Getting clothes tailored is a favorite pastime of expats in Vietnam. Fabric is of decent quality, the price is right, and nothing beats tailormade to your body’s specifications. It’s a dream come true especially if you don’t have a model’s build.

After my first experience, I gave up on the whole tailoring scene in Vietnam. Of all the pieces I had made, I’m not taking any with me to London.

  1. Black slightly cropped pants - A copy of my favorite Hanna Andersson pants. They were fine but wore out from frequent wear. Besides, I read somewhere that sidezip isn’t flattering for apple-shaped women so no more sidezip for me.
  2. Khaki skirt - Designed with two asymmetrical pleats in the front that looked odder and odder the more I looked at it.
  3. Black skirt - Had a panel sewn in the back that kicked out like a tail.
  4. Black polka-dot short sleeve blouse - Back tabs placed too low to cinch the waist properly.
  5. Multi-striped blouse with Nehru collar - Shockingly loud and the collar pokes my chin.

My mother-in-law got two sleeveless shirts made last week. And though I tried to resist, I fell into the trap of getting some skirts made too based on a favorite linen Gap skirt. They were only about $15 each.

When I picked them up today, the skirts weren’t exactly what the tailor had described. The black and chambray blue skirts had the same silvery rose embroidery when there was supposed to be whimsical spirals on the black and wide chain-stitch grids on the blue. The rose skirt with the cute ruffle was nice, but they had used fabric from a bolt of cloth that was near the window. On the right front side of the skirt was a large faded rectangular patch.

How disappointing. They’re remaking the rose skirt again and I’ll deal with the mistaken embroidery.

Have I learned my lesson? Of course not.

I’ve ordered another three pairs of slightly cropped summer pants. Wish me luck!

Update: The two suits Marv had made went in for their FIFTH round of alterations today. Wonder if they’ll be able to get it right before we leave in a week.

Update 2: The three pairs of pants were so awful that I don’t even want to wear them to sleep.