So, I don't like writing bad reviews, and rarely do. What I do like is patronizing local businesses... But here's my story... I walk into the shop, take a pair of shorts out of my backpack, and show whom I believe is the proprietor the broken zipper. He says yes, he can fix it, and then asks as clear as day, "10 dollars ok?" I said that works for me. He proceeded to write up a ticket and asked me how soon I needed the job done. I said no rush. He then asked, 'Is Friday the 30th ok?' (11 days away). I also said that's fine. Next, he says 'That's 30 dollars,' but quickly corrected himself (realizing that 30 was the date he just mentioned), and now asked for $20. I said, 'But sir, you just told me the price was $10.' He became visibly angry, and said I was the one who made a mistake. While I attempted to talk, he repeatedly said "Bye" to me, so I left with my shorts. Here's the thing: I'm now Googling how much alteration shops charge to fix zippers on pants (which I assume is the same as shorts). What's coming up is anything from $10 - $25 dollars. So, I'm not complaining about the price of $20 -- I guess that's pretty standard -- I'm venting about how this gentleman made a mistake, blamed me, and angrily told me to go. I see others here have had great experiences. Glad for them. Maybe I caught this guy on a bad day. read more

I have been going to Kim for years and have had a wonderful experience. She has tailored a variety of clothes for me, including bridesmaid dresses, sundresses, PJ's, sweatshirts, etc., and has done an excellent job with everything. She and her partner are kind and patient and lovely to work with. Her prices are reasonable and honestly could be increased for her high quality work. read more

Excellent craftsmanship and value from Kim's Alterations! Conveniently located near the Downtown Mall, I highly recommend visiting for your tailoring needs in the Charlottesville area! read more

Took my custom made dress from Nigeria to get some minor alterations. I specifically told them I only wanted the dress to be taken in to make it more a-line than flared. They took the dress in all way up to the hips which made it super tight. They refused to fix the issue immediately or give me a partial refund. I will not be using them again. read more

The lady who is the seamstress is nice and knows her stuff - but the male owner is a surly yeller. The place is super expensive, they charged me $56. for a pencil skirt hem. When I asked ... $56.00 why is it that much to hem 24 inches he started yelling and telling me and saying that if I din't like it I should leave. I needed the skirt for an even so I paid it but I will not be going back. I don't need to pay for the privilege to be verbally assaulted by some crazy old man read more

I have trusted Kim's to alter multiple dresses for me since Heidi's Perfect Fit closed. After having bad experiences with another tailor in town, I stumbled on Kim's and will not go anywhere else. I took a tiered Marchesa gown with a complex back to her last year as it was a bit too small in a few places, but buying a larger size would have been too much fabric everywhere. I didn't even know what could be done but I put it on with her and just asked if she could make it fit me. She recommended opening the arm holes a bit, letting out the back and lowering the neck line - when I got it back you could not tell it had been altered, but it fit like a glove. Kim's worked magic that day and I've had them do various types of dresses ever since because I have a difficult to fit body type. (athletic, broad shoulders, large bust, thicker legs...size 6-8 but not the typical fit model). ANYWAY, Kim's knows what they're doing, and I've had nothing but fabulous experiences with them. (Fair prices and quick turnaround too)! read more

I'm not really a stickler for basic tailoring. What is fine is usually fine. This is terrible. Kim's hacked my pants up, got the date wrong, and forced me to wait an hour to get them after waiting a week. A basic letting out of the waist was such an awful job that my wife refused to let me wear the pants for the event that necessitated tailoring. The pants literally went in the trash. I hate that. I will never return or recommend. What a terrible, terrible experience Kim's is. read more

Have always done an amazing job on a sweater with sequins I take in. Reasonably priced too. I will continue to use Kim's alterations.

So a little recent update. I got my pants hemmed a few weeks ago and, like always, they did a great job. My pants came back the perfect length for my short little legs haha I think in terms of the smell from the last review I did, it was probably just like a fluke thing because my pants were fine. I definitely will continue to go there. read more

Have been to a few alteration shops in the area & this by far is the BEST one for the CHEAPEST price! Had to get my military service dress pants hemmed & within a few days Kim's was able to do this so promptly for me. They called me a few days after drop off (a Friday) and by Wednesday I had received a call they were complete. Not to mention CHEAPEST price in town! Everywhere else does basic pant hemming regardless of the pant material for 20 bucks (which is not expensive BUT not the cheapest option). Kim's is only 12 bucks! Side notes: there are no bathrooms in the shop itself. It's cute, quiet and within a suite of other small shops at the downtown mall in cville. To be more specific it's right inside the building of Marco & Luca's! If you keep walking past you'll eventually see their banner hanging outside their door. read more

Always the best - careful attention to detail and very kind owners. I highly recommend Kim's Alterations.

Very satisfied with the quality of work and the responsiveness of this shop. Work was completed professionally and as promised. I will be glad to use Kim's for all my future tailoring needs in Charlottesville. I would definitely recommend this business. read more

My mother-in-law bought my daughter a beautiful, pale yellow prom dress- that was about a foot too long! Ms. Kim did a fantastic job with the hem and attaching some bra cups so that my daughter wouldn't have to try to find a backless bra. I will definitely come here again if I need more alterations! read more

I have been coming here since I wrote my first initial review and now they are the only tailor I use in Cville! I recently brought in a very difficult and intricately beaded formal gown that would have normally been a fortune to alter at boutique places but not here. Not only was the turn around time 1 week, the quality was excellent. They even saved the extra beads for me which I plan to craft into something new. Additionally, since I had brought in several garments for both dry cleaning and alterations Kim took time to help carry the items to my car. It would have been hard to do it solo since it was literally an armful of carefully cleaned clothing. That was seriously some of the best above and beyond service I have received at an alteration business ever! Kim and Kim are amazing people who always greet you with a smile and a can-do attitude. They listen patiently while you describe what you want and then find ways to do it. They also offer helpful feedback on current styles of alterations if you aren't sure what type you would like for formal gowns, etc. Also? If there is any issue with the alteration they encourage you to come back to talk to them so they can take care of it. Total props! FYI - They take credit cards now! read more

Great service and customer service! I asked for alterations within a short time frame, and they were able to get the job done. The outcome was excellent. I highly recommend this hidden gem! read more

I got my wedding dress altered here and she did a great job. However, I also got a zipper replaced in a winter coat, unfortunately this did not hold up and the zipper broke after only a dozen uses (potentially the quality of the zipper used in replacement?) Anyways, had to pay to get this fixed as well....was disappointed in the quality of the repair work. read more

Very kind, quick and reasonably priced. I definitely plan on going back to utilize them.

Finding a good tailor is difficult. I moved to Charlottesville and needed a suit tailored, and stopped by two other spots before finding Kim's. One was way too expensive and the other couldn't seem to be bothered to win my business. Kim's, located inside one of the downtown mall buildings, was welcoming from the minute I walked in the door. The knowledgeable seamstress helped me determine if my suit fit and let out a jacket, took in a vest and hemmed my pants expertly. Prices were reasonable - $12 for a pants hem, for example - and service prompt. It took about 4 days, but I said I was in no rush. I'll be using them for the rest of my time in C'Ville. read more

I am so extremely impressed by the service I received at Kim's Alterations. A shoulder of my favorite wool red plaid blazer was attacked by some kind of cloth eating bug. They made a weird shape (photos have been uploaded), and Kim was able to take material from other parts of the blazer to fix the shoulder seamlessly. You cannot even see where the fix is, which is amazing, but even more so that she did it for $12. My favorite blazer lives to see another day. A forever customer after this experience. read more

Kim's Alterations - After - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Kim's Alterations was a lifesaver! I got my wedding dress back from a different tailor five days before my wedding. Not only was it still way too big, but the other tailor had somehow folded over and sewed the lining on the bust so that it was lumpy and pointy - plus added darts that didn't even match each other. There was no hiding the damage and no wearing it on my wedding day! I took it to Kim's and she undid everything the previous tailor had done AND sewed it to fit all in THREE DAYS. I didn't think it could be done and am forever grateful. Thank you Kim's Alterations! read more

I have been to Kims for both dry cleaning and alternations dozens of times over the past two years and they do a PHENOMENAL job. I've brought in some challenging dry cleaning pieces (eg heavy wool blankets, sarees) and they have always gone above and beyond to get the job done. Kim is also just a very pleasant and skilled individual. Can't recommend them highly enough read more

I had jeans taken in on the waist and they fit perfectly. The staff was also extremely friendly. I will definitely be using Kim's Alterations again and recommending to all of my friends :) read more

Incredible workmanship and convenient location. Hubby scored a Burberry trench coat at a thrift store that was a couple sizes too large. We came here to have it altered and the coat and the separate lining inside now fit perfectly - and you can't even tell that they were altered! I've also brought a couple longchamp le pliage bags here to mend holes worn at the corners. She did an incredible job and I'll get a few more years out of each bag instead of having to buy a new one. The only issue I have is that each time there was a misunderstanding about pricing. Make sure you have it written down prior to picking up the garment to avoid miscommunication. read more

This is a fine tailoring shop. I brought my suit here because another local seamstress/alterations shop botched my alterations. I should have known better, but I wanted to support a local business and gave them the benefit of the doubt. Kim's was able to fix crooked and wrinkled stitches where the other shop had taken in the waist on my suit jacket. And you couldn't tell that it didn't come from the factory like that after Kim's fixed it. The other shop altered my sleeve length and put the buttons back on with non-matching threads, in a crooked line that was not equal distance from each other, and stitched through the lining...it looked like a child stitched it. Kim's put the buttons back on straight and with matching thread and hid the stitches behind the lining and restitched the lining like it had never happened. This is what you should expect from fine tailoring. They also brought my pants in between the pockets and the knees, and they're perfect. What's crazy is when I was explaining what I wanted her to do, she just stuck a couple safety pins on the side of one leg and that was it. So I asked if she needed to measure or mark the other side, and she said, "It's ok, I fix it". She said something about taking it in from the inside and the outside, like from both seams. Now they fit like they were made for me. These people understand how clothes are supposed to fit and how to properly alter them so that they fit, feel and look like they were made that way. Don't bother taking your clothes anywhere else for alterations, this is the best gig in town. read more

This place is great! Brought a couple of pretty wonky fitting jeans here, I had them hemmed, zippers replaced, and waist adjusted and they've held up great. read more

What a dishonest business! I took a blouse to have the sleeves shortened and instead they shortened the blouse. After realizing their mistake, they mended it by taping the hem back using a cheap mending tape that disintegrated upon washing. Did they really think I would not notice? They never told me of their mistake and proceeded to charge me for sleeve shortening. Here are the pictures. Very, very dishonest! Will never bring anything to them again. read more

Kim's Alterations - Front (the blouse is now ruined) - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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If I could give 10 stars, I would. I bought my wedding dress two weeks prior to moving to Charlottesville, so I had to find a local alteration place. I was hesitant to go anywhere besides the store where I bought my dress, but I can tell you Kim's was the best decision. I dropped off my dress and returned the day she told me to in order to do a follow-up fitting but instead, the dress fit me like a glove and I got to take it home that day. They are incredibly sweet, kind people and I will be returning for every alteration need in the future! read more

Horrible customer service. I dropped two jackets: one for a zipper replacement, one for a slide replacement. When I got the jackets home, I realized they replaced the zipper on the wrong jacket and did nothing to the other. When I took the one jacket back for correction, they accused me of bringing a different jacket back. They refused to acknowledge they made an error, so for $10, they have lost my family's business forever. read more

Kim's Alterations is a "must go to" place for all your alteration needs whether you are a cville local, uva student, or just visiting the area! I have been to numerous alteration places in cville and this is by far the best one that I have been to. Service: Upon entering, you are greeted with a friendly "hello" and assisted with whatever alteration needs you have. When you tell kim what you want that is exactly what you get! I recommend to bring in pictures or styles that you like. Cleanliness: There are two changing rooms that are super clean and a decent size. Prices: the prices here are the best that I have seen in cville and definitely worth it when you see the quality of the work that you are to receive. Turnover rate: most items take about a week to finish, but some can be finished a little earlier than that. It really depends on the item. I really have no hesitation or reservation in recommending this business because of the friendliness and quality service that Kim provides!! read more

loved this spot! great costumer service and did a beautiful job. i came in to get jeans hemmed last minute and they were able to fix it by the deadline. epic job. read more

I went to Kim's to get my jeans hemmed and when I asked for California hem, she pointed out that I'd be spending more money for something that was unnecessary, as the jeans had been previously hemmed already without the special hem used by the manufacturer. So she saved me money and this is definitely the best alteration I've ever had done on a pair of jeans. They look great! I will definitely be back! read more

The Kims are extremely sweet people and I am always greeted with a smile. They are professional and meticulously great at their jobs. I would always recommend Kim's Alterations for anyone in Charlottesville. read more

I ordered a bridesmaids dress online and the sizing was all wrong. I took it to Kim's and now it fits perfectly. Very fast and affordable. I'll definitely come here next time I need any alterations. read more

I cannot recommend Kim's highly enough. She transformed an ill-fitting, too-long, really $$$ ballgown into a perfect fit AND she made a pocket square for my partner from the extra fabric. All in less than a week, and for a completely reasonable price. I am so happy with the quality of the work, and the entire experience was extremely chill and very pleasant. read more

Exceptional quality and customer service. I had a job interview with very little notice, and grabbed a blazer from JC Penney and asked Kim to fully tailor the jacket in 24 hours. Kim did an amazing job, the jacket looks like it was made for me. Good prices as well, especially considering the value you get. Kim took very good care of me and I want to make sure as many people know about this special service as possible! read more

I needed some alterations ASAP and they've accommodated my needs for no extra charge. They also delivered on the quality. Will defiantly go back again and again read more

I recently had a dress altered for an important professional meeting and was really happy with the service and quality of work at Kim's Alterations. The proprietor was very nice and quickly understood the alterations and changes to decorative elements of the dress that I wanted done. She did skillful work in taking in a maternity dress so that the fit was professional but comfortable (this combination is not easy to come by in maternity wear, especially in third trimester). I will definitely go back to her shop in future. read more