How to fix the problem of not well-fitted clothing!

Do you struggle with fit? I do. Just this past week I ordered a coral pink dress online with high hopes. When I put it on, I knew immediately that it didn’t fit right. It’s almost like something just looked really off when I looked at myself in the mirror. I was disappointed. Now, it’s just sitting in my wardrobe waiting for a trip to the tailor.

It turns out there’s more to fit than just getting your body into a piece of clothing. In fact, it’s been said that if you don’t have fit, you don’t have style. Good style hinges on a good fit. So how do you know if your clothing fits?

“If you don’t have fit, you don’t have style.“

^Lyndah

Well, today I am sharing 5 signs your clothes don’t fit. But I’ve got many more tips for making sure your clothing does fit. After all, like me, you can probably look in the mirror and tell when something is “just off,” even if you don’t know why. But it’s a little trickier ensuring that all of our clothing does fit properly.

So hang with me today. We’re going to learn how our clothing really should fit. But to get there, let’s discover 5 signs that indicate your clothes don’t fit.

1. You’re overflowing your bra

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We’re starting with this essential undergarment because we so often overlook it. But when you wear a bra that does fit, it can transform the look of your outer garments as well as your overall appearance. So how should your bra fit?

• All breast tissue should be inside the cups. There should be no overflow.
• The core, the place between the two cups, should sit flush against your breast bone.
• You should be able to raise and lower your arms and the carriage of the bra should stay anchored in place.
• Your bra should support and lift “the girls” to where they “should be.”
• Approximately 80% of women are wearing the wrong size of bra. It’s best to get a professional fitting at least every two years.

2. Buttons are popping or pulling your blouse

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This is a common problem especially for women with a large bosom. But it can also be problematic for women with stout chests or wide shoulders. But there’s more to selecting a button-up blouse that fits.

• The seams of the shoulders should rest on the edge of the shoulders.
• The shoulder seams should lie flat on the shoulders.
• Buttons should not gape or pull.
• The fabric should skim your body and taper in if the blouse is fitted.
• The side seams should run perpendicular to the floor.
• Make sure the blouse fits through the waist, too. It should not look snug at the tummy.
• Shop for your largest area. So if your shoulders are wide, buy a blouse that fits your shoulders and you can have it taken in elsewhere. If your largest area is your tummy, choose a blouse that fits you well there. However, be aware that it is difficult for a seamstress or tailor to adjust the shoulders.
• Long sleeves should end just at or below your wrist bone, but no lower than midway between your wrist and the base of your thumb.
• Make sure sleeves are not so tight that you can’t move freely.

3. Your dress pants are hugging your bum

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Dress or suit pants are generally designed to hang from your hips, skimming your rear and hips. While recent styles are more body-conforming, they still shouldn’t be skin tight.

• Ideally, you should be able to fit two fingers into the waistband of your slacks. Your waistband should fit comfortably around your waist, snug enough to tuck your shirt in, but not tight.
• You want to be able to move comfortably in your slacks with no wrinkling or puckering in the front panel. The front panel should not be pulled tight.
• Your front pockets should lie flat when you are standing and walking. However, they will probably pucker out some when you sit. This is fine.
• The rise should suit your comfort standards and your proportion preferences, but it should stay put.
• The crotch should come to the top of the thigh, but it should not touch your body or pull.
• You should be able to sit and still insert your thumb into your waistband.
• Generally, you want your dress pants to skim the body and legs, not hug tight.

4. You can’t pinch an inch of your skirt at the hips

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While some skirts are designed to hug your body, you should still have enough give in the fabric so that it is not tight. After all, you want to be able to move gracefully in your skirt. Let’s learn some more pointers for choosing skirts that fit.

• The waistband of your skirt should fit the same as the waistband of your dress pants, snug, but not tight. Make sure fasteners are not being pulled.
• You should be able to pinch an inch of fabric at the hips of your skirt, ensuring that you have the room or the flexibility in the fabric required for moving and sitting.
• Check that pockets are not gaping.
• The slit in the back of the skirt should hang closed when you are standing straight.
• The side seams should run perpendicular to the floor, all the way down.
• Side slits should hang closed unless otherwise designed, and fall perpendicular to the floor. Again, unless otherwise designed.
• The hemline should run parallel to the floor and even all the way around unless otherwise designed.
• Most women look good with a hem length right above the knee. The reason is that that length makes the legs look longer. But of course, if you can wear a mini skirt, you can wear a shorter length, but be sure you can move, bend and sit comfortably and without exposure.

5. You can’t hug a friend in your suit jacket

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Many suit jackets are designed to be form-fitting, but a jacket shouldn’t be confining. Because a beautifully fitted jacket can elevate an outfit, let’s check out how it should fit.

• The seams on the shoulders should lie flat and run even and perpendicular to the floor. The shoulders are the hanger for the suit jacket. It is most important that the shoulders fit correctly and it’s very difficult for a tailor to alter shoulder fit, so choose wisely.
• The shoulder/arm seam should hit right at the edge of the shoulder. Even if there is padding, the shoulder should not sit out beyond the top of the arm.
• If the jacket is meant to be fitted, it should curve in and skim the waist, but not be tight across the back.
• Make sure there is no excess fabric on a boxy cut jacket below the arms when you lift them. The jacket should have a roomy, boxy cut, but it should not be too large.
• Unless they are already cuffed up to a 3/4 length, full-length sleeves should hit just at the end of the wrist, at the top of the hand. Or the sleeves can hit just at the wrist bones, leaving room for a blouse sleeve to peek out.
• Make sure the hemline is straight and even all the way around the jacket.
• The lapel on the jacket should lie flat and smooth.
• The collar should fit close to the body, not gaping at the back of the neck.
• If there is a button or two or three, it is really up to you whether you can button them or not. If you will be wearing the jacket buttoned, you certainly want to be able to button the jacket without puckering. Otherwise, according to industry standards, you don’t have to be able to button it. (Personally, I prefer to be able to button it even if I never will. When I notice a jacket on someone that couldn’t possibly be buttoned, it bothers me. But that’s just a personal preference.)
• You should be able to reach up and out to give a hug comfortably, without the jacket pulling tight across the shoulders or back.
• The fabric should skim the body and the hemline should fall at a place that flatters your body proportions.
• Finally, the inner lining should not, under any circumstances, be peaking at the hemline or sleeves.

As I said earlier, I have more tips on the same topic and as you usual, it means that there will be a part 2 soon. So, watch out for that.

That’s all for today, if you liked it and you think it was helpful then kindly share the link with someone.

Thank you so much for spending time with me. God so richly bless you.