their customers, and knew them personally. BUT, Angela and Stanley retired in early 2025. The new couple who bought out Atherton Cleaners are perfectly nice people, but unfortunately, they do not share the same customer values that Stanley and Angela showed for many, many years. We continued to use Atherton Cleaners, but recently I dropped off a French blue Boss dress shirt. I'd worn it to an event that I participated in on a Friday, dropped it off on Saturday. A week later my wife picked it up, and the new owner gave it back with what I can only describe as a severe, vertical and horizontal tear along the shirt's button placket. The owner stated that the shirt came in that way, which was simply untrue. And he denied that the rip was caused by their laundering or pressing equipment. It would have been difficult for me to create such a specific tear (see photo). And he pointed out to my wife that it was dirty, which is of course why we brought it in! My issue is not that they didn't offer to pay for the shirt. The shirt was expensive when I bought it, but it was several years old, and it was starting to wear, although it looked nice when cleaned and it had no tears or damage when I brought it in that day. It was just worn (probably twice before cleaning), unpressed and was developing some ring around the collar. My issue was their unwillingness to just tell the truth, which was "I'm really sorry, our machine ruined your shirt". In truth, I'd probably not have asked for them to replace the shirt, because I'd realized I needed to buy a new French blue dress shirt. But as a customer, having the business look you in the eye and tell you it's your fault shows a complete lack of accountability. It's not about whether you make a mistake or not - every business makes mistakes. I make mistakes. It's just owning them and letting your customers know that you care and commit to doing better. I've decided to take my business elsewhere, and I'm disappointed in the transition from the 5-star customer service days of Angela and Stanley's Atherton Cleaners to the newer, much less customer focused Atherton Cleaners.

Jacquie's Sew & Sew

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Jacquie was referred to me recently by my longtime seamstress who cannot take on new business right…read morenow. I brought two pairs of dress shorts to Jacquie to see if she could salvage them as I had gained weight and couldn't wear them. With the summer here, I didn't want to lose these shorts which are part of two important summer outfits I've long-depended on. Jacquie or her assistants did a terrific job on the shorts and saved these outfits! One of the shorts is a rare Hawaiian design. I will bring all my clothes that need alterations to Jacquie and look forward to doing more business with her!

I've been meaning to take some clothes here for years but never get around to it. As I've gotten…read moreolder I've acquired some beautiful articles of clothing that are too delicate and irreplaceable to entrust to just anyone. I was amused that this operation is patronized by some Silicon Valley giants such as Ms Sheryl Sandberg-as I've learned reading other testimonials here. Well-if it's good enough for them, it must be good enough for me-albeit on a pay day. Their pricing is-yes, to the untrained eye, a tad pricey-but you get what you pay for. For special items, this is the place to be. I brought a silk dress that needed to be hemmed and the bust adjusted. I regret not remembering the lady who helped me but she was very friendly, gave me her expert recommendation, had a little chat and she sent me away. I did ask for a quote before I left and I felt it was reasonable given the delicate material and significant adjustments. I appreciated having a private room to myself and seamstress. I noticed they had shoes available of varying heights to simulate what it might look like alog with hair clips etc. Theres a platform they have you stand on so they can be at eye level to the hem if needed without crouching too low. These ladies/ folks are the real deal. Pro tip: there is parking available for customers past their shop in case street parking is complicated.

Janet Ghilarducci - sewingalterations - Updated October 2026

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