The Tailor and Alterations

Get the perfect fit by learning vocabulary for tailoring, clothing alterations, and the structural parts of a garment.

Visiting the Tailor

When your clothes don't fit perfectly, visit croitorul (the tailor). Common alterations include scurta (to shorten) and strâmta (to take in), such as adjusting tivul (the hem).

The tailor is going to shorten the hem of my trousers.
Croitorul o să scurteze tivul pantalonilor mei.
The tailor is going to take in the dress that you bought.
Croitorul o să strâmteze rochia pe care ai cumpărat-o.

Garment Details

Specific parts might need adjusting, such as the length of mâneca (the sleeve) or the width of gulerul (the collar).

The client shortened the sleeves of the jacket herself.
Clienta și-a scurtat singură mânecile jachetei.
The shirt that my sister is trying on has a collar that is too tight.
Cămașa pe care o probează sora mea are un guler prea strâmt.

Fastenings

Closures often require fixing. A garment might use fermoarul (the zipper) or traditional closures like nasturele (the button).

The zipper on this jacket has broken.
Fermoarul de la această geacă s-a stricat.
This skirt does not have a zipper, but only buttons.
Această fustă nu are fermoar, ci doar nasturi.
She is going to sew a button on the collar for herself.
Ea o să-și coasă un nasture la guler.

Construction and Sewing

A garment's construction relies on inside layers like căptușeala (the lining) and the structural line of cusătura (the seam).

The girl tore the lining of her skirt exactly on the seam.
Fata și-a rupt căptușeala fustei exact pe cusătură.
We are going to take in the trousers and redo the seam.
O să strâmtăm pantalonii și o să refacem cusătura.
The tailor shortens the sleeve and sews the button.
Croitorul scurtează mâneca și coase nasturele.

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