Meet sewist, Sarah from MyVOS® – the clothing alterations Queen

As a child, she was endlessly fascinated by clothes. Dressing up. Observing what people wore. Imagining how garments could be changed or improved. At home, creativity was woven into daily life. Her mum made clothes for the family, and the sewing machine was always out on the dining room table. Making what you wore and clothing alterations was simply second nature.

Art A-levels (after a slight diversion in more traditional topics) was followed by an Art Foundation course which led to heading to university to study fashion. Visual arts was always her true path. She loved drawing, sketching ideas and imagining new possibilities for garments.

After graduating, Sarah worked as a fashion designer for a clothing manufacturer, designing and pattern-cutting clothing ranges for catalogue companies and high-end high street brands. She was given briefs, worked with fabrics, styled shoots, and showcased collections.

During her time, she was witness to the design element of clothing being stripped back to cut costs. The fast fashion industry was gathering pace and Sarah could see what began as innovation was becoming exploitation, with quality and creativity being compromised. Sarah knew she didn’t want to be part of that changing landscape and so she stepped away.

With her deep knowledge of pattern cutting and garment construction, she understood clothing from the inside out. She could look at a piece and instantly see if or how it could be improved, reshaped, and revived. And so, MyVOS® was born. What started as personal styling naturally evolved into clothing alterations and repairs, as clients realised how transformative her skills truly were.

As Sarah says: “Repairs and alterations are so important. They give you the space to make something special that really suits the person wearing it. It creates a real attachment to your clothes, and a subtle uniqueness that most people seek.”

Q & A with Sarah of MyVOS®

Q: What kind of work do you do at MyVos?®

I mostly work with clients who have wardrobes full of clothes but feel disconnected from their style. They want to dress in a way that reflects their personality, but their wardrobe feels disjointed or they are simply on autopilot wearing the same outfits and not knowing how to find/wear clothes that make them feel good. There are memories and history associated with clothes, pieces they feel attached to but are unsure how to wear them. They come to me because they want to fall back in love with their clothes.

We sort through their wardrobe together because that makes it easier to talk about what is really working and what is sentimental or no longer serves. I decipher their best 10%-20% pieces and use them as starting points to curate ready-to-wear outfit combinations that align to their current lifestyle.

Naturally, clothing alterations and repairs become part of that process. I adjust garments to suit style preference such as necklines, amend lengths and fit to suit body shape, tweak proportions, refine details, and do necessary repairs such as fix seams, holes, and replace buttons and zips. Ultimately, I want my clients to feel incredible in what they’re wearing. I want my customers to feel their best in their ‘second skin’.

Q: What kinds of clothing do you alter and repair?

Most garments are repairable and adjustable. Skirts, coats, trousers, dresses, tops – if it’s been made by being sewn together, it can be resewn. Clients return again and again because once they’ve experienced an alteration or repair which results in a perfect garment, they know that can be a possibility for every garment. No more making do with ill-fitting, wrong style detail, or damaged clothing.

It’s about making clothes suit and fit the body. Adjusting necklines, lengths, widths, buttonholes. Even small changes can make a huge difference.

I also work on heirloom pieces, which is always special because of the story behind the item. For example, I might update the silhouette of a grandmother’s linen summer dress by altering the length and using the fabric to add inserts so it can be worn and loved again. Or a velvet dress coat that needs reshaping to be more reflective of a current coat shape.

Q: Can customers post their clothes to you for altering?

Yes, absolutely. I offer Zoom consultations for customers who live further away. I guide them on where to place pins etc, before they send garments to me. If clients have a friend or relative who can sew for them, I talk through the possible design solutions to make a garment perfect. And if it’s a simpler repair/alteration, I’ll encourage people to try it themselves. I love building their confidence. There’s something powerful about learning to alter your own clothes and realising you can do it.

I have lots of online resources for simple repairs on my YouTube channel and my customers can also join my online courses to really build up their skills. I have to say actually, making, sewing and repairing your clothes is so good for mental wellbeing. My sew students really enjoy the slowness of repairing something and find it so addictive.

Q: What’s your favourite thing about working with your clients?

Honestly, everything. By the time someone comes to me, they’ve often tried personal shoppers and asked friends to help them but are still feeling stuck. So, the only direction we can go is forward.

Seeing someone light up when they rediscover their wardrobe is priceless. I’m often called a magician. I love that moment when someone, opens their wardrobe door, or looks in the mirror wearing clothes they already owned but didn’t know how to wear, and says, “Wow.”

Customer Laura describes the experience beautifully: ​“I hope you don’t mind me saying that it felt like you were a fairy with a magic pixie dust adding a little spark in my very stale wardrobe. It needs more of that and I can’t wait to start bringing it back to life. I appreciate that you quickly and clearly understand what fits/suits me.”

Q: Tell us about some of your favourite projects.

Transforming occasional outfits into something wearable for everyday life. Wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, special event pieces.

One client wanted to celebrate her 16th wedding anniversary in a meaningful way. We took skirt fabric from her wedding dress and turned it into a beautifully tailored top. It honoured the original garment while creating something she could actually wear again.

I’ve seen a resurgence in daughters wanting to wear their mothers Wedding dresses – they always need reshaping and a little up-dating. That’s always really special.

Q: Have you got any types of clothes you love working on the most?

Yes! Coats and jackets are so satisfying to transform. Changing collar shapes, replacing linings, removing 80s shoulder pads. Small structural changes can completely modernise a piece.

Take a recent customer I recently had. She had a gorgeous bronze PVC jacket but it was starting to wear away around the collar. Replacing it with complementary brown cord fabric was a perfect way to enhance its look. So now the jacket is really personalised – there won’t be another one like it.

Sarah isn’t just a sewist offering clothing alterations

She’s helping people reconnect with themselves through what they wear.

In a world of fast fashion and fleeting trends, her work is slower, more thoughtful, and infinitely more personal.

And that’s the real magic.

If you would love to work with Sarah and fall back in love with your clothes, visit MyVOS®’ profile to find out more about her services.