The lilac linen dress is a size 12 and the floral one is a size 20 – go figure.
OVERSIZED AND ‘ONE SIZE FITS ALL’
Not all clothes have to sit tight to the body. I love wearing oversized tops and swing dresses, but I still follow the same formula – can I move comfortably, is the fabric quality, and is it hanging the way I want it to?
For me, that usually means a neater fit on the shoulder. One size fits all, doesn’t. There is no garment that fits all bodies, and in trying to, it often fits no-one well at all. Brands often create these garments as a costsaving exercise – one pattern and no grading (changing the size between patterns) – makes an economical garment to create.
Make sure you like the way it looks on you, not just that you can put it on. Some clothing patterns do have some flexibility, such as a wrap dress that I have styled differently as my body has changed.
SHOPPING ONLINE
Shopping online can be tricky. Ideally you should buy styles from brands you know, so you have a good idea what your size is. The truth is, the cheaper the clothes are, the less likely they are to fit. Less time and money has been spent on fit modelling and production, and cheaper fabrics aren’t robust enough to last.
Brands with great fabrics that really care about fit cost more. But price-per-wear works out cheaper in the long run for you and the environment. Measure yourself before you shop online, and compare the measurements to something you have at home that fits well.
Follow women online who have your shape or a style you like. Ask them about the sizes they wear in brands you are interested in, and you are likely to get a closer fit.
Mys Tyler is a great new app where women share their outfits and you can choose to follow women of a similar size.
IF IT DOESN’T FIT YOU, AND YOU ALREADY OWN IT
Having a wardrobe full of clothes that don’t fit you helps no-one. You don’t have to get rid of them, but if something is too big or small, I put it in a basket under my bed or at the top of the wardrobe and revisit it the following season.
Chances are, it is just not me any more. I am changing and evolving, and so is my wardrobe.
If it stays in the basket for a year, it goes in the fashion archives (very special things that I want to keep because they are art) or gets sold on or gifted to friends.
Shopping can be difficult, and it is hard not to feel rejected if something doesn’t fit you. But there is something wonderful out there waiting for you that will.