Irene's Studio

I went to Irene to have a dress made out of a material I had brought with me and showed her a photo of the design I like. She said she did not need a picture of the design instead she preferred to sketch it. She charged me $300 plus tax and insisted on cash payment. The dress did not even look like the design I showed her. It was a tie around on the side of the dress but instead it was tied at the back! It was poorly made and looked like the work of a sewing class project. Once she had my money, she didn't care about customer service, as when I picked up my dress, she would not let me in the store and asked me to wait outside while she got the dress. She handed it to me all squished, not even put it in a bag. Is that the way you treat a customer after you got my money? I will not recommend her at all! I just lost $300 + with a dress I am not proud to wear!

I spent 175 dollars on "alterations" that weren't even done. The dress ended up being shortened and that it. I'm furious because upon pick up I wanted to do a last fitting to confirm it was done but she was "too busy". Ridiculous. Not even sure how I get my money back since I didn't get a receipt and paid in cash. DO NOT GO. Not nice service and a total rip off.

I was referred to Irene's by a friend who told me she was excellent and had moved to Wicksteed Avenue. I took a piece of material and a completed sample of what I wanted to her new location giving her one month to finish a very simple design. When I arrived for my fist fitting nothing had been done and I was asked to wait while she made a pattern. This took approximately one hour and seemed useless to me as she had the sample and could have made "the pattern" before I arrived. Two weeks later I came back for my "final fitting", and again nothing had been done, but to compound the problem I was booked in with 4 other customers - all brides with fittings for wedding dresses! I waited 2 hours for my cape to be finished (or started) and wound up paying four times more than I was charged by a Bayview Village high end dress shop for the same article in a different fabric. There is nothing to read in the shop and no where to go if you have to wait for your dress. I came home exhausted and frustrated - I'll never to back!

I got married one year ago and it has taken me a very long time to write a review. I was conflicted about whether I wanted to say anything or not but I WISH I had done some research before taking my wedding dress to her to get altered. She was recommended by Becker's Bridal which is where I got my dress. I bought a stunning Allure Lace mermaid dress that I instantly fell in love with and now every time I look at pictures it makes my heart cry. I took her my dress 6 months before my wedding and initially felt very excited... I didn't get a second appointment until 1 month before my wedding and my third appointment was the Thursday before the Saturday of my wedding. Each time I went I felt very rushed and kind of shushed as I was saying what I hoped- and she was telling me what would INSTEAD work best. When I took it home Thursday I had to RETURN Friday because my dress was literally falling off it was way too big.
Flash forward to day of my wedding....
1. The dress was so big in my midsection but she said she didn't want to take it in because it would be hard to sit or move.
2. I had to actually PIN my dress underneath my armpits to keep from flashing a nipple because the cups she put were way TOO BIG and did not actually support me as much as they were heavy and dragged the dress down
3. The dress had actually stretched a little bit from the entire day of wear (and heat) and when I look at pictures I see the wrinkles from underneath my belt all the way to the floor because of the excess material.
4. At the end of everything it wasn't even a mermaid dress anymore... There was no structure to hug the curves of my body

I am SO disappointed because I DID NOT cheap out on the alterations and did not even have many requests to be made.

DO NOT GO if you have a LACE dress!!!! I am showing the picture of the dress on the model- How formfitting it is supposed to be to the body... and then there are pictures of what I wore on my wedding day.

I bought my wedding dress at Windsor Bridal and it was awaiting alterations when it went out of business. My mum collected the dress and contacted Irene for help. I live in London England, so the only time I could come in for a fitting was 6 days before the actual wedding. Irene assured my mum that she would get it done in such a short time. When I arrived in Toronto and was told that my dress was at Irene's and that Windsor went out of business, I was naturally worried. Irene was extremely professional and reassuring. I saw her the Monday before my wedding and the dress was ready by Thursday. She was incredible!!!! The dress was done in such a short time and the alterations were perfect. I wish I had brought her the dress to her in the first place to carry out the alterations. I looked amazing on my wedding day, she did a phenomenal job. When I told my bridesmaids the story, it turned out they also went to Irene for alterations of their bridemaid dresses as well as other things for years before.

I absolutely recommend Irene for all alterations, but especially wedding dresses. She is totally amazing and if it hadn't been for her I may not have gone down the aisle in the wedding dress of my dreams.

I went to Irene after being recommended by a friend who recently got married. I had my mother's old lace (long-sleeved) wedding dress, and also a new blush dress that I wanted to wear on my wedding. I wasn't sure if she - or anyone- would be able to transform my mother's old dress into something I would be comfortable walking down the aisle in - but she totally exceed my expectations, gave great ideas and completely re-made my dress in a way that fit my body well.
Irene was so wonderful to work with and is extremely talented with even the most complex requests.
All I can say is thank you for helping make my dress dreams come true =)

Frist, I never write reviews but my husband and I as well as my bridesmaids had yet another fantastic experience with Irene that I just had to - every woman needs a fabulous seamstress and I have counted on Irene for 10 years.

She turned a "typical" dress in to a gown that rivalled any couture my friends have worn at their weddings. She took my "sash" I bought - changed it, converted it to a belt that went all the way around. Amazing and everyone couldn't believe how it changed the dress.

She also made me feel great about myself and not pulling at every angle or worrying about back fat and my arms etc - she made it flatter and fit my best attributes - and for all of you girls who are not super skinny - you know how scare it is to worry you will feel self conscious on your wedding day and I felt nothing but pride and comfort and ease.

other comments:

- She litterally remade all my suits after I lost allot of weight - they looked way better and taylored

- She remade a bridesmaid dress for me (pre weigh-loss) I had ordered a size too small - arrived in tears - she ordered me fabric from the store and saved the day

- She altered my husbands coat to look sleek and taylored - now he asks regularly "should Irene look at this blazer or suit"

Anyways, I just love her and on top of her talent, service, fair prices she is a lovely person. Her eyes actually filled with tears when she saw my wedding day picture because she knew I had been a bridesmaid way too many times, that she acheived making me feel and look amazing and that she was not just a seamstress but a extension of what made my day so special. I doubt many seamstresses care about their clients that much.

A+

I have been a client of Irene's for a decade. My first visit, I had ordered a size too small bridesmaid dress and she managed to rebuild the dress to fit me perfectly - I was hooked! She has since altered suits (trust me it is not easy to find someone to do a good job altering suits) and coats, dresses etc etc. It was a given that she would alter my wedding dress and wow. She turned a gorgeous dress to start with into a masterpiece that looked like it had been custom made for me from the beginning. She is not only a tremendously talented seamstress but she runs a business with integrity and tremendous customer service. She is kind and truly cares about making your article of clothing make you feel better about how you look - she is my confidence booster. She works miracles with short timelines and has always been ready for me for pickups and appointments. My husband now relies on her as well! Love love love Irene, couldn't recommend enough.

I went to Irenes to have my dress altered as she is backed by the bridal store where I got my wedding dress.

Although the first visit was ok, the second and third visit were extremely cramped and rushed. I felt like Irene was pushing me through the entire experience really quickly and not really listening to what I had to say.

She made some alterations, many of which were well done, but the biggest disappointment is that she cut my dress too short. When I was walking down the isle you could see my feet coming out under the dress, and in every shot you can see my feet as the dress was 1-2 cm off the floor. She assured me this is the way it is supposed to me so I could walk, but I have NEVER seen another bride where you could see her feet under a floor length dress before. Now every time I see a picture of me in the dress from the wedding it is ruined by the fact that my feet are showing.

Secondly, she changed the crinoline under my dress and it literally fell out from under my dress after less than an hour of dancing. I had to go change my out fit as it was dragging on the floor and then completely detached.

Overall I was not impressed with the experience, the service or the alterations them self and I would not go back here if I had to do it again.

Irene made my wedding dress from antique satin that my family had. She gave me great advice about buying lining and lace to match, she suggested improvements to the design I had drawn so that it would work with the fabric, she explained the challenges that this particular fabric posed and told me about the techniques she would use... and then she made the perfect dress. Her skill and her attention to detail are extraordinary. I would recommend her for any job, no matter how difficult.

Irene was absolutely fabulous. She is a professional who does great work.

My best friend got married back in September and I was in the bridal party. We purchased the dresses from a bridal who also did the alternations. They should stick to selling dresses. When I originally got fitted for the dress in February, I was 200lbs. I lost 25lbs by my friend's wedding day. When I got the dress back 2 days before the wedding, it was like a huge drape on me with no shape. I took it to Irene on the Friday, 1 day before the wedding and she made magic. The dress looked fabulous and she didn't charge me an arm and a leg for the alternations. Thanks to Irene and her staff, I looked amazing for my best friend's wedding. I would definitely recommend Irene to anyone.

Whether I bring Irene a dress to hem or a complete reconstruction of a jacket or designer dress, she treats each piece with her keen attention to detail, her couture sensibilities and always a love of fabric and design. I love going to Irene's Studio particularily in spring when all the brides to be are bringing their wedding dresses. Sometimes Irene is designing and creating a dress from scratch, or taking a dress that is being passed down and redesigning it or a new dress that needs to be altered. Irene always seems to be in heaven treating each person like their dress is the most special and unique. It is like watching a master at work. Kudos to you Irene. Beautiful workmanship, thank you Irene.

I've recently shed 50 lbs. i thought i would have to get a whole new wardrobe to go with my new figure, until a friend of mine recommended i go to Irene's. she's done such a wonderful job, i cant convey my thanks into words. she is very professional and has a great eye for fashion. i had high end designer clothing that had many small delicate details, after a trip to Irene's my clothes never looked better. as a matter of fact, i like it more now then when i first bought it.
THANK YOU IRENE, from the bottom of my heart. you provide wonderful service!

Irene was recommended to me by a friend & I couldn't be happier that she was. She took my "challenge dress" (scads & scads of beading, rhinestones etc.) and altered it such that it looks like it had be designed exclusively for me. Thanks for a gorgeous job, Irene! I can't wait to wear my wedding dress next weekend!

Always has the best alteration ideas and can turn an old piece of clothing into something NEW and exciting!! I trust no one else to do the most simple or difficult alterations. Good prices as well.

I never trusted anyone with my most special garments, but when I was refered to Irene to do my wedding dress, she made it better than I pictured it in my own head. She remade the dress so beautiful and to exactly what I wanted. She is careful, professional, confident, very talented, and has great taste. I recommend her to anybody who needs altering in any way.

Always busy especially at bridal season. Good alterations and reasonable.Does household sewing like curtains and bedspreads but you need to be very specific or they will do it their own way. I got three hooks not four across a roman blind and it won't work.