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In This Issue:
Message
from Diana
MESSAGE FROM DIANA Fall 2009 Fashion Week is in full swing in New York, and it's been interesting reading the reviews from various fashion sites. "Streamlined", "Timeless" and "Budget-friendly" are often-repeated phrases. Big surprise! The fashion industry has been hit HARD by this recession and selective spending has forced designers to think in terms of practicality and value in order to move merchandise: simple, flattering silhouettes that withstand the test of time. Always a plus for consumers! Take a look when you have a few minutes:
Style.com So what's on tap for today's article? Well, after chatting with fellow Delaware image consultant JoJami Tyler over a cup of tea recently and telling her about an exchange I had with a touring Broadway star, she howled and said, "You HAVE to share that with your readers!" So I've decided to do just that - to demonstrate the importance of good fit. Enjoy!
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
Nail the Dress Code EVERY Time
FEATURE ARTICLE What Broadway Can Teach You Good Fit What, exactly, is your definition of "good fit?" Clothes that you can get buttoned? That don't fall off? That are loose all over? That are a certain size? Personal definitions differ for everyone. But the reality is that clothes that fit you well should follow the contours of your body without binding, pinching, or constricting movement. Long sleeves and hems should extend to wrists and ankles; darts for bust, waist, and hips should hit YOUR bust, waist, and hips. In other words, good fit - as Goldilocks discovered - are clothes that are neither too big nor too small, but "just right." Now admittedly, that can be a BIG challenge, particularly if you tend to buy things off the rack and you're not a standard size or shape. Clothes that are mass produced cannot - by their very definition -- take individual needs into account. While some stores are trying to address different body types (Gap's "long and lean" and "curvy" jeans come to mind), you should just factor the cost of tailoring into everything you buy. If you can't buy custom, buy mass and have tailored. It's the only way to ensure good fit. Why? Because it can make a HUGE difference in how you look. Let me give you an example: Here in Northern Delaware, where New York is an hour and half by train, we have LOTS of outstanding local talent. When I started dancing again a few years ago, I was delightfully surprised by the caliber of teachers in my studio, many of whom have toured nationally on cruise ships, in musicals, and with ballet companies. One such teacher was Jessica Latshaw, a beautiful, talented, down-to-earth girl in her 20's who would teach at the studio when she wasn't in a show. This time last year, she was in pre-production for the tour of "A Chorus Line," in which she plays Kristine. In between teaching pliés and tendus, she'd give us a glimpse into the rarified world of the Broadway show, where only "the best of the best" will do. She talked about the grueling auditions, the arduous rehearsals, and the joy of custom-made shoes. She also told us about her first day with the costumers. "These two little (gay) guys came at me with tape measurers and took a THOUSAND measurements," she said. "They even had me take off my bra so they could measure the distance from nipple to nipple," she whispered with a blush. "Have you ever heard of such a thing?" I hadn't, but when "A Chorus Line" hit Philadelphia a few months ago and the News Journal wrote a "Local Girl Makes Good" story on her, I took one look at the group photo and remembered that conversation. It suddenly made sense: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081216/ENTERTAINMENT08/812160305/1124
So do YOUR clothes fit like that? Do they stay in place throughout the day as you sit, stand, walk, bend, or stretch? Or do they ride up, slip down, bind, or spin around? If you're forever tugging things back into place, it's a red flag: what you're wearing doesn't fit. So how can you get proper fit? Here are some guidelines for what you should be looking for when you try on clothes: Suit Jacket or Blazer
Shirt or Blouse
Pants
Skirts
What are some tell-tale signs that a garment doesn't fit well?
If you have clothes in your closet that you've only worn once or twice because they don't feel good when you wear them, chances are that they don't fit correctly. Either have them altered, sell them, or give them away. There's no sense keeping things that don't work. What can you do if you can't find clothes or brands that fit you well? 1. Have your clothes custom made. (This newsletter archive discusses custom clothes in detail: http://www.theclothingchronicles.com/archives/203-10272005.htm#Feature) 2. Buy ready-to-wear apparel and have it altered 3. Make or alter your own clothes Otherwise, keep a good list of the ready-to-wear apparel that fits you best. Again, it may take time to build this list, particularly if you have a hard-to-fit body. But it's worth it. Once you find the brands that suit you best, you can return to them again and again to replenish your wardrobe. Good fitting clothes are like a good set of skills: they take time to acquire. But they will always make you look your best. So take the time. When you look good and feel confident, there's no limit to where you can go - maybe even to Broadway!
************** Until next time,
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
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