Reviews of Alterations By Melonie (Tailor)

Wendy Xiao

Let me try to describe in words how amazing Melonie is. Melonie's time is in very high demand because people everywhere know how good she is. She has to turn people away. She is extremely detail-oriented and careful. She wants to do a good job. I have taken 3 dresses to her. One only had to be hemmed, and she did an amazing job very quickly. Another needed to be taken in and she added extra straps inside the dress because she didn't want the invisible zipper to burst. I had no idea they were so fragile. The last item was my wedding dress, which was extremely delicate. It was made with 2-3 layers of lace, chantilly lace, and lace appliqués. It also had very intricate beading and a see through mesh over the entire back that would snag on just about anything. I wanted it taken in and have the hem raised, and I asked Melonie if it was possible to change the shape of the bottom half of the dress and she said yes. It turned out to be a much bigger challenge than expected but she did it! She took apart the bottom half of the dress and meanwhile discovered that all the appliqués were glued on! She hand steamed and peeled off all the appliqués along the seams and then sewed them back on. She didn't just "take in" my dress -- she made my dress fit for a smaller more petite frame. It fit beautifully and we had several fittings so she could make sure it was up to her standards (higher than mine). I'm not sure what will happen eventually when she retires, and no skilled seamstress is left in the area perform that kind of magic. Her prices are very reasonable too!

Michelle Grasso

I first met Mel when I was 16 and needed my first prom dress altered (She altered 4 different prom dresses for me) When it was time for my wedding dress to get altered I knew only she could do it. My dress was no easy task! I had A LOT of layers, lace, and sleeves. I trusted her judgement every step of the way and she did not steer me wrong. She suggested I add some bling to my waist line and honestly, I’m so glad she did! It added something to the dress I didn’t even realize was needed. She also took the time at my last fitting to help me pick out earrings. The compliments I received on my dress would not have happened if Mel didn’t alter it the way she did! She even made the bustling an easy task by hiding pins so we knew where to grab for each layer. I highly recommend Mel! She’s hardworking and very dedicated!

Sarah Stabile

Melonie was fabulous! I brought my wedding dress to her to be altered. She saved me a hem and made it fit like a glove! Her prices were VERY reasonable and everything was done in a timely manner! She thought of things I hadn't even considered and didn't push to make the change, but it certainly made sense! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this talented and funny lady! She will not disappoint!

Jessica

From my communion dress, Halloween costumes, and then prom dress, my parents have gone to Melanie for close to 20 years. As soon as you walk into her shop, both she and her staff greet you like old friends and the customer comes first always. The quality of the work is a cut above any of her competitors and prices are reasonable. After getting to know her myself, I learned that she has been in business for 40+ years, I can tell you for certain that she is going to be in business another 40 years!!! Highly recommend her for anything and everything related to alterations.

DomandMish GetWed

I had my wedding dress alterations done here - excellent work! Fit perfectly and the bustle lasted all night :) Would recommend!

Erika McCarty

Melonie does a great job, the prices are reasonable, and the service quick! Highly recommend!

Ashley Dinkins

Melanie Altered my all Lace wedding gown and made me fall in love with it all over again. She is so detailed and her prices are so reasonable. Wold recommend her to anyone in a heartbeat.

Anne Wyllie

Just took a few normal dresses in for some fixing. Was curious about some of the mixed reviews. But in the end I was super impressed by the service I received from her and the quality of her work - and also the price! Highly recommend.

Bridget Daunais

I had a single strap bridesmaid's dress that needed to be taken in up top but I wasn't quite sure what exactly needed to be fixed to make it look right. She took in the sides, shortened the strap, and added a seam to the bust to shape it properly. This dress was nice when I first bought it but now I absolutely LOVE it. She didn't just make the dress smaller; she made it fit ME! She is in high demand so book your appointment early but I would recommend her all day.

Carol Fortier

I happened to see reviews on Alterations by Melonie while searching the internet. I would like to share my my experiences with Melonie, the owner and her business. I have been a customer of Melonies for over 30 years! She has altered, redesigned and customized my work clothes, casual clothes and numerous wedding and formal gowns. I have sent countless family and friends to her over the years, which include 3 generations of my family - my daughter’s prom gowns, wedding gown and my granddaughter’s prom and formal dresses. She is extremely skilled in men’s clothing also having altered garments for my husband as well. Her professionalism and skills cannot be matched by anyone else in the trade. Her talent is a lost art which she excels in! My family , friends and I will undoubtedly continue to patronize Alterations by Melonie.

Sarah Pensiero

Choosing Melonie for a seamstress was my ONLY regret throughout the wedding process. My sister recommended me to her (never having been herself) because she used to work in downtown New Haven and she had heard several brides from the city take their dresses to her. (probably for convenience.) I had the worst experience from the moment I met her (she barely even turned to greet me and say hello when I walked in for the first time) and I wish I had gone with my gut and taken my dress back right away. She is SO unbelievably rude. She had me going for fittings ONCE A WEEK (that isn't normal) and I was traveling from an hour away. (I think she was nervous and wanted me to see it/approve of it every step of the way.) Every time I was there she told me how much work my dress was. It was so insulting and made me sad because I loved my dress, and very anxious. I had a strapless, lace dress (very normal - not over the top at all) and she acted like it was WAY more than she could handle, yet when I asked her if she could do the work she said, "Oh ya, I've done work like this a million times" Well then, DO IT AND STOP COMPLAINING. I constantly had to stroke her ego and tell her how wonderful she was to get her to Be quiet and do the work. She also couldn't figure out how to get my strapless dress tight enough to stay up. (Which is crazy because more brides than not wear strapless and theirs stay up. She opened cups and straps to try different things then charged me for every cheap thing she opened.) Long story short, she was extremely rude to me on several occasions and she made me feel a mix of anxious, sad, and angry every time I went. She originally quoted me $750 which I thought was a lot for what she was doing, and then added another $100 when I went to pay her for the last time. When I mentioned the price being high she wouldn't accommodate me for an appointment (she constantly tells you how booked she is and how many appointments she has - once again, the ego) the next time I saw her, she showed me her log book of hours and told me she should have charged me $1,400 "for all the work she did." I seriously think this woman has issues and she is an awful business owner. If she underestimated the work and was THAT off then I feel bad for her. A normal person would shut up, eat the cost, and learn from their mistake and misjudgment, not tell someone what they SHOULD have been charged! (HA, what a joke!) No bride, or any paying customer for that matter deserves to be treated like that. She would sigh, roll her eyes, and say things aloud that she should have kept in her head and it took her forever to solve simple, normal occurring issues like creasing, or bra dilemmas. (I got dizzy and almost passed out during one visit because I was standing in the same position for so long.) I absolutely loved my beautiful lace train until she told me time and time again how much work it was to hem. My sister regrets recommending her and admits she had no idea her personality was so flawed and extreme. The work she did came out fine, but anyone could have done it, and I would have preferred anyone over her.

Isabel Uria

Melonie is a wonderful person to work with. Not only does she know exactly how to build, alter, and improve a dress, but she also knows what would work best for your body type and your style of fashion. She made a beautiful wedding gown for me, and altered it exactly the way I wanted it. She even made efforts to improve it by suggesting how it would look better to fit my body type and she was right! And besides being an excellent professional, she is up-front and friendly. She will definitely be honest with you and tell you from the start how much things are going to cost, and how long they will take. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to make or alter a dress.