Most people have at least one piece of clothing they are not wearing. Not because it is worn out, but because the fit is slightly off. A pair of trousers that gaps at the waist. A dress that is an inch too long. A jacket bought in a sale that pulls across the shoulders.
These things are fixable. That is what we do at Angelz on Arlington Way — we alter clothing so it fits the person wearing it, not just the size on the label.
Trousers are the most common thing we work on. Hemming, tapering, waist adjustments — all straightforward jobs that make a real difference to how a garment sits and feels.
Hemming is £8.99 for both legs. If you have bought trousers off the peg and they are pooling at the ankle, that is the fix. Tapering — taking in the leg for a slimmer silhouette — is £14.99. Waist adjustment, taking in or letting out the waistband, is also £14.99. We also repair trouser crotch seams, replace pocket linings, fix hook-and-eye fastenings, and replace buttons.
Our trouser alteration service in Angel covers standard trousers, suit trousers, jeans, and chinos. Bring the trousers in wearing the shoes you plan to wear with them. It makes pinning the hem length accurate first time.
A dress that does not fit well is a dress that does not get worn. The problem is usually one of a few things — too long, too wide in the body, straps that are the wrong length, or a lining that throws the whole shape off.
We shorten dresses with and without lining — £19.99 either way. Hemming is £12.99 for a standard re-hem. Tapering a dress for a more fitted shape is £19.99. Strap shortening is £14.99. If the side seams have split or the zip has given out, we deal with that too.
Our dress alteration service in Angel handles everything from everyday cotton dresses to formal occasion wear. If you are not sure whether what you need is possible, come in with the dress and we will look at it.
Skirts throw up the same range of issues as dresses — wrong length, loose waist, linings that do not sit right. We shorten lined skirts for £19.99 and unlined skirts for £14.99. Hemming a skirt at its current length is £9.99. Waist adjustment is £14.99. If the elastic in a skirt waistband has gone, we replace it for £14.99.
Our skirt alteration service in Angel covers pencil skirts, full skirts, pleated skirts, and wrap styles. Pleated skirts in particular need careful handling — altering the hem without disturbing the pleat structure takes experience and patience. We do it regularly.
Jackets are where alterations get more involved. The construction is more complex, and a change in one area often affects how another area sits.
Sleeve shortening is £44.99. It sounds like a lot until you consider that shortening a jacket sleeve properly means opening the sleeve, adjusting the lining, resetting the sleeve head, and finishing it so the result looks as though the jacket was made that way. Jacket tapering — taking in the body for a slimmer fit — is £34.99. Pocket lining replacement is £24.99 for a full replacement and £19.99 for a half repair. Elbow patches in leather or fabric are £24.99 each.
Our jacket alteration service in Angel covers suit jackets, blazers, casual jackets, and tailored separates. We also replace buttons and tighten loose ones — small jobs, but the kind that extend the life of a garment considerably.
Coats take the same type of work as jackets but at a larger scale. Sleeve shortening on a coat is £45.00. Body shortening — taking up the hem length — is also £45.00. Pocket lining replacement is £30.00 for a full lining and £25.00 for a half repair.
Our coat alteration service in Angel covers everything from standard wool coats and three-quarter lengths to long overcoats and raincoats. A good coat is one of the more expensive things in a wardrobe. Altering it to fit properly is almost always worth doing.
Coats often come in for alteration alongside dry cleaning. If you want the coat cleaned and altered in the same visit, mention it when you drop off. We coordinate the work so the alteration happens after cleaning, and you collect a coat that is both clean and the right size.
A shirt that fits well across the shoulders but billows at the sides is a common problem with off-the-peg shirts. Tapering — taking in the side seams — is £14.99 and turns a loose shirt into something that sits neatly under a jacket.
Sleeve shortening on shirts is £19.99. We also shorten shirt bodies, turn worn collars to give them a second life (£14.99), and replace or tighten buttons. If you buy shirts in bulk and want several tapered at the same time, we can work through them in a single batch.
A broken zip is usually what finishes a piece of clothing that still has years left in it otherwise. People throw things away over a zip, which is a shame when replacement is straightforward and reasonably priced.
We replace zips on trousers, jeans, and skirts for £14.99 each. Invisible zips — the concealed type used in the side seams of many dresses and skirts — are also £14.99. Longer zips, including those on coats and jackets, are priced from £24.99 to £29.99 depending on length.
If the zip on something you wear regularly has broken, it is worth getting replaced rather than leaving the garment unworn at the back of a wardrobe.
Wedding dress fitting is one of the more time-sensitive alterations jobs. The dress needs to be right, and it needs to be right by a specific date.
We offer a fitting and alteration service for wedding dresses at £65.00. We work to the shape of the person wearing the dress — taking in, letting out, adjusting straps, shortening hems — so it fits properly on the day. If the dress also needs cleaning before or after the wedding, that is a separate service we handle.
Bring the dress in as early as you can. Alterations this specific are better done without a tight deadline.
Love Your Clothes — a programme backed by WRAP, the UK’s sustainability body — makes the point that extending the life of a garment by nine months reduces its environmental footprint significantly. A well-fitting piece of clothing gets worn. A poorly fitting one gets left on a hanger.
Alterations are one of the most practical ways to keep clothing in use rather than replacing it. A trouser hem or a waist adjustment costs less than most people assume, and it makes a garment wearable again immediately.
We are on Arlington Way in Angel, a short walk from Angel tube on the Northern Line. Customers come from across Islington, Clerkenwell, Pentonville, Finsbury, and King’s Cross.
No appointment needed for most alteration work. Come in, we look at the garment, discuss what you need, and give you a price and a collection date before you leave. Straightforward jobs — hemming, zip replacement, button work — are usually ready within two to three working days. More involved work, like jacket sleeve shortening or lining replacement, may take a little longer.
If you have several pieces to alter at once, bring them all in together. We assess everything at the same time and can often group the work for a more efficient turnaround.
How much does trouser hemming cost?
Hemming both legs is £8.99. We pin the length in the shop if you bring the trousers with the shoes you plan to wear with them, which makes the result accurate first time.
Can you alter a dress with a lining?
Yes. Lined dresses are a regular job. Shortening a lined dress is £19.99 — the lining is adjusted at the same time so it sits correctly rather than showing below the hem.
Do I need to book an appointment?
No. Walk-ins are welcome. We look at the garment, agree on the alteration, and give you a collection date before you go.
How long do alterations take?
Most standard alterations — hemming, zip replacement, waist adjustment — are ready in two to three working days. More complex work like sleeve shortening or relining takes a little longer. We give you a specific date when you drop off.
Can you alter clothing from any brand?
Yes. We work on clothing from all brands and retailers. The brand does not affect what can be altered — what matters is the construction and fabric of the specific garment.
Explore our Alterations services in Angel: Trouser Alterations, Dress Alterations, Skirt Alterations, Jacket Alterations, Coat Alterations. Or browse our full services list.
Guides & Advice: Can You Alter a Dress to Make It Smaller? · How Many Sizes Can You Alter a Dress Down? · How Much Do Clothing Alterations Cost in the UK? · How Much Does It Cost to Hem Trousers in the UK? · Is It Worth Getting a Dress Altered? · Should You Lose Weight Before Getting Clothes Altered? · What Fabrics Are Difficult to Alter?
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