Jacket: Forever 21 (similar, similar) | Top: a-thread (shop) | Jeans: Target (similar, similar, similar) | Heels: Target (shop) | Scarf: c/o Eliza & Ro (shop, similar--I love these colors too)
I haven't worn these pants as much as I wanted to, and I finally figured out it's because they didn't fit me well. Even in these pictures they look kind of weird, maybe like they're too tight, except the problem is really that they're too big. I know, counter-intuitive, but whatever. After wearing this outfit and worrying about mooning someone all frigging day long, I finally took these jeans to a tailor and can confidently say that these babies will come out to play more often now. It is so important to me that clothes fit well. Otherwise 1) they will not be flattering, and 2) they'll be uncomfortable and I won't want to wear them. I try not to trick myself into thinking that I can get over some mild discomfort for the sake of style because I've made enough shopping mistakes to know that ain't true. It's got to fit me or I will always overlook it in my closet.
Half of my pants have seen a tailor. If you think your body is "so weirdly shaped" and that "no pants fit you," you are not alone. The answer is not to blame your body or to blame the pants, but just to accept the fact that a tailor should be your new best friend. I hate that sense of dread as I skip over garments in my closet thinking about how annoying it will be to maneuver my day in it. And I cannot tell you how awesome it feels to stand in your closet and feel happy about wearing anything in there because it all fits you so well. Tailor. Best friend. Now. Got it? Good. :)
I love the stripes paired with the blue and camel! And I can totally relate about needing a tailor! I'm only 5 feet so all my pants and most skirts have to be hemmed.
ReplyDeleteDo you mind me asking what the tailor did to make them fit better? So curious!
ReplyDeletelove your jacket and the scarf!
ReplyDeletekw Ladies in Navy
Love love love this outfit and the color combos. And you're right, altering clothes is a must. I don't think I'd love to thrift as much as I do, if I didn't know how to alter things.
ReplyDeleteIf blogging teaches you anything it's which of your clothes don't fit correctly. Somehow the perspective of the camera is seriously different than what I notice just looking in a mirror!
ReplyDeleteone tip though, wash them first before any alterations or it's not gonna fit right after it's tailored
ReplyDeleteAmen! I have a much larger booty than waste and have this problem a lot. Not all bodies are created equal.
ReplyDeleteI've been saving a pile (7-9) pieces to take to the tailor but haven't yet.
ReplyDeletei really need to take more of my clothes to a tailor!!!!
ReplyDeletexo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
love the striped scarf and those blue pants together Audrey! I'd love it if you checked out my blog soon :)
ReplyDeleteChioma
C's Evolution of Style
you just reminded me that I want a pair of blue pants like that -- great look on you! xo
ReplyDeletehttp://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
I think they look great on you....good luck on not mooning!!! LOL! And we talk about how much I LOVE this stripe scarf!
ReplyDeleteCute pop of color with the jeans! And I really like the graphic scarf with that whole top half going on!! <3
ReplyDelete-Brittany of @suburbchicblog
http://suburbchicblog.blogspot.com
I've received this advice a lot-- but in such a case, if you love a pair of pants and know you're going to have to get them tailored, do you intentionally size up? How much does tailoring a pair of pants generally run? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKate
A Journey in Style
This is one of the reasons I sew! I want to learn to tailor my own clothes so that the fit is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe pants do look a little big in the hips maybe? I really should start buying higher quality pieces and having them tailored. It makes you look so much more polished. Love the striped scarf!
ReplyDelete-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com
Tailoring may be the best kept secret to dressing in style. Love your pants' color, and a little tailoring can go a long way.
ReplyDeleteI felt like you were calling me out here, Audrey -- I blame my legs and inability to find pants that work all the time. I'm still on a crazy hunt for some nice-fitting jeans (why is it so hard to find them?!).
ReplyDeleteI just don't even know where to start with tailors! Do I buy pants that are in "my size" but fit weirdly in a certain way, or do I buy pants that I like, but are a couple sizes up so the tailor can cut them down? How much should someone expect to spend for a tailor (I think the "extra cost" makes me nervous)?
Audrey, I've never been to the tailor. I don't even know where to start for looking for one, and how to explain what I want. I think when I buy my future camel blazer I will probably end up buying one to get it tailored (to perfection of course) so I should probably figure it out huh?
ReplyDeleteLove that scarf!! I have some pants that desperately need to be taken to the tailor. I need to make that a goal this year!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute! I love those blue pants!
ReplyDeletewww.mythriftychic.com
Those pants look great on you! The tailor has done a great job :)
ReplyDeleteI have lost a lot of weight in the last 2 1/2 years, and while I don't have a lot of the stuff from my heavier days, I do have a few dresses and things that I love so much that I still try to wear, even though they're hanging off of me.
This morning, I tried on a dress that used to be snug on me but now literally hangs with about 6 inches of extra fabric, but the dress is just SO cute, I can't let it go. I imagine it would be very easy to tailor, so I think that's what I'll do with it!
I'm trying to figure out how those pants are too big. They look fine in the pictures!
ReplyDeleteI think the only time I go to a tailor is to get jeans hemmed since I can't do that myself, but everything else I try to alter myself (my Old Navy jeans that totally stretched out? a million times better after I altered them using merrick's pants slimming tips). But yes, having clothes that fits perfectly is AWESOME :)
I agree 100%! I do take some of my clothes to get tailored and than it fits like a glove for my me. It makes all the difference in the world.
ReplyDeleteAlice
www.happinessatmidlife.com
loooove the color of those jeans!
ReplyDeleteAlmost all my pants have been to the tailor too. Because I have a big waistband small hips, i buy pants to fit my waist and I take them in at hips. I realized i needed to this after I started taking pictures of my self
ReplyDeleteFrom a seamstress who does alterations: It's much easier to take in, to get good fit, than to try to let out. Today's commercial clothes usually have very narrow seams, that are often overlocked, so most of the time, you can't get more than 1/4" to 1/2" extra out of a seam. So for most clothes, especially pants and skirts that you know you will have issues with, buy a size that fits your widest part--waist or hips or butt--then have the rest taken in. So, if your hips are bigger than your waist, fit those, and have the waist taken in. If your waist is bigger, buy for that size, and have the hip narrowed. For shirts/tops/jackets, there are a number of other fit issues to consider. Big bust and small waist, you need to generally fit for bust, and have the waist darted, or taken in. Small bust and wide waist/hip needs more fabric to cover the waist/hip area, so the bust needs to be darted/narrowed. Often, bad fit through the top is due to a number of other issues, as well, such as narrow shoulders, forward shoulders, concave chest, etc., so be open to those kinds of alterations, as well. Let your seamstress analyze the fit for you, instead of telling them what to do. Generally speaking, for tops, the more seams a piece has, the easier it is to alter it, so a princess seamed jacket with a center back seam is easier to tailor to you than a boxy straight jacket with no center back seam. Prices are going to vary wildly, depending on the difficulty of the job, how many layers there are to deal with, and how much fitting needs to be done. Be wary of a seamstress/tailor who doesn't ask for at least two fittings before sewing the final alterations for complicated garments like tailored jackets. Best references are word of mouth. Ask around! And please, please, please, make sure your clothes are clean before taking them in to be altered. Nobody likes to work on dirty clothes. :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog is beyond helpful! I found a ton of clothes on serious mark down today from winter season.I liked a few pieces and have pinned them on pinterest but stuck on how to put it together, then I remembered this site! All I Can say is thank you :)
ReplyDelete