I called John's Fashion Tailor needing a dress altered the same day, and John didn't hesitate for a moment. Not only did he complete the alteration beautifully, but his prices were also extremely reasonable. With over 36 years in business, John's professionalism, skill, and attention to detail truly stand out. It's clear he takes great pride in his work, and the results speak for themselves. If you're looking for a tailor who is reliable, highly experienced, and delivers excellent results--especially on short notice--John's Fashion Tailor is the place to go. Highly recommend! read more

I can't to John in a panic, I needed alterations the day before my event. I called John shared with him my predicament and he gladly said he could make the adjustments. John was not only professional and clearly a talented tailor, he was incredibly kind to accept my last minute request. Pricing was very resealable. I am so happy to have discovered this business! read more

John is amazing been going here for year for over 5 years. Listen to direction while giving his expert opinion. I have had him do cropping some cardigans and tailoring suits. John gets it done. read more

I've been going to John about a year now for various garment needs and every time he has answered hemming and alteration requests with an execution leaving nothing more to be desired. We are fortunate to have him as part of our community. read more

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Overall great experience. John was knowledgeable and kind, and my suit alterations were quick and affordable. Will definitely be coming back! read more

If a super person had the powers of a tailor it would be John that held them. John is the infinity Gauntlet of tailoring. Not for everyone, but just right for those who can hold it. Came to John to hem some pants and fit my sleeves on a new tux I purchased for a summer wedding (I'm trying to dress like a gaudy super villain) and John was able to get it done for me lickitty split! No complaints, I was referred by my long time lover and super woman Ms. T. John got what needed to be done, in the time that was mentioned at an affordable rate. John has been in business for a considerable amount of time. Being the only person there, and dealing with some off days, you have to learn to be patient. I love supporting business owners who have been a staple to the surrounding neighborhood. Thank you! Will def be back soon! read more

I can take any piece of clothing from my closet, brand new or old, and John the Fashion Tailor can make it look amazing. His experience and talent is such that he can exactly customize a suit, pair of slacks, sports jacket, pair of jeans, leather jacket, a T-shirt or anything I bring him and tailor it perfectly and for a lower price than I would have expected. He is extremely nice and patient, fair, quick and efficient, and completely dedicated to making his customers happy. read more

This place did exactly what I needed. I came in with three pairs of pants that I needed tailored. I didn't wear them at all for years and now I'm going to wear them all the time. They got it done in a timely manner, and for a very reasonable price. I'll definitely be back. read more

Very fast hemming and very detailed work! I was able to get my jeans hemmed shorter in less than one day. Cash only!

I hate giving small business less than stellar reviews, but I am still upset by my experience with this tailor. I took several handmade shirts and coats to this guy to be fitted, and he made most of them so tight I can't wear them anymore. It probably cost me about $1500-$2000. A couple of the items are still ok, so not a total loss. I would just be careful - tell them to err on the side of leaving more room and some extra fabric. I do feel for small local businesses and want to be supportive but... there you have it. My experience. read more

John is a thoughtful tailor who does meticulous work for a very reasonable price. My first experience with his work was a week before a formal event. New to Oakland, I had taken a floor length silk chiffon gown to be hemmed elsewhere. It was a fiasco; different lengths in the front, back, and sides (more than 2"). John took on my complicated, last minute project with a fussy fabric and fixed it in time for the gala. I've since brought more casual wear and two vintage dresses (pictured here). All were finished beautifully. Most recently, John repaired the beading on a 1950's gown and let the bodice out on a 1960's dress with little margin to work with. He's the best! read more

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It was a week out from my brother's wedding, in which I was to be one of the bridesmaids. I had never gotten a dress hemmed myself before, so I didn't know what a reasonable amount of time was for turnaround. After calling several tailors in the area and either being told that they wouldn't be able to perform the edits in time or being charged through the nose by some of the local tailors specializing in bridesmaid dresses, I found John's listing. I didn't know much about how to describe my dress, but he worked with me to come to a quote. John is an absolute lifesaver and hidden gem. He was able to hem my wide, triple-layer full-length chiffon dress in a couple days, for an insanely reasonable price, and also gave me some great advice about transporting my dress to a destination wedding. Note - he's fairly reserved and businesslike, so don't expect him to be making a ton of small talk while he takes measurements. I am incredibly pleased with his work and gave him a huge tip as thanks. 10/10, will be returning for all of my tailoring needs. read more

The Thursday before my wedding I brought John an Indian suit I just received from my brother-in-law from New York. I really wanted to wear the suit, and my mother-in-law wanted me to wear it even more - especially since it was a surprise for my wife. However, the sleeves were way too short and John was going to be closed Friday and Saturday. BUT he pulled it off for my big day. Thanks John the Fashion Tailor. Jason read more

John the Fashion Tailor - Bridal Near Me - Oakland, California

I bought a dress online that took 30 days to arrive 2 weeks before my event. I scoured Yelp and spent Saturday morning wandering around Oakland/ Piedmont before going into The Fashion Tailor's store. I was scared because he said the lace would make it hard for him to let it out enough, or evenly. And he would not be able to take in the bust because of the embellishment. I was so sad, but told him to do his best. I picked it up a week later and he was optimistic, saying he was able to let it out 1.5+ inches. I just took it straight to the cleaner's to be steamed and pressed, not bothering to try it on. I was so happily surprised when (the night of my ball) I went to put the dress on and it fit so comfortably! The let out seams weren't at all noticeable in the back either. Time (1 week) and price ($48.50) were right on for me. Quality (superb) exceeded expectations! Cash or Check only! read more

John the Fashion Tailor - My lovely dress! - Bridal Near Me - Oakland, California

Let me add my voice to the chorus. John the Fashion Tailor is incredible!!!! I called him to inquire about his hours, and he phoned back right away. He's a very nice man, who takes his time and does the job right. My skirts were perfect. Absolutely perfect. And done a day early too. Run don't walk to him, although I think he's busy as can be because we all love him. I'd go back in a heartbeat! And yes, his dressing room thingy is cool. Oh, he actually takes checks (and seems to prefer them). He's a bit pricey, but it's worth it if you want your clothes to look fantastic. He opens at 9am, at least on weekdays. read more

I just had a fabulous first experience with John, so I wanted to write a review. Twelve years ago, I had the good fortune to travel around Argentina and Uruguay. The dollar was strong, and the leather from that region is top notch (the Italians import it to make their finery), so I bought myself a fabulous thick leather winter coat with lambskin lining. It's my favorite coat for travelling to real winter locations. And unfortunately, on a business trip to NYC last month, the zipper completely broke and two of the back-up fastening buttons became loose. I knew that it needed repairs before an upcoming business trip to Washington DC... I searched for tailors here in Oakland and Berkeley with expertise in leather, and came up with a short list of tailors with strong reviews. The goal was to find someone during the winter holiday season. John the Fashion Tailor was on the list. John was the first tailor shop who both answered the phone when I called during business hours, and was willing to take business in the week before Christmas. When I brought the coat in, he was clear with a fair price and reasonable time estimate for the work (it's a tricky coat due to the thickness of the leather and the lining and it was the holiday season). I trusted the reviews here on Yelp so I decided to go for it. I picked up the coat today, the day he estimated it would be done. His work is flawless. The new zipper is solid and beautiful, and looks like it was part of the original garment. The stabilized buttons are rock solid and look like they will be fine for at least the next dozen years. I was so pleased, I even gave him a small tip on top of the cost of the work. I will definitely return to John for any future tailoring needs, and am confident in referring others to him. read more

John did an amazing job fitting my tux to perfection. Seamless work! Also, he accommodate my last minute request. He got the job done in a timely fashion. read more

John the Fashion Tailor - JLo inspired outfit - Bridal Near Me - Oakland, California

I had a lambskin blazer for about six months. The sleeves were a tad long and to make it worse, actual button holes. I tried to be hip and roll them up a bit, however it made my arms look like I was wearing baseball mitts. Finally found John, a charming fellow, who took my measurements and explained a few options for alterations. Finally, I can wear my blazer without feeling I'm wearing my dad's jacket! read more

I am sick and tired of all the generalizing about interracial relationships. Why don't _____women date ______men? Why are _______women obsessed with ______men? Why do ______ men love _______ women? What's the deal with _______s? Miscegenation, schmiscegenation. Blah, blah, blah. Stick a fork in me. I've been done for quite a while. My family is a friggin' rainbow. For reals. If you locked us all in one room you'd think you were seeing a bumper sticker for Jesse Jackson in '84. I'm as comfortable eating yee mein and sai yeung choi with chopsticks as I am eating injera and gomen wat with my fingers. Matzo balls or pasta balls? They're all just balls to me. That said, the only man I will PAY to get in my pants is an Asian dude. And not only will I unzip my pants for him, I'll let him keep them for a week. He's THAT good. That's right. I needed help with my beautiful People's Liberation wide legs that were just a tad too long. For a very reasonable price, John not only magically replicated the washed-out bottoms, he also hemmed them to the absolute perfect length. Now I can wear them with anything from Michael Kors platforms to Reef flip flops. Because John knows I believe in diversity in footwear as well. read more

I unfortunately did not have a good experience with John. I went to see him after seeing how great his reviews were. I ignored the reviews with low ratings assuming the people were just being picky. I needed a jumpsuit taken in, hemmed, and waistline adjusted. Since it was a more complicated job I wanted to go to someone with quality experience. John was rude and seemed annoyed about the work-- even though I said there was no rush and asked if the job was too complicated. His exact words were, "you're not the same size as the super model, this doesn't fit you." Well, yes that's why I'm here getting it tailored. For reference I'm 5'5" and a size 2/4. I doubt he's exclusively tailoring items for women over 6 feet, size 0. I wouldn't have minded all of this if it would have been worth it. I got the jumpsuit back ($120) and the waist is up too high. Doesn't fit. I'm going to someone else to get it fixed-- the final product isn't worth putting up with his attitude. read more

Another Yelp find for me that I now absolutely recommend. John altered my wedding dress and when I returned for the post-alteraton fitting, slightly heavier in weight because of all the pre-wedding parties, the back hook shot off and flew across the room. No joke! I was mortified but John took it in stride, worked magic with his needle and thread, and guaranteed that it would not come off at the wedding. John was right! This dress made it to our wedding in Mexico and survived! Our reception included hours of dancing, plus hugging relatives and friends, not to mention that it was very windy that day, and the dress remained in perfect condition through it all.... I've since gone on a diet and plan to return to John when my clothes need to be taken in! John is very kind, offers great pricing, and is fast and efficient. read more

He was fast and professional. Pricing seems reasonable, but I haven't gotten many things tailored, so I'm not sure my opinion is correct. I got a bridesmaid dress hemmed for $58, it was done within 2 weeks. His place looks a bit janky and old, but the work is good and I'd definitely go back again. I had called in before going, but he said it wasn't necessary--drop ins are fine! read more

Almost two years later, John is still my tailor for all things clothing. Take in a skirt with an elastic waist? No problem. Returning a belt loop, button, or bauble to your pants? Easy. And the hemlines - always perfect. Every single time he tailors something for me, people notice. I'd worn the too-big skirt to work a few times before having it altered, and it wasn't until he fixed it that every coworker stopped and said "Wow, that's a great skirt!" He's a little expensive. But he makes me feel like a million bucks...so I'd say he's worth every penny. read more

I've had John do a number of alterations for me. Notably, he's taken in several of my dress shirts to perfection. The first time he did this for me, I was worried about how they would turn out; he seemed very nonchalant about pinning the excess fabric. But when I got them back, they fit me like a glove. That wasn't luck. John has been doing this long enough that he knows exactly what to do with an article of clothing just by looking at it. He also took on the complex job of shortening my peacoat's sleeves, which had a yoke that needed to be shifted in order to maintain the balance of the garment. When I got the coat back from John, the alteration was seamless (no pun intended) with the original construction of the sleeve. On top of this, he's very professional. He can be somewhat quiet, but he asks you how you want things to turn out, he offers comments on what's fashionable or stylish or functional, and he likes to let you know exactly what he'll do to get the job done. He absolutely refrains from foisting his own opinions of how something should look on you, which is an occasional flaw of talented tailors. My only complaint is that he's a bit pricey, but that hasn't stopped me from taking more and more of my clothing to him. I recommend him highly. read more

This man seriously works magic. I've been trusting my clothes to him for 3 years now, and I've never been disappointed. Sure, he's not the cheapest tailor around, but the quality of his work makes the extra few bucks worth every penny. I've had him hem pants, patch a ripped jacket, and even completely re-tailor a couple shirts that my dad bought one size too big. He always finishes his work on the day he specifies, and he's never had a problem with any rush work I've had him do. One or two times, I've called him to see if he could get a pair of pants hemmed for the next day, and he was able to do it at no extra charge. John is a fantastic taylor. I would recommend him to anyone! read more

I just had John lengthen the sleeves on a 1970's camel blazer from Japan I inherited from my Dad. A moderately complicated job -- moving six sleeve buttons, moving the lining, and there is a slit in the sleeve end. He did a perfect job for $32. I chatted with John for a bit and he also indicated he is happy to work on outdoor stuff, or really anything made of fabric -- sleeping bags, tents, canvas, etc. I may try him as an alternative to Narain's -- who are good, but not as close to where I live -- next time I have such a need. read more

Great service + great work + fast = 5 stars Not much more to say. I found my new tailor. read more

Brought a very expensive cocktail dress here to be tailored, based solely on positive Yelp reviews. The dress is complicated and it was the busy holiday season. He had it done early and the work was FLAWLESS. His services appear to be so much more reasonably priced than my former fave, Irena on Piedmont. I'm switching to John for good! As an introvert myself, I appreciate John's mellow temperament and kindness. I don't need chatty to recognize good service. read more

I'm definitely happy with the service here. John was quick and courteous when I came in to drop of some pants to be hemmed and a suit vest to be taken in. I got them both back in three business days without a rush fee (I think he normally does one full business week). He did a great job, and they both fit perfectly. My only minor complaint would be the price. While other reviewers mention he has been very affordable for things like dresses, I was a bit surprised by the price for just getting pants hemmed ($14.50). There are a number of similar quality places in San Fran that will do a hem for under $10. Despite the price, I'll definitely be back. Glad to have someone locally that I can trust to tailor my suits and other items. Also, just wanted to mention that I don't believe he takes credit cards anymore. I saw a little sign mentioning this on the counter, but I didn't confirm with him. read more

I found John on Yelp raving about the quality of work that he does. What is ironic is that this review has nothing to do with quality, but the lack of quality of needed work. I brought John a pair of triple gusseted triple stitched jeans that i found to be a bit baggy. He sized them up, evaluated the work and responded with the utmost honesty that it wouldn't be worth the work for me or him. What was notable was his delivery, attitude and response to my questions pertaining to the item. He was very knowledgable, answered all my questions to me and not at me. And I like his demeanor, which was professional and wanting to be of service. Conclusion, i trust him and would like to be able to rate him on his quality of work as well as customer service. As for now i can only rate him on my interpretation of how he conducts business (to me makes the half of the business, while the other half being quality). read more

Reviewers have mentioned that John's price for hemming pants is high, I agree. But I wouldn't go anyplace else for this work - he always matches the thread and any detailing perfectly. He has said to me he knows other places such as cleaners do it for less, $10 - 12. John today I think is around $14+. He said he just can't afford to do things that cheaply given his experience and the time and care he puts into the work. He basically offers hemming as a courtesy. He has the skills to make a whole wedding dress or a man's suit - often he talks to me about the difference other alterer's work which is- "seamstress" work he terms it. Versus what he can do, which is real tailoring. Though a little hard, it shows that he takes real pride in his skills and craftsmanship. His shop is dedicated to his tailoring and has a platform and several mirrors so you and he can see what is going on. At my cleaners, who I used to take my pants to, had to change in a little closet and stand in front of a single mirror and hope for the best, no thread color matching for sure. These days it's automatic and any new pants I take directly to him. We also review the pants to see if it needs taking in anywhere else and it's all taken care of at the same time. I don't question an addition $2 given that I know I'll get perfect results and don't have to worry about it. For pants that could cost from $50 - 150 and more, I think it's worth it. Took my $200 Citizens of Humanity jeans for hemming - why would I quibble about $2 given the price of the clothing and the disappointment I'd feel if things weren't done right? read more

Thank you Yelpers! He really DOES work magic. He tailored my first real suit. I spent $300 on a suit and didn't want to trust it to just anyone. It's scary to hand over your expensive clothes and let a stranger put it under a knife. He had to do MAJOR work to make the sleeves the right length (I'm short) and it looks beautiful! It took about a week, but it was worth the wait because I knew he was putting a lot of care into it. It cost $80 which considering what he did, I didn't mind paying. He also hemmed two pairs of pants and did a fine job on those although I may want to take one back and have them go shorter. (better too long than too short!) But if you need just a simple hem, go else where, he's too pricy for the basic alterations. $25 to hem the length of a linen sun dress? ouch. Bonus: He accepts CC and parking is super easy. read more

Since my initial visit in February of last year (2009), I've gone back at least 6+ other times. I've had numerous sport coats, blazers and suits altered. I was just there yesterday to have another suit altered. ie: take the body of the jacket in as well as have the sleeves altered and the pants hemmed to length. I also took in my favorite Brooks Bros sweater vest to get altered as well. This is definitely my go to spot when I need to have clothes tailored. read more

John knows his stuff! took my suit to get it tightened up, it went from being my worst fitting suit to my best. just remember, it's YOUR stuff, you tell HIM how you want it. read more

Awesome job tapering a pair of stretch jeans. I know that sowing on stretch jean material isn't that easy and these fit perfect. Very reasonable price for it as well. These were some stretch jeans I got online that were marked down quite a bit because the the hips were two sizes smaller than they were supposed to be. You were supposed to order it two sizes bigger, but then the problem was then the rest of the pants don't fit right. I was going to send them back because they fit so bad, until I called this place out of curiosity to get a quote-- They could be fixed for such a good price that it would be totally worth it to keep them and they were tapered perfectly!! read more

No one is in business for almost 20 years without mastering excellence and this guy epitomizes just that. He's absolutely great at doing what he does. Knows how to make an assessment on what's the best way to approach each job and he tackles each one with the same tact and diligence that you would expect from a master. I recommend John to anyone who's looking for the perfect fit. I searched long and hard for someone who I could trust with my clothing...my search is over...John is my guy! read more

Brought a brand new pair of jeans in to get hemmed. He said they could shrink after washing so wait and see. 5 stars for honesty. read more

I had a non-traditional gold lame wedding dress custom made for me by a dress maker that I found online. It arrived days before my wedding in pieces. I rushed it to John (the original dress maker said she didn't have enough time to finish it). He put it all back together, fitted it perfectly to my body, had it done in a couple of days, only charged $60 and added buttons to my fiancée jacket for free. So glad I took it to him! read more

John is a fine tailor and I am happy to be one of his 'regular' customers. John is professional, highly skilled, and personable. I am pleased that a Yelp review introduced me to his business. read more

I took in a vintage Brooks Brothers camel hair tweed blazer (eBay score) for alterations. The shoulders fit, but there was too much room in the waist. 1. It fits exactly the way a Brooks blazer should fit an athletic guy (tailored, not snug) 2. The new seams match the pattern perfectly. 3. Price point: reasonable. Turn-around time: exceptional. read more