Sometimes the perfect fit can seem rather elusive. And, it doesn’t matter if you’re petite, really tall, or full-figured. All shapes and sizes of women seem to have a common problem — finding clothes that unequivocally fit. When you’ve found that perfect pair of jeans that fit like a glove, we tend to cherish them like a prized possession, and that’s how you know the perfect fit is rare!

Aside from having a wardrobe stylist who can find you the perfect fit, the following fashion secrets are your best bet for finding clothes that truly fit. If you’re shopping on your own, here’s how to ensure all of your clothes fit properly.

If you’re trying on pants…

Give yourself a little extra wiggle room when trying on pants. You should be able to put two fingers inside the waistband. The truth is…sometimes we’re bloated. Women can’t expect to measure the exact same way all the time. So, having a bit of room will ensure you’re always comfortable in your pants and you won’t have to worry about them being suddenly too tight. It’s important to keep in mind that there should be no puckering or wrinkling in the front panel of the pants, and if that’s the case, they are too tight. On the flip side, if the fabric doesn’t lie flat, especially when you sit down, the pants are too big.

You have heard me say this before, having a tailor is crucial when it comes to the proper fit. Even the best quality pants’ pockets can gap when you sit down. And, many times, pants are too long. An easy fix is having a tailor remove the pockets to create a smoother silhouette and of course hemming the pants to create the perfect length for you is also easy and a must.

If you’re trying on blazers or jackets…

The best test to see if a blazer fits perfectly is being able to give someone a big bear hug. If you can’t comfortably give someone a hug or you can’t drive comfortably with it on, your blazer is too tight. When trying on blazers, make sure they aren’t too snug by wrapping your arms around yourself. Sometimes, blazers seem to fit until we decide to button them. If you prefer an open blazer, as long as the blazer isn’t too tight across your shoulder blades, it’s okay to leave them open. If you prefer a buttoned blazer, be sure it’s not too tight in the front!

When it comes to the seams, the shoulder seams should sit right on your shoulders. If the seam is too far over it is too large and will probably look a bit sloppy. Sleeve length is a personal preference, entirely up to you. Getting blazers to fit your exact proportions can be done with alterations.

If you’re trying on jeans…

Have you ever brought five or more pairs of jeans into the dressing room with no luck? You’re not alone in this. Many women have trouble finding jeans that fit, regardless of size. Many companies use models with a specific waist to hip ratio, so it’s no wonder that most women don’t find trying on jeans easy. The trick is to find a pair of jeans that fit fairly snug, especially because most jeans are made with Spandex or Lycra these days. With the addition of Spandex or Lycra in jeans, they will maintain their shape for longer periods of time which is a plus.

Again, for an authentic fit, getting a tailor to help create the perfect jeans for your body type may be necessary. If you find a perfect brand and size for you, stick with it and let your tailor make them perfect!

If you’re trying on button-up-the-front blouses…

With button-up blouse, the seams should lie flat, and be sure there is no gap between the buttons, a common fit issue with large-busted women. Button-ups, with a little stretch to them, tend to look better and provide a better fit. If the blouse is flattering but you still have some gaps between the buttons, a tailor can add hook and eye closures to help fix that. The length of a blouse’s cuffs should lay just below your wrists, just enough to peek out from a blazer. If there is extra fabric that reaches down to your hands, then getting the length shortened is recommended.

Be sure that the area of the blouse that covers your hips isn’t too tight or doesn’t ride up as you walk. Stroll around the dressing room to make sure.

In addition to jackets, make sure your blouses and your knit tops fit in the shoulders. Only blouses and tops with inset shoulder seams will need to sit right where your arm and shoulder meet.  This is a location that you will want to fit first.  Once the top fits you in the shoulders, you may need to tailor the sides or bust area. If your top has another shoulder design such as a drop-sleeve, ragland sleeve, or dolman sleeve where the shoulder seam sits off the shoulder, then the shoulder fit is not an issue.

If you’re trying on skirts…

Know your body type and based on this know which skirt silhouette looks the best on you.  Is it a straight, pencil/pegged, A-line, or a fit and flared skirt shape? Like pants, pockets should not pull open, you should not have any puckering or “whiskers” across the front and no “cupping under” in the hips.  What is “cupping under?”  If I said, “bubble butt,” would that help? In other words, you don’t want a skirt that’s too tight across your hips.

If you are a woman whose waist is smaller than your hips, get the size that best fits your largest point.  In this case, your hips. Then you may need the waist nipped in a bit. 

If you have the opposite issue, your waist is larger than your hips, then you will want to purchase the size that fits your waist the best. You may need to have the sides of the skirt “pegged-in.”  This is when the sides of a skirt tapers in. This is easily remedied by your tailor taking the back center-seam in, giving the skirt a tapered silhouette. It makes all the difference in the world. 

Knowing which silhouettes fit your body type the best, will help you eliminate additional alterations.

In addition to knowing which skirt shapes look best on you, you should also learn the various lengths you should wear your skirts.

If you’re trying on dresses…

Dresses can be a hard fit for a lot of women. If you are the same size on the top and bottom, you’re in luck. I recommend you use the same tips mentioned above for blouses and skirts when shopping for dresses.

A couple of additional tips for dresses…

• If you’re trying on an empire waist, be sure it doesn’t sit too high on your bust because tailors might not be able to fix this. If the bust line does not look right, the dress isn’t for you!
• Be aware that dresses without structured waistlines flatter most figures.
• You can easily spot-check if a dress is going to fit by how the shoulders fit. The width of the hanger should be the width of the shoulders of the dress.

A simple way to always make sure your clothes fit…

If you’d rather not go it alone, a wardrobe stylist is the easiest way to get the look you want with the least amount of effort. One of the greatest benefits of a wardrobe stylist is that we are trained in the area of measure and proper fit, meaning you get a fabulous fit, every time.

Fit is important. And it doesn’t have to be hard! As always, consultations are easy and I’m always here to answer questions. And, I have connections to some of the best tailors in town.