Tailor & Alterations
Essential phrases for communicating with a tailor or seamstress about alterations, fittings, and pricing in French.
Key Phrases
Bonjour, je voudrais faire faire des retouches sur ce costume.
neutralHello, I would like to get some alterations done on this suit.
'Faire faire' is a common structure when paying someone to do a service for you.
J'ai ce pantalon à faire retoucher, c'est possible pour bientôt ?
casualI have these pants to get altered, is it possible anytime soon?
Starting with the object ('J'ai ce pantalon...') is very common in informal speech.
Ce pantalon est trop long, il faudrait faire un ourlet simple.
neutralThese pants are too long, they need a simple hem.
'Un ourlet' is the essential vocabulary word for a hem.
Pourriez-vous raccourcir les manches de cette veste, s'il vous plaît ?
politeCould you please shorten the sleeves of this jacket?
Use the conditional 'pourriez-vous' for polite requests with professionals.
La chemise est un peu large, vous pouvez la cintrer à la taille ?
casualThe shirt is a bit loose, can you take it in at the waist?
'Cintrer' specifically means to take a garment in so it fits closer to the body.
Il faudrait élargir un peu cette jupe, elle est devenue trop serrée.
neutralThis skirt needs to be let out a bit, it has become too tight.
'Élargir' is the standard verb for letting out clothes to make them wider.
Où est la cabine pour que je puisse essayer le vêtement ?
neutralWhere is the fitting room so I can try the garment on?
Notice the subjunctive 'puisse' after 'pour que', which is required here.
Est-ce que je dois l'enfiler pour que vous preniez les mesures ?
politeShould I put it on so you can take the measurements?
'Prendre les mesures' is the phrase tailors use for measuring you.
La fermeture éclair est bloquée, est-ce que vous pouvez la remplacer ?
neutralThe zipper is stuck, can you replace it?
'Fermeture éclair' is the everyday term for a zipper.
Ce sera prêt pour quand, à peu près ?
casualWhen will it be ready, roughly?
Adding 'à peu près' softens the question and sounds very natural in spoken French.
Pourriez-vous me dire à quelle date je pourrai récupérer ma robe ?
politeCould you tell me on what date I will be able to pick up my dress?
An indirect question ('me dire à quelle date...') is standard for polite inquiries.
Ça me coûtera combien environ pour faire changer la doublure ?
casualRoughly how much will it cost me to have the lining changed?
In conversational French, 'combien' is often placed at the end of the sentence.
Quel est le tarif exact pour reprendre la taille d'un pantalon ?
neutralWhat is the exact rate for taking in the waist of pants?
Tailors often use the verb 'reprendre' generally for altering or adjusting a piece.
Je viens récupérer le manteau que j'ai déposé mardi dernier.
neutralI'm here to pick up the coat that I dropped off last Tuesday.
'Déposer' (to drop off) and 'récupérer' (to pick up) are the key verbs for these errands.