One of the most important parts of your suit’s fit is the length of the pants. In some cases, a suit’s pants will arrive unhemmed (as is the case of earlier generation xSuits), or they might simply be a bit too long. This can make for an uncomfortable look, especially if the pants are covering your shoes in any way. So how do you make sure your pant’s length will look and fit perfectly for you?
The first way is to select the sizing option when ordering that is the best match. For example on the xSuit 4 stretch suit, there are three different lengths to adapt to people’s sizes. You can use the Size Finder function to see which is best for you. But in case your suit still arrives longer than you like (or there are no such options for the suit you are getting), then you have two options to solve this issue – either bring the pants to a tailor, or – if you are more resourceful – do it yourself.
Using a Tailor or Dry Cleaner to Hem
The easiest way to hem a suit is to do so at a local tailor or alteration shop. A lot of dry cleaners will also do this service, as it is fairly straightforward and doesn’t require a lot of work.
How Much Does it Cost to Hem a Suit?
The cost of hemming a suit can vary depending on the location, the type of tailor or alteration shop, and the materials used. However, on average, hemming a pair of suit pants will set you back about $15 to $25. It’s best to check with your local shop to get a clearer idea depending on your needs. TIP: if you combine multiple items together for tailoring, you can sometimes get a discount on the total amount.
Its always good to check for reviews on Yelp or a similar service to make sure you are getting a good quality tailor that will not cause any damage to your suit.
How Long Does it Take for the Tailor to Hem My Suit?
In actuality, the time it takes to hem the suit is not long at all – the tailor can probably do it completely within 30 minutes. That being said, you should not expect that they will be able to do it right away, since they also may have other people’s items and tasks to do.
Depending on the tailor or dry-cleaner, they may be able to give it back to you the same day – or if not then 1-2 days afterwards. You can sometimes pay a “rush fee” to get the suit pants back faster if you are really in a hurry!
Hemming the Suit Yourself
While it seems like it might be a daunting task, hemming suit pants is actual a relatively straightforward process that can be done at home with a few basic sewing tools.
What materials do I need to hem?
- The suit pants (of course)
- A few sewing pins
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- An iron
How Do I Hem My Suit?
- Try on the suit pants with the shoes you plan to wear with them. Then mark the desired length of the pants with pins. Make sure to measure from the top of the pant leg, not the bottom.
- Take off the pants and measure their length between the hem and the pin with a measuring tape. Then add an extra 1-2 inches to allow for folding under and hemming.
- Using scissors, cut off the excess length of the pant leg, using the pins as a guide.
- Fold the bottom edge of the pants leg up to the length you want. Pin the fold in place.
- Next iron the folded edge of the pant leg to create a crease.
- Using a sewing machine or needle and thread (with a color matching the suit), sew a straight stitch along the folded edge of the pant leg, making sure to catch both layers of fabric.
- Remove the pins and iron the hem once more.
Your suit pants are now ready to wear, without any cost or trip to the tailor.
Now you’ve seen the different ways to tailor a pair of suit pants (if you have to). Want to learn more about how to dry clean your suit (and how much it costs)? Check out our post “What is the True Cost of Dry Cleaning a Suit?”
