FAQs | Alterations, Custom Clothing & Bridal | Arthur + Lucca

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Appointments

Book directly online — use our alterations scheduling page for alterations and our custom clothing page for bespoke and made-to-measure appointments. Links are at the top of each service page.

Yes — one guest is welcome for any alterations or custom clothing appointment.

We accommodate walk-ins when availability allows, but we strongly recommend booking in advance to guarantee a master fitter is ready for you. Without an appointment, wait times can reach 45 minutes during busy periods.

Appointments ensure you meet one-on-one with a master fitter who walks through everything with you — no waiting in line, no rushed service. It's one of the key ways Arthur + Lucca operates differently from a typical alterations shop.

Our scheduling system reflects real-time availability. If a time you want isn't showing, it's fully booked. Check back later or reach out to us directly — we occasionally have openings that aren't reflected online.

You'll receive a confirmation email at the address you provided when booking. If you don't see it, check your spam folder first — then reach out to us and we'll confirm manually.

Use the link in your confirmation email to make any changes before your appointment time. You can also reply to the confirmation email or contact us directly.

Yes — we offer basic and advanced measurement appointments. We do require that you arrive having read through the measurement instructions in advance. You can find those instructions and schedule your session on our alterations appointment page.

Alterations

Our standard turnaround is approximately 2 weeks. Expedited options are available as fast as same-day for most garments — fees apply based on timeline.

Yes. Whatever we agree to at your fitting, we stand behind completely. For standard garments, we ask that you try everything on at pickup and contact us within 24 hours if anything needs to be revisited. For bridal gowns, we require a final try-on at your pickup appointment with our team — once the dress leaves our studio we are unable to offer corrections, refunds, or adjustments.

You'll receive an automated text message when your items are ready for pickup. Your fitter will also give you an accurate date range at your fitting — we are committed to hitting that range every time.

Yes. We do not work on costumes, fur, suede, leather, feathers, down coats, waxed canvas, underwear, or bathing suits. We also do not patch items.

We press all areas we work on as part of the alteration process. We do not offer standalone steaming for standard garments. For wedding gowns, steaming is available starting at $100 — see our wedding gown steaming FAQ below for details.

Yes — gown steaming starts at $100 and is available only at the conclusion of your final pickup appointment. Your gown must be picked up by the end of the following day after steaming is completed. Please note that gowns will re-wrinkle in the garment bag during storage and transit, so we recommend steaming immediately before you wear the dress on your wedding day rather than days in advance.

Alterations eligible for cancellation receive a 50% refund. Any alteration that has already been started is not eligible for a refund — work typically begins within 36 hours of your fitting. Rush alterations are non-refundable under any circumstance. To request a cancellation, email contact@arthurandlucca.com.

In limited circumstances, yes — for standard garments going to a Chicagoland address via UPS, with a flat $20 shipping fee. We cannot ship wedding gowns, wedding-related garments, or any garment being worn to a scheduled event. We reserve the right to decline shipping for any reason. We always recommend working with a local tailor if you're not in the Chicago area.

Yes — we work exclusively with clients within 50 miles of our Chicago studio. Alterations require in-person fittings and we do not accept garments by mail. For custom clothing orders, some remote service options are available — contact us for details.

Custom Clothing

We offer fabrics from private label, V.B.C., Canclini, Lanificio, Marzoni, Carnet, and Reda mills — over 4,500 options in total. The majority are 100% wool four-season fabrics, Super 110s–160s, primarily from Italian mills. Our selection rotates every 3–6 months.

Yes — all alterations needed to achieve your confirmed fit are included in the price of your initial garments. After your fit is confirmed, you receive 50% off all future alterations on Arthur + Lucca custom clothing for the life of the garment.

Yes. We stand behind every garment we make. If you don't receive your order within 90 days, you're eligible for a full refund on any undelivered pieces. You also receive 50% off alterations for life in case your body changes. Full details are on our policies page.

Body changes are completely normal. We'll update your measurements in your fit profile and adjust your garments — at 50% off our standard alteration pricing for the life of every Arthur + Lucca custom piece.

Yes — a rush option is available that typically shortens the turnaround by 1–2 weeks. Pricing varies by garment.

First-time clients can typically expect their first fitting within approximately 6 weeks. Returning fit-confirmed clients typically see a 3–4 week turnaround. All orders are guaranteed within 90 days or your money back.

All Arthur + Lucca custom jackets, dress pants, and coats should be dry cleaned. Some dress shirts may be machine washed cold and hung to dry. Expect very slight tightening after any wash or dry clean cycle.

We recommend a 120-day lead time for any event with a fixed date. 40 days can sometimes work but we cannot extend guarantees on rush timelines due to the nature of custom clothing production.

No. We offer our best pricing year-round, consistently, for every client regardless of order size.

No — we only create garments using fabrics from our own collection.

We work with specialized custom clothing factories in East Asia — selected specifically for quality, craftsmanship, and expertise in made-to-measure and bespoke construction.

Custom garments are made specifically for your body and cannot be returned or resold. We are committed to achieving the fit agreed upon at your fitting, and will adjust or remake as needed. If you don't receive your items within 90 days, you are eligible for a full refund on undelivered pieces. Full policy details are available on our policies page.

BRIDAL ALTERATIONS

Yes — we work on wedding gowns purchased anywhere, from any retailer, in any style or fabric.

Bridal alterations at Arthur + Lucca typically range from $250 for minimal work to $2,500 for extensive structural alterations, with $800–$1,200 being the most common range. All pricing is published transparently on our wedding gown alterations page.

Most brides need 3–5 fittings. Our process is completed in four phases — bodice, straps/sleeves, hem, and bustle — and we never combine phases that should be separate. If additional fittings are needed to get the fit exactly right, we expedite those at no extra rush charge.

Our standard bridal alterations process takes approximately 14 weeks from first fitting to final pickup. We welcome brides on shorter timelines and have no minimum time requirement — expedited fees apply based on how much time remains before your wedding date. To avoid any expedited fees, schedule your first fitting at least 14 weeks before your wedding.

As soon as you have your dress. Even if your wedding is more than 14 weeks away, earlier is always better — it gives us the most flexibility and ensures the smoothest process.

One guest is welcome for the full duration of your fitting. Additional guests may join at the start of the appointment to see you in your gown, but we limit the fitting itself to one guest to ensure focus and quality.

We don't schedule future appointments in advance — we keep timelines flexible to ensure the best fit at each phase. You'll receive a text with a scheduling link as soon as your gown is ready for the next fitting. Same-day and next-day availability is frequently available, including evenings and weekends.

Body changes are a completely normal part of the bridal alterations process. We communicate all possible outcomes at each fitting so you can make informed decisions. Additional alterations needed due to body changes are not covered at no charge but we work with you to resolve any issues efficiently.

Yes — we work on sample gowns, vintage dresses, and inherited gowns. Please note that gowns significantly outside your usual size may require more extensive alterations and higher costs. We recommend dry cleaning before alterations begin for any previously worn gown.

Yes — register your wedding with Arthur + Lucca and receive 15% off all alterations, custom clothing, and services for you and your entire wedding party. Register at arthurandlucca.com/pages/sign-up-for-your-discount.

DRY CLEANING & PRESERVATION

We offer dry cleaning exclusively for wedding gowns. We do not offer dry cleaning or pressing for any other garments.

Yes — we offer museum-quality acid-free preservation boxing. All gowns must be fully cleaned before preservation. Your preserved gown is returned folded over a bust form inside a sealed window box, which is then sealed inside a second outer box for protection.

Yes — cleaning is required before any gown can be preserved.

Locations

Our studio is located at 845 W. Washington Blvd, Floor 3, Chicago, IL 60607 — in the West Loop neighborhood. Metered street parking is available throughout the area.

Monday: 9:30am – 7:00pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Friday: 9:30am – 7:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9:30am – 5:00pm

Gift Cards

Yes — gift cards can be used on any service or product, online or in store, at checkout.

Have the original purchaser contact us directly. We'll require transaction-specific details to verify and reissue — we take gift card security seriously.