What’s the first thing you consider when buying new clothes? Colour? Fabric? Style? What about fit? Or, like many people, have you given up on finding clothes that fit you well, because – shock! – you’re not the mythical ‘average’ shape most clothes are modeled on?
While it may seem difficult to find the perfect fit, it’s worth it, says Hobart fashion designer Penni Lamprey. She should know – it was, in fact, her struggle to find clothes that fit her 6’1” frame that propelled her into the world of fashion.
“Clothing that fits you properly makes you look and feel amazing,” says Penni.
“Really, the other factors are secondary because if the garment doesn’t fit properly, you feel uncomfortable, you fidget, and seams pull or don’t sit in the right spot, or the length is off.”
Penni created her label, Miss G and Me, to provide beautiful clothes designed to fit tall people, but, she says, no matter our size or shape, we all struggle to find a great fit at times.
She believes strongly that people shouldn’t have to compromise on whether their clothes fit properly.
Nobody feels good with a muffin-top created by pants sitting too low on the hips, an unintentionally bared midriff, pants that gape at the back when you sit down, shirt or jacket cuffs over your hands, or halfway up your arms. So, why do we do this to ourselves?
A well-being coach in her previous career, Penni is well-versed in the many factors that contribute to and can affect self-confidence and self-worth.
Here she shares her tips for choosing great-fitting clothes that will make you feel your best:
- Don’t get attached to a number. So many people seem to feel like a certain size is part of their identity, but really sizes on clothes are so arbitrary. We intuitively know this but we still shop for ‘our’ size. You are unique and every garment fits differently, so forget having a ‘usual’ size.
- If you’re shopping online, measure yourself properly, and use the specs provided for each garment to decide if the item is likely to fit. Only 3-5% of people actually do this! Most online clothing stores give measurements for their items, and if they don’t – proceed with caution. It’s best to get someone else to do the measuring for you if you can, using a flexible measuring tape. Tip: your waist is the narrowest portion of your torso under your ribcage near your belly button, and the hip measurement is not round the top of your hip bone, but the widest part of your hip area.
- Consider how you like your clothes to sit and feel on your body. If you’re in between sizes and you know you prefer a looser, more relaxed fit, go up a size. If you can’t stand cold ankles, hunt around until you find that elusive pair of pants that fits you in the waist AND has the leg length you prefer. (As an aside, we have several Miss G and Me customers who aren’t all that tall, but are just sick of the cropped-pants trend and want pants with extra length). When you’re trying on clothes, make sure they feel good – they might technically ‘fit’ but if they don’t sit the way you prefer, keep looking until you find some that do.
- Value your own comfort and self-esteem! Invest your time and money in finding and buying clothes that make you look and feel great. You know you won’t wear it often if it doesn’t make you feel good – so don’t buy it. Save money and don’t waste the resources that have gone into making that item.
If you are a particular shape or size, this might mean moving away from mainstream clothing stores and looking at specialised designs, such as the ones I create at Miss G and Me. If you’re tall, no, you can’t just let the hems down as many people have suggested to me. Our pattern-makers confirm that not only do taller women have longer legs, but the rise and torso are generally longer, too – so the waistband of mainstream store clothes sits lower on our hips, or in the instance of shirts, jumpers, and dresses, higher on our waist than the body they were designed for. - Love your alterations specialist. For a polished edge that sets you apart, a great alteration could make all the difference – waistbands can be lowered, darts can be added or taken out, and false hems are even an option. But bear in mind that you only want to make one or two changes – if the size or fit is totally wrong, it could be difficult and expensive to get a great result.
Miss G and Me is the only Australian-made tall women’s fashion label, which reflects a passion for beautiful and sustainable fashion that fits and lasts. See the range online at missgandme.com.au.