Q:Too many of my hand-wash-only, ultra-delicate undergarments have been ravaged by the washing machine—or an overzealous date—lately. Is there anywhere I can have them mended?
A: Ramon’s (306 Mott Street; 212-226-0747), a father-and-son tailor shop, is the first choice of Mercer Street sexy-lingerie purveyor Agent Provocateur. Ramon Sr. hand-sews damaged lace and silk and, while he’s at it, can tailor a bra or panties at your request: “I’ll alter a plain bottom to show more derriere,” he says. “Recently, I cut a bra for a woman with a big front because she liked the lift but wanted less coverage.” (Prices vary; delivery on request.)
Ramon will tell you that “corsetieres are a thing of the past,” but the anachronistic occupation isn’t extinct just yet. Bra Smyth (905 Madison Avenue, near 73rd Street; 212-772-9400) employs a pair of in-house corsetieres who work exclusively in lingerie. Most repairs are done by hand ($20–$50), and if you’re missing a piece (padding, ribbon, little pearls), they’ll search the garment district for a matching replacement. “They’ll remove pads, fix straps, sew tears,” says the manager. “The only thing they won’t repair is leather.” Dominatrixes, take note.