What we can do
Pants and jeans
We pin the length with your usual shoes on and you choose the break or jeans finish. Many jeans can keep their original hem.
Dresses and skirts
We check the length on you, then work around the lining, pleats, layers and any decorative border.
Jacket sleeves and body
Buttonholes, vents and pockets mean jacket sleeves and lengths can be bigger work than a simple hem. We’ll explain what’s involved for yours.
Choosing the finish
The edge should suit the garment. Our hemming page explains regular, blind, rolled and other finishes, so you can tell us what you like.
Decorative hem finishes
Fancy a scalloped edge, lace trim or rolled hem while we’re shortening? We’ll check the fabric suits the finish you want.
How much does it cost?
The garment, hem width, layers, lining and any details that need moving all affect the price.
| Alteration | Indicative price |
|---|---|
Trouser hemmingA standard machine-stitched hem.Extras
| $22–$35 |
Jeans hemmingFor a standard finish. Keeping the original hem is priced separately.Extras
| $22–$30 |
Original jeans hemWhen the existing hem and leg shape suit it.Extras
| $40–$50 |
Dress hemmingVery full, multi-layered or embellished hems are quoted in store.Extras
| $35–$120 |
Skirt hemmingPleats and very wide hems can take the price above this guide.Extras
| $35–$85 |
| Shorten a shirt bodyCurved hems, fabric and side-seam details affect the finish. | $30–$45 |
These are guides for the named alteration on one garment, not fixed quotes or maximum prices. Listed extras are added to the guide price and can be combined. Fabric, finish, construction and any other extra work can change the price, so we’ll always check your garment and confirm the quote before we start. Express surcharges are extra.
Price guide reviewed 20 October 2026.
The right length, and the details that matter
Trousers, jeans, skirts and dresses
Taking up just means making it shorter. We pin it on you, then you choose the finish: a regular hem, a discreet blind hem, a cuff or an original jeans edge. Skirts and dresses may have a lining, a full hem or a decorative border that needs its own attention. Bring the shoes you’ll wear, especially for formal trousers and event outfits.
Sleeves, jacket bodies and special finishes
A sleeve can have a cuff, lining, vent or buttonholes to work around, and a shorter jacket body changes where the pockets sit. We’ll look at all of this before deciding how much to take off. Want a raw edge, a decorative finish or the original hem kept? Tell us at the fitting and we’ll check it suits the fabric.
Your questions
How short should suit trousers and sleeves be?
Tell us whether you like a full break, half break or no break on your trousers, and bring the shoes you’ll wear. Jacket sleeves usually show a little shirt cuff, so wear or bring a shirt to the fitting.
Can you shorten it while I wait?
Give your shop a call with the garment and your deadline. We’ll let you know if express is available and what it costs.
Is taking up the same as hemming?
Not quite. Taking up is about the length, and hemming is about the finish on the edge. Shortening usually means a new hem, but we can also re-hem a garment at its current length if the old hem has come down.
Can you shorten something that’s already been altered?
Usually. Earlier cutting, stitch marks and how much fabric is left all play a part. Bring it in as it is, with any fabric or parts saved from the earlier work.
Can I keep the spare fabric?
Just ask before we start. We can often leave some length inside the hem for later, and we’ll show you what will be cut away and what can stay.
How long will the work take, and is express available?
Most simple jobs are ready in 3–5 days, and more complex work in 1–2 weeks. In a rush? Express options are available for an extra fee. Just tell us your deadline. Express rates are 30% for same-day, 20% for next-day and 10% for two-day work, or 40% for same-day and 30% for next-day on Saturdays. Express depends on how busy we are, so we’ll confirm it and your pickup time before we start.