If folks haven't seen what you want, or have a picture, it's hard to convince them. I found an idiosyncratic Irish tweed jacket that was perfect for an alteration. I used chalk to outline the curves I wanted and explained carefully to the sales clerk. The tailor decided to ignore the instructions and outlines; I sent it back, and instead the tailor cut a straight diagonal from button to hem; they thought it would look better than my curves! Potentially nice jacket ruined and alteration $ wasted. That said the alteration tailoring was impressive. LOL