Carmel Tailoring Fine Clothier — Local services in Carmel

I have always been scrupulous when it comes to finding a tailor. I am 6'4", with an athletic build; broad shoulders and narrow waist. It's nearly impossible for me to buy clothes that fit, straight off the rack. Thus, having a tailor that understands my build and really pays attention to my needs is most important to me. I've been through a handful of tailors so I know what to look for and the components the make for a great client/tailor relationship. After relocating to the area, I needed to find a tailor so I thought I would give C.T. a shot, so I dropped off a few suits to test them out.

First impression: I was very impressed with how thorough Kay was with her measurements. Most tailors have a few basic site-specific measurements they take, but Kay's assessment was much more thorough. She measured everything at least twice. I didn't tell her, but my body is slightly asymmetrical. I knew if she discovered this, she was worth keeping around -as the difference is only that of 3/4 inches! Sure enough she found the discrepancy and asked me to confirm! When the suits came back they fit perfectly!

I was so impressed that I went ahead and built out a custom suit with her, as well as a few shirts. I was set to attend the most important meeting of my life and needed to make the best first impression possible. The selection of materials, designs, and fabrics was overwhelmingly plentiful, with many fine options to choose from. She walked me through the process, took measurements again, and even provided personal insight into fabric types and what would look best for my build. At this point, she had won my trust so I accepted her advice. I was not disappointed! With only three weeks until the big meeting I was concerned weather or not the suit and shirts would be complete in time. She went out of her way to make sure everything was complete and QC'd in two weeks, just in time for the meeting.

Everything fit and looked great, and I was very pleased with her recommendations and how everything turned out. I have $5,000+ suits with fine Italian fabrics that don't even touch the quality of this suit for a fraction of the cost. I'm certainly customer for life now, and would highly recommend her services to anyone looking for a good tailor.

If you want a cheap cookie-cutter tailor then go to Men's Warehouse, Jose.A Bank, or Brooks Brothers. If you are looking for a tailor that cares about her work and someone with whom you can build a long-term relationship, then get on her calendar while she still has room! You will NOT be disappointed!

Outstanding quality, outstanding personalized service, and outstanding value. Thanks Kay!

PS: Still loving the...

I have had a very poor experience with this business; I recommend you avoid them for your services, ESPECIALLY bridal.

My first visit for my wedding dress fittings was alright; nothing particularly stellar in terms of service, but I didn't get a bad feeling about the place.

I then tried to go back for my next scheduled fitting, a month later. They had lost my appointment and were unable to see me. Doesn't really make a bride feel special, does it? I schedule an appointment for later in the week and in her apology for losing my appointment, Kay lets slip that they had also not done any work on my dress in the time I had left it there. Perfect.

Kay, who I assume is the proprietor, is not someone I want to be around for any length of time. She repeatedly called me "baby," "honey," and "sweetie," EVEN AFTER I ASKED HER TO STOP. She never listens ("When would you like your next appointment?" "In the morning." "Great, does 5pm work?"). She asks the same questions over the course of a conversation that she really ought to know ("When is your wedding?" was asked of me three times in one visit) or is none of her business ("do you live far?" was asked of me often as I stressed I did not want extra fittings/visits). I would reach out for my wedding dress and she would push past me and place it in the fitting room. I would be getting dressed and she would OPEN THE CURTAIN. Any concerns I bring up (like the bust not fitting right) are waved away and either she says "it will naturally get fixed as we're doing this other thing" or "nah, it's fine." At my latest and last to final pickup fitting, I again stressed I did not like the bust, and it's only then that she offers a tailoring solution - I am way too wary at this point (and too close to my wedding date!) to trust her advice. The bustle is ugly and not what she showed me it would look like.

Final meeting/pickup: the dress is average to below average. Black threads are up in the tulle that I'm instructed that I'll simply have to "pick out" before putting on the dress. I am charged FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY DOLLARS for the most basic of work that shows no master craftsmanship. They will never get my business again - avoid at all costs!

Final Edit: My wedding has happened, so I thought I'd give an update. The beading work on the left arm frayed and caught on the bodice all night. I could hardly raise my arms above my head while dancing. The bustle came unbustled several times during the night. Very poor work done. Do...

Phenomenal experience, customer service, and quality!

I went to Carmel Tailoring to order a custom tuxedo for my wedding and had a phenomenal and immersive journey. This being my first time ordering a custom garment, I was amazed at the plethora of options to choose from when designing something truly bespoke. Kay and her staff's expertise and guidance were much needed along the way. Had I been going through the process on my own, it would've easily taken half a day to research and decide on all the design elements. We started with the fabric type and color, and I had a very particular color in mind. I had imagined a very deep and dark green that appeared almost black until it was hit by the light. They found the exact color I had envisioned! Once the basics were squared away, we moved through choices like jacket lapel and pants pocket designs, all the way down to the color of stitching for the jacket liner.

Needless to say, they left a fantastic impression. I will be a returning customer for the foreseeable future and will always recommend Carmel Tailoring to anyone who is looking for the best possible custom tuxedo or suit experience...