John’s Sportswear

Wonderful job tailoring my myriad ill-​fitting formal dresses. You’ve taken old gowns I thought I’d never wear and turned them into gems again! Thank you!
My only wish is that they were open slightly later (or earlier) hours as well as longer weekend hours (can’t always get there directly before or after work).
A hidden gem!

The woman here was excellent. I had a black tie event and walked in a few days before the event for my gown to be hemmed. She finished in the time frame agreed upon, at the cost agreed upon, did great work, and was a pleasure to be around. I will go back for sure!

What a great gem! I found their name on Unilocal for zipper repair and they came through. Fast (next day) and at a fair price. I will go back to try them for tailoring.

Wonderful experience! Had a two-​way zipper repaired on a ski jacket. It looks better than new!!! John’s did a terrific job!

This place was ASTOUNDING!
I had been taking my time trying to find a good tailor for a bridesmaid gown I needed alterations on. So I put a lot of time into researching all tailors in the area. In the end I went to John’s because of the great Unilocal reviews, and because it was right down the street from me.
A little bit about the dress and the need for alterations… It was a beautiful Vera Wang cocktail dress that I planned on wearing again after my friends wedding. The thing was I bought the dress at a time when I had been very sick and dropped 30 pounds. Knowing I was getting better and gaining weight back, I bought the dress in a larger size (like 2 sizes bigger) in order to make sure that no matter what it would fit with only the need for adjustments before the wedding months down the way.
I went in on a Thursday without an appointment and the brunette woman I worked with was quite pleasant and charming. Very positive attitude and you could tell she knew what she was doing. She was even very thorough when I said things I was hoping for adjustments on, and she was honest with why certain things would and would not work.
She told me it would be a week for the alterations, which I was pleasantly surprised to hear. Then she told me it would only be $ 60! $ 60 for adjusting the straps, and the fit of a two layered dress. Now I was really getting excited.
Even more amazing… my head nearly exploded when I got a call just 3 days later saying my dress was ready. I have to say I was a little cautious at how fast they did the dress. However when I went in to try it on, it fit perfectly! There was no need for further alterations and I took it home that day.
I have since recommended them to everyone I know, and will definitely be bringing more of my clothes there for alterations.

Had some alterations done here a while back and was happy with the hemming. They took in the waist and shortened the pants. The pants were double lined so it is a small amount more for the second lining but it still was less expensive to the Boston place I was taking them before. All in All I was happy with the service and would use them again.

I highly recommend this business for the highest quality tailoring services. The two lovely women there are honest and do wonderful work.

This place is a gem. They’re so talented, a little pricey, but well worth the investment. It’s taken me forever to find a good seamstress; so pleased my search ends here :)

Love this place! It’s so cool that there are still dressmakers out there who will custom-​tailor and repair your clothes for a reasonable price.
I had a new zipper inserted in a down parka. At first the woman there told me it might be impossible due to the fabric allowance and the length of the zipper, but she said she’d see what she could do. She called me within a day and had located a zipper that would work. The (beautiful) finished product was less than she had estimated and absolutely fair. The original zipper had lasted one winter; her replacement has already gone two more.
Highly recommended for alterations or repairs. She also clearly makes and sells ready-​to-​wear in the shop and some of it looks prety cute and very inexpensive. I love the window displays, too, which vary seasonally and are always fun to look at while waiting for the bus.

I brought in a jacket/​coat to have the zipper replaced. The coat was in great condition and it’s easier than throwing out a good product and waste time shopping for a similar looking item to replace it. The new zipper looks like it came on the jacket and is better quality than the one that broke.

My fav winter coat had zipper issues. Tailor Ugar tried to get it to work but it was cooked so she installed a new zipper. She did a fine job in less time than expected and for a reasonable price. Plus she is an absolute doll! Then she shortened a leather jacket’s sleeves and I’m delighted. What more could one ask for? It’s nice to have a tailor I can count on.

About a year ago, I purchased a custom dress from an Etsy seller. I sent the designer my measurements and my money. A few weeks later, the dress arrived in great condition. Except, it didn’t fit.
This is where John’s comes in. I don’t know who John is, but the woman who altered my dress did great work on a somewhat complicated undertaking. Last week I took three dresses in for hemming. Today I picked up my garments and they look better than new.
Nestled in a row of shops on Mt. Auburn, John’s is easy to find. Keep your eyes peeled for a bizarre mannequin in the window of what appears to be a vintage store. I recommend calling ahead before your visit.

Excellent tailoring and alterations at incredibly cheap prices! They charge a fraction of what other shops charge and the woman who owns it and her mother are terrific tailors. In addition to doing a great job on everyday items (mending and hemming all my pants, yup I am short) they know how to tailor fancy clothing. They took in a leather skirt and fitted and hemmed a 1920’s vintage beaded dress for me for ridiculously little money. Their work is flawless; on the beaded dress you can barely see all the work they did. You can take clothes to them and they will tell you what you need to have done to achieve the best look and fit and they also will do a rush job if you need your clothes right away.
Don’t let the look of the shop put you off. They sell sample clothing and some used clothing (apparently they used to own a clothing manufacturing business) and the place is kind of run down. As others have mentioned they do not take credit cards and sometimes they close during the day but usually not for long. Try John’s — your wallet and your clothes will be very happy you did.

Great little hole in the wall tailoring/​alterations place right on Mount Auburn Street, in-​front of the bus stop! I got 5 pairs of jeans (yes I own a lot of jeans that need tailoring) altered there for under 70 bucks! It was a deal compared to the place I used to go to in Lexington. The woman did a great job. A few reasons I gave them 4 stars out of 5, one of them being she only accepts cash and personal check. Another being sometimes she closes shop without notice (to go pick up her kid from school around 3) So I always call before I go just to be sure she’s there.