Oriental Fine Tailor

Short version:
I took my wedding dress there to alter. She quoted me $ 220 for all alterations. After 5 fittings, she only cut the length and sewed the shoulder parts shorter. The chest area was too big but she didn’t fix it. She kept telling me to use double-​sided tape and said I only paid for alterations for length and shoulders. That was 1.5 weeks before my wedding when she said that! I hurried then and took my dress to a different tailor elsewhere and they fixed it for $ 60 in less than a week! Oriental Fine Tailor did not deliver what they promised and what I paid for, and they made me feel terrible in the process. I cried for three days a week prior to my wedding because my dress didn’t fit. I wouldn’t want that to happen to anyone.
Long version:
I went there several years back to alter a bridesmaids dress and she did a good job, but I think this place has gone downhill since then. I brought my wedding dress there recently, 4 months prior to my wedding. The price she quoted me was $ 220 to fix the entire dress, which was the same price she charged my friend who got married two years ago. I needed to shorten the length, cup sizes taken in, and shoulders shortened (V-​neck dress).
The first two fittings were pleasant, but by the third fitting, she began to tell me that the beadings were too heavy, that certain things can’t be fixed. She kept telling me to use double-​sided tape to tape the front (which was almost 1.5 cup sizes too big). And when my mom asked her questions, Sue snapped at my mom every time and said in Cantonese, «you don’t know anything», «you’re not a tailor,» «you can’t fix that/can’t do that.» She even smacked my mom’s hand away when my mom was pointing out the extra fabric on the back. My mom was so mad and felt so demeaned to be treated this way.
By the fourth fitting, the left shoulder was too tight, and the front was still too big. I did NOT feel secure in the dress. If I leaned forward, you can see like everything! When I told her these problems, she said to me in Cantonese, «I’ve told you N times, the beadings are too heavy. It cannot be fixed. It took me the whole night to sew the shoulders. Just use double-​sided tape. etc» (All these were said to me in a very bad tone.) Pretty much there’s nothing she can or would do. In my mind I was thinking, you couldn’t have told me this at the beginning? I would have gone to a different tailor.
In the meantime, I also took my evening dress and red Chinese dress there to tailor (big mistake). Sue charged me $ 60 just to shorten the length of my evening dress, which only has two layers and tulle. For my red Chinese dress, she was so upset with me that I had bought it online instead of paying her to make it. She tailored the waist and length, which turned out fine, but she said since my dress was cheaply made, she can’t fix the chest and collar areas for me. She told me to wear a lot of gold necklaces to weigh it down and offered no further help.
Back to my wedding dress. I went back for the last time, picked up my dress and paid her. My mom and I were so frustrated with Sue by then we just wanted to take the dress home. I went home and tried it on again. With my mom helping me put lots of double-​sided tape on the front and back, but still it didn’t work nor look right. It was still too big. After much pulling and tugging, we finally realized that Sue Chan did not even tailor the inside shell and lining of the dress, she only sewed and shortened the outer layer on the shoulders.
There were at least 2.5 to 3 inches (about 1.5 cups sizes) that needed to be taken in in the front. My mom tried using safety pins to pin it in. My wedding was exactly one week away, and as you can imagine, I was crying nonstop by then. The next day, I called Sue Chan and told her these problems. She said I was «crazy» to think she’d fix everything for $ 220. She said I had a bad attitude and was talking down to me. I couldn’t help but cried, and then she hung up on me. I later called her son (who helps at the shop) and he also raised his voice at me. He told me rudely to take the dress back to her mother to fix. No thank you, my dress was in your shop for 4 months and you didn’t fix it, what makes me think that you’d fix it now?
So I hurried and took my wedding dress and red Chinese dress to a different tailor elsewhere. They were able to fix both dresses for me in less than a week for a fair price!
Oriental Fine Tailor did not deliver what they had promised and charged me. Sue does not have the patience nor the time. She’s always complaining that she has too many tailoring to do and that she didn’t even have time to eat. Sue not only overcharged me, she also caused me a lot of emotional distress. I felt so bullied and cheated and talked down to. I tell all my friends what happened to my wedding dress. This used to be a nice tailoring place, but not anymore. I will never go back again.

She did amazing! I have a two piece gown. I wanted my top piece to be tighter and shorter… Or else I looked like I had no curves! Anyway, the gown is super fragile. I don’t ever want to dry clean it – lots of embellishments.
$ 7 for the perfect fit.
I’ll be back with so much more!

I brought in my wedding gown and Chinese dress to be altered. She did an amazing job and so reasonably priced. I highly recommend her.

Great well priced but no matter price excellent work, hand sown if needed.
Only drawback should be known cash only

I came here for a friend who needed her bridesmaid dress shortened. Rather than drive up to Roger’s Park and pay $ 45 per a friend’s recommendation, my mom suggested this place and it cost just under $ 20!
Pay cash upfront!

Amazing. She took a cycling jersey that was two sizes too small, added material we brought, and a miracle occurred. Stitching was beautiful and the material inserted discretely. A work of art at a price beyond reasonable. She had performed similar magic on our daughter’s prom dress. So pleased!

I took a bridesmaids dress here to have the shoulders and hem altered. She was inexpensive, fast and did a beautiful job. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a great seamstress!

My go to spot to get my dresses tailored. VERY reasonable prices and the lady is great. I can’t imagine going to anyone else.

OK this place is awesome.
I am in constant need of alterations, usually simple pant-​hemming but occasionally something more major.
I used to go to my regular dry-​cleaners, who did an OK job with minor and simple tasks, but their main focus isn’t alterations– it’s dry-​cleaning.
Recently I needed some major alterations on an Indian outfit which was just not fitting me properly at all. I tried to have it fixed at a dry-​cleaner but they felt they couldn’t do it since it was complicated. Finally I took it to Oriental Fine Tailor after looking them up on Unilocal.I wasn’t sure what to expect, since the alterations I needed were pretty major.
You walk in, and it’s a small, no-​frills type of place. The seamstress speaks no english– her son works at the front desk and does all the translating. I tried on the dress, and explained to the son what I wanted done, which included shortening the dress (which needed to be done from the waist, not from the bottom, since there was a big border on the bottom), and tightening the waist which would also require putting in a new zipper. It was further complicated by the fact that the dress was originally made by a tailor in India who didn’t do the best job in the first place. The mom did some pinning, and then said it would be done in a week. And for $ 35!!! (SUPER cheap as far as I’m concerned). I was a bit skeptical, but I paid (they are CASH ONLY!) and patiently waited the 7 days. When I went to pick it up, the mom had me try it on and it fit LIKE A GLOVE! It was perfect. I was super happy. I will definitely be going back with all my alterations needs. You can’t beat the quality or the price of this place.

I had my Chinese qipao made here by Sue and she did an amazing job! I received so many compliments on it. I bought the material and dropped it off to her and she made all the designs and even provided the second layer at no additional cost.
I also brought my sister and mom here and they had their dresses altered by Sue. She is very reasonably priced for alterations. I will be coming here from now on for all my future alterations.

Very reasonable price for taking in dress pants with lining. A competitor quoted me 4x what oriental tailor charged. Done in 1wk. Definitely returning. Service friendly & professional. Impressive Chinese gowns on display as samples but you can bring a picture and they will customize for you. Usually you have to go to New York, San Francisco or Hong Kong for that if you’re serious.

The prices are quite low, but you get what you pay for. I tried this place three times. Once for a coat with a broken zipper, once to take in a dress and another to fix some pants.
The coat is crooked now because the zipper was not put in straight, the dress was made too small at the bust and too big at the waist. Not a good look. I was not happy since it was for a special event.
The pants seams were sloppy, but at least they weren’t very noticeable. Also the tailor does not speak English and her son (I think) wasn’t very nice and reluctant to translate, perhaps cause he assumed I was Chinese.

Things to note: This place is super small and FAR from anything fancy. The entire space you’ll be moving around is probably only 60 square feet. Now that it’s snowy outside, they have cardboard down at the entry way and in the fitting room. The fitting room is just a small corner of the joint with a curtain. The mirror is by the front desk. The lady that does the alterations isn’t fluent in English per se, but her son has always been there (on Saturdays at least) to help out with the communication. It’s cash only, pay upon pick up.
I first took my chances here a few months ago to get a pair of pants and two suit skirts taken in. You just can’t beat the price… $ 7 for most alterations it seemed. My clothes were high-​end enough to potentially be concerned (banana republic and j crew), but since they weren’t new clothes I figured if things went way wrong, they didn’t fit anymore anyway so Goodwill could have them. It took a week (Saturday to Saturday) for the alterations and I was satisfied. I wasn’t like «OMG, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread» but my clothes fit. Mission accomplished. I couldn’t tell where the seams were taken in on the skirts, but I could tell at the back of the pants waist. I suppose that’s somewhat normal *shrugs* so I was satisfied.
Recently, I had another pair of pants that were either going to hit Goodwill or get taken in. $ 7 vs. $ 70 for a new pair? The decision was easy. I also had two brand new pairs of pants that needed to be hemmed. If she could handle the waist, she could handle a hem, right? So I went back: 1 pair — waist, 1 pair — hem, 1 pair — waist and hem. The waist and hem combo cost $ 12 and the other alterations were $ 7 again. The hems were perfect! One pair needed to be taken in a bit more, which she gladly said she would redo. No charge. I mean of course, it should be no charge! LOL. Anyway, I’m going to get those this weekend and I’m sure it will be all good! In total $ 26 for alterations on 3 pairs of pants??? #winning
What I do find very odd is that upon pick up she doesn’t assume you want to try on the clothes again. So each time I motion that I want to go in the fitting room it’s almost like she’s wondering why. So my suggestion is to try on your stuff before you pay and leave just in case you need a minor adjustment. Seems like the normal thing to do but maybe that’s just me. She doesn’t mind at all… but she also doesn’t necessarily encourage you back into the fitting room. #ijs

My wife had her wedding gown altered here, and has been back many times since for repairs and alterations to coats, dresses, pants, etc. I’ve had several pants hemmed and a ripped winter coat fixed.
We don’t live in Chicago, but we will drive in just to go here for tailoring when we need it. The owner told us that she has customers who drive in from Indiana and Wisconsin just to visit her shop. I believe it. She is _​madly_​talented. And fast. And her prices are unbelievably low. And if there’s something she can’t fix, she’ll tell you. Although that’s pretty unlikely. If it’s a piece of tailoring that is possible within the physical laws of this universe to do, she can do it.
If you’re looking around on Unilocal for a tailor anywhere within a hundred miles of Chicago, you can stop looking now. Go to Oriental Fine Tailor.

I had to get a suit tailored for an interview and ended up coming here after a recommendation from a friend. If you can get past the fact that this place is f*cking tiny and you have to change behind a janky makeshift fitting room consisting of a thin drape, it’s all great!
The price is my favorite part — my suit jacket cost only $ 15 and dress pants cost $ 7. Seriously rock bottom prices for great quality adjustments. I have to say that I was skeptical at first, but this is the only place I’ll take my clothing to now. They can get pretty busy so you just gotta try find a time to beat the crowds — easier said than done though. I’d recommend going right when they open at 9 AM. It’s cash only and pick up is typically a week from the date of drop off. Remember to bring your receipt or you’ll be SOL. Although the owner only speaks Cantonese, the language barrier was not an issue. Just use hand motions and you’re golden! Last thing — they’re closed on Sundays!

I went here based on Unilocal reviews so it was only fair that I do my own review on Unilocal.I went here to get a bridesmaid dress altered in a very short amount of time, I took it Thursday and I got it back by Tuesday. I was greeted sweetly by the young man who works the desk and the older woman that does the alterations came around the corner to get a closer look on my dress. After trying it on I was told that I needed to go get the fabric needed to make the adjustments, Although I was initially irritated I came to the conclusion that I was under time constraints and they provided the exact place I can go address and all. When the alterations were completed I tried on the dress and the fit was perfect. If you’re in need this is the place to go, I highly recommend it.

This is the ONLY place I bring my clothes to get altered. They’re inexpensive, efficient, and quick. I’ve seen people bring in everything: from jeans to wedding dresses. I hear she also custom makes traditional Chinese dresses as well.
The first time I came in here I brought a bridesmaid dress to be hemmed, and taken in on both sides — ready one week later and for only $ 30! I’ve been charged $ 90+ at other alteration places. No, thanks! I’ll be only coming here from now on.
There’s only one fitting room. Actually, more of a draped off corner of the room. There’s a full length mirror where she does the measurements. Plenty of free street parking, too.

My mom brings my sisters husband suits to get tailored here. She does a good job.

Excellent pricing. I’ve been rummaging my closet and bringing things a little at a time for alterations (usually dresses or pants too long). I don’t think I can find a more affordable tailor and overall, I’m happy with the work. I’ve seen amazing work, but also had 2 things that looked like it was a rush sewing job and was had less attention to detail. This is still an excellent place for my everyday things, but I may be more careful if it was something very expensive.

I found this place through Unilocal,and boy am I thankful! I had previously had a few items tailored at the place in my old apartment building and, although they did a decent job, they were really expensive! I had a sequined dress taken in and hemmed and I was charged $ 65! I had only paid $ 10 for the dress!!!
I brought another sequined dress to Oriental Fine Tailor and I was only charged $ 12! Amazing! I will bring everything I need altered here and I will tell all my friends to follow suit!
Not only is the work great, but the prices are unbeatable! They also get your clothes to you in a reasonable amount of time.
I have never been in a rush for any items, but the average has been a week for turnaround.
The service is also a plus. I called after hours to pick something up and they let me come to get my items, even though they were technically closed! Talk about customer service! I am now a loyal patron!