Whether it’s for a special occasion or it’s just who you are, wearing clothes that compliment your body type and don’t need any pulling and adjusting makes you feel confident and powerful. Even though I love sweater dresses and jeans, like every woman, I do sometimes like to fancy it up a notch and put on a nice dress or a pair of pants.

But you know the feeling when you try something on and it just doesn’t feel right? The color, the size, the length, everything is fine, but something is just off. And let’s not kid ourselves, most of us cannot be squeezed into Asian sizes. But let’s put that aside for a minute and focus on the fact that sometimes we simply need/want garments that fit us perfectly.

That’s where having a tailor on your WeChat contact list comes in handy.

A good tailor cannot only create new perfectly fitted clothes for you and increase the versatility of your wardrobe, but they can also upgrade your existing “off the rack” stuff and give them a sophisticated look by altering them to flatter your body type. If you’ve been struggling to find clothes that fit or you just need to move a button over or fix a split seam and you don’t have the skills, your safest bet is a skillful tailor. Luckily, we found a few options for you right in the heart of Beijing:

Beibei Tailor Shop
Located in Sanlitun, this family-owned business has been successfully operating since 2014. Ran by a husband and wife, it’s a place to go to if you or your partner are in need of a custom-made outfit.

The owner, Beibei, says that people mostly come in looking for formal wear and although prices vary depending on the garment and the tailoring service, a new shirt will cost you around RMB 200, whereas a properly-fitted suit can go up to RMB 1,500. Even though you’ll have your measurements taken at the shop, the actual magic will happen at a factory just outside the 5^th ring road. In case you cannot visit the Sanlitun shop, Beibei says that they can also come to your home. The shop is open 10am-8pm.

Find it:
Beibei Tailor Shop 高级定制
1F, Yishengge, 10 Xindong Road, Chaoyang
朝阳区新东路10号逸盛阁负一层
WeChat ID: beibei318329

Yi Wei Custom
Another option if you’re looking for a good tailor to update your wardrobe is Yi Wei Custom, a shop located in the Hailong building in Chaoyang. This is also a family business run by a husband and wife. They make men’s, women’s and children’s clothes.

Shirts cost between RMB120 – RMB300, and a brand new suit can be anywhere between RMB 700 – RMB2,000. Yi Wei Custom studio is open 8:30am – 9:30pm.

Find it:
Yi Wei Custom依维定制
Room 203, 2^nd floor, Hailong Petroleum Buiding, Sanlitun, Chaoyang
朝阳区三里屯海隆石油大厦2楼依维定制203依维定制
Tel: 13522365571

Bespoke Tailoring
Another place that comes highly recommended is Bespoke Tailoring studio in Sanlitun. The owner, Jenny, is considering moving her business to another location in Beijing, but for now, the shop is still in the same place and is open 11am-8pm.

Whether you’re looking for a completely new wardrobe or you just want someone to make adjustments to your old stuff because your pants feel super tight around the middle, the waistband is too high or they just need to be reduced to a smaller or bigger size, they can do it for you. Prices vary depending on the quality of the material. Shirts cost between RMB 200 – RMB500, suits RMB1,000 – RMB3,000, and pants go from RMB400-RMB700. Appointments are required.

Find it:
Bespoke Tailoring 云涵私人订制
Room 101, 1st Floor, Unit 1, Building No.31, Sanlitun South, Sanlitun Street, Chaoyang
朝阳区三里屯街道三里屯南31号楼-单元101
Tel: 18500086728
Email: Jennytailor1982@hotmail.com

Lily Tailor
Open 9:30am-9pm, at Lily’s studio in Chaoyang you can get well-fitted, custom-made suits for RMB1,000-RMB2,000 and casual dresses for around RMB800.

Simple alterations, such as zipper replacement or seam stitching,  are between RMB10-RMB20, while more complicated ones can cost you anywhere between RMB200-RMB300. Appointments are required.

Find it:
Lily Tailor
亿人服装定制
Room 12, 1st floor, 53 Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang
朝阳区东大桥路53号楼一层12门
Tel: 13161229623, 18612564946

Images: Courtesy of BeiBei Tailor shop, Jenny, Yi Wei Custom, Lily Tailor