If you have trouble picking out clothes or determining what fits you, I recommend taking pictures of yourself. It is so totally different from looking in a mirror. For example, the mirror told me that this blouse fits. I can now see that there’s way too much fabric in the bust (big surprise). There’s no easy way to adjust this now. If a dart is wrong, it means the whole piece has to be changed and it will affect too many other seams on this blouse to be bothered with. I’ll just have to stuff some socks in my bra. The other problem here isn’t visible. The sleeve bands are just a bit too tight which makes it very difficult to take this blouse off. If you’ve ever trapped yourself in a too small piece of clothing, you’ll know how I learned to avoid open dressing rooms.I’m feeling very trapped by this project right now. This is what I’ve accomplished. I’ve learned just enough about fashion to know that the chances of finding any new clothes that I like and can afford and that fit me are incredibly slim. I have discovered just how atypical my body is compared to whatever standard is used to create clothes and patterns. And I don’t even think my body is that weird, but I am taller than average which creates a problem with all garments because I need extra length in the torso, sleeves, and legs. My thighs are wider than my hips, so commercial pants and skirts don’t fit. My ribcage is enormous and my boobs are tiny, so a knit tank top off the rack will generally work, but anything structured won’t.
On the bright side, I learned how to attach buttons with my machine and I found it really fun, so I no longer need to avoid styles that incorporate many buttons.
3 comments:
I now understand what you meant about this top. I am glad you went with the mandarin collar. I think this material would make a great tea dress.
I only wish that the opposite was true--that if one did not like one's reflection in the mirror, one might snap a picture and in it, clothes would fit, hips would shrink, lines and wrinkles would vanish, hair would have volume, square mannish hands would morph into those of an elegant harpist...but I digress.
I found this blouse charming, but it did send me on a nostalgic journey. I remember those blouses from my childhood and those arm bands were always just a little too snug, sometimes interfering with circulation, numbing extremities, making it impossible for me to pluck out the right notes on my imaginary harp at my fantasy harp lessons...I digress again.
I think your discoveries from this project should be writ large on a giant banner which would be dragged by plane over the garment district in NYC. Although you as an individual face unique problems with fit, each of us face our own little horror show in a department store dressing room.
Off-the-rack clothes are rarely fitted or suitable to the bodies of real women--of any shape. Yet there are not enough protests or efforts such as your project--like me, I believe most women buy something because it almost fits--not because they love it or it looks great. It buttons, it zips, it fits over my hips--I'll take it. Your project and your blog are an immense statement--one which I hope will be heard far and wide.
A while ago Target was selling jeans that were supposedly custom made according to a form you could fill out online about your proportions. I never ordered them because I didn't trust this to work- partially because the form was confusing. I don't know what practical solutions there are for women other than making their own clothes or have something custom made. I've had alterations made twice on pants and the results were pretty awful. The solution of one problem usually leads to another unless you take the entire garment apart, and that's much more work than making something from scratch.
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