I brought in 9 pairs of jeans and trousers to be fitted for me. Exquisite work on each item!

Myself & my fiance could not recommend Janet Ghilarducci enough. My fiance had a custom made dress for our reception done at a shop in SF. She spent around $2k, and when it was time to pick it up she was rushed, and they convinced her that they could not remove this "webbing", and told, "most people wouldn't even notice". It was an unfinished product and we couldn't believe it. They over promised and under delivered. In comes Janet. My fiance booked an appointment, and we feared maybe it couldn't be fixed or be too expensive, and we were wrong! Janet did a fantastic job! Very reasonable, did not take much time at all, and a very pleasant experience! We even brought in a jacket and she was able to make adjustments for it in no time. read more

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Janet saved the day when I needed a super last minute wedding reception dress alteration. She had me come in as soon as I reached out and was able to do a quick fix within a couple of days, within a reasonable budget! As an added bonus, she is super nice and easy to work with! read more

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I loved Janet the moment she opened the door--she's such a kind and welcoming lady. Her work was absolutely phenomenal and you can tell she really knows what she's doing. Her work was perfect and worth every penny! read more

If I could give Janet 10 stars I would. She is simply amazing at her craft. I made an appointment and all I told her was that I wanted it to fit like a glove. I went in there, knowing that the dress would need a major overhaul. I put my trust in Janet, I just knew I was in good hands. With every fitting appointment, she explained what she had already done and what she like to continue to do. The dress was a bit revealing for me, so I asked her to put an insert of similar color and wow did it turn out just perfect. I will not hesitate to recommend. Thanks again Janet for making me feel so beautiful in my dress on my wedding day. read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Let's get the record straight: Janet is a literal genius. I married in early August and Janet Frankensteined my late grandmother's wedding dress into a masterpiece. She did a beautiful job and I cannot recommend her services enough. read more

Janet Ghilarducci - My Nana's dress was from 1955 and Janet made it fit like a glove. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

I bought a dress from David's Bridal and had reached out to Janet for assistance with having it altered for my best friend's wedding. I had contacted her via her website and she replied within 24 hours and we were able to schedule an appointment quickly. On the day of my appointment, Janet had taken the proper Covid-19 protocols so that I felt safe and comfortable in her suite. During the appointment, Janet walked me through all the areas of the dress that needed to be altered and was very up front about cost and completion times. I do have to be honest, she is not cheap, BUT is worth every penny spent. You are paying for her expertise and magic, and that is exactly what I got with my dress. I needed the dress to be let out at the seams and hemmed. The way the dress flowed made this a pretty complicated job but Janet and her staff basically worked a miracle on the dress and it came out wonderful and fit me like a glove! She was very kind and a pleasure to work with. I would definitely recommend Janet, especially for those that are very particular about how you want your garments to fit. She absolutely works magic. Janet is your person! read more

Excellent work. Timely, professional, perfectionist. I used Janet to fill in the back of my wedding dress. I loved everything else about the dress, except the back was unflattering for me. She was able to hem the dress/cut off the train, and fill in the back in a way that looked great, was very comfortable, and much more flattering. I highly recommend Janet for custom alterations. I joke that if I need to, I will be using her for my second marriage lol! I'm so funny read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Before and after alterations - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

Janet was incredible to work with on my wedding dress! Her attention to detail and precision resulted in a perfect fit. I couldn't be happier with how my dress turned out. Highly recommend! Thank you Janet! read more

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Janet seems like the absolute master of her field! Not only that, but she has a heart of pure gold, and will move mountains to make your vision come true... I would rather buy the cheapest clothes and have them tailored to perfection (and thus looking like a million bucks!) than buy designer items that don't fit perfectly. Dressmaker magicians like Janet really do make all the difference in how you present yourself -- and how you feel. I am SO unbelievably grateful for her her talent and care. read more

Janet did amazing on my wedding dress. Originally the dress was hanging down in areas, and loose. She has a sharp attention to detail and addressed all the issues I had pending. All in all I am so excited to wear this dress down the aisle. It feels like a dress made just for me! read more

Janet & her team SAVED my wedding dress! It was mistakenly ordered 4 sizes too small and they made the most intricate and perfect alterations to ensure it turned out perfectly! Cannot rave about them enough! read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

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As a designer myself who obsesses over details, I wholeheartedly recommend working with Janet. I just could not find the exact wedding dress I had in my mind- it was simple, modern, romantic, well tailored and out of quality fabric. Janet is great to work with- from fabric selection, to detailing and problem solving to the final product she knows dress making inside and out. She fixed every little stitch until my dress fit perfectly and takes pride in her work. The experience and communication throughout was great, she even altered my dress two weeks before the wedding as a result of some aggressive exercising :) read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Custom silk wedding gown- got a little wet after a rainy weekend in Yosemite but still loved every inch of it. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

Janet could not have done a better job altering my dress. It fit perfectly and I felt gorgeous and comfortable. The top of my dress was sheer, and she chose the perfect fabric to line the inside of the top so I didn't have to wear anything underneath. She got everything right, from the length of the skirt to the amount she brought the shoulders up in order to make the V-neck less deep. read more

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Hi Janet, I've worn all the shirts that you tailored for me, and I must say I'm really really happy with all of them. You did an amazing job on all the alterations. I especially love the long-sleeve that we turned into a short-sleeve. You are quite the artiest. I'm going to set up another appointment next week to tailor another six shirts. Thank you again, you're amazing. read more

I bought a wedding dress at Nordstrom and spent weeks going back and forth to San Francisco for alterations. Their alterations team did not listen to me or take any care with their work and with only a few days left until my wedding, the dress had been so badly worked that half of the top was off the shoulder while the other half was on the shoulder. I couldn't believe the unprofessionalism of the Nordstrom team (stay away!). I reached out to Janet in a panic and she was a lifesaver. She fit me into her schedule immediately and worked to fix the dress in only two days. By taking the time and care to do the job correctly, she was able to fix the work Nordstrom did and she completely saved my wedding! Regardless of where you buy your dress, when it comes to alterations, I would highly advise you call Janet first! read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

Janet did a wonderful job altering my wedding gown, turning it into my dream dress for the big day. I really appreciated her eye for detail, clear passion for what she does, no-nonsense perfectionism, and friendliness (complete with some good-natured sarcasm). Admittedly, Janet was not on my original list of people to call while searching for tailors in the Palo Alto / Menlo Park area, but I'm grateful to my friend for sending me her way after coming across her website by chance. Janet works out of her home in Palo Alto, as well as a studio space in San Carlos, and was flexible with scheduling around my work hours. We ended up having everything altered and ready to go more than two months before the wedding, which opened up my schedule and helped ease the month-of craziness. Janet really took the time to get to know me, and my preferences, and to give me her full attention and energy during our appointments. I never felt like "just another bride" when I visited Janet; in fact, it felt like I was going over to hang out with a friend or fun (and slightly quirky--in the best way possible) aunt. In terms of craftsmanship, Janet excels. She took an already gorgeous dress and made it exquisite and 100% me. My dress was a sample that was several sizes too large, and though I liked the style very much as it was, I had been dreaming of a corset back (instead of the zipper/button closure that the dress had). After some thought, Janet decided she would be able to create the corset back, and I could tell how much fun she had with the process (even though it was tedious at times!). She also helped me choose and attach a built-in bra, as well as the perfect beaded belt to take my dress up another notch. I got so many compliments from friends and family, and my groom couldn't believe how amazing it turned out! Janet's services are not inexpensive by any means, but seemed really reasonable given other quotes I'd received, and the amount of care and skill she employed. The only thing that I would recommend for improvement is to be very open about pricing and changes in pricing, especially as the project changes or evolves. I ended up paying more than Janet's original quote because the corset back and belt addition was more than she had anticipated, but didn't find this out until the end. However, Janet admitted to wishing she'd realized this sooner, and I believe she is conscientious about making this very transparent for future clients. Though I haven't gotten a wedding dress altered before (and can't compare people's experiences going through bridal salons), working with Janet was one of the best decisions I made during the wedding planning process. She really is a hidden gem who puts her clients first and holds her work to the utmost standards. One of my good friends (and a bride to be) accompanied me to an appointment, and liked Janet so much that she hired her to alter her wedding dress, too! read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Perfect corset back from scratch, by Janet - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Janet is a magician disguised as a seamstress!! I brought my wedding dress to her to have a bustle added and was so worried that it would be difficult because 1) my dress is made of a delicate lace and any slip-up or mismatched work would be obvious, and 2) my skirt wasn't the typical big, full skirt so I wasn't sure what the bustle could attach to. I went to Janet after reading her reviews and seeing how responsive she was (I love a business with great communication skills). She was able to figure out a bustle in 10 minutes! Not only that, I saw other lace dresses she had worked on while I was there and knew my dress was in good hands. During my fittings she also noticed that the armholes in my dress were too tight in comparison to the sleeve. She fixed this too like magic! She was able to add a gusset near my armpit so I could move my arms more freely and used a lace that matched my dress to a T!! I didn't even notice the added gusset as I was putting it on because she had worked it in so well. If you want something made from scratch or need someone who knows their lace, go to Janet! She's professional, her prices are reasonable and corresponds well. She's also very accommodating as far as scheduling appointments. Her studio is also adorable and has a warm "home" feeling to it. She's located at the top of the stairs above a hair salon in case people are confused by the building. Thanks again, Janet!!! read more

If I could give her 6 stars, I absolutely would. Janet is a true artist - she takes incredible pride in her work and does a fantastic job. I came to her with a real major alteration project for my wedding dress. I had fallen in love with a dress, but I needed to have some significant alterations done to make it more modest. That included: adding a back from essentially nothing, adding sleeves, and adding a lining to part of the front. Add to that there was delicate lace all over the bodice - I gave her a stack of matching spare lace to work with. Plus, she did the hem and a bustle as well. Needless to say it was a huge task and of course I had a pretty condensed timeline. Janet did an AMAZING job. I was getting compliments all day on how beautiful the dress was and I couldn't be more pleased. Yes, she is more expensive than other tailors and admits that freely. But her quality is impeccable and I wouldn't have wanted to risk someone else making a mess of such an important piece of clothing. read more

Janet Ghilarducci - You would have never guessed the dress I wore started out with just some small lace on the back - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Janet was the first to respond when I was looking for alterations just 3 weeks before my wedding, and right before the Xmas holiday. I had my dress done in a weeks time, if not a couple days after, regardless it was quick! I had lost a lot of weight and needed the sides taken in and wanted from the lower bust to mid stomach to be rouged up so it wasn't laying so flat on my stomach (my problem area) and made me feel comfortable. When she did this the fronts bottom was going to be shorter, but it created a slight train in the back that I didn't have before, so that was a plus! And I didn't mind seeing my shoes My dress was from David's bridal and she told me when she saw it that she worked with the same one before so that was great too! She also created a little hook to bring in the back part above my zipper so the back of my bra didn't show. I ended up wearing a bolero jacket that covered everything but it was another nice and secure touch to the dress I would definitely recommend her if needing gown alterations! She was really great! I felt amazing on my wedding day knowing no one would be staring a my problem area now that she created a little distraction, we also added my belt and that brought it all together! Thanks again Janet! read more

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We were looking for someone help fix my wife's mother of the bride dress that she bought online. Without knowing that much about the process, we had three fitting sessions with Janet to correct the fit and finish of the dress. At the wedding, we had so many compliments about my wife's dress. We are so happy that we came across Janet on Yelp. Her work and attention to details is beyond impressive. She was on time with the finished work and at a fair price. read more

After reading the great reviews, I called Janet for an appointment to alter my wedding dress. She was able to fit me in the same day! I wanted to add sleeves and hem the dress. Janet is a true gem! She turned a $140 sequin dress into a real wedding dress. As soon as I told her what my vision was, I could see her artistic wheels turning :) She is so creative and truly an artist with clothing. Janet is the sweetest person, very accommodating, and was able to quickly finish each iteration of the dress. She has many years of experience creating and working with customers so she was always so professional. I will be going to Janet for all of my clothing needs from now on because if she was able to beautifully execute my wedding dress handling such an important piece with such care, anything else would be a piece of cake for her! If you are looking for a true professional, look no further than Janet, you won't be disappointed. read more

Janet Ghilarducci - spaghetti strap dress transformed to wedding dress adding perfect sleeves and bust covering as well as hemming - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

I was so very pleased with the work Janet did for me. As mother of the groom, I went with a women's tuxedo, which I really liked but it wasn't as fitted as I wanted. Janet was more than helpful when I called and accommodating when I needed to schedule the initial appointment. She pinned the places that needed attention and told me it would be ready "next week"! I was stunned it would be so soon. I picked up my tux and it looked fabulous and the fit was perfect. Going forward any alterations I have will go to Janet. read more

I found Janet on Yelp when I was trying to find a alterations tailor for my wedding dress, as well as my second cheongsam look. When I messaged her, she was quick with her responses and she answered all my questions patiently. Her studio is beautiful, and she was able to take me on as a client even though she is in her busiest season for alterations. She was so thorough, thoughtful, and professional throughout the entire experience. Janet took her time to make sure everything was absolutely PERFECT, and she gave me as many updates as I needed and wanted. Janet was patient, detail oriented, and just a great woman to chat with during fittings. When she handed me my dresses for my wedding with such warmth and care, I knew that I would come back for any alterations in the future. A true professional. Thanks, Janet! read more

Janet and her team altered my wedding dress and I could not be happier with my experience working with her. She is very thorough and I was impressed with her attention to detail. She noticed the little things that needed to be addressed that made a huge difference in fit! My dress fit perfectly! My bustle didn't last long, but that was probably due to the fact that I was dancing all night long! Anyways, if you need to get anything altered I'd head to Janet! She's experienced, so kind and gets things done in a timely manner! read more

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I had such a lovely experience working with Janet. She was prompt with responses, worked with my tight deadline, and altered a dress with a complicated embroidery pattern in such a way that I liked it even more than the original design. I highly recommend Janet! read more

Janet was great! The alterations ended up costing more than I thought they would, but it was still decent pricing compared to other alteration services in the Bay Area. She was also really easy to get appointments with. read more

Janet Ghilarducci - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I got married last year and Janet worked on my dresses (my two wedding dresses, my train, veil and my flower girl dress)...I had a vision of how I wanted my dress to look and Janet worked with me in making it a reality. I enjoyed working with her so much and appreciate her dedication, attention and detail as well as her loveliness. What can I say, she does a beautiful job! I am so happy to have found her and to have worked with her on my dresses! read more

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Took a chance on Janet because of her website and warm reviews. Upon meeting her I knew it was a good fit. She hemmed my all-lace Katie May gown within my tight deadline as I was leaving for my destination wedding in two weeks. I was nervous about waiting so long (ultimate procrastination) but I was confident my dress already fit well and didn't need too many alterations. Janet immediately made me feel at ease and didn't overdue the alterations which helped keep with my budget. She added a cute little clear button for the bustle instead of a hook which I loved. Her dressing room is warm yet elegant just like Janet. I could tell that she takes great pride in her work and enjoys getting to know her clients. I am so happy I found her! Thank you Janet for making what could have been a stressful experience, very easy and relaxing. I felt beautiful and confident in my gown on my wedding day :) read more

Janet was wonderful, she altered my daughters dress on time, on budget and it looked fabulous. Thank you for you fantastic skills and easy manner. You help a frustrated bride make her dream day come true. read more

Janet was responsive and very knowledgeable! I find it hard sometimes to find a good seamstress when I'm new to an area because I grew up with a grandma who was a seamstress. Janet was great and made altering my wedding dress quick and painless! read more

Janet was lovely to work with. She tailored my wedding dress to perfection. She is enthusiastic and has a great eye. I would definitely work with her again. Highly recommend! read more

Janet and her assistants are incredibly talented and knowledgeable. Her team did beautiful work adjusting my wedding gown. Janet is energetic and helpful, very pleased with the outcome of my gown! read more

I worked with Janet last fall to create my dream wedding dress. Janet was amazing! Her professionalism, attention to detail and expert craftsmanship are unbeatable. I was so happy with the result! I highly recommend her for any project you have! read more

I had the most wonderful experience working with Janet! I contacted Janet less than 3 week before my friends wedding that I am a bridesmaid in and I was completely stressed out! The dress didn't fit at all (were talking not even close to zipping) and it was way too long.I have never used a seamstress before and had no idea what to expect. Needless to say I was a ball of nerves when I walked into Janet's. She quickly put me at ease and started to plan out exactly how she would alter the dress. Janet's attention to detail and passion for what she does shines through the moment you meet her. We had two more appointments which were quick and easy. I picked my dress up today and when I tried it on I was stunned! It fit!! The dress that I brought into Janet not long ago with so many problems now fits as if it were made specifically for me! There are not enough words to express how grateful I am for all of Janet and her teams hard work. If you are looking for a seamstress for your next important event or special piece of clothing I promise you that Janet is the one to work with!! read more

Janet helped me out on very short notice turning a formal gown into a more wearable tea length one. I wish I had just gone to her in the first place for a custom dress given how much I stressed over this one. I trusted her right away for an honest opinion. I loved how the dress turned out. I will absolutely use her again if the situation calls for it. read more

Janet was fabulous, found her on the internet when looking for a local seamstress and we got very lucky! She was able to make a pattern of a dress from a picture for my daughter for prom,and then my daughter and she worked together to make it. She was awesome to work with and very efficient. My high school daughter really enjoyed working with her and the dress turned out beautiful. I would highly recommend Janet for any work you have for her, her expertise is superb. read more

Janet did a wonderful job taking up the hem and altering the shoulder straps of my daughter's prom dress. The dress is long with a chiffon circle skirt and full lining, so it was not a quick or easy task. It turned out beautifully and my daughter was thrilled. Janet was kind and fun, responded quickly to emails, and completed the work in just a few days. It was a total pleasure to work with her, and I recommend her wholeheartedly!! read more

Janet does amazing work. She made a jumpsuit for me that I absolutely adore. Her work is not inexpensive, but it is exquisite.

Janet just worked on my dress for my sister's wedding. The dress needed some work, and I needed it in two weeks. She finished everything in one, which was awesome! I ordered the smallest size available, but it still came in extremely large up top. She fixed the top and now it fits perfectly. I'm a little disappointed with the hem, but when I walk you can't really notice that the lining and the chiffon are two different lengths; you can tell when I'm just standing still. Definitely be ready to pay more than you would elsewhere, and ask for a quote. Overall, great work! read more