Suela,

you nearly changed my life with that post. Wow.

But I think that one good option for people who are not celebrities is to have a smaller, but really well tailored wardrobe. I would love to have that. If everything I owned fit well, I would probably be much happier with much less. (ETA: and maybe, ultimately, spend less or an equivalent amount on small, tailored wardrobe.)

That's great if your weight never fluctuates. I'm not one of those people.

Everything celebrities wear (everything, including camisoles & t-shirts) and everything they show on WNTW, is tailored specially. Every item of clothing, not just the jackets and slacks.

Some of us have learned basic tailoring for just this reason. I don't tailor t-shirts, tho'.

(Wait. Yes, I do. I change necklines and take in seams on some t-shirts.)

Anyway, yes. Tailoring is the way to make clothing look good.

I have had one thing tailored in my life and that was my wedding dress.

And most thing I wear cost less than $50, and usually more like $20, because I am a broke ass bitch, and spending more money to tailor something than it cost seems like insane troll logic.

But the gist of the post is right-on, and it's a realization I made a few years ago, and it feels a lot better to stand in a dressing room and to say "It's not made for MY body" rather than "I'm too fat for this."

Because I'm a 14/16 now, and I just don't buy shit that doesn't look good on me anymore. And it's not me; it's the clothes.

(I take it back; I had a prairie skirt made to fit by a friend of my mom's when they were popular in the 80's. THAT did nothing to contribute to my fashion sense...And I've altered straps on swimsuit tops, and, um, embroidered on some panties.)

That's great if your weight never fluctuates. I'm not one of those people.

Well, sure. Not many things I know of work for everyone.

I don't know though, I have a wardrobe that accommodates a couple of sizes right now. I mean, if I gain twenty pounds, I can't wear the blouse that fits now whether it's tailored or not. But if the blouse I wear at twenty pounds heavier is tailored well, maybe I like it better.

If I know my weight fluctuates, I can still have a tailored wardrobe that accommodates that. It wouldn't be as small as if I maintained a steady weight, but at least I'd look my best up and down the scale.

Just speculating, really. Not advocating. I'll leave that to Stacey and Clinton.

In fairness to Stacey and Clinton they do talk about tailoring and fit a lot.

But if the blouse I wear at twenty pounds heavier is tailored well, maybe I like it better.

You will. I swear. Because no one, and I mean NO ONE, has the same body shapes as the fit models used by clothing companies. If you are lucky enough to stumble onto a company who's clothes fit you as if you were the fit model the pattern was drafted on, write down the name/size combo and scour thrift stores, consignment shops, and eBay for things from them. (I apparently am the same as the fit model for Lip Service XL and size 12 Ralph Lauren blazers.)

But tailoring is part of the reason I say everyone should learn to sew.

But tailoring is part of the reason I say everyone should learn to sew.

I almost posted an addendum to my last post saying, "I really should learn how to sew." It's true.

Auto classes and sewing classes.

Oh! I missed the Sparky news but am wishing good things to come from it!!

I am lisah in this one!

For the stuff I'm interested in, it seems like there's super-basic and then serious study. Where's the casual enthusiast level?

I want to start an adult ed provider and I'll label the classes as beginner, dilettante, and enthusiast, just for Jesse.

I know some sewing, but damn if it is a pain in the ass for me to do. I think I would rather clean my bathroom.