Rippert’s Custom Tailoring

Kathy is a brilliant seamstress and, truly, a miracle worker. I brought her my dream gown — a sample Pronovias with intense lace, tulle, and a big mermaid skit… and it was 2 – 3 sizes too big! She took on this monster task with a smile, and after 3 fittings, it looked like it was made for me. I enjoyed getting to know Kathy during my appointments, and she was so friendly, knowledgeable, and honest. I work very long days in a charter school, and she always made time for a weekend appointment. For essentially restructuring the entire dress, she charged a very fair price including dry cleaning. Kathy was so committed to my gown that she had it cleaned not once but THREE times so that it sparkled. And, it sure did. Thank you so much, Kathy!

I was recommended to Ripperts by a friend for altering my daughter’s communion dress, so I called up to ask a few questions. Firstly, when I called it rang once and then into voicemail… went to leave a voicemail and it disconnected. called again and got the voicemail again but that time I was able to leave a message. When Kathy called back (finally), I explained that my daughter’s communion was in may and that her dress was about 5 inches too long. She was very rude on the phone, refused to give me an estimate (even though I know that’s subject to change) and then said she wouldn’t do it when I told her that it had to be raised from the waist because of the patterning at the bottom. HORRIBLE! she will not be getting my business ever. very unprofessional

This is the 2^nd time I have gone to ripperts’s for alterations for bridesmaids dresses and both times I have been extremely satisfied. I found Kathy to be friendly & welcoming. Above all, she did a great job on the alterations and made sure I was satisfied. I would definitely go back!

A dress I ordered for a wedding I was in ended up being way too small. I dieted and exercised and got it to the point where I could almost wear it, but it wasn’t going to cut it. About 2 weeks before the wedding I took my dress to Kathy to see if she could work her magic, and she came through for me! Since the dress was an Alfred Angelo, she was able to let the dress out, and then I came back for a second fitting. At the second fitting she pinned the dress to take it in a little, and tweaked a few other spots. She ended up having the dress ready 2 days before the date she initially told me. I love the way the dress fits now and I can’t wait to wear it to another wedding!

I had three pairs of new jeans hemmed here and had a great experience. The lady working there was very friendly to me and was efficient at pinning the jeans during preparation. The jeans took one week to hem and with original stitching at the bottom, they ran $ 28 a pair. I would recommend Rippert’s Custom Tailoring to anybody in need of dry cleaning or tailoring.

As noted by other writers, she was pretty rude. Since I wasn’t the bride, I would be willing to deal with that if the sewing job on the dress was decent.
The job was pretty bad, and everybody knew it. She did fine taking it in on the sides, although the dress was returned to me with a few snags no where near the sewing site. The problem was in the hem. The dress was too long and the hem wasn’t even. Had to tape the dress to my feet so it wouldn’t catch on the shoe. Furthermore, she charged an arm and leg for a shoddy job that took way too long complete. Next time will go to Armen’s or head to the suburbs (Armen’s seems to have more customer friendly hours as well).

I just want to say a big THANK YOU to the woman who answered my call today regarding dying garments. I’d been calling all over the city in an attempt to find a shop who would dye a makeshift bridesmaids dress purple — phone call after phone call, everyone said «No» and hung up the phone. This lady took the time to explain to me that «no one does that anymore» because there’s nowhere environmentally friendly to dump the waste from the process.
Furthermore, she asked what exactly I was dealing with, which was a cotton/​synthetic material construction and a pack of RIT dye gone bad (this thing is now half purple and half white). She advised me to cut my losses because I was making myself crazy and that I could go buy 3 new dresses for the cost of replacing the white fabric that the dye did not take to. This is something I knew deep down, but was not giving up so easily.
This sort of honesty is so refreshing. I hope the good karma of expert advice comes back her way soon. Thanks, lady!!!

Kathleen did the most shoddy job on my wedding gown. Overpriced and terrible quality!
I bought my wedding dress at the Nicole Miller boutique in Philly and they recommended Rippert’s for my dress alterations. The dress was slightly big and too long. I had to have it taken in on the sides, have cups put in and hemmed. The store estimated ~$ 100 in alterations cost. When I went to Kathleen Rippert she quoted me $ 350 for those alterations. I was a little shocked by that number, because my dress was the simplest strapless silk sheath gown and cost only $ 700. But there was only a month left until my wedding and I didn’t have time to shop around for a better deal. When I picked my dress up from alterations I didn’t have a chance to have a close look at it, because it was inside 3 bags and on a dress form. I trusted Kathleen, because she seemed like a pro and for $ 350 I expected everything to be perfect. The dress did fit me perfectly, but the seams where she took the dress in on the sides were coming apart and looked like crap. And to top it all off, the HEM OF MY DRESS CAME OUT an hour into my wedding. I had to rush to the hotel and stitch the hem back up before the reception started. I can’t tell you how horrible it was to look down and see this giant thread dragging behind my dress and to realize that the whole hem came undone.
I took the dress to be dry cleaned after the wedding to a different tailor in Philadelphia, and this other tailor could not get over the terrible job that Kathleen Rippert did on my dress. Every seam and hem was so shoddily done, it looked like something I did at home.

I purchased my wedding gown at Nicole Miller in Manyunk and they recommended that I take my dress for alterations to Rippert’s.
I would recommend Kathy to any bride (especially with a Nicole Miller gown). She was warm, attentive, and very knowledgeable about Nicole Miller wedding dresses and what would look best. She was able to hem 3 layers of delicate silk and keep the shape of the dress, hem the train, create a beautiful bustle, and perfectly adjust heavily beaded sleeves. Her suggestions about undergarments and my veil were spot on. She really took her time with me each time that I came in for a fitting and worked around my schedule. Also, her professional email reminders and updated were very helpful. Great experience and worth the $$.

I had been bringing clothes to be tailored to Rippert’s regularly with decent results and decided to have my wedding dress altered there as well. The first appointment Kathy completely forgot she had scheduled. The second appointment she had marked down for the wrong time and was not expecting me when I arrived. At this appointment she pricked her finger and got BLOOD on my wedding dress. It came out… no big deal. I was ready to overlook all of that until the final straw.
I had to cancel my third appointment 24 hours prior due to the unexpected death of a close family member. When I called to reschedule Kathy was rude, unprofessional, and extremely unfeeling. She told me «many brides wanted that appointment» and I should have given her more notice. When I explained that one cannot predict death she told me that you «usually know when the funeral is going to be» and she «has a lot going on». She made it very difficult for me to find a time to reschedule. The next day I went in pick up my dress and take my business elsewhere and she said she was short with me on the phone because she had recently lost her mother-​in-​law and I should understand why she said the things she did. I don’t see how that’s a reason for being rude and unfeeling to another person who recently lost a loved one.
In short, Kathy is fine as a tailor. But I wouldn’t be caught dead giving her any more of my money. If you want to support a selfish, careless person who will forget your appointments and disrespect you then Kathy Rippert is the one for you. Otherwise, stay away.

I have been to Rippert’s twice for somewhat simple tailoring – pants hemmed, suit altered – with very good results. Considering this, Kathy was the tailor I wanted to go to get my bridesmaid dress altered, despite the fact that I have since relocated. I called to get an extremely general quote on a hem job ($ 20 – 50? $ 50 – 100? $ 100 – 200?), knowing very well that the price might change once she saw the dress. She completely dismissed me and VERY rudely chased me off the phone (even after I explained my situation and let her know that I was a repeat customer).
I used to recommend Rippert’s to ALL of my friends in the Philly area, but I suppose all of the good reviews have gone to Kathy’s head. Apparently she has enough business and isn’t in the market for any more.

I would recommend this place to anyone needing alterations! Kathy is wonderful! I came to her with a ruched evening gown with a train that I needed shortened in under a week. She was very understanding — I had a long bout with flu and had just gotten my dress for a trip to CA. She was friendly, professional, came up with a solution so I could handle the train and finished it early.

Kathy was difficult to work with. I don’t see how other people said that she had a warmth and genuine nature about her, but I did not experience that at all. I also felt that she overcharged me for the services she provided.

nicole miller wedding dress; too loose and a big thumbprint on the bodice. Enter master tailor Kathy Rippert and in one week dress is custom fitted, shorter, and now has a new delicate fold on the bodice improving the dress and covering the smudge. She also made us a gorgeous heirloom veil with lace we provided. Hand sewing with the lace and a very reasonable price. She really knows what she is doing. Hope to go back for a christening gown!

Aside from one scheduling snafu that will throw any bride into an absolute panic this place is amazing. Kathy was presented one hell of a challenge: Stuff my boobs and fat ass into a wedding dress I bought a year before (1 year and 10 less pounds) make sure it looks good, deal with the fact that i’m throwing a tantrum about not wanting to wear spanx under my dress (I did, she was right.) and do all this in under a month. Yeah. She did it. And she did it perfectly.
Aside from the fact that she did this all so perfectly her warmth and genuine nature just burst from her.
I truly hope that I have another opportunity to use her services and would tell ANYONE with a Nicole Miller gown that THIS is the woman to bring it to.
Thanks Kathy!

Kathleen is such a wonderful person to work with. She makes you feel completely comfortable in her shop, and does such a great job on alterations.
She altered my wedding dress and made my veil from scratch, and everything looked perfect!
She was especially helpful, as my dress was not delivered on time, and the date was continuously pushed back. She was able to work with my changing calendar, AND able to alter my gown in a limited timeframe!
She also helped my husband out with the hem on his suit, and has altered a few pairs of work pants for me, as well as a bridesmaid dress. All fit perfectly!
I will be in at least 2 more weddings in 2012, and you can bet Kathleen will be my go-​to tailor :)

I can’t say enough about Kathy and the magic she weaves with her trusty sewing machine. I came in about 2.5 weeks before my cousin’s wedding with a bridesmaid’s dress that was woefully undersized — apparently the designer doesn’t understand how women’s bodies work since 4 of the 5 of us had major dress issues. Kathy went from, «How in God’s name can I make this work?» to «piece of cake!» and I was able to walk down the aisle in complete confidence thanks to her expertise. She’s a miracle worker, and I can’t wait to work with her again!

Kathy did an amazing job on the bustle for my wedding dress. My dress was perfect, she is very affordable and a great value for the money. She was a delight to be around and I definitely plan on taking any future alterations I may need directly to her.

Kathleen is great! She’s a talented tailor and a fun personality. I took a dress in to be altered, as it was too loose. The alterations were a small fix but outside of my comfort when sewing. She did an excellent and polished job making the changes and got my dress back to me before the date it was promised. I will definitely be using Rippert’s again!

I have had a very good experience bringing a suit jacket here for alterations. Rippert is awesome!
Both a friend and I have taken suit coats in to be altered, and Mrs. Rippert really did a fantastic job. She didnt take too many measurements and didnt make that part uncomfortable. Her turnaround time was pretty flexible, which really helped.
I think her pricing is fair, although there is one caveat. She only accepts cash. Combine that with her not-​entirely-​convenient hours, and that is the reason for the 4 stars instead of five.
Definitely check her out for alterations (and you can stop at the Pierogie Kitchen next door).