Victorine’s Alterations

I love working with Victorine! I can tell already how much she knows what she is doing and is dedicated to making me happy. From the start you can see how passionate she is about her work and cares for her clients, me being one of them. She is so willing to please. She went above and beyond as far as her suggestions, patiences, knowledge, and attention to detail. She is extremely affordable, sweet, and easy to work with. I can’t wait to see her final product! I would definitely recommend her.

We have used Victorine’s alterations twice. My daughter got her information from a classmate and decided to try her services for prom last year. We had never met before but were instantly at ease with her confidence and professionalism. When we came back for a final fitting check we were delighted with the fit as well as the beautiful bustle Victorine had created. So this year, when my daughter got her dress that she’d ordered on the internet and was sadly disappointed in how it looked I immediately suggested we take it to Victorine to see if she could work her magic.
She turned the ill fitting dress into a dress and looked and felt like a million bucks. My daughter was thrilled and so was I. Victorine completed the alterations on time, for a reasonable cost, and went out of her way to make my daughter feel confident in her prom attire.
I would not hesitate to return to her for any alteration needs! She is a miracle worker.

Victorine’s Alterations is in the business since 1990 here in America and many years before in France. Never had bad reviews until one crazy bridezella visited her asking really weard things to do on her dress. Victorine helped to the extreme but couldn’t make her happy because she did not want to be happy, If you visit B. Nicole G web page on Unilocal you will see how many bad reviews she did on many businesses she delt with, now does that mean that all the businesses are Mediocre and she is the perfect customer? Please before you believe a crazy hateful customer you should check the business your self and then judge it base on the service you get.

When I 1^st visited Victorine in October ’11, I told her about my lack-​luster & degrading experience with my former seamstress in Moorhead, & she assured me that I was in extremely capable hands. She quickly took my measurements, with the gown on, talked with me about my desires, & had absolutely no qualms with my detailed & extravagant vision. At one point the fact that my body is «uneven» due to a car crash several years ago came up & we joked about how, once it was altered to fit me, the gown would be a one-​of-​a-​crooked-​kind. (I am a ½″ shorter all the way down on my left side) She, again, assured me that my unusual measurements were not an issue & that the gown would look perfect. I left the appointment, $ 500 lighter, but confident that the gown would be perfect come February.
A 2^nd fitting was scheduled in December (after being rescheduled by Victorine 3 times) & when I came in the usual rough seams & tacks were in place to make sure things were on the right track before final cuts & seams were made. The focus of the appointment was on the back of the gown (which is where most of the work was done) & the fact the bust cups were out of place/​too big. Victorine insisted once the bust cups were in the right place & the gown’s internal cups were removed to make room for the cups she was sewing in, the gown would fit better. With that we corrected a few issues & I was sent on my marry way. It wasn’t until I got home that night I realized the hem line was never checked, but I didn’t think too much about it since Victorine had my «unusual measurements» on record & had made it a point to tell me every thing was «fine».
The final fitting came at my insistence three weeks before my wedding. At my 2^nd fitting, Victorine said I wouldn’t need to come in for a «final» fitting– everything would be perfect & if I wanted to come get the gown on the 15^th or so, it would be ready. With my wedding date looming I didn’t feel comfortable cutting things so close. I insisted I come in before to have a final fitting & to retrieve the gown if it was ready. When we arrived the entire fitting was rushed as if she had some place else to be. I slipped into the gown &, again, the focus of the short fitting was on the back of the gown & putting a final button in to hold the lace in place. While I had the gown on, I noticed Victorine on the floor, tugging at the front hem line of the gown. I looked down at my reflection in the mirror & noticed that my gown was showing my toes. I asked her if the hem line was ok & she quickly assured me «it is fine, it is just the way you are standing». I distinctly remember these words being said! However, the excitement of the moment caught up with me (EEEEEEK! I’m getting married!) & I moved on to looking at the exquisit work & detail of the gown’s back. I never even looked at the bust. In retrospect, I believe I didn’t want to see the obvious flaws in my gown during those first moments because I didn’t want to lose my «happy feeling» or think I might have wasted $ 500 at that very moment. After we decided where the new buttons should be placed I slipped out of the gown & we were hurried downstairs while Victorine quickly tacked the last button on. While I was sitting there, I began question the hem & the bust in my head, but I was never given the chance to try the gown on again, as we were hastened to the door the second she handed me the gown. The entire final fitting lasted a grand total of 15 mins.
In this situation, I take my full responsibility. I should have insisted on a 2^nd try on during the last fitting. I shouldn’t have held my tongue out of excitement. I should have insisted that she let me see the hem line without her pull at it, & I should have checked the bust closely. Had I done so, I would have seen that the hem on the left side of the gown is exactly ½ shorter than the right when I am wearing it, but when on the hanger hangs it is straight. My «unusual measurements» were never applied to the gown when it was hemmed. Also the bust still has the internal cups inside, the new cups are still out of place & the bust is still ill-​fitted/​gapped under my arms. I know I should have said something at the time, but in truth, there never should have been a need for me to do so. She, as a professional, should follow her measurements & instructions to the letter and not have to correct mistakes. Rushed work is bad work– period.
Victorine’s detail work: A, but her basic/​simple work: F
Ultimately, I had to find another seamstress & pay her to fix the mistakes on my gown. $ 500 not well spent.