A Perfect Fit

Yes, it’s 80 degrees outside and bitter cold weather seems far away, but it’s really not.

“It’s time to think about seasonal changes and getting the zipper on your winter coat repaired or replaced,” says Dominic Wardell, owner of Despos Tailoring in Covington Plaza on Fort Wayne’s southwest side. “We can perform any kind of alteration needed – be it grommets, zippers or even leather repair. We’re very proficient with leather garments and can re-glue or re-stitch most tears. The common workload for the fall and winter seasons is suits, formal wear, dresses, including bridesmaid and mother-of-the-bride dresses and, of course, coats.”

Now in its 78^th year of business in Fort Wayne, Despos Tailoring has earned iconic recognition for its professional team of tailors and seamstresses that has 250 years of combined experience.

“It doesn’t matter what it is – a shirt, a jacket or pants… every article of clothing on your body needs to fit in order to be perceived as presentable,” says Wardell. “One thing I’d like to encourage men to seriously consider is having their dress shirts reshaped. We deconstruct the side seams and sleeve seams, cut the armhole higher and reshape the garment so that it eliminates friction points. That’s when you raise your arm and the shirt becomes untucked. By eliminating that friction, you gain a full range of motion. It costs $28 to $30 to have it done, which is well worth the investment for a shirt you’ll probably wear for several years.”

Zipper repair is something Wardell says a lot of people put off because it can be expensive. He says you have to think about the big picture with this kind of job.

“It can take up to 90 minutes to repair a zipper, depending on the degree of difficulty. We have to buy the materials, take out the old zipper and then put in the new one and make sure everything lines up properly. The minimum labor charge is $25, with the cost of the zipper itself $10 to $20. You have to decide, depending on how much you paid for the garment, if the cost is worth it. However, I can tell you that if we put in a new zipper, it’s going to last a long time.”

Turnaround time for alterations at Despos is usually one week or less and no appointment is necessary. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Now is also the perfect time to have your winter weight suits or your custom topcoat made,” says Wardell. “We already have the fabrics in stock. The longer you wait to have this done, the less time you have to wear the garment. Don’t wait for the temperatures to fall.” FWL

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