Established 1928 · Beacon Hill

Three generations on Charles Street.

Alterations, made-to-measure, and the honest counsel of a tailor. By appointment, Tuesday through Saturday.

The Barrett & Sons shopfront on Charles Street, Beacon Hill.
The cutting room at Barrett & Sons — worn oak table, bolts of English worsted.

About Us

Beacon Hill neighborhood tailor

My grandfather Walter Barrett opened the shop in 1928, a short walk from the Boston Athenæum, and cut for many of its members. He believed a suit ought to outlast its first owner, and taught my father, and my father taught me.

We remain a small house — three cutters, an apprentice, and the same address on Charles Street we have kept for the better part of a century. Much of our work is quiet: a jacket taken in, a lapel restored, a father's dinner suit made to fit a son. Some of it is a new commission, cut from English or Italian cloth and finished by hand. All of it leaves in the condition we would expect for ourselves.

We have long been fortunate in our clientele. In recent years we have opened the book a little wider — new clients are welcome, and are treated no differently from those we have dressed for forty years.

— Thomas Barrett, Head Cutter

Services

What we do.

Prices below are indicative. A firm figure is given at the fitting, and there are no adjustments at collection.

  • Trouser hemOriginal hem preserved on denim.from $30
  • Jacket sleeves, from the cuffWorking buttonholes, $25 per sleeve.from $55
  • Jacket sleeves, from the shoulderNecessary where buttons meet the cuff.from $110
  • Waist adjustmentUp to two inches, in or out.from $40
  • Full suit alterationSleeves, waist, seat, and hem.from $175
  • Made-to-measure suitTwo fittings, six to eight weeks. English and Italian cloth.from $2,400
  • Shirt tailoringSides, sleeves, and shoulders.from $55
  • Formal and morning dressKindly allow six weeks.by quotation

WHAT TO EXPECT

Here is what happens when you come in.

  1. 01
    Start with a conversation

    Bring the garment, the occasion, or simply an idea. We’ll talk through what you need and what makes sense.

  2. 02
    We assess the work

    Measurements are taken where needed, the garment or project is considered properly, and we explain the options before anything begins.

  3. 03
    The work takes shape

    Depending on the job, that may mean alterations, repairs, fittings, cloth selection, or a garment being made for you. We’ll tell you what to expect and when to return.

  4. 04
    Final fitting or collection

    We check the finished work with you and make sure everything is right before it leaves the shop.

A tailor fitting a client in the wood-paneled room at Barrett & Sons.

Not sure what you need?

Bring the garment in. First consultation is always complimentary.

Call (617) 555-0128
"My father was a client of Walter Barrett's. I myself have been a client for thirty years. They don't fuss or oversell, and hit the mark consistently. That is a rarer combination than it ought to be."

Charles W. Endicott

Client since 1994

Visit

Kindly call ahead.

Address
84 Charles Street
Beacon Hill, Boston, MA 02114
Get directions

Hours

  • MondayBy appointment
  • Tuesday10 – 6
  • Wednesday10 – 6
  • Thursday10 – 7
  • Friday10 – 6
  • Saturday10 – 4
  • SundayClosed

Fittings and new commissions are by appointment. Alterations may be brought in during shop hours.