Difference Between Tailor and Seamstress

Tailor vs Seamstress

Dressmaker, seamstress, tailor, etc. are words that are often used interchangeably to refer to a person who makes outfits. These occupations or job skills are quite overlapping as they make use of similar accessories and cut and sew clothes and fabrics to come up with the desired apparel. Both a tailor, as well as seamstress, makes clothes that are customized to suit the figure of the client. What then is the difference between a tailor and a seamstress? Let us find out in this article.

Tailor

Most of us know who a tailor is. He is the individual who takes the body measurements of the client and cuts and sews the fabrics to convert them into garments that are good fitting. There was a time not so long ago when a tailor was a very important professional in a community as he could change fabrics into garments for men and women. With the advent of readymade clothing, the importance of tailors has gone down slightly. However, despite modern readymade clothing, men and women need the help of a tailor to make outfits for them, especially those that are worn on special occasions. Today, a tailor is in demand to make men’s suits and coats. Tailors make use of many different fabrics to make garments such as wool, linen, cotton, silk, etc. A tailor is usually a man though the term ladies tailor and seamstress are used to refer to females working as tailors.

Seamstress

If you look up in dictionaries, you would find that a seamstress is a woman who sews clothes professionally. This definition does not make a seamstress any different from a ladies tailor. In factories where garments are made, a seamstress is a woman who sews seams of clothes on a machine and is not skilled enough to make the complete dress. However, the thing to remember is that a seamstress (whose male counterpart is aseamster) works mostly with women’s clothing, whereas tailors remain busy with men’s suits and coats. In olden times, women went to a dressmaker or a seamstress to give their measurements for garments whereas men went to tailors. This distinction somewhat has blurred in modern times with women starting to don jeans and coat suits like men in business circles.

What is the difference between Tailor and Seamstress?

• A seamstress is a female whereas a tailor is a unisex term.

• The male counterpart of seamstress is seamster.

• A seamstress sews seams of clothes though she also cuts and prepares garments mostly for ladies.

• A tailor is mostly busy making men’s suits and coats.

• Seamstress is a term applied to a female who sews as an occupation.

• While women went to seamstress or a dressmaker in earlier times and men went to tailors, the distinction has become blurred in modern times.