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Al's Attire
Categories: Local Services Sewing & Alterations Shopping Fashion Sewing & Alterations, Fashion [Edit]
1300 Grant Ave(between Vallejo St & Fresno St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 693-9900
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
78 reviews for Al's Attire
Review Highlights
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"I'm already saving up for a custom made dress." In 15 reviews -
"...of ALTERATIONS ONLY on a wedding dress I have a custom made..." In 13 reviews -
"Cool vintage designs and fabric." In 19 reviews
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78 reviews in English
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Review from Mike V.
Updated - 1/20/2012
A HUGE thank you Aaron BTW who was instrumental my last visit in helping us pick out just what we needed (and not shy about being honest regarding what looks would be best "suited" for each of us). I love honesty in a clothing "concierge".
I've seen so many people talking to your typical Saks/Nords/Neiman "sales" people who tell them they look great in ANYthing just to make a sale and hit their numbers.
(Granted, those guys are stuck with what styles they have while Al's can make anything your little heart desires)
It's so refreshing to get such an honest and stylish opinion.
Five Stars. Thank you Aaron.
Still the best and only real custom clothing store in San Francisco. and while you may go here for custom items, there is plenty on the floor to give you FAR too many great ideas or pure impulse purchases.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/22/2011
Strolled in here at 10 pm last night after watching our Sharks manhandle the LA Kings and all I can… Read more »
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Review from Jon T.
2/2/2012
I can't vouch for the tailoring or how the clothing holds up, but this place certainly looks damn cool. Since they've expanded their space, they've done a great job at really highlighting all the fabrics and materials they have at their disposal to make custom shirts, pants, suits, and shoes. If the quality is as good as it looks, this place is a gem for smart fashion in North Beach.
I know it's probably a tall request, but I'd like to see them create some custom shoes out of high-quality fake leather. One of the most frustrating things about being vegan is being at the fashion mercy of a lot of people/companies who don't know ANYTHING about sharp looking apparel. -
Review from Eric B.
2/2/2012
Al's Attire first took me by surprise as I half expected to see the old neighbourhood hardware store that used to occupy this space. My 2nd pleasant discovery was that the space was taken over by a real throwback to the era of crafted goods. Or as the weathered and leathered guy who greeted me stated - it's all had made here. That includes custom suits, coats, hats, shoes, dresses, and more. The vintage Singer sewing machine, bolts of cloth, and leather scraps also sealed the genuine deal here. Yes it can be pricey, but you get what you pay for.
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Review from Natalia G.
Oakland, CA
10/20/2011
THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT TAILORS. They may do custom clothing, but do not go to them for tailoring or alterations. They actually outsource their tailoring, so it ends up being more expensive and takes longer.
Also, the customer service is just miserable. This is really where they earned the one-star rating... After several unreturned calls and voicemails, I finally went to the store to learned that they had "misplaced" my clothes. I left empty handed.
I am completely surprised at their high ratings and, needless to say, will not be a repeat customer. -
Review from Vincent M.
Sacramento, CA
12/27/2011
After a cappuccino on columbus I saw this place and took a look. It seems like there are two craftsmen in there. One making handmade shoes and the other making hats and clothes for men and women. They had some really bold fabrics with beautiful linings. Sportcoats were around $600, waistcoats around $200. I didn't price the rest, but there were some beautiful clothes there. The shoes and boots were awesome. When i have more time, I'll swing back in.
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Review from Lothar P.
San Francisco, CA
6/26/2011
The Simple Description- Great men's clothing; Awful service.
I would love to give Al's Attire raving reviews. I agree with many of you out there that the people that work there are kind and fun. However, working with Al's to have clothes made from scratch or to have your favorite clothes replicated is a logistical nightmare.
It is fun and engaging to walk through the process of designing clothes- Al is great help with choosing fabrics, buttons, details and overall style. I believe that they are excellent consultants in that regard. Like a true artist, his vision is spectacular and unique.
When it comes to the 'business' side of things, Al's is, in a word, abysmal. Truthfully, if you want something made by them, limit it to 'recreational' projects rather than for anything with a set date or a particular standard to uphold. Like so many artists, his operation is logistically deficient and lacks organization on many levels.
You will feel the effects of this disorganization- their work typically requires scheduling visits with the client, coordinating shipments, sharing your ideas with staff members to create the final product and trying to meet deadlines. These facets are not accomplished smoothly and you get a front row seat- better yet, you will be involved in the mayhem!
Again, I like the staff and the vision, but you should know that your specifications WILL be wrong the first few go-rounds. You WILL have to send work back a couple of times to rectify errors. You WILL get your clothes back in TWICE the amount of time that they originally estimate. Random problems are aplenty.
You can observe the lack of organization while you are in the store. It is apparent and a shame because, if they could use a CRM (customer relationship management ) tool, many of their (and the customers') problems would be alleviated.
You will greatly enjoy the finished product (it deserves a 5 star rating). You will be greatly frustrated by the customer service (1 star) on several levels of the experience. -
Review from Kian A.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/25/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Quick review right now (it'll grow as I work more with Al)
Went in to get fitted for a suit for my wedding. Here's a short list off the top of my head
Pros:
Awesome atmosphere
Killer selection of fabrics
Al's got a ton of knowledge and is really entertaining
Quality tailoring
Helpful in deciding what you truly want AND what you'll look good it
Amazing price point in comparison to other tailors in the bay area
Cons:
Slower service
Not a massive selection of pre-made items (not a con for me, but if that's what you want...)
A little scattered (may be because their computer crashed a few days before our appointment)
Over all I'm loving the experience! -
Review from Taylor O.
The window display of uniquely designed shoes brought me in, looking for a pair of boots and found a great canvas pair unlike anything I've seen, almost GI style. Al walked me through breaking them in with softener. I also got a couple of shirts, and had one tailored to fit more slim. They'll make you a custom label to go with it to boot. There is a wall of the unique labels on the right side of the store.
Listed in: Life's a North Beach
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Review from Nathan S.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2011
If you are a fan of quality and craftsmanship, you are sure to be a fan of Al's in North Beach. While you pay for that attention to detail, it returns the invest many times over as everything is long wearing, can have your own label put into it, and gets attention from everyone.
While I only have a few things from Al's, each one is worth every penny and I am slowly building a collection. -
Review from Regina S.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2010
My wedding dress has a tag in it that states it was custom made for me. Does yours? It should.
I just got hitched this past weekend and couldn't be happier with my custom dress (a two piece, actually... a vest-like, open-back top and flowy skirt, complete with 1920's glass bead details). My groom wore a custom suit with custom shoes made by Al in our wedding colors (orange and indigo blue). The prices were very reasonable and, because our wedding was "cocktail casual," we have a suit and dress we will actually wear again (my top goes great with jeans and stilettos).
Ting was fabulous and Al is an artest. There are some less-than-flattering reviews for Al and I think what this boils down to is personalities. Al is very professional but, first and foremost, he is creative. This means he isn't going to act like a typical tailor. He wants direction and it's helpful to have a firm deadline for muslin and fittings. Based on some reviews I was worried about his ability to deliver on schedule, but my fears were unnecessary. The whole process went very smoothly. He even let us bring our 3 month old baby and 6 year old lab into the shop during fittings.
I want to note that some people think they can trick vendors, including dress makers, into lower prices if they pretend the event they are getting ready for isn't a wedding. Wedding dresses cost more than other dresses for a reason! Don't try this trick with Al. It's totally unfair. Cocktail dresses are less work than wedding dresses. Duh. -
Review from Mia G.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2010
I had a coat made here a few years ago.
I didn't have a particularly great experience during the fabric/design selection and measurement. I was told I could have any of the existing coat designs done in fabrics of my choosing, or combine elements of the different coats. The fabric selections were good, but I did not feel like I was getting any advice or assistance. Also, the lady who took my measurements must have been a newbie or quite inexperienced because another lady came and corrected her notes.
So fast forward to picking my coat up, just a week delayed, which I guess was a good thing considering some other reviews. Fit was ok, honestly I have better fitting coats I bought off the rack. Also, the buttoned portion at the front of my coat was too short and so the coat gaped open a few inches above my navel. Since there was a placket they did not add buttons but instead added 2 large snaps (coated in the interior lining fabric, but still looking like an afterthought).
I did see Al twice when I was fitting the coat and picking it up, but he did not even deign to check on the work. Sorry, the *artiste* temperament doesn't work with me.
I did get a patch inside my coat that said "custom made for Mia by Al's etc etc" but I could care less. -
Review from Myle S.
10/16/2010
Al & team did an awesome job on our wedding projects!
The FIRST was a custom-tailored suit for my groom. They helped him choose the lightest weight fabric and style that best suited his body type, big shoulders and arm muscles. He also got to pick a bright purple silk lining on the inside and custom write the label....tres cool & fun!
NEXT up was two custom ties. We got silk fabric from Monique Lhuiliier in LA to match our wedding bridesmaid dresses and Al's team was able to transform it into a beauiful tradtiional tie ......as well as a mod skinny tie....and they both looked super sharp.
LAST was a custom dog tie for our beloved "Token".....and it of course matched my hubby's tie. It was nice to know that they could deliver such a scope of projects in a relatively short amount of time. My hubby loves his custom suit and will wear it for years to come!Listed in: Wedding Essentials!!
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Review from Julie T.
8/15/2011
i discovered this place last week when the bf and i were visiting sf from pdx. he was busy shopping for records in a moldy basement across the street, and i was just out walking around.
this place definitely caught my eye. when i have a job again, i totally want to get a pair of custom shoes or boots from them...and potentially a rain coat.
thanks for existing, al's! -
Review from Jud C.
San Francisco, CA
8/5/2010
I heard wonderful things about this business, and my fiancee's first visit (she chose Al's to make her wedding dress) was quick and courteous. However, upon our return to try on the completed dress, we were greeted by an awful tirade from Al himself. When my fiancee indicated - in a polite and honest way - that the dress' chest didn't seem to fit quite right, Al blew up. He accused her of improperly communicating how the dress should fit, even though she gave him a dress to copy. Also, he told her that the seamstress team at Al's wasn't aware of the wedding dress material, even though my fiancee gave him the material during her initial visit. Finally, in his last explosion, he told us he didn't have time for this nonsense, and he couldn't do any more work on the dress, even if we were to pay more.
Al was good enough to charge us only 50% of the total, hence the two-star rating. I'm sorry to report such a negative experience, as we were both hoping that Al's would live up to its fine reputation. Now we have an incomplete, ill-fitting wedding dress that we must take elsewhere for further alterations. -
Review from Séamus C.
San Francisco, CA
2/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love Al's Attire. What not to love about custom clothing from a man that is a master of his craft.
I know they they have lady's attire also, however they specialize in men's clothing -
Review from Miriam W.
1/15/2007
This custom-made coat shop is the kind that dreams are made of. We popped in one night while waiting for friends to arrive for dinner at The House and were thrilled by the craftsmanship; ever since I have lusted for a perfectly tailored coat from Al's.
A wide variety of styles is available and they'll also recreate or retool to your specifications. -
Review from kevin c.
Portland, OR
6/4/2009
The service was terrible. The "craftmanship" horrible.
I took a suit in for tailoring. I was told that the tailoring would be done in 2 weeks. After 3 weeks, I called to see if it was ready. The woman who answered the phone rudely replied, "Well, it will be done when we said it would be done." When I told her that that was a week ago, she then stammered a bit and said that she would call back. No apology. When she called back (the next day) she said that they would have it done in another week and a half.
When I went in to pick it up, the jacket sleeves were way too short. The guy who was working said that they would call in a day or two to let me now how long it would take to fix it. They never called. A couple weeks went by and I got an email that essentially asked, "When are you going to pick up your jacket?"
So, then I went in to get my jacket, and. . . . (can you guess it?) the sleeves were NOT fixed. In fact, the fabric was gathered because of the poor stitching. They tried to iron that out, but you cannot iron out poor workmandship. Also, they had shorted the jacket, and the cut was so jagged that it looked like a complete beginner or a toddler did the tailoring. The woman who was working when I picked it up was very nice, however. She said that someone would call me about the problems I experienced. Well, nearly a week has gone by and no call.
Very unsatisfied. -
Review from Rachel R.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2009
I have one word to summarize my experience at Al's attire: disappointing.
After spending 8 months and $1700 with them, I am stuck with a wedding dress that is ill fitting and not flattering to my body shape. If I hadn't had a new dress made by someone else months earlier, I would be in a terrible state right now. (The new dress only took 8 weeks, fit perfectly on the first try, and is fabulous beyond my expectations.)
The customer service at Al's is non-existent - they never answer the phone, emails go unanswered for weeks, the garments are never ready when they say they will be, and you will wind up waiting a long time for your fitting, despite having an appointment. Also, I hope you like watching Al berate his staff in front of you, as it happens regularly. He doesn't take any responsibility for the problems of his own business, and lashes out at his staff in front a store full of customers. (My fiance had his suit made here, too, so I know I'm not the exception to the rule. Though the suit itself is nice, it was a very painful process to get there.)
Al himself only got involved after I requested to cancel the order. He refused to let me cancel despite the poor experience and the fact that the dress still did not fit properly after months of fittings with his staff. When I complained to the staff in person, they fell on deaf ears - Al claimed "growing pains", as though this could explain why it took over 7 months to create a garment that was not either seam-rippingly tight or breast-exposingly loose.
I could go on and on... suffice to say I'm putting the dress on ebay and they will never receive a penny of my money again. I only hope that my fiance's pants fit in time for our wedding. -
Review from K. J.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2009
Wow, I'm blown away. I'm officially addicted. I had a custom dress made by Al's from a picture I found in a magazine for a party I'm going to this weekend.
After 2 pattern adjustments it came out absolutely stunning in every way. The quality of the work is exquisite, the fabric is perfect, the look is just beautiful. So stunning that I've decided to wear it for my wedding dress instead of it's intended use. Ladies, you are in good hands. I'm thrilled. For slightly more than the cost of ALTERATIONS ONLY on a wedding dress I have a custom made, perfect wedding dress that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.
I worked with Priscilla, her communication was wonderful. She replied to all my messages in a timely manner and was just lovely to work with.
Thrilled. Absolutely thrilled. I haven't had my final fitting, so I'll update again after that. I'm also planning on having some dresses revamped and a suit made so I'll keep you Yelpers updated.
PERFECT. -
Review from dorothy p.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2008
Going to Al's is so fun. There is so much to look at and it makes me want to always have custom made clothing. If only I had an expendable budget.
I had my wedding and rehearsal dresses made here and also my husband's suit. All Three pieces came out amazing. My wedding dress was simple, but I made them really work for me by doing a detailed embroidery on the dress. It came out great. Their embroidery is all done by hand and is amazing. Al will tell you that that is their one of their specialty's, but really they they specialize in everything they do.
I can't wait to have more money so i can go back and have some proper clothing (did I mention shoes & hats) made for myself! -
Review from Scott N.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2008
Al is amazing. Just make sure you go in with a picture or an exact idea of what you want. You must have some patience if you want the end product to be perfect, but trust me, it's worth the wait. His attention to detail is amazing - and I'm a total type-A personality. The clothes will fit you like a glove. Good luck getting that from Macy's, Gap or some other crappy chain store selling over-priced clothing made with overseas child labor.
One other note: make sure you schedule an appointment and stick to your timeline. Otherwise, you might spend the afternoon with Al. He's defnitely got the gift of gab! -
Review from Suzanne A.
San Francisco, CA
7/1/2008
I've been shopping at Al's Attire for years and am in awe of his handmade pieces. There is no better place to look and feel vintage, as all the items are made from scratch with new fabric.
Al's Attire s not a chain, but it is a *find* as he sells to Japan and to loyal fans in the film and music industry. The owner, Al Ribaya is a tailor (started off designing shoes with a business called: Taming of the Shoe so you know he has a sense of humor) with amazing style and has been in the fashion business for decades. The shop is in the heart of North Beach on Grant and Vallejo. I love to swing by Al's and Oola and have coffee at Cafe Trieste and make an afternoon of it.
Al is truly a great guy and a genius with a great eye for detail and making women and men look their absolute best. He makes custom pieces that will fit you perfectly. Al also sells 'off-the-rack' and I have bought a few coats and dresses which fit, feel and look great.
When I want attention, I wear this peach coat with fantastic oversized buttons. I get stopped EVERY time asking where I found such a treasure, so i keep his business cards in the right hand pocket. His pieces are worth it, as they are quality, hand made and will never go out of style. Gotta love the NON-chain clothiers and boutiques!
I have purchased 3 Marilyn Monroe style halter dresses in very different fabrics :
*one is a sundress perfect for tropical weather and the heat wave we had in June,
*one is red crepe and very Hollywood 40's femme fatale.
*one has embroidered cherries on it which is whimsical and very pin-up.
I've also bought custom shirts for my bf and you can choose the fabric, interesting buttons and even the color of the thread for the button holes. Invest in one custom instead of 4 throw-away pieces from H&M.
Al has designed glamorous dresses and wedding gowns, and also does alterations. Take that old suit and spruce it up with some vintage buttons for a song. I did that, and gave 2 old suits a new life.
Ting and Pricilla are amongst the talented staff, and they too have great taste. Al and Priscilla are designing a custom gown for me to wear to a wedding in New York. Yum. Can't wait for the paparazzi!
Honestly, I SWAP more than I SHOP. But each piece I've invested in from Al's Attire was worth it. If I won the lottery, I would run to and go on a shopping spree. Need I say more? -
Review from Sharon H.
Oakland, CA
6/22/2008
I'm from Berkeley, and heard from a friend that this was the place to go to get a custom coat. I had an old favorite that I wore until it was tattered. Al's made an exact copy, and then I ordered an addition custom tailored model with different style pockets and lining. The girls at Al's took my measurements, helped me pick out what I needed and made suggestions about special details.
Pricilla called to tell me the coats were ready, but I had a hard time scheduling a return to the city. She popped my order in the mail. How convenient is that?? Great customer service, lovely stylish clothing. I love the special tags that are sewn inside. -
Review from Edwin L.
Oakland, CA
7/3/2009
I bought a tuxedo for my upcoming wedding from Macy's, and their alterations department messed it up big time. The area under the armpits was baggy, the back was bumpy, and the whole jacket looked horrible. My fiancee was so upset, she said we wouldn't let them try to fix it a third time, and that we should take it to Al's.
Well, we just went for a fitting yesterday and I can't believe it's the same tux. It looks great, like a custom fit - you would never guess it was off the rack and altered. Sweet! My fiancee is happy, and I'm happy.
I also picked up a pair of hand-made shoes to go with my tux. They make and sell men's and women's shoes too! I can't wait to wear my tux and new shoes again at the wedding. -
Review from Wendy N.
Sausalito, CA
3/31/2008
I love this place. I needed a coat for a trip back east and was not optimistic about finding something off-season. But Al's Attire came to the rescue. The gal at Ooma pointed me in the right direction and I cannot thank her more.
I have the most beautiful coat EVER. I had to stop from getting two coats. At about $400 a pop, that can get pricey so I held back but I will go back and get that second coat...someday...soon.
You get so used all that horribly made clothing that when you see well-made garments one can get mystified. Al's has left me starry-eyed. Just touching the clothes made me happy. The detail and quality of each garment is...excellent.
Being a petite girl, coats that fit are hard to find. I need look no more because I have found coat utopia. Cool vintage designs and fabric. Can a girl ask for anything more - yeah, that it fits perfectly because they do the alterations to make it your coat.
I was worried that maybe they would be a bit stuffy here, but everyone was down-to-earth, extremely helpful and oh so friendly. Need a coat - go to Al's, it will last forever, be unique and oh course, be absolutely gorgeous. -
Review from Buck R.
Los Angeles, CA
9/13/2011 2 photos
Tell me, these days, where can you walk in a store and SEE the store owner hand dying leather that will soon be made into boots?
I was wandering around Grant Street this past week and decided to stop into Al's Attire. I thought the store had a great layout. The first thing I experienced was the smell of freshly made leather boots. The layout, clothing equipment, and care Al puts into the details can't help but give you a glimpse of maybe what it was like to shop for clothes in the 1800's. Fine selections of clothing were on display and colorful fabrics tucked into the walls. It was a rare treat to walk in and see American crafstmen taking pride in their own products.
Al's attire carries a variety of original, quality made shoes, shirts, jackets, hats. The words that came to mind for me are "timeless modern classic." I'm a kinestetic person, so I of course I had to touch the fabrics and leather shoes as I walked about. You can get a true sense of the quality materials used by feeling these fabrics. Al seemed to enjoy talking about the most minute details in making clothing. It seems like a small team that works extremely hard to create the unique one of a kind gems.
I ended up buying the best shoes I've ever owned. Thanks Al(s)!!! -
Review from Tanya R.
Oakland, CA
1/15/2010
Al and his staff do some nice work, no doubt about it. I'm glad there is a good tailor in the area who can create vintage-inspired pieces at reasonable prices. I hope he is very successful.
Sadly, I have had some challenging experiences that have turned me off from working with Al again. I understand it is difficult to run a business, handle the details of multiple projects, and remain a highly creative person at the same time. I really do. For me, though, I need more attention to detail and at least good enough communication if there is an issue to sort out. Until there is improvement in these areas, I won't be returning. -
Review from Francesco d.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2010
My niece is visiting from Germany. I've been thinking: what could be a great present to her that will make her remember this experience in this cold San Francisco summer?
Walking in North Beach I see Al's attire and we walked in: PERFECT choice.
She loved to try on different pieces until she found her favorite: they didn't have their size so they offer to made a custom made piece in less than a week: what a treat!
Now the piece is ready, it's perfect and they also put a special label with your name on it.
Grazie Al's! -
Review from Ty L.
San Francisco, CA
7/6/2009
Al's custom clothes are an investment to last a lifetime. I've been a customer since getting sized up for my first jacket in Oct. '07, while on vacation in San Francisco from New Jersey. My girlfriend discovered the shop while walking around North Beach. I wasn't with her at that moment, but she immediately called to tell me she found the perfect store for me. I'm a bit of a tricky fit - 6'5" and thin, so it's tough to find really great fitting clothes. I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for, so when I saw the collection of fabrics, buttons, linings, etc., I knew this was the place for me. Al was there to suggest a number of options that I wouldn't have thought of on my own.
When my jacket came the following month, I blown away. It was perfect. The fit was fantastic, the craftsmanship outstanding, and I loved the hidden surprises. I love the feeling of knowing that I'm the only person in the world wearing a jacket like this.
I have since moved to SF, and try to visit Al's regularly. I recently had a grey herringbone peacoat made, based off a few photos that I found on The Sartorialist blog. Priscilla totally hooked me up with the fitting - it came out so nice, way beyond my expectations.
Al's also tailored 2 of my older coats, which didn't fit quite right, and made them perfect. Sure, the price that you will pay for a piece at Al's will be a little more than at your average store, but it is totally worth it. You will feel like a true original. Now I just have to save up a little for some shoes, a pair of pants, maybe a hat, and eventually a suit. They're going to make bags soon, too, which should be awesome.
If you're in North Beach, stop by and talk to Al, Priscilla, Alfred, Diedre, and Pondpun. There all super nice and will work with you to give you exactly what you're looking for.
My favorite shop in San Francisco. -
Review from william N.
Austin, TX
12/28/2006
I have been a loyal Al's customer for 5 years now, and have never been dissapointed. I have bought both off-the-rack clothing, as well as custom shirts, pants, and recently, a tuxedo. Al is the best...he really knows how to take care of his customers.
Al lets you be as involved in the process as you want to be. Everything can be custom selected, from thread color, buttons, pocket type, collar spread, etc.. His men's clothes are great, but everytime I visit, I am equally, if not more, impressed with his women's line.
I no longer live in SF, but every time I come to visit the Bay Area, I make a point of visting the store, whether to shop or just say hi. In fact I am heading over this afternoon. Check him out...you wont be disappointed. -
Review from Charlotte R.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2006
I love Al!
He is a genius. -
Review from jocelyn l.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2009
Have always walked by the store and never really ventured into it (except once, years ago and was thrown off by the prices).
Happy to say i can afford to shop there nowadays.
Bought a really cute red hat for $96. Definitely pricey, but i've never looked good in any hats until i tried on this One. Loved it!
Will be back to get a super cute pair of pants and perhaps a coat for next season.
The merchandise is definitely investment pieces- good quality + very unique designs. Super luxe fabrics too.
Love it! -
Review from Tiff ..
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2008
Not bad, not great.
Priscilla fitted me for my first alteration even though I specifically requested Al. It was a one-week wait and $30 to take in by a full size the sides of my knee-length, lined dress. The dress came out very snug but Priscilla re-fitted me with a smile, no questions about my possible cookie overconsumption, and no problems.
For the 2nd dress, I phoned about 15 minutes before heading over, Al confirmed it was OK, but when I'd arrived, a different lady told me Al had simply wandered off and she no idea where to. She suggested I return another day because she wasn't able to fit me and she had no idea when Al would be back--or if he would be back--and she had no way to call him. I toughed it out and waited a good while before he strolled back.
Anyway, Al was pleasant and friendly. He thought I was better off not altering my dress given that I needed it asap, and helpfully offered a couple tricks to make the dress fit better. (Quote for taking in the formal-length gown was "about $100," versus $60-ish elsewhere in SF)
Will update if I bring in other garments. -
Review from Mark P.
San Francisco, CA
6/18/2011
A's made a custom shirt and pants for me. It took several visits for them to get the size correct. The shirt collar is long enough to resemble elephant ears. The pants took 3 different visits, and they still haven't finished (a year later). The pockets actually hung down to the knees the first time. Overall, the pants did not resemble my original request at all. I've been emailing Al's for 6 months trying to get the pants. (I've already paid). They haven't responded to 4 emails, and a visit.
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Review from Diana S.
Oakland, CA
3/28/2008
I walked into Al's today on a whim. Well, a partial whim. The four coats in the window caught my eye with their attention to detail, georgeously unusual fabric and perfectly matched plaids.
I'm a seamstress, so once inside, I went over the coats with a fine toothed comb. Vintage fabrics, hand-finished seams, beautiful linings, unusual yet totally wearable designs....each garment is a work of art, and reasonably priced considering what you're getting. And the custom-made garments are only $60 extra, which is very much of a bargain.
I will be saving my pennies to afford an Al's coat one day. It's great to see handmade one-of-a-kind garments coming back into style in a gap-clone world. Sew on, Al! -
Review from Jess T.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2008
Good work, just REALLY pricey for alterations.
I have a girlfriend who is having her wedding dress made by Al, and I joined her for her first fititng. I was charmed by the space and by Al's skill with her wedding dress so I made an apt. to come in for some alterations to a dress that I had purchased.
The dress that I ordered ended up being about 2 sizes too big and Al had to do quite a bit of work to the dress. He did a great job, and it took about two weeks. The only downside was the pricetag. Thankfully it's a beautiful classic black dress that I'll wear a million times, but $150 to alter a dress? Really? -
Review from Max B.
Emeryville, CA
6/8/2011
What an experience. I had no idea what to expect strolling into this place asking for a custom suit, and not just any suit either. I needed a suit for my wedding, one that would match the casual and laid back southern style of the ceremony and reception but still had just the right amount of class. With the help of Al we nailed it, and I've never been complimented on a piece of clothing I own as much as I am when I wear this suit. Oh, and shoes. He made me a pair of dress shoes that match the leather of my favorite watch that I'd be wearing my wedding day, which is pretty awesome. But that's to be expected from someone who got their start as a cobbler. Everything fits perfect, everything looks perfect, and the craftsmanship is outstanding.
Aside from just praising the suit, there are some things to keep in mind. It's a long process, and thankfully I came to Al early enough to give just the amount of time he prefers to spend on a three piece suit and shoes, about three months.
It's not cheap, but it's not expensive either. You're buying a suit that cannot be purchased anywhere else on this planet. This is something that you should see as having a lot of value before committing. You're not buying a brand, or a label, you're investing in something that is pretty damn personal.
Speaking as someone who is not deeply vested in the fashion world, I would say the fabric choices are very San Francisco. Sometimes a little too much, but you'll still find more traditional and simple fabrics after digging around his swatches for a while. I actually found it encouraging in helping me go a little outside my comfort zone, but to some it may be a turn off.
And finally, Al is a busy guy. I always got the attention I needed and expected of him, but his store can be quickly overwhelmed and sometimes he's the only guy who can make big decisions with other customers. Have patience, it's worth it. -
Review from Benjamin T.
Washington, DC
2/4/2008
Al made me a a beautiful wool white 1930's style suit for my wedding. I looked awesome. You can go the fullcustom route for sure. But don't overlook the possibilities of repurposing clothes you love that don't work anymore.
I just brought in two suits for him to rip apart and rebuild after I lost weight and gained the ability to identify correctly fitting suits, something i lacked when I spent $1600 ten years ago on the suits. So they are a little dated and a lot too big, but still nice with years of wear to go. What to do?
Bring it into Al's! They are moving the shoulders, taking in the chest and the waist, removing the pleats and shifting the buttons. That's a lot of customization and it is less expensive than buying a full custom suit.
And don't worry if Al isn't there; the "girls" do fine and are to be trusted. -
Review from Karen G.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2008
I found Al's thanks to Yelp. I needed something special for a fancy party and just couldn't seem to find it in the stores. Al was amazing! He worked with me to put all of the pieces together that I wanted into one gorgeous silk jacket. He really knows his stuff, and is really easy and great to work with. He only had 6 weeks to turn my dreams into reality and, even with a muslin and a follow up fitting, finished with a week to spare.
Pricey but worth it for a truly custom and perfect fitting jacket.
He also said he can duplicate my favorite pair of pants so I will never be without :) I will probably take him up on it.
Thanks Al! -
Review from camilla B.
San Francisco, CA
8/25/2010
arg, it kills me to write this review. al and his staff are some of the sweetest people ever, but unfortunately, one too many problems in making my wedding dress.
al is extremely detail oriented and really took a lot of time and energy working on my dress. he created 3 separate muslins (prototypes of my dress) in order to get the fit and look just right. the problems began when he moved on to my fabric. i came in for my first official dress fitting to find that my dress had been made inside out, meaning, their seamstress had sewn the dress on the wrong side of the material. this was 3 weeks until my wedding. i was pretty freaked out, to say the least. al was really pissed at his seamstress for making the mistake, but i couldn't help wondering why he hadn't noticed this huge error prior to my coming in for the fitting. with 3 weeks to go, al had to completely redo the gown, not to mention hand sew tons of beads.
ultimately, they were able to finish the dress with a week to spare before my wedding, however, i was disappointed with my bustle. when i came to pick up the dress with my bridesmaid, we had to leave and come back 3 separate times because the bustle was not complete. i brought my bridesmaid in with me to see how to bustle the dress, but for some reason we never got around to doing that. the night of my wedding, my bridesmaids struggled with bustling my dress. when they were able to do it, we noticed it was off center and kind of lopsided looking. it was also too long, which resulted in my someone stepping on it and ripping it off almost immediately. i spent most of the night tripping on the train and getting caught under peoples' feet. not good.
my husband had his suit and a shirt made here and he looked super fly. he had no problems throughout the suit making process. i would recommend men get custom suits made here as they are extremely knowledgeable in this area and this is really their specialty. wedding dresses? not so much.
