Step 1
Using locally-focused review sites or apps like Yelp is a good place to start when looking for a tailor. Read reviews, both good and bad, to get a sense of the tailor’s track record. When you do this look for reviews from men (a wedding dress alterations pro may get great reviews but not be very comfortable, or good at, working on men’s suits). And remember, unsatisfied people are more inclined to leave reviews, so take the comments with a grain of salt and look for recurring themes. If multiple people are criticizing a tailor’s specific shortcoming, beware. Conversely, if many people are heaping praise on the tailor for, say, their speed, then you can expect them to be pretty quick with your garments.
Step 2
Ask for recommendations from a well-dressed friend. They may have a tailor shop they visit regularly, or perhaps they have heard good things about one nearby. It’s always worth asking, and going to a tailor who’s been recommended by a well-dressed man takes some of the risk out of the equation.
Step 3
You can learn a lot about a tailor from a quick phone call. Once you decide to try a tailor, give them a call and ask a question like “How much do you charge to shorten a suit jacket sleeve?” A tailor who knows his/her craft should respond by asking “How much do you need to shorten it?” That’s because a tailor can easily, and inexpensively, shorten a sleeve at the jacket’s cuff. A more drastic change in sleeve length (more than three-quarters of an inch) will require removing the sleeve from the body and shortening it from the shoulder to avoid displacing cuff buttons. Removing the sleeve is a more costly procedure requiring a greater degree of skill and experience. Great tailors think about these nuances, so ask the tough questions before you bring anything in.
Closing
The more often you work with your tailor, the better he/she will understand your fit preferences. Arming yourself with an understanding of what they can do and terminology will make the relationship even easier.
When you open your closet to see a rack of expertly tailored clothing, your entire arsenal of clothing is available to you. That lets you combine any items you want, however you like, and makes getting dressed effortless.