Hello, World!
Why we’re scared of the fitting room. In standard size range, a 27 is regularly too tight; in 7s for All Mankind, a 27 is too wide in the waist. I’ve learned to shop around this conundrum, but I’m still left standing in the fitting room defeated more than id like to admit. And I’m not alone. Women of many body types struggle to fit properly into clothes – so lets do something about it!
Isn’t it time we stop trying to fit into our clothes and have our clothes fit us instead? Here are a few suggestions on how to start:
Ignore your size. That’s right – ignore. Sizes vary between countries, companies, and even articles of clothing. The American government has been attempting to fix this problem via regulation since the 1940s, but instead, the situation has already gotten worse. With the arrival of vanity sizing – which bigger garments are tagged with smaller numbers to entice customers (that’s why the 00 exists!) it’s a number that somebody made up, the mentality that the lowest size is best needs to go out the window! My advice, try on several sizes, bigger and smaller.
If you have brands you are loyal to, like me, you have a sense of fit that brand will give you. I am a regular jean shopper and with that said, I have a tough search to find the right jeans from season to season. Citizens of Humanity dominates the streets being worn by Kendall Jenner, Kate Bosworth, myself, and Lily Aldridge to name a few. The size I wear in COH denim depends on the amount of spandex within the textile so in the same brand and even in the same season, each style fits me in a different size. The Agnes Crop midrise slim straight jean is a perfect fit in size 27 due to the crazy amount of flexibility the denim holds, it's like a second skin, but, on the other hand, the Elsa midrise slim fit crop virtually has no spandex and I can barley wiggle my legs into a size 29. See the difference!
Shop for your biggest part. 7s For All Mankind fit best for long legs, Hudson Jeans fir for larger hips, and Citizens of Humanity fit for petites. It's an easy truth that changes everything. Buy an item to fit the widest part of your body and take the rest of the garment in. That means no more muffin top inducing jeans (Amen!) Growing up, I found that if pants were short enough, they were too small; if they fit in the waist, they were too long. And i'm sure we have all delt with the unfortunate waist gap that you feel rather than see unless you pull the pant away from your body. If that sounds like you, buy a waist that fits you and have a tailor adjust the length - and if you're the opposite, look to the solution Karlie Kloss invented, a Frame Denim line with a 40 inch inseam by Hudson Jeans.
Alterations are the game changer when it comes to the perfect fit. The right tailoring can make any garment work for any body and it can make you feel confident – especially when, these days, a lot of clothing is two-dimensional, but in real life every body is different and women have curves.
Finally find the perfect pair of jeans with the daring pocket details, the ultra iconic shape that is endlessly versatile with a lived in appeal but scared of the price tag? Don’t run, lets evaluate! Here is why your denim costs $200. Denim in general has a high resource footprint. It takes a lot of land, water and chemicals to grow the cotton. It takes a lot of water, chemicals and energy to process and dye the fibers. The brands I have mentioned, brands that I love, are all USA brands and manufactured in California. Being a product of the United States is one reason for the high price tag on any product, not just denim. The number of pockets, the findings such as zippers and buttons, the amount of stitching in the construction of the jeans too; These all play an important part in the cost of our jeans. Finished edges, top stitching, care tags and any physical alterations or added detail to the jean raise the cost and also identify the quality. Denim is built to last. It’s simple, classic, and when raw, looks good in almost every situation. We love denim because it is what you live your life in.
I have quite a substantial collection of premium denim. I spend far too much on my jeans, more than my usual paycheck will allow. I live my life in quality denim and that is good enough reason for me to keep shopping. My entire closet comes from a contemporary women's boutique in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Lana's Boutique. They are known about town for the amazing denim they carry (the brands mentioned above). With a wide variety of styles, I am bound to find amazing treasures every time I walk in there. And HUGE thanks to the owner for always offering the best styling advice! Lana's Boutique makes shopping easy and especially stress free because you essentially get your own personal stylist every time you walk in there who will stop at nothing to get you in the right fit no matter what you are looking for!