Jerry’s Custom Tailoring and Alterations

I don’t usually write negative reviews, but I was disappointed after reading all the great reviews about him. First time I went to Jerry, I wanted to tailor an old (but expensive) wool coat that I rarely wear because it is too big on me. I asked him if he could take in the two sides to be more fitted. He told me it couldn’t be done because of the seams and coats like that need to be bought at the right size. Not what I wanted to hear since I’ve been having a hard time finding a wool coat for the winter, but no problem — I had read previous reviews that Jerry can be trusted because he’s honest about what can (and can’t) be done to an item without ruining it.
The second time I brought him another wool coat that I just bought since I couldn’t alter the one I already owned. I figured with this coat, it had three seams — two on each side and one down the back — so it’d be easier to take it in. When I showed Jerry the coat, he said the same thing that he did the first time: «It can’t be done.» This time, I was skeptical. The two coats I brought him were sewn together differently but he couldn’t take either in at all? I ended up taking this second coat to another tailor to get their opinion and she was able to take in it exactly how I wanted and the coat looks really great. I guess Jerry didn’t know how to take in the coats, but I’m guessing with the expertise that others have praised him on, probably not the case. So my second guess is that he just didn’t want to do the tailoring and passed it off as an impossible alteration, which in my opinion is really disappointing from someone who is so well reviewed. Maybe if I had brought in easier items to alter, I would have had a better experience but I appreciate a tailor who is willing to work to get it right.

I’ve been going to Jerry for about 3 years now (3 suits and numerous pants) and everything Jerry has done hasn’t lost/​popped one hem he’s put in place. His prices are pretty much on par with anyone you’d go to outside of the city ($ 5 less than my local tailor to hem a pant length) but the work is far superior and holds up well over time. Jerry will also give you his honest opinion on fit and what should and shouldn’t be done vs. just taking your money and doing an unnecessary job. Just keep in mind he is cash and check only.

Took several pairs of pants to Jerry the other week. It’s a cute place right on Boylston where there’s one of those old elevators you take up to his place. Incredibly convenient locations for me. Jerry himself is quiet but very nice. Not sure if he gets help from anyone else since I’ve only seen him there, but either way very fast turnaround time. 5 pants in 1 week and all well done. And prices are much more reasonable than you’d think in this part of town. Highly recommended!

Jerry does a very good job and is very thorough. His rates also seem lower than one would expect from the Back Bay. My only issue with him is his hours. I stopped going to him because of the inconvenience of his hours. He used to not be open on Saturdays in the summer and in 2014, he took off the month of August. I don’t know if that is still the case.

I love Jerry’s work he tailored my prom suit and it was amazing he’s the only Tailor I go to

Not only is Jerry an amazing tailor and in a great location, he’s a nice guy and has reasonable prices. He went out of his way to help fix the pocket of my jacket on the spot while I dropped off a few other items.
One of the best service experiences I’ve had anywhere in Boston, period.

It’s hard to find a really good tailor and I am so happy I found Jerry. He does quality work, is honest and turns the work around quickly. I have used him many times and I am always happy with the end product.
His honestly also goes a long way. I brought him a few dresses that he advised not working on since he believed an alteration would not be in their best interest. I applaud him for being honest as many other tailors probably would have done the work but the end product most likely would have been disappointing. These were expensive dresses and Jerry recommended an easy fix of a camisole, which worked perfectly.
I highly recommend Jerry. There is a reason why he is rated 5 stars on Unilocal

I went to Jerry based on all of his great reviews. Unfortunately he did not have the equipment to alter my chiffon dress but gave me a great recommendation of where to go to have it done! He was so helpful and so nice I had to give him a five star for his advice and care for my dress! I’ll be back for any other clothes I need altered that he will be able to do!

There’s something about a great tailor that makes you daydream about all the things you’ll want to bring in next.
I brought in some suit pants that I hadn’t worn in many years, since the days I was less of a, shall we say, well-​rounded individual.
Given that these were a relatively inexpensive pair from Macy’s, Jerry was very honest and up front with me that the pants were not made with enough slack to make a perfect alteration (he had about three inches to add to the waistline, and only two inches to work with), and that they still may be a bit tight. I decided to roll the dice anyway, and I’m glad I did. They fit way better than I was led to expect; the under-​promise, over-​deliver business strategy shows the perfectionism that he holds himself to, and makes me a happy customer every time.
Jerry’s great at what he does, and he’s far friendlier than I’d expect an old school Bostonian craftsman to be. I started spelling my Italian last name as he wrote down my order, and he politely interrupts to say «don’t worry, I know.» This man gets me.

Really quick and cheap (4 days to hem and taper) but the fit was not all that great and he removed the signature salvage denim hem to my Gustins.

This is the man for those who enjoy sartorial splendor. My pants now fit perfectly and no longer look like my dad’s.

I didn’t know mere mortals like me could have access to a tailor of the skill and quirkiness of Jerry, may he live forever.
For Back Bay, his prices are extremely reasonable, but I doubt he’s *needed* to adjust them much in the more than 30 years he’s been in business — watching the Boston landscape change around him, the clock ticking away years spent toiling toward mastering a craft.
When you bring him a garment, don’t be too specific about what you want. Just let him pick up his pins and go. He doesn’t see you wearing the shirt that «needs to be taken in.» His mind works at the level of: «mold this cloth to flatter this man.»
Don’t ever go to anyone else — if you don’t live far.

There’s only one thing I can say about this guy.
Jerry’s the f*cking man.
Best tailor I’ve ever used. He took the sides in for 6 brooks brothers shirts in under 2 weeks. He also provides suggestions and gently guides you away from bad decisions. Like a subtle wingman.
Overall quality is superb. Tightly stitched and no loose ends. Price is very reasonable compared to other tailors.
He’s highly recommended. There’s a reason he averages 5 stars on Unilocal

Echoing all 5-​star Unilocal reviews below: Jerry is the best tailor in Boston. I would trust him with my favorite pair of jeans, a long multi-​layer chiffon bridesmaid dress, and my go-​to little black dress. (In fact, I did trust him with all of those three and my alterations only cost $ 50.)
He’s honest, knowledgeable, kind, and skilled. I will NEVER go to another tailor again. He has my highest recommendation. If I could give 100 stars, I would.
Cash or check only.

A year later, Jerry’s is still delivering top notch service. I recently brought in a J. Crew Ludlow suit for some extensive alterations. Although the total cost of the alterations came out to quite a staggering amount, it was worth every penny of it. Every detail and specification of my requested alterations came out exactly as I wanted it to be. If you want to look like you just walked out of a GQ photoshoot, then Jerry’s the place to go.

I’m not a praying person but I’m going to send out one request to the universe and hope someone’s listening. Here goes — Please let Jerry stay strong and healthy for a long long time. Please.
Jerry’s great. Period. This is the second time he has turned my barely wearable pants into closet staples. Great workmanship all around. I took 2 pairs of pants this last time. One pair had a hem that had come loose and the other needed to be taken in. While I was trying on the one that needed alteration, he had fixed the hem on the other pair… for free! I was so happy. What would have cost me an arm at the local drycleaning tailor — with no assurance that the pants wouldn’t get ruined — was done in a flash by Jerry. Go to him. You won’t be disappointed.
2014 update: I continue to be blown away by Jerry’s workmanship. He deftly lengthened the sleeves of an almost-​perfect trench coat (now the coat is perfect). Unless I told you, you wouldn’t know. He also took in a ho-​hum tweed blazer to make it look like I paid top dollar for it. Perfect fit. The last item, I didn’t have any hope for — it was a poorly constructed pair of JCrew pants that ripped at a pocket seam, not the seam but the fabric (side note, I like JCrew but sometimes their stuff is of questionable quality and that’s the truth). Anyway, I picked it up and Jerry had disappeared the rip. Gone! As he said to me «only you and I know that that was ripped.» Keep doing what you do, man.

Jerry was my main tailor whom I trusted with my «grown man» clothes. Why? Jerry is honest and he knows his stuff.
A true OG and authentic tailor in the Back Bay but at a reasonable price. He gets things done when he says they’ll be done and makes sure that it’s right. He’ll insist that you do your part and be thorough when picking up your alterations. I’ve had many a shirt sides taken in and sleeves shortened, pants hemmed with no complaints. I am proud to have no more parachuting shirts and sloppy breaking pants.
Back to the honesty thing, I once took in a Made-​to-​Measure suit to Jerry and asked if he can take the sides in for me. He told me NO and then proceeded to say that because it was a canvassed cotton suit, he couldn’t do the job cleanly because of the material and suggested that I get the suit altered from who I bought it from.
The only reason I am withholding the 5^th star is because he is getting old and his hands are shaky so his craft is not ⁵⁄₅ star perfect, but that is not to say he isn’t great.
Lastly I wish I made the time to take the rest of my Brooks Brothers shirts to him before I left Boston.

Jerry is an incredibly kind and talented tailor, who has been running his business on Boylston St for decades. It’s worth stopping by even if you don’t need any alterations made– he has this amazing ironing contraption that I get a kick out of every time I see it, and the elevator in the building is SO worth giving a whirl. But you should find something that needs to get hemmed, because he does a perfect job, and is very friendly and professional. I’ve had him hem expensive jeans, and he kept the original edge for like an extra $ 10 (so it still looks cool and weathered). He also did a bridesmaid’s dress, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect length when he was done.

Just got my bridesmaids dress back from Jerry! He was able to take it in perfectly from a size 10 to a size 6 but kept the bust perfect. It’s not the most perfect dress I own. I am beyond excited. He also hemmed it since at a 10 it was pretty long. Got a pair of work-​pants hemmed as well ($ 10 a pop). All in all he charged me $ 50! I was expecting to pay double and I wouldn’t of even blinked because he is that good.
In short — skip the big names around town and go to Jerry because he is the man.

Though I can’t give Jerry 5 stars since I have no other tailor to compare him to, I was very pleased with his work on my suit. It needed quite a few tweaks (sleeves and waist suppression for the jacket, waist and short break on the pants) and he executed well on all fronts. It wasn’t cheap at $ 125 for everything, but I’d say it’s worth it for the quality work and the night-​and-​day difference tailoring makes for suiting.