This dress was an absolute stunner at a Tuscan wedding I attended this summer. I received so many compliments and the alterations process was a breeze with only an initial sizing and final fitting. I brought in an oversized dress (about 8 dress sizes too big) and the results couldn't have been better. Miss Veda and team are so accommodating and made me feel special. I wish I could wear this dress again! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - I'm in the middle. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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Shirley was amazing. She went above and beyond to help me get my wedding blouse fixed on time. Her experience and skill set is unmatched. Would give her 10 stars if it were possible to do that. read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - The blouse fitted to perfection by Shirley - the tailor in Nepal did not get the measurements correct with excess fabric in weird spots. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

Shirley's is hands down the best place to get alterations in the Bay Area!!! Miss Veda is a PRO who helped tailor my incredibly intricate wedding dress, as well as two other one-pieces that had a lot of complicated and unique textures and customizations that needed her expertise. She has impeccable attention to detail, and the team of folks I worked with at the shop were kind, thorough, and made sure I was in perfect shape for my wedding day. After my 5-star experience, this is the only place I will go in the Bay for my tailoring needs. They're the best! read more

This is an overdue review! Last year I had my wedding dress altered by Veda. It was a old season designer gown off the rack so had to be altered at the waist to fit me correctly. This dress had two dresses and many layers of silk chiffon. Her and her team did an amazing job and the alterations were flawless. I had a wonderful day and everyone lived the dress. Thank you! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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Love Shirley's! Friendly, fast and was up for my crazy ideas. Will definitely be back!

Inspired by a vintage dress I saw online, Veda helped bring my retro wedding dress dreams to life! She made this dress from scratch y'all! read more

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I was so excited when Big Bud Press had a sale so I could snatch a jumpsuit. Given my short legs, I knew I would be swimming in fabric; however, despite knowing this I was still disappointed because I was swimming in it. Lol. In hindsight, I wish I had before photos... next time! The other tailor I went to closed during the pandemic, and figured I'd give Shirley's a try. Given its location, I figured it would be significantly more. However, given gas prices, I figured I'd give it a shot since it is within walking distance. I called for an appointment for a fitting and was able to get one the following week on a Friday afternoon. At the date/time of my appointment, I walked in, but no one was out front, so I took a seat and waited. Shortly after I arrived, someone on the phone came in and sat at the computer. They looked busy, so I just waited till they were ready to let them know I was here for an appointment. After a few minutes, they were ready to help me and showed me to the back dressing room. I got dressed and Veda helped me. I was asked to put on shoes and Veda pinned the hem at the desired length. Very quick and efficient. Veda was also kind and gentle. Once pinned, I changed out of the jumpsuit and paid out front. It cost $20. I also left a $10 tip because I was so pleased at how reasonable the cost was. They said they would have it ready in a week. Fast forward a couple weeks later, and I picked up the jumpsuit. I called because I lost my receipt, but it was easy. I arrived and was quickly helped and on my way for other errands. Once I got home, I tried it on and it was PERFECT. My initial disappointment dissipated. It's amazing how hemming/tailoring really transforms a garment! I will definitely be a returning customer. read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Post-hemmed jumpsuit :D - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

The owner, (Veda) does an outstanding job with her alterations. I've been going to her for over 25 years and I won't go anywhere else. I highly recommend her. She and her staff are terrific! :-) read more

Unfortunately I did not have a good experience here. I brought in 2 shirts for an assessment. Both are pricey and I wanted to salvage them by adding a panel or finding another creative way to make the arms roomier and more comfortable. The seamstress was dismissive, seemed to think it was funny, said it would be a lot of work, and instead offered to remake a similar design. Since I was looking for more of a collaborative, upcycle approach, I declined. For others looking for the same, you may want to look elsewhere. I can't comment on the quality of their work since I opted not to move forward, but would not return for simpler alterations based on this experience. read more

This the ONLY place I go to for alterations. They are seasoned professionals and make every garment look like it was custom made for you. Highly recommend. read more

They're amazing! Always timely service and great alterations. Veda is super professional and experienced.

Anazing service and quality job done by Veda and her team of seamstresses! Not the cheapest but the best price for the quality hemming she did on a luxurious jumpsuit I recently purchased from McMullen (they are partnered with Shirley's, so McMullen's clients get VIP treatment and services with Shirley's). Veda and her team were on vacation all week and after I called in, they let me come in a day early for a fitting because I had a tight timeline to meet (less than a week) during the peak of wedding season, nonetheless. Veda offered to have me come in the day that I called. Veda herself met with me in the shop and she very succinctly and professionally took in my request and advised on what type of hemming she would do to make the outfit look even more professional and clean cut (we went with an invisible hem). Upon pickup, Veda had it back to me before her promised date and also included the few inches of fabric she took off with my altered jumpsuit. Would recommend any SF people in need of a quality tailor and/or seamstress to hop over the Bay and come to Shirley's if the wait time for other quality shops in SF are too pricey or have a two month wait time to get you in! read more

Veda completely reconstructed my moms wedding dress into the dress of my dreams. With a short timeline and a limited budget she worked her magic. I wouldn't have wanted to take my dress anywhere else, it was a true work of art that exceeded my expectations. This is a very "old school" shop, in the sense that she books appointments on a handwritten calendar, doesn't have a receptionist, etc. If you are wanting alterations that are quick and cheap this is not the place for you. If you understand that design and sewing take time, patience, and skill, you'll be satisfied. I visited her shop in Oakland 4-5 times over a 2 months period to have various fittings. However, this was essential in making sure the dress was perfect. This level of attention to detail is what makes Veda different from other seamstresses. She is not looking to just churn out clients, instead she takes her time making sure every measurement, seam, stitch, bead, and zipper are just right. Photos attached of the before (moms dress from 1992), the inspiration photo brought her (an anthropology wedding dress), and the final result on my wedding day! read more

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They saw our vision. And my family is forever grateful. If nothing else, understand the level of creativity and talent that this business embodies to not turn us away. We went to EIGHT seamstresses. Each told us our vision was too grand and turned us away. EIGHT! My six-year-old son wanted to be Jim Carrey's "The Mask" for Halloween. Unfortunately, not ONE online or brick or mortar seller had the kid sizing in stock. Our goal? To turn a men's small into a children's size 7-8. That is transitioning a 32-inch waist into 22 inches, removing at least 11 inches or more of fabric from everything, and reconstructing an entire zoot suit for a child. Listen - no, I need you to silence everything and listen to me - read these words aloud. Shirley's reconstructed this entire zoot suit, along with complementary collar stitching on the shirt - in less than five days. My son's costume is EPIC. Entirely and utterly epic. He was Jim Carrey's The Mask because of Shirley's. There is nothing else. No one else could have completed what she did in the time allotted. Again, They saw our vision - and turned it into an amazing reality. My son told everyone at school, "My mommy and Shirley made me this costume..." Thank you! read more

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I first found Veda Ambeau of Shirley's Design and Alterations years ago when I wanted a special occasion cocktail dress and I could not find what I was looking for. Fast forward to trying to find a dress off the rack for my son's wedding. Veda helped me create the perfect gown. I could not have been happier! I received so many compliments! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Shirley's Design and Alterations gown. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

Professional and timely! I brought in a Birdy Grey dress, lehenga and kurta set I needed altered for a wedding. The Birdy Grey dress was an easy job - just needed to shorten the bottom of the dress. However, the lehenga and kurta set needed major alterations since I bought from House of Indya and the sizing was totally off! Ms. Veda helped customize these outfits for my body, which I desperately needed as I had just had a baby two months ago and was not feeling great about my new body. I had a fitting scheduled two weeks after my initial appointment and I was not disappointed - everything fit perfectly on this new body and I'm so grateful for the work Ms. Veda and her team did to make this new mom feel good in her postpartum body. I will say that the price of all the work done was much more than I expected, so be ready to pay up for quality work! read more

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Veda and her staff were amazing! They were able to completely tailor my wedding dress in 4 weeks, which was helpful as due to the pandemic I only had 6 weeks to my wedding date from my first consultation. My dress was quite complicated being both beaded and lace. I never felt like she was taking advantage of me as a bride and felt as though her prices were fair. Also, the bustle was a work of art. She tightened the straps and took up the train making it more proportional to my height. I have and would recommend going here for any of your alternation needs. Photo credit: Nuva Photography, Orlando FL read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Photo credit: Nuva Photography, Orlando FL - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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So impressed with the alterations done with the team at Shirley's designs. Grateful to staff of working around my teaching schedule to accommodate my daughter coming in with her dress for advice, getting really helpful advice, and then getting beautiful tailoring. Thank you so much! read more

Veda and her team were recommended to me by the bridal shop I purchased my dress from. With COVID, I did not receive my dress from the company I ordered from until 6 weeks before my wedding date. I was so worried there wouldn't be enough time for proper alterations, however Veda assured me she could do it all within that timeline. Making an appointment was easy, and although their hours are limited due to the pandemic, I was able to find times that worked with my schedule. The initial visit was the longest, and then I had three fittings after. My dress was ready the week before my wedding, and the work Veda and her team did was beautiful. The dress really accentuated my body shape, and the way everything was altered made it so comfortable to wear. Each time I visited, COVID protocols were being followed, and Veda was so kind, understanding, and respectful. The pricing is fair and comparable to other alteration shops, and I highly recommend her services. read more

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It seems as if this business is the type that gets rave reviews from most customers but for every ten compliments there is a warning about extraordinarily bad service. Buyer beware that you are not customer eleven! The attached screenshot of a review by Anne A over a decade ago is STILL true, and says it all. read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

Vita and the team at Shirley's Designs are incredible! They paid such close attention to detail while altering my wedding dress and I couldn't be happier with the results. If you're looking for an incredibly thoughtful team who takes tailoring your dress as serious as you take planning your wedding, this is the team for you. Can't recommend them enough! read more

I never leave yelp reviews, but I had to after what an amazing experience we just had. I have a very important wedding tomorrow and had Shirley's alter my dress. I was supposed to pick it up before they closed at 2pm today and forgot with so many other things going on. The shop is closed until Tuesday but Veda went above an beyond and managed to help me get my dress in time. I am so relieved and so grateful! read more

Expensive for everyday minor repairs and maintenance. Also they do not accept walk-ins.

Veda worked tirelessly with me over the span of 4-5 months to alter a sample size wedding dress that I purchased. She was meticulous and honest, which I appreciated so much. Her pricing was fair, considering I think we did a total of 8 fittings within the time frame. There's a reason why this wonderful woman is so highly rated and respected within the local community - she's simply amazing at what she does. Photos attached! The train was super long, and she applied a French bustle to both the inner lining and the outer train which was challenging to say the least. But the effect was beautifully done.. and she made my butt look so good I would recommend Veda to anyone for alterations services no matter how big or small. read more

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I am just thankful for them. Yes, they were surprised when I told them that I have a budget and a week left for my wedding. But they accomodated my not-only-one-but-two-dress-alterations well. So thank you SO much Veda and team, they really did a good job (I needed a bustle and a fit bust area). If not because of them, I would not have a wedding dress on my wedding day. Thankful for my fiance who's my husband now who found this beautiful place (I really love the feminine interior and neat studio that they have). God bless! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Bust area altered well, so it fits my torso. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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I ordered a beautiful wedding dress from an Etsy vendor in Moldova and when it arrived it was long instead of short. It was perfect except for the length so I search for a tailor in Oakland. Shirley's hemmed it perfectly and the customer service felt like you were with family. I highly recommend them! read more

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I've been a client for decades. I've tried other alterations shops from time to time, just checking to see if there were any deals to be had out there. I always bounce right back to Shirley's and the talented proprietor Veda Ambeau. Her prices are on a par with all the better tailoring shops, and her skill is not to be matched. Feel confident taking your designer-label alterations to her. Last year she added 4 inches of girth to a Dolce Gabbana patterned silk jacket by taking the matching fabric out of the back of the lining, and adding it to the outside side seams. Flawless. She is patient, kind and funny. Be patient and kind to her if you go see her. read more

I found my wedding dress at Davids Bridal for $99. I like to think I was a very easy-going bride. I spent more money on the alterations of the dress than the dress itself. But, only because the dress was so cheap. Shirley was great! She worked with very tricky fabric and gave me several fittings. At one point she had an older lady working as the receptionist and we had a couple of miscommunications. But, I wasn't bothered by her. I think Shirley may have since replaced her. Shirley gave me snaps so I could take a long piece of fabric on and off. She spent a great deal of time making pickups and bustles so that I could dance on my wedding night. After months of preparation, my wedding day finally arrived in October 2018. I was very happy with Shirley's work. My dress looked and felt so good. I'll never forget dancing with my husband and late father. It was everything I dreamed. read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Wedding dress - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

Veda literally made magic happen for my wedding! Not only did she make my wedding dress fit me perfectly, she transformed my mother's wedding dress into a dream ensemble for my 60s themed rehearsal dinner. In a year with more weddings than ever before she has managed to do excellent work amongst chaos. So thrilled and will be recommending her to everyone! read more

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Looking at Yelp reviews, I went there NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN. Gave my Dress to be altered, looks like they outsource it to someone and they made a big mistake and ignored the instructions. I pointed out how easy it was to fix the mistake and she had me wait for 6 weeks and charged extra. Not going there again. read more

I came here and Veda was kind, generous and very helpful in helping me get my oversized shirts fit after I lose about 20 lbs! She's very professional and requires a mask when you head in, I had 3 shirts done and they fit really well! I couldn't thank her enough for helping me out before the wedding. If you need something fixed. Def check this place out. Just make sure you have a week of time before doing so. It looks like they are always busy here. Keep up the good work! read more

What can I even say about Veda and the hard work she put into my dress? I went in to Shirley's at least 7 times to make sure my wedding dress fit just right. Between trying to lose a few pounds before the big day, the bra or no bra debate, and then the decision around how to bustle the dress; I really felt that Veda was there to walk me through the ups and downs of the alterations process. She really made sure I felt comfortable, was able to bust a move in the dress, and she walked me through everything her and her associates were going to alter every time I came in. One thing I really appreciated about Veda's help too, she stuck with the quote from the very beginning. I was a bride on a budget and I really needed to stick to the quote and Veda made me feel confident we could do it! Thank you Veda and everyone at Shirley's Alterations for making me feel like the most beautiful bride! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Picture perfect thanks to Shirley's Alterations! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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Veda is amazing! I came to Veda with a floor length sequin gown, a complicated and difficult fabric to work with! The second I was in the dress she knew exactly what to adjust to make it the perfect fit, I immediately knew I was in the company of a true professional! The length was too long, the waistline too low, the neckline hanging and awkward, and she mastered it all! I'm so thankful I chose Veda for this important dress (I'm getting murried in it ) I will be back with more garments that aren't quite right so she can work her magic on them attached are before and after pics where you can see the adjustments, seems small, but made a HUGE difference. read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Before pic, hem too long, waist ill fitting, neckline loose. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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What an exceptional place! I took both of my wedding dresses here for extensive alterations and I could not be happier with the results! Meticulous work and a warm and welcoming environment. Could not recommend it more! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

I had ripped my $200 winter jacket on one sleeve from a small bike accident and looked for someone to be able to repair it. I stumbled upon Shirley's who gave me an estimate upfront to repair it. It took 2 weeks longer than the initial 10 days expected because she needed to find materials to match the jacket, but I was not in a rush to pick it up and preferred to have it repaired properly. I finally picked it up today and I can say the repair was flawless, the jacket has no signs of a rip and giving it a tug and wearing it showed it was fairly strong. I will gladly recommend Shirley's for future work and will update on the durability of the repair! read more

Working with Shirley's was a nightmare. Not only is the reception utterly disorganized-- I was left waiting over 30minutes for my fitting on multiple occasions, Veda completely butchered my dress (creating a center seam down the middle of the bodice which ruined the fit), disregarded all my requests, and gaslit me and literally lied to my face on multiple occasions despite photographic evidence to the contrary (the dress came to us like this! You never asked us to put in a wrist loop! Etc etc!) I finally had to take my dress to another seamstress recommended by a friend to be salvaged. I can not imagine a more awful alteration experience. DO NOT TAKE YOUR WEDDING DRESS TO SHIRLEY'S. read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Shirley's mangled bodice alteration. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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Veda is amazing. When I brought Veda my wedding dress, the back was saggy. It almost looked like creepy saggy skin. She figured out that the torso of the dress was slightly too long and brought it in. The end result - the dress fit me like a glove. Veda's attention to detail and craftsmanship is amazing. And her calm demeanor and supportive attitude are an added bonus! Could not recommend her more highly! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Veda completely restructured the back of my dress - I think she did an amazing job! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

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Late post... I love Ms. Veda. She's warm, professional and honest. She has hemmed quite a few dresses for me. I'm so grateful for her work and talent. You will be happy with your results! read more

Shirley's Designs & Alterations - Gala in June 2018 - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Oakland, California

Ugh. Update is that almost all the buttons fell off in the wash and the blouse is not the same measurements as the original. An expensive lesson learned. read more

There is not enough stars on this chart for me to give a proper eval of Veda from Shirley's Designs & Alteration. I LOVE LOVE LOVE HER!!!! She is beyond fantastic, caring, and authentic to work with and my god, does she understand how to design/tailor + understand the body! She made the dress I fell in love with into the ultimate dress of my dreams! I bought my wedding dress in April 2016 from I Do Bridal in North Oakland (Hello, Tracy!!! I highly recommend her shop and HER as a person as she genuinely cares about the women that come to shop for their most perfect dress.) I absolutely fell in love with this dress and knew that I wanted to walk towards my soon to be husband in it. By August 2016, I had dropped over 20 pounds and by November it totaled over 30lbs. (woo hoo, me!) But this meant that my dress had to be severely altered. Veda's scope of work: reconstruct the bodice to fit (naturally my chest reduced by INCHES), raise the waist line, cut the whimsical bottom of the dress to fit my 5'3" self, create a double bustle, and then to top it off: I wanted to ADD AN ILLUSION NECKLINE WITH LONG SLEEVES AND DO BEADWORK. I'm telling you----- PERFECTION! I had several fittings with Veda because 1) I had to be at my steady weight and 2) I had to have the right bra. Ladies - PROTIP: the bra slash corset (whatever you decide your undergarments to be) must be in hand when you start to custom fit the dress. Because Veda's work is so on point that she fits the dress to feel like its just part of you body and soul. It fits THAT BEAUTIFULLY on you. Veda provided her expert opinion and approach to the dress... understanding my personality and what I hoped for.... she made the process fun, personalized, and I just wanted to hug her (which I did) when I'd leave her shop. Price point is absolutely reasonable, especially for the quality and the time. She shopped for the illusion fabric and provided me with options at a fitting. She also shopped for the beads for my dress after showing her inspiration photos of what I liked. She also ended up making a cathedral veil for me to match the illusion neckline/bottom. Brides, put 110% trust in Veda. She delivers and you'll feel like the most beautiful version of yourself as you walk up to your family and most importantly your partner on your Big Day. I'm definitely coming back to get a special occasions dress made. Honestly, after my wedding dress was done - I was sad not to come and visit her. I literally came back after our wedding in January to visit. She's fantastic!!!! Fun note: Main Squeeze juicery is a few doors down. I'd go there for a good nutritious meal - if you're one that is looking to get more greens in your diet and avoid the fatty non-bridal foods. :) read more

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