This place is a surprisingly busy little shop way out in Langley (I live in East Van), but it came…read morehighly recommended. I have got to say, Van is a very skilled, competent tailor. She has had the store since 1993, & has over 30 years of experience. I had to be picky for a reason. She was entrusted with the difficult task of altering my wedding dresses!
My traditional white dress needed a bunch of work done to it. Some of it was standard stuff - it needed a bustle, & needed to be hemmed. However, my dress was poufy & had a few layers of silk & tulle, which made it a bit trickier than the standard slinky dress. Then she had to take in the bust...but my dress didn't have a seam down the sides & was covered in lace. Van had to create a seam, cover it back up with the lace, and make it look like nothing had ever happened there. She also had to create a sweetheart neckline. Did i mention that it was also low backed? Easier or more difficult? Am I the nightmare customer everyone dreads having? Why yes, yes I am!
My other dress, which was a form fitting, open backed, neck high, red lace cheongsam-inspired fishtail beauty, also needed a complete overhaul! I ordered it online, from China, and I gave the sellers all the correct measurements, but when I received it, nothing fit right! I had to have 1 of 2 inner linings taken out, neckline of the lining lowered, waist taken in, upper chest part shortened (which meant taking out the mandarin collar, adjusting the lace, & putting the collar back on), sleeves taken in & open back material adjusted so it sat right. Anyway, she pretty much made it into a new dress!
I can't believe she did such a great job with my dresses and in a reasonable time, too...and both my maid of honour & bridesmaid got their dresses altered with her too! All the guests loved the outfits. I owe it all to her for making them fit. If I ever have to get a fancy gala ball gown for the Oscars altered, I know where to go.
Other services:
-Prom dress season alterations! You think a wedding dress is hard? Look at these monstrous grad dresses with beads, pleats, ruffles, sequins, metallic fabrics, bright colours with nowhere to hide flaws! These things can be extreme!
-Van also sells handmade cheongsam & traditional Vietnamese clothes for guys, gals & kids, with silk fabrics straight from China & Vietnam. Amazing work.
-All the regular kinds of alterations are done here too - pants/jeans hemmed, suits, dress shirts, leather, whatever it is, she can do it!
Open 6 days a week! Sundays closed. Gotta take a break some time.