I just got back from dropping off my 3rd gown to get altered by Theresa. I first went to her a few years ago for a bridesmaid dress that I ordered online which was WAY too small. This woman can absolutely work magic, she somehow found material from the length to let this dress out enough and you couldn't even tell it had been altered. I went back on the day I was to pick it up and it was still a little too small. I really needed this dress the next day and she got it done so that it fit. She even stuck to her original quote of $200 even though she had to do more work than expected. The next time I went to her I needed an evening gown shortened. This time she charged me $200 which I felt was high but I assumed she was getting me back for the torture I put her through with the last dress. :) Whatever she got it done and I looked great. I dropped off another evening gown on Monday. I called her at 10:30 and asked if I could come in at 11 to have the straps shortened. Of course she agreed. I told her I needed this done by Thursday at 12PM. I know..I just didn't know I was going to this event until the Saturday before. Theresa also pointed out I should shorten the dress slightly, so she will be doing that as well as the straps. This dress also has sort of a deep V and I have a large bust...She consulted with me on this and agreed it looked best with a bra and that she could also close the gap slightly so the bra wouldn't show. Theresa normally charges $125 for these alterations and even gave me a $25 discount this time AND didn't charge me for the rush. Theresa is absolutely wonderful and a true professional. She is sweet, kind, caring and funny. I highly recommend 10/10 times. read more

Theresa was wonderful! She was able to fit me in same day for a wedding guest dress dress that I called to check for availability. Also, even though I said she could take up to 2 weeks to alter the dress if needed she was done in less than a week! The dress had two layers that needed hem, so it probably took a bit more work (not sure much about dress altering honestly though) and it was lovely, exactly what I wanted! I'll be sure to come back to her for my future alteration needs! read more

Teresa burned three holes into my wedding dress. After my appointment today, I stood in my closet, crying basked in hopelessness and gloom. I left my wedding dress with Teresa two weeks ago for minor alterations (i.e. shortening the inner liner and adding a bustle). I went in today for my pick-up appointment. Everything looked good, until I looked at the back of my dress. There were three noticeable holes. When I inquired, Teresa immediately became hostile and said hurtful things. The highlights include "It's your fault for buying a cheap sample dress", "Your dress is too tight and you made these holes when you put it on" and "The ring on your hand made these holes when you put the dress on". First of all, one should not make a bride feel bad about wearing a "cheap" or "sample" dress. Not everyone can afford a $10,000 dress on Say Yes to the Dress. We have a budget. Second, I bought a brand new designer dress that was custom ordered with a 8-month-long wait. It was not a cheap sample dress, and I made this clear to her at our first appointment. I am very confident that the holes were created while my dress was at Teresa's shop. She did not apologize once, and I am frustrated by her dishonesty. I took my wedding dress to a different tailor. This tailor immediately confirmed that these holes are "burn marks" from a non-industrial-grade iron that should not be used on delicate materials like a wedding dress. My wedding is two weeks away, and I will be spending a lot of time and money trying to fix a perfect dress that Teresa destroyed. Bride to bride, please do not take your wedding dress to Teresa. I would not hope for this misery and drama that I experienced today on anyone else. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - This is one of the three burn holes that Teresa created on my dress. Please take your wedding dress elsewhere. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I had a great experience with Special Occasion Alterations. I brought a linen dress that I'll be wearing to my wedding that was way too big in the bust and the waist. The tailor made it fit well, in a short time, for a good price. Then I brought it back a few weeks later to get the straps adjusted and she did it for free, very quickly, as I was standing there. I'm very grateful! Great expertise and great work. read more

I called special occasions alterations in a last minute panic two days before I was going to a wedding, frantically trying to find anyone that would help. They were already closed but Theresa allowed me to swing by and squeeze me into her very busy schedule. Not only was I able to have my dress back in time for the wedding but the alterations made it look absolutely perfect. Definitely will be returning to Special Occasion Alterations and make it my regular alteration place! read more

I was very happy with the work Teresa did with a bridesmaid dress I recently had to wear. She had to take it in 2 full sizes all around as well as hem many inches of layers upon layers of crinoline. The work was meticulous and done fairly last minute. Priced appropriately for the hefty workload. Parking in front of her small South Philly shop wasn't an issue. Cash only. She's a doll and very professional. I would absolutely recommend her and will head here for my next alternation. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Theresa took this dress in 2 sizes and hemmed it. She did an amazing job fitting my curves! Worth every penny. Highly recommend! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had an absolutely wonderful experience with such a sweet woman! She was so happy to help work with me to meet my timelines which was a bit difficult due to my hectic schedule. She was extremely safe in terms of covid precautions and my dress looked AMAZING!! As the only one from the bridal party to get my alterations separately I hate to brag but I'm thankful I did - my dress was altered far better than theirs were (in my hometown). The dress was pretty terrible when I took it there (cheaply made & didn't fit quite right, ordered online per bride's request) but with her help it looked incredible! Danced the night away, no rips or tears in the hem, perfect slit, perfect fit. 10/10! read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Bridesmaid's dress alteration! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Theresa is Amazing! I'm the Mother of the Bride And had so many alterations needed to be done and then had to add some extra things on it as well and she just made it perfect. I highly recommend her and I will bring all my alterations to Theresa. Thank you Theresa! read more

Thank you for taking my wedding dress that was 4 sizes too big and making if fit perfectly! I was a little nervous because she isn't too much of a talker. It all worked out and no surprises on the reasonable price that she quoted me on the first visit. read more

Honestly, the woman who runs this place is magical. My bridesmaid dress came in too small, and with only a month to fix it. It was a bit project, and I think a lot of people would have said "no" to helping me, but my dress fit me great at the end and no one would have ever known it was too small to begin with. I will definitely go back to her for future alterations. read more

I came here through a referral from my roommate and friends who got their wedding dresses altered here. The lady is so sweet. She was detailed and gentle when handling and measuring my engagement dress. My dress was big and long and she altered it perfectly to fit my shape. I will definitely be coming for my wedding dress alterations! read more

I went for a bridesmaid dress alterations and the work was done quickly and the dress fit perfect!

Appreciated the quick turnaround time on my bridesmaids dress, but I had to trim the threads at the end of every stitch... not to mention my grey dress was hemmed with various shades of obviously green thread (lighting in the pictures is definitely more forgiving than the sunlight). Definitely feeling swindled by the bridal industry markup on this sloppy alteration. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Definitely used various shades of green thread on my grey bridesmaids dress. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I was introduced to Theresa by a friend who brought her wedding dress there years ago. Since then, I have brought four dresses to be altered: two bridesmaid dresses, an evening dress, and my wedding dress. Theresa was always kind and made me feel right at home! Upon arrival, I would change into the dress, come out, and she would make notes on the alterations. For each of the dresses, I tried them on before taking them home. For the wedding dress we did a second fitting to make sure that there were no additional alterations needed. The first appointment we talked through different bustle options and figured out what was going to work best for the dress and the second appointment we were able to make some minor tweaks to make everything look perfect. For my own comfort a week before the wedding I requested an additional fitting just to make sure that things looked okay, she was able to fit in a last minute appointment in order to make sure I felt comfortable with the dress. All in all, she's been great to work with and I will definitely be going back to her! read more

Called and made an appointment. Showed up on time and no one was in the shop. Called twice- no one answered. Mailbox was full so couldn't leave a voicemail. Don't waste your time read more

This is not a good or bad review - more a recommendation. From checking out other dresses in the shop and review, definitely come here for more complex fittings and need someone who can work with complicated fabric. Go elsewhere for straightforward alterations. $125 for a skirt hem and blouse taken in at the seams is egregious! read more

Theresa did a beautiful job on my wedding dress. Once my maid of honor and I convinced her to sew a top and skirt together to make one dress, she made a beautiful, seamless item! She also added buttons and put a lot of thought into how my dress would be bustled, which I really appreciated. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Theresa is a fantastic seamstress and one of the sweetest people I've met in Philadelphia. I brought my wedding dress to her for alterations after combing through reviews on yelp and asking coworkers for their advice. The shop is out of my way, but her skill is worth the trek. My wedding dress was way too big and a bit dinged up (I got it at a sample sale) so it needed some expert attention. I had it taken in at the waist and shortened through the shoulder area. Theresa had to completely remove the cap sleeves, adjust the keyhole back and rearrange some of the teeny tiny buttons, She also added a bustle which required some serious skill considering that the gown was actually two different layers and materials. The inner portion of the dress was a satin slip and the outer portion was a lace overlay. When Theresa was finished everything aligned perfectly and fit like a glove. My wedding dress looked absolutely perfect and I couldn't be happier. Thank you so much Theresa! read more

Ms Theresa is very professional and gifted with her craft! She did an excellent job in altering my daughters prom dress that was full of beads and sequins! read more

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Theresa helped me out with altering my separates for my wedding--taking the skirt in at the waist, bringing up the hem, and making the shoulders of the sleeveless top more fitted. The final product was perfect. It wasn't cheap, but it felt worth the cost to have someone I felt was trustworthy, especially on a shorter time frame due to COVID shipping delays! read more

Theresa did amazing work on my wedding dress. I purchased an old sample at a wedding boutique and it was at least two sizes too big. The entire dress was beaded so the smallest alteration was going to be an ordeal. Teresa was able to expertly hem and take in the dress, making it couture. She added lingerie straps and even washed an area that had been soiled. With all of my family out of state, it was a wonderful experience to prepare my dress with such a warm and nurturing lady as Teresa. Teresa only accepts cash. So bring it with you or you visit the ATM in La Fortuna, the grocery store on the corner. Also be sure to bring your receipt with you and have Teresa annotate it with each payment. I had failed to bring my receipt and my final payment was not marked on Teresa's copy. This was a regretful and uncomfortable experience after such a positive interaction at Special Occasions. Just bring your receipt and make sure it's always up to date and you'll have a very pleasant experience working with Teresa. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Photo credit Alee Gleiberman Photography - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

She did a great job hemming my dress! I got it back in less than a week. The only complaint was that it was $85 for a simple hemming.

I found Theresa on Yelp & am completely being genuine when I say that I don't know what I would do without the existence of something like Yelp. After reading the reviews I knew I was putting my bridesmaids dress into good hands as I rushed to get a bustle sewn in in time for my Aunt's wedding. I had just started a new job, was sick in bed for almost 4 days the week before, and I had also been dealing with a very personal manner all around the same time - and when I called Theresa in desperation she took me in - no questions asked. Now she reminded me to make an appointment next time and that I had hit a stroke of luck that she was in that day - but after meeting her I could tell that she is the type of woman who would help anyone she could whenever she could. She was so kind, happy to see me and to hear about the upcoming wedding, and her pricing surprised me as I'm sure she could charge much more given her years of experience, the fact that she's in Philadelphia, and the fact that this was a last minute request. But she didn't charge me a dime more than she usually would - I got the bustle sewn in and my dress steamed for only $35 - something the other bridesmaids had paid much more for at their local alterations placed in Jersey. Theresa told me that she has been doing this for 25 years, and the way she treated me as well as the perfect result of the alteration shows this. I am definitely going straight to Theresa for all of my future alterations and will be recommending her to all of my friends and family any chance I get! read more

Both of my daughters had their prom dress altered here. Both dresses needed significant alterations. She was very good and fast but I thought the cost seemed high. Although, I tried another place that was cheaper with another dress and it looked terrible so I returned here as you can have peace of mind that the job will be done right. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 for the price. read more

I was asked to begin a wedding moons ago and got fitted for the bridesmaid dress around 8 months ago. I managed to get pregnant, shock, and by the time I got the gown itself, I was already 23 weeks pregnant and blowing up quickly. Suffice to say, there was no way my dress was going to zip up over my belly, and the wedding itself was only a month and a half away. I found Theresa via Yelp, and she managed to rush alter the dress in three weeks and make it still fit AND look nice. I was charged roughly $160 for a lot of work, and couldn't be more pleased. The wedding is this weekend, and I'm so relieved. Theresa is blunt but friendly and super gifted, not to mention an absolute lifesaver. read more

Theresa is a lifesaver! I knew nothing about weddings and have been planning it in a 5-month time frame. I naively thought that 3-4 months would be sufficient time for the very basic alterations necessary for my wedding dress. I needed it hemmed, a bustle put in, and slightly let out. Other tailors I asked were completely booked and I was starting to get stressed-- but luckily Theresa took me in! She was so sweet and knowledgeable at my first fitting, and very patient with trying out different bustle styles so that I could visualize everything before committing to pretty french bustle. At my second fitting, the dress couldn't have been more perfect. She patiently explained the bustle, and she made my long train way more manageable. I'm so excited to pick it up for my wedding day! read more

I had my first wedding dress fitting with Theresa last month. It was easy to call and make an appointment for the following week, and she is able to get my dress altered in a shorter timeframe than other alteration studios in the Philly area, a huge plus for me with changing plans during COVID. Theresa was extremely sweet, accommodating, and knowledgeable. She made me feel very comfortable leaving my wedding dress with her! She took her time carefully pinning and talking through options, and I trust her expertise. She was also willing to perform the alterations for my mother's dress! Looking forward to my second fitting and seeing the magic that Theresa has made with my dress!! read more

I was recently in a wedding which was 2 weeks after my due date. I came here in a panic 8 days before the wedding with my bridesmaid dress and Theresa helped me immediately. I did not have an appointment but that was not a problem. I paid a little more since it needed to be rushed but the price was still a reasonable amount and she offered me to come back and pick it up earlier than I needed it. Her work on the alteration for the dress was impeccable and I had no problems. It is a cute and small shop and there is street parking. I would recommend making an appointment and not needing to have your items rushed- but I have no complaints! I will be coming here to have all of my items altered. read more

Working with Theresa was so wonderful, and I'm so thankful that I trusted her to alter my wedding dress. First of all, when the other alterations shops were booked, she said she could take me -- even though we were short on time and my dress had like 8 layers of lace and tulle and needed neck, strap take-ins and a bustle. Somehow she was able to shorten the dress without disrupting the scalloped lace edges and still kept the oval train shape when unbustled. I only needed one initial consultation and one fitting (it fit so well). She was so accommodating to my schedule (with after 5 p.m. fittings) and did an amazing job on my wedding dress -- it fit incredibly, the length was PERFECT and the bustle was super strong and the silhouette was just amazing -- even when bustled. I paid $400 for the service, but my dress fit like a dream and Theresa was so responsive and professional. My dress was pressed and perfect when I picked it up. read more

Theresa is amazing! I came in last minute with less than a week before my friend's wedding and she hemmed my dress perfectly and so fast. I also have had her take in a skirt for me that was too big and she did an excellent job. Highly recommend going to her for any of your alternation needs! read more

I'm not an expert at all, but I know that my dress had a ton of tulle and layers, and the hem turned out great. She added a French bustle with five ties, and added a standard bustle too with one button on the outside (but completely hidden). The dress was crazy heavy and still the bustles stayed tied and buttoned the whole time. People stepped on my dress and the button bustle still stayed! I was worried the single button would pop eventually with all the weight hanging on it, but it made it the entire night, dancing and all. Her work is great and I would use her again in a heartbeat. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Theresa hemmed and added bustles to this mountain of tulle perfectly!! **Alyssa Maloof Photography ** - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I was referred to Teresa by a facebook friend who had recently used her services, saying that her alterations were reasonably priced. She was very prompt in calling me back to schedule my first appointment. Upon my first appointment she said I needed the bust altered, bustle, hem altered, and she would make a veil for an all inclusive price of $475. Upon my second appointment after fixing the bustle and taking the bust in, the dress fit like a dream and she insisted the hem did not need to be altered and that it would be better to find the veil online instead of her making one. I had one last fitting when she insisted that making the veil was not included in the price, and when I told her I had reservations about paying such a high cost for such simple alterations she offered to knock $25 off of the price for a total of $450. Upon picking up the dress she had it nicely steamed with something blue at the bottom of the hem. I finished paying the balance and left. I would recommend her if you have a tight deadline and need the dress altered in a hurry and don't mind paying extra for it. I probably could have found someone who would have altered the dress for less and I was naive because I didn't shop around. The alterations were well done but after finding out how much other brides have paid, I would have went elsewhere. I paid $450 to have the bust taken in and a bustle added. read more

Theresa saved my wedding! I bought a gorgeous Pronovias gown with a beautiful high illusion neckline months earlier and initially had it altered by another seamstress. Since I'm so petite, the high neckline should have been cut and re-sewn by hand. My seamstress insisted on a short cut which completely ruined the gown. Rather than redo the neckline, she tried to drop the entire bodess lower. She took the waist way way out and cut the boning out of the dress! The boning is literally the core of the dress that gives you a perfect hourglass figure. She actually took the dress too far out and instead of taking it back in, tried to sew in giant cups that filled it back out. The bust was dropped so low however that the cups sat at my waist!!! She also canceled on me and missed several appointments, leaving my last fitting exactly one week before the wedding. She even tried to tell me to use a diaper pin for the bustle! I took the dress home and cried. I frantically posted on Facebook looking for recommendations and a few people recommended Theresa. Here is what Theresa did: She kept her shop open an hour late for me the following day so I could see her asap. She immediately recognized all of the shortcuts taken on the dress. She cut out the enormous cups before even letting me put the dress on she could tell they were ridiculous. When I put on the dress she pinned it and took the top in TWO SIZES! She did an entire transformation in only three days. She only charged me $275. Which is an amazing price considering all the work she had to do and the rush job. She could have easily taken advantage of my situation and charged me double. All I can say is, Theresa is my little miracle on 13th Street! She was so kind and so wonderful. I really had no backup plan if this didn't work out. She saved my wedding! read more

Amazing! She helped me with my bridal gown in a pinch! One month left she was able to fit me in, and give me two fittings. Amazing and she did an impeccable job. LOVE her and her work! Will always use her! Brides! Go to her and trust her with you dress! She won't steer you wrong!! read more

I bought a pre-owned wedding dress and was having apprehensions about finding the right person to do my alterations knowing that it could make or break the whole appearance. I was so lucky to have Theresa recommended to me by a trusted friend. She is incredibly kind and incredibly talented. You will immediately feel at ease at in Theresa's hands. We added more layers of tulle to my short dress to make it more poofy, and reduced the waistline. I felt amazing in my dress on my wedding day and received so many compliments. My dress also came with a lapped zipper at the back, which is strong and supportive, but not the most attractive thing. Theresa used some of the extra dot lace trim from my waistline to hide the zipper in the back. She also added loops to the inside of my dress to thread my strapless bra through so it would not show from the back or creep up. It is details like these that truly set her work apart. It was such a pleasure working with Theresa and I would very highly recommend her. read more

Special Occasion Alterations - Theresa's beautiful alteration work! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I had a wedding dress alteration gone wrong and needed to redo my sweetheart neckline with added fabric one week before the wedding. I called and Teresa took me last minute at 7:30pm on a Saturday and had it finished and done BEAUTIFULLY by Thursday. She even offered to have it done by Wednesday but a Thursday pick up just happened to work better for me. She is truly an expert seamstress and I highly recommend her! read more

I just wanna start off saying theresa is a miracle worker.she is also flexible and inexpensive. I purchased a wedding gown online then when I received the dress it didn't fit me the way I pictured. Well I was very lucky to have found this shop, she took the dress and cut the fabric and got more fabric. Basically she made the dress look so amazing. I felt like a Barbie. She won't lie to u, she is very honest. It was a pleasure working with her. I would highly recommend her. read more

Theresa saved me and my wedding dress! I took my dress to another tailor and had to literally run out with my dress two weeks before my wedding. I called Theresa in a panic on a recommendation of a friend--not only did she see me that day and fix my dress in time, she did an amazing job. I couldn't recommend her enough! read more

Very nice job on the alteration, however charging me $85 to hem my bridesmaid dress 2" is just absolutely absurd. That is half of the price of the dress! I take blame for not discussing with her prior to leaving the initial consultation but I never could've expected such an exorbitant price for minimal work. read more

I was grabbing a slice of pizza a few weeks ago when I noticed a woman sitting behind a sewing machine on the first floor of a little row home working furiously on the skirt of a frothy white wedding confection and I had one of those, "How come I never noticed this was here?" moments. A few weeks later I saw her walking again and I popped in to ask her about sergeing the seam of my favorite sweater that I had hand knit years ago but was now too big. Even though she doesn't really work on that type of project Theresa was kind enough to do the alteration for me and she did a great job. I am so pleased that I can wear my sweater again. (There was no way I was going to rip it out and knit it again smaller!) While she was working I admired her handywork on the dresses that she had hanging around her shop. She pointed out some of the alterations she had done and as a long time hobby sewer I can say that Theresa is the real deal. Her attention to detail is meticulous. She started out as an unpaid apprenctice in Italy over thirty years ago. She told me she worked for free for FOUR YEARS in order to learn her craft. She works by appointment only so make sure you call first. If you are looking to pop in somewhere to get your work trousers hemmed this won't be your best bet but if you need really high quality alterations for your wedding dress or prom dress then this is the place to go. She specializes in beading according to her business card. read more