Look Sharp in Every Stitch

Brighton’s Milanese Suit & Jacket Experts

A well-tailored suit is a statement of sophistication and confidence. At Alma’s Alterations, we specialise in Italian suit tailoring, ensuring every stitch, seam, and adjustment is executed to the highest standard.

Why Choose Alma’s Alterations for Suit & Jacket Alterations?

Tailoring is in our family’s blood—it’s a craft passed down through generations. We grew up learning the art of fine tailoring from childhood, refining our skills in Milan, the heart of Italian fashion. Whether it's a business suit, wedding attire, or an everyday jacket, we ensure a precise, elegant fit using traditional Italian techniques.

Our Suit & Jacket Alteration Services

  • Whether you need to take in the waist, adjust the shoulders, or reshape the sleeves, our Italian-trained tailors ensure a tailored, bespoke fit that enhances your silhouette.

  • Sleeves that are too long or short can throw off the balance of a suit. We adjust sleeve length with precision, maintaining buttonhole placement and original stitching.

  • A perfectly hemmed trouser defines the entire look. We offer standard, cuffed, and invisible hemming, along with waist adjustments for a comfortable, tailored fit.

  • If your suit feels outdated, we can modernize the cut to match today’s style while maintaining its high-end craftsmanship. Slimmer lapels, a refined silhouette, or even a full suit reconstruction—our tailors ensure it’s done flawlessly.

How Much Do Suit & Jacket Alterations Cost?

The cost of altering a suit depends on several key factors:

  • Fabric type – e.g. wool, linen, silk (delicate or structured fabrics take longer to alter)

  • How the suit is sewn – hand-finished or fused construction can affect time and complexity

  • Structural elements – interfacing, padding, canvasing, and lining may need adjusting or replacing

  • Level of tailoring – from simple tweaks to full reshaping

Simple adjustments (like sleeve shortening or waist taking-in) start at £40
Full suit tailoring (restructuring, reshaping, full canvas adjustments) starts at £150+

📅 Book a fitting consultation for a precise, personalised quote.

FAQs About Suit & Jacket Alterations

  • Most suit alterations take 1-3 weeks, but express services are available for urgent requests.

  • Yes! We specialise in tailoring luxury brands like Armani, Zegna, and Brioni, ensuring the alterations maintain their original craftsmanship.

  • Absolutely! We can reshape, taper, and refine any suit to achieve a modern, sharp fit.

  • Absolutely! At Alma’s Alterations, we specialize in tailoring suits and jackets for all shapes and sizes. Whether you need a suit taken in, let out, or completely restructured, we ensure a perfect fit that complements your physique.

  • Yes! We frequently work with bodybuilders, athletes, and those with muscular builds who need expert adjustments. We reshape suits to provide a sharp, tailored look without restricting movement, ensuring both comfort and style.

  • For jacket sleeves, a quarter to a half-inch of the shirt cuff should be visible. For trousers, the ideal length (the "break") depends on the style, but generally, there should be one slight, clean fold where the trouser meets the shoe. We provide expert guidance on this during your fitting.

  • A suit's canvas is its internal skeleton, determining how it drapes and ages. Fused suits use glue, while half- and full-canvas suits use a stitched canvas for superior shape and longevity. We are experts in all three, but our true craft shines in altering canvassed garments, where the delicate internal stitching requires master-level skill to deconstruct and tailor correctly.

  • Yes, this is an advanced tailoring procedure often called 'lapel surgery.' It requires meticulously un-stitching the lapels, re-cutting them to a more modern width, and re-shaping them to lie perfectly flat. While many tailors will not attempt this complex job, our couture expertise makes this one of the transformative alterations we offer.

  • To preserve the new structure, always use a high-quality, wide-shouldered hanger to support the shoulders. Avoid frequent dry cleaning; instead, steam the garment to remove wrinkles and allow it to 'rest' for at least a day between wears. This expert care maintains the integrity of the fabric and our craftsmanship.

Book Your Suit or Jacket Alteration Today!

Behind the Seams – A Peek Into Our Studio

For Your Inspiration ❤️

The 30-Second Suit Fit Test

  • Stand sideways against a wall. If the shoulder pad of your jacket hits the wall before your arm does, the shoulders are too wide. They should end where your natural shoulder ends.

  • Button the top button of your suit jacket (never the bottom one). The lapels should lie flat. If they form an "X" shape, the jacket is too tight. You should be able to slide your hand comfortably between your chest and the buttoned jacket.

  • Place your fist between your lapel and your stomach. If it's too snug, the jacket is too tight. If there's excess room, it's too loose.

  • Look at the collar of your jacket from the back. There should be no gap between your jacket collar and your shirt collar. If there's a space, the jacket's balance needs to be professionally adjusted.

Man in blue checkered suit adjusting sleeve, wearing a watch and black tie.

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