Call (510) 836-3062 for a fitting or consultation
Shirley's Designs & Alterations by Veda Ambeau- Grand Lake Neighborhood, Oakland, Ca
  • Home
  • Our Story
  • Services
    • Alterations & Tailoring - Women's
    • Alterations & Tailoring - Men's
    • Retail Fashion Lines
    • Custom Designs
  • Reviews
  • Event Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Pay Online

What our clients are saying...


From 68 reviews
Anonymous
Anonymous 4 years ago

Oh my goodness... I can’t express how much I love this business. Professional. First Class with outstanding results. Even though she knows when you enter what’s best for you she listens to your ideas and help you understand design uniquely …

read more
 
Delphine F
Delphine F 5 years ago

I had such a great experience , very professinal with great customer service. I needed suits for an event in a week, and they were completed before that week....

Excellent work....

 
Fred B
Fred B 5 years ago

got what I was looking for

 
Max P
Max P 6 years ago

I had a fantastic experience here. They did a great job on my suit, and furthermore, provided an additional alteration on my pants for free! Really, really nice people and nice work. I would highly recommend Shirley's!!!

 
Kyle Haas
Kyle Haas 6 years ago

Always great work every time!

 
Maria A Pinkhason
Maria A Pinkhason 6 years ago

Loved it! Veda was great and when the bustle was still too low for my taste she had no problem working on the dress again. Highly recommend.

 
Kim L
Kim L 6 years ago

Veda does a fantastic job and is so nice

 
Davina T
Davina T 6 years ago

I love everything! She was on point with all of the timing and changes she needed to make to my wedding dress. Thank you!!

 
Suzanne D
Suzanne D 6 years ago

I finally found a wonderful skilled seamstress to help me adjust the fit of my clothes to MY body! I had a bikini top altered (tough, right??) to be just a little larger so I could be more comfortable and a cute little dress altered to be a…

read more
 
Deana W
Deana W 7 years ago

Alterations looked great. They were very accommodating of my tight schedule. Would come back.

 
Michele Helm
Michele Helm 7 years ago

Since her opening on Lakeshore, I have entrusted her with fur coat repairs, cashmere refashioning and alterations on black tie wear. Her services never disappoint. Veda will commit and execute alterations that others won't attempt. Very …

read more
 
Teara N.Totton
Teara N.Totton 7 years ago

FABOLOUS.👗

 
Karen Ambeau
Karen Ambeau 7 years ago

Veda and her staff are always pleasant and the workmanship is fantastic. The pls e to go for great alterations!!

 
Pat Jennerjohn
Pat Jennerjohn 7 years ago

Cheerful and skillful service! My "look" has been saved many times with just the right alterations!

 
Julie K
Julie K 7 years ago

Veda does a great job within a reasonably short amount of time. I will use her again and again.

 
Korri O
Korri O 7 years ago

So very warm and welcoming --wish I had discovered this gem a long time ago. Although I've only had the opportunity to have one dress fitted, I plan to return with images of dresses I'd like to have made! I have recommended several …

read more
 
Kathy K
Kathy K 7 years ago

So great to have an expert tailor and dressmaker in our neighborhood.

 
Sonja H
Sonja H 7 years ago

Very helpful

 
Eileen Pardini
Eileen Pardini 7 years ago

I have had many items altered here...pants, skirts, dresses. All of them were completed in a timely manner with quality expertise. The staff has always been professional and courteous. I am now having a pair of pants and a dress custom made…

read more
 
Shirley B
Shirley B 7 years ago

I am very pleased with the quality of service I received. I would definitely rate it on the top 10 list! As regards the workmanship; the skill and creativity that went into the labor to produce results that went beyond my expectations can…

read more
 
Cheryl S
Cheryl S 7 years ago
's photo

Ms. Veda, did a fabulous job on my pleated gown.

 
Randy K
Randy K 7 years ago

I have been going to Shirley's Alterations for over 25 years. She has a good eye for what needs to be done to a garment and her workmanship is excellent!

 
Pillar D
Pillar D 7 years ago

Shirley's tailored my suit for my wedding in record time and it fit better than I could've ever imagined. Will definitely be going back!

 
Ellen B
Ellen B 7 years ago

Vita is amazing. She is a visionary, a talented , creative tailor and dressmaker and an open-hearted, loving soul. She has been creating and tailoring clothes for me for the past 27 years. Growing up in a family of tailors and …

read more
 
Brian C
Brian C 7 years ago

Excellent alterations and super friendly people. I look forward to doing business with them again.

 
Garred V
Garred V 8 years ago

Vera was amazing! Super helpful, professional, timely. We are so thankful she could help us with our wedding dresses. Thank you Vera!

 
Cheryl Watkins Buntyn
Cheryl Watkins Buntyn 8 years ago
's photo

I came to know Veda two weeks before I was to be married in Georgia (due to fly to Ga. In 6days). I was an emotional mess when I met with Veda failing to lose the anticipated weight to fit my gown. In just two days, Veda had me fitted …

read more
 
Nayomi M
Nayomi M 8 years ago

They tailored my wedding dress and my fiances jacket perfectly. Love them.

 
Katie C
Katie C 8 years ago

Such kind and knowledgable help at this shop. It was recommended to me and I would gladly recommend to others. Both of the dresses I needed taken in turned out beautifully after one round of alterations.

 
Thomasine M
Thomasine M 8 years ago

I had a wonderful experience at Shirley's designs. I asked to have the lining of a jacket – which she had already done for me 10 years ago! – I asked her to do it again. It's perfect; I have my favorite jacket back. I'd go back in a second…

read more
 
Sherri F
Sherri F 8 years ago

Very professional... Quick turn around and able to help out when I was in rush to get things back quickly! She went out of her way to accommodate – she even dropped off at my home after her work day was through !…

read more
 
Irene M
Irene M 8 years ago

Veda and her staff are amazing. She was so understanding and patient with my daughter and I. She listened and was able to do everything we wanted to create the most beautiful wedding dress ever!!! Simple, elegant, exquisite! She is a master…

read more
 
Victor J
Victor J 8 years ago

Veda is always my go-to person when it comes to alterations. And she gets it right every single time. Wedding dress, ball gown, it doesn't matter ;)

 
Sheryl Birkner
Sheryl Birkner 8 years ago

Shirley's Designs did a fantastic job repairing my valuable vintage suit jackets.

 
Hilda O
Hilda O 8 years ago

This was my second experience with Shirleys and I was again extremely pleased with the results of Veda's expertise in designing a dtess for me for an special event. Thank you Veda, and until the next time!

 
Hillari A
Hillari A 8 years ago

Fitted quite a few dresses to my specification with no problem. Very professional, highly recommend!

 
Tamara S
Tamara S 8 years ago

I absolutely love the quality of work, attention to detail and customer service I received at Shirley's Designs. I highly recommend their business.

 
Allyson Kardez
Allyson Kardez 8 years ago

Veda has an amazing eye for how clothing should fit your body. This in combination with her and her staff's technical skill and her tremendous knowledge of fashion make her an invaluable asset! When I'm shopping, knowing that Veda can make …

read more
 
Dominique Carter
Dominique Carter 8 years ago

I my maid of honor dress was too tight and I had her let out some of the fabric and she did a great job and it was a huge relief to me :-)

 
Jacqueline W
Jacqueline W 8 years ago

I had a lot of pants and jackets that were out of fashion, but good fabric. After consulting with Shirley, she gave me her honest opinion about what to do with them, and I was delighted with the results. Some of the pieces were redesigned …

read more
 
Nora H
Nora H 8 years ago

She knew exactly what to do and got it ready just in time :)

 
Barbara Thomas
Barbara Thomas 8 years ago

I had a wonderful experience with Veda. I was having my mother's coat altered. Veda has a great sense design and made wonderful suggestions for the alteration and materials to use. Her prices were reasonable and the project was completed …

read more
 
Dele Kammen
Dele Kammen 8 years ago

Veda is amazing. Her alterations are top notch, she is so personable and there is quick turn around. Need I say more....

 
Jenny M
Jenny M 8 years ago

Shirley's Designs worked a miracle and fixed a botched alteration job on my wedding suit, and it turned out fantastic. They saved the day!

 
Ashley G
Ashley G 8 years ago

Veda is amazing. She's the only seamstress I'll go to. She is so nice, does great work, and the turn around time is always very reasonable. I would highly recommend her to anyone in the East Bay looking for a quality tailor.

 
Stansbury John
Stansbury John 8 years ago

Excellent work. Reasonable prices.

 
Chester Patricia
Chester Patricia 8 years ago

My experience was wonderful .Veda is very warm and professional. Her work is impeccable!!.

 
Miriam C
Miriam C 8 years ago
's photo

Veda created the wedding dress of my dreams! So beautiful and elegant!

Thank you do much for contributing to the magic of my wedding!

 
Elizabeth Daniell
Elizabeth Daniell 8 years ago

They have excellent seamstresses and tailors and the work is high quality. I highly recommend them for your alteration and design needs.

 
Cheryl Brodsky
Cheryl Brodsky 8 years ago

Veda has made me 2 dresses and has done a great job! I'd have no reservations about having her make me another special occasion dress.

 
Robin Heller
Robin Heller 8 years ago

Top talent. Warm, friendly, helpful, personal. Can do anything with fabric! Thank you all at Shirley's Design!

 
Brie F
Brie F 8 years ago

Ms Veda is so sweet and i had a good experience with her. And she does awesome work! I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to have alterations done.

 
Paula T
Paula T 8 years ago

Perfect job always. Very professional and knowledgable. Absolutely recommend.

 
Wendy Boucek
Wendy Boucek 8 years ago

I love Shirley's tailoring and have recomended her to other people. She does beautiful work.

 
Mark L
Mark L 8 years ago

Awesome service, awesome attitudes. Thanks for the beautiful suit!

 
Ruth C
Ruth C 8 years ago

Always a great experience and a

 
Michelle Hacket
Michelle Hacket 8 years ago

She was fabulous, professional and timely.

 
Amy R
Amy R 8 years ago

Veda does the most wonderful work. She has taken some of those special pieces of clothing that I kept in my closet for years because I loved them but they no longer fit and tailored them perfectly. She really cares and is incredibly …

read more
 
Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Mitchell 8 years ago

Every time I come I'm never disappointed.. Great work

 
Bennet Payne
Bennet Payne 8 years ago

Great service!

 
Joy Ricardo-Clay
Joy Ricardo-Clay 8 years ago

Veda is an excellent tailor and dressmaker. She is so talented. You will not be disappointed!

 
Trish Prior
Trish Prior 8 years ago

Love Veda's great eye for doing what is right with the clothing and honesty in saying, this garment is not for you...do not bother with it !!!!…

read more
 
Judy Cain
Judy Cain 8 years ago

I did recommend you to friend and she is delighted with your work!

 
Mechelle H
Mechelle H 8 years ago

Nothing like it! You can bring anything to Shieley's Designs and they will amaze you with their skills. I have brought in a variety of items for alteration (from pants that needed hemming to heavy lined coats that required full …

read more
 
Liza D
Liza D 8 years ago
's photo
's photo

As you can see from our smiles in the photo, Veda and I had an amazing experience working together! I brought in a Tea Garden Vintage wedding dress image from the web and Veda created the dress with incredible expertise. She knew exactly …

read more
 
Philippa F
Philippa F 8 years ago
's photo

Shirley's has the ambiance of a tidy Parisian atelier. Owner Veda has valuable insight and knowledge of how to tailor any garment that will not only help you look your best, but will also give you the attention to detail in your appearance …

read more
 
Grace G
Grace G 8 years ago

Veda does amazing work & combined w/ her fashion sense, attention to detail & her attentiveness to her clients, there is no other person I would trust to take care of my alteration needs!

 
Karen Zukor
Karen Zukor 8 years ago

I have been going to Veda Ambeau for many years and consider her the finest dressmaker and alterations person in the East Bay.…

read more
 
Full service Alterations and Tailoring in Oakland and Piedmont. Contact Us or Schedule a Fitting for us to get started on your project. 

Shirley's Designs & Alterations

3405 Lakeshore Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 836-3062
shirleysdesignsandalterations@gmail.com

Website by Broadly