Ritz Tailor & Alterations

Knowledge is power, my friends, knowledge is power.
My wallet blames a dear coworker of mine for making me aware of Ritz Tailor & Alterations, just a short jaunt from where we work. Now that I have been enlightened, I feel emboldened to shop for clothes outside of my size because I know that the couple here can easily tailor everything to fit. My poor, poor wallet.
As of January 2016, I have brought 5 dresses in for various reasons:
1) You know the dresses that have thin, flimsy loops on the left and right sides to hold belts/​sashes in place? Well, I was just about to get rid of a dress that had a missing loop on the left when my coworker suggested I bring it in to see what they could do. Sure enough, they were able to replace it and I love that I can continue to wear the dress!
2) My cousin bought me a dress a couple of years ago for my birthday, but I lost some weight in the interim. It goes without saying that the dress has a lot of sentimental value so instead of just donating it, I brought it in to Ritz, they took it in a couple of sizes to fit my frame, and now it’s perfect!
3) I normally avoid strapless dresses since I don’t have the bust for them, but my mom bought me a strapless dress that I desperately wanted to make work. Even though it fit my waist and hips, it would continue to fall because, well, there’s just no junk in the trunk or the front. Anywho… I brought this dress in and they were able to really get the top portion to fit and not fall. I can’t wait to wear this dress in the spring/​summer!
4) ModCloth had a huge year end sale and I picked up a pretty maxi dress for a great price. It was a couple inches too long, even with heels on, but with it being final sale, I couldn’t return it. I took it in and told the woman that it was ok to chop off the bottom pattern to get the length right, but she insisted that we keep the bottom pattern (the best part of the dress, really), and find another work around. I’m not quite sure what she did, haha, but when I went to pick it up, she managed to shorten the dress to the right length AND keep the pattern. Magic!
5) Halmoni Vintage on 2^nd Avenue near the lake had a truly eye-​catching, green, patterned 60’s print dress that I snapped up last year. It fit in the shoulders and through the sleeves, but I felt the need to take it in at the waist and hips with a more pencil skirt feel. The first time around the woman was able to get the waist just right (she wisely cautioned against taking it in too much because the fabric doesn’t have any stretch to it), but it took a second visit to get it a little more fitted. No matter, though, I’m glad she exercised caution and waited to see how her alterations would go little by little.
I’m sorry I haven’t taken any before or after photos; I promise to do that with future items that I bring in. Yes, with alterations #2 through #5 being about $ 15 a pop, there will definitely be many more items to come!

This is an incredible tailor. I had my wedding suit pants hemmed here. They did a PERFECT job, and they did it fast, and cheap. The guy also makes suits from scratch. He’s got a whole wall full of fabric selections here. I forget the cost he quoted me on a made-​to-​order suit, but it was so inexpensive, I remember deciding, without a doubt, that next time I need a suit, I will be coming here to have one custom made by my man at Ritz. If you need anything, go here!!!

I had a couple pair of pants hemmed and altered, and my husband took a new sports coat to have the sleeves lengthened. The work was good and the cost very reasonable. The place is small and stuffed with fabric and looks disorderly. So, I was very unsure when I first went there. But the people there are very nice.

So far I’ve had two blazers and two jackets tailored here and I’m satisfied with the results. I’m a shorty and nothing ever fits me right, especially the sleeves. So when my homie recommended this place I figured I’d give it a shot. The gentleman who does a lot of the measuring and tailoring can be pushy in that endearing, Asian uncle kind of way, but he knows what’s he’s doing. The younger woman is the deal closer (as well as the translator), and she’s great. I’m glad to know this place is nearby.

I needed a tailor and I frequent Chinatown often, so I came here with my suit. This guys is very good (unfortunately I don’t recall his name). Yes he has an accent, but why should that matter when he’s going to make you look good.

My brand new $ 850 givenchy shirt was destroyed here. Too many mistake for one shirt. The sleeve was way too short. Cannot bottom up my sleeve because the sleeve was inside out. The cutting inside was very messy. It was originally a men shirt, but they changed it into the women shape shirt lol. I’m speechless. Also, they didn’t measure my body right, and it is like a kid shirt now. I was there three time request for adjustment. Every time, I paid extra for them to adjust something. I think in the third time they got mad and just messed up my shirt purposely.

Best tailor in the bay area and the CHEAPEST. Prior to finding Ritz, I was paying double for alterations at various different tailors but can never find quality work. There would always be something that needed redoing but Henry and his wife gets it right. Turn around time was quick n I love how they do not charge you extra if you need a rush order like «can I sit n wait for it cuz I really need it NOW, PLEASE». Most often times they will indulge your request if they can find a way to make you happy. I like to support this place cuz of the people n the price

The zipper on my onesie broke and they did a great job of repairing it for me after I brought in my own zipper. The lady who helped me was very nice and patient. They gave me a good price, too.

Great Aura on these people. I needed my Maid of Honor dress altered in the bust area. I was really worried because it had a lace back which made finding proper under garments really difficult. I took my dress into Ritz because of the great reviews on Unilocal a week before (I know, pushing it but everywhere else quoted 80 bucks for a small alteration). I got the dress the day before the wedding madness, in the midst of running around to assist the bride. The lovely young woman that works there gave me a seat and tips on how to relax (super bonus), she was so kind-​hearted and when I tried on the dress it fit perfectly. I’m not a small woman by any stretch of the imagination, but I got soooooo many compliments regarding how perfectly the dress fit and they charged less than $ 25 for the work so I definitely gave a great tip. I would like to bring a suit back to them because I just like them in general, and their work is magnificent, speedy, and close to home. Bless you guys and keep up the awesome work!

Barely speaks english.
Couldn’t do fake stitching for buttons after altering a suit jacket arm.
Pathetic

I took a red silk bridesmaid dress here. I bought it on ebay and it ended up being too small. I took it to a couple places and they said they couldn’t fix it — not enough material to make it bigger. But here they actually opened 4 seams in the front and expanded it a little in each section and it worked! It was still tight but hey I could zip it up :) The sewing work wasn’t perfect (nothing anyone noticed but if you look closely you could). But it was $ 40 (!) and that’s a hell of a deal. For that price the work was extraordinary. Saved me a lot of $$ since I thought I was going to have to buy a different dress.

I just picked up my husbands new Zegna tux. Perfect alterations… it looks like a custom made suit. The BEST tailor anywhere in the Bay Area. The tweaks cost $ 35.00. If I had taken it to our last tailor in SF it would have cost three times that much.

Hemmed length was fine ($ 7 – 8), but they used a bright blue thread for my nice black work pants. I’m sorry that’s just a huge no-​no for me… esp since when I commute, I wear sneakers and have to roll up my pants.

This place is a no nonsence… get what you need and get out place:) They do a great job and really good prices!

I was pressed for time and needed to have a (two sizes to big) Minister’s Robe altered for worship service the next day. The cost would have been $ 70, however, there was a Minister’s Robe in the shop that I liked much better and it fit! Because of my height it is extremely hard for me to purchase clothes on the rack that fit, so I purchased the robe in the shop and returned the one that needed the alterations.
While I was there, I mentioned I needed a dress for a upcoming event in less than two weeks. Henry took my measurements, sketched a dress, took my information and said he would call me. The next weekend he called me to come in for a fitting — the dress fit like a glove and really accentuated my physique.
If you are looking for a personal tailor, I strongly recommend Ritz Tailor & Alterations.

I’ve been to this business several times and have always been pleased. I’m very particular on how I like things done as I have to have EVERYTHING tailored (shorts, pants, blazers, etc.) Because of this I spend A LOT of money a month and in turn I’d like things done the way I want them done.
The Good: Never had an issue with what was needed. Very prompt, always took care of my 6 – 7 pairs of pants at a time and blazers as well. I would get the blazers shorten in length as well as the sleeves.
The Bad: I am not sure happened this time but the 7 pairs of pants were hemmed too long then too short (about twice.) After about 3 times of redos they told me that they cannot continue to hem them again and of course that 3^rd time I was left with too short pants. He insisted that if I wanted to come back again that I had to mark my pants first. Good Sir, this is your profession not mine… so I will not mark my own pants, that’s what I’m paying you for. The blazer was done too short… when they redid it they only length-​ed one side and I was left with an uneven blazer. (they eventually got that right.)
I’m torn as I hate looking for new places to do what I want but I am also not in the business to not being pleased. Over all I want give them a 5 but if they have to do it over again for not doing it right the first time you are out of luck… so a 2 it is.

Reasonable prices and does exactly what I want. Henry and the lady that does the altering are very friendly. My boyfriend got a suite altered the day before a wedding and they came through.
It’s a quick in and out, too. 2 blocks from lake merritt Bart.

Great place for alterations. They were very quick and attentive. If you need your garments back quickly, let them know and they will work it out for you. Parking has also been easy, which surprised me as it is Oakland Chinatown.
Give them a try, you will not be disappointed.

Hemmed two pairs of pants/​jeans and got the sleeves taken up on a suit jacket, all ended up looking great with friendly service, helpful advice, and at very reasonable prices. Oh yeah, they turn it around fast.
Great folks, would definitely come back if I was still in the Bay.

I just got a vintage white blazer that’s too big but was too beautiful to pass up — can’t wait to take it to Ritz. I don’t like to buy new things (thrifter to the bone!), so I sometimes get clothes that aren’t quite the perfect fit. But I can always count on Ritz to make it work.
The Asian family who runs this spot are pros at what they do. Give good advice and creative when it comes to tailoring solutions. I brought in a vintage dress with a unique flowy/​fitted design, buttons up one side, and 2 sizes too big. They suggested taking in one side, moving the buttons, and taking in the sleeves and voila! It came out perfectly.
Also… their prices are the best for the quality you get and they’re thoughtful with returning customers. I brought back a bridesmaids dress that they hemmed — I wanted it brought up even more so I could wear again with lower heels. They did it for FREE.
I hella heart Ritz Tailor.