I work with teenage girls and I can't even count the number of times I've had to explain this. It's sad that fast fashion not only hurts the environment and the workers, it actually hurts the consumer in more ways than they realize as well.
Very sad :( clothing and style/fashion play a huge role in so many people's lives (we wear clothes every day!) and yet the "behind the scenes" of fashion and how clothes are made is something most people know very little about and it's rarely discussed.
I still hate shopping. I'm an hourglass. you'd think that would be great, right? but I can never find cloths that fit. I used to hate my shape because of that. thankfully there are more curvy fit fashions, and love high waist as it helps with curvy ladies. I'm at the point where I think I look good as long as I'm healthy. I eat right and exercise, and my body will be what it ought to be. trying to learn how to make my own cloths, still learning. but also agree with the minimising or MariKondo method of does it spark joy? then get rid of it! don't buy it, and learn why it was there way to you. cheers!
Yes its seriously so difficult shopping, on top of a small waist im also very tall. On the small chance i find something that fits my waist and hips at the same time, it will probably be too short :'( I literally have just three 'bottoms' right now, 2 jeans and one circle skirt
Fantastic video! When I started getting curves my mom explained to me that she and I have a different hip:waist ratio than a lot of women, and that I would struggle to find jeans that would fit properly. It was down to chance instead of some fault of my own. That realization meant I never beat myself up in the changing room when clothes didnt fit. The way you explained it makes it all the more clear. This message really needs to get out to all the young people struggling with their self image.
Yep. If it fits my chest, it's baggy across my midsection. If it fits my midsection, it must be very stretchy or I wouldn't have been able to fit it over my chest. And I don't even have a large bust.
Yes! After years of making my own clothes, I can say that it is definitely the clothes and not my body! I now know what things will never fit me properly off the rack, what things I can buy and alter at home and which things should fit me spot on or will only have small fit issues that I can live with. I also learned a lot about industry sizing from my friend who launched her first clothing line last year. There's a lot of work that goes into sizing (or at least should) and having different size ranges (ie misses, petite and plus size) means basically starting from scratch on each item because the proportions are so different!
i do love the blog 'Tilly and the Buttons' specifically because she states that she started sewing her own clothes because she wanted them to fit her perfectly. A wonderful resource for women wanting to attempt sewing their own clothes!
Amen to this!! It took me many years and A LOT of unsuccessful purchases to come to the same realization. I have always been healthy and quite fit, but my body shape does not agree with the standard fit a lot of the time - especially in the pants department. It feels SO good growing up a bit and start to truly feel that it really is not my body that is the problem, but the clothes. I guess to some extent I would never have realized this if I had not bought and tried out a lot of different clothes, many of which were rarely ever used. (Or they were used merely because of the guilt of having purchased them, leaving me feeling insecure and unattractive.) It is really quite sad the amount of consumption, guilt and insecurity this issue must add up to on a global level!
I never thought about this. I always blamed my body (expect ally after having 2 kids) but when I look back at old photos of myself, I think to myself "why did I think I was fat back then? I looked so thin." Thanks to your videos I've been looking for sustainable companies and came across this company called Encircled in Canada. I love the versatility of their clothes and I feel like the fabric and cuts really adjust to my fit. I'm in love with this company and haven't purchased anymore clothes since buying a few key items from their line. Can you maybe check them out and do a video?
This was really fascinating, I've been sat for the past hour or so complaining about clothing (lots of issues not just size) to my mum. I recently bought a vintage 1970s size 10 (UK) sewing pattern which has the same waist size as a 6 today! I think vanity sizing has gone crazy I remember the uproar here in the UK when a size 4 was introduced but recently I saw a size 2!
Very informative, and I appreciate how you focused on not allowing a fit to dictate how we feel about our body. I've slowly gone down a couple sizes since high school and being in a 0-2 has taught me that a bad fit can make anyone look like they aren't skinny enough. I'm stayed loyal to a lot of brands because I know there fit works for me. And tailoring for pants is a lifesaver!
This is so so interesting and informative, I'll definitely share this to any friends who criticise their bodies because of clothing size. Great video! Also yay Patreon! I'll pop over to yours once I get a job, pinky promise!
Thank you for this! No one's body is the same, and that's the way it should be. I'd love to hear if you (or any other viewers) have tips for dealing with clothing when it comes to weight loss/gain. My weight has fluctuated a lot over the years, and I'm always torn with whether I should hang onto clothes, donate, buy new ones.. it can be tricky.
I have the same problem, my weight often fluctuates and I can go between dress sizes very quickly without meaning to. I know when it comes to decluttering people often say to get rid of sizes that don't fit as when you slim down into that size or gain weight you can treat yourself to a new wardrobe. I confess though I don't follow this rule. I keep basics in sizes below what I am now and bigger than I am now so that when my weight changes I don't need to worry about it. I just think it is less wasteful this way, I don't keep a full wardrobe in different sizes just a few of my favorite jeans and dresses that I genuinely love and would wear again if I was that size. I think you just have to find what works best for you, when I have gotten rid of things that didn't fit and then ended up that size again I have cursed myself as I have had to go out and buy things again. As I'm not planning on moving anytime soon I just keep a suitcase hidden away in case I need anything.
I think this is an awesome video. I like that its different from your other videos and I think your perspective on this topic is really interesting, because you obvious have a lot more knowledge about it then most people.
This was SO helpful to me. I have been struggling for years since I got an “endo belly” due to my endometriosis. I can’t find any bottoms that fit. I will try non-fast fashion and tailoring - thank you for helping me realize it’s not just me ❤️
Some of these truths I knew, some I didn't. You can always tell that the upper body of a dress has just been sized up and not re-fitted from the way the arms are attached-- a huge expansion of fabric in the chest, but the sleeves set at an angle that is bizarrely inappropriate... or some other ridiculous look. Thanks for the knowledge!
Wow! Thank you Erin, this is a really powerful video! I never thought about clothing sizes that way and was certainly criticizing my body when clothing didn't fit me. But this totally makes sense. Every body is unique, so how is one item of clothing supposed to fit them all. Thank you for once again encouraging a change of perspective :)
Thank you!!! I am anywhere from a size 2-5 because of my gymnastics background, my thighs are too big and my stomach to small for anything to fit right. this makes sense then why I have almost nothing in my wardrobe that hasn't had to be altered.
I have the same exact problem, except I was a swimmer and rower! It's so annoying when your jeans keep falling down because the waistband is too big but you know that if you went down a waistband size, it would squeeze your ass down way too much!
I'm not even an athlete (or do some random squats int he bathroom and a plank sometimes count?) and i have that problem. Fits in the butt, too big in the waist or too small in the butt and fitting in the waist. Particularly with shorts, skirts and dresses. I have some shorts and dresses that count as cardio when I try to get them over my butt, and even then I have some space in my waist. It's annoying, as having a butt and thighs is a bad thing but I know it's not so whatever.
This is such a great video! I wish the teenage me knew this years ago, I used to beat myself up over why things didn't fit properly as a tall pear-shape. Some brands I just completely write off because I know the clothes were meant for shorter ladies than me, so it's really interesting to learn from you about fit modelling! Love your content :)
Thank you I range from a xxs/000 to XS/2 depending on the brand, which makes shopping so hard now I just stick with the same 5 to 6 brands that I know work for me which I try to buy second hand if it all possible since some of them are not the most ethical.
Thank you. Off the rack clothing has never fit my unusual body type. Most tailors won't go beyond the basics, like waistbands and hems. Most "custom made" clothing on the market just follows the same basic patterns. I feel depressed every time I put on my "don't quite fit" clothes or see someone who look well dressed. I would pay dearly to have clothing I could feel good wearing.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. So many times I have been out shopping for clothes and come home depressed because nothing fits right, too small or too big and I know my weight has not changed. This gives me new perspective that it's not me and I am fine. The next time I'm looking for clothes I will keep this information in mind and hopefully return home being happy no matter what the outcome. : )
Thank you for this!! I was reading a magazine article that was all about how to find clothes to "fix your body flaws." And it was full of "because my x-body type is too big/small the x-part of the clothing does x-undesirable thing." Nothing said the problem was with the clothes. It was 100% that the problem is the woman and her body and finding specific clothing was the "solution." Even though the clothes where the problem in the first place.
This was such a great video! I have often found that pants won't fit in both the waist and hips, and some stores and brands seem worse than others. Now I kind of know why at least
Thankyou! I have problems buying jeans because theres always a part that portrudes either in the back or the front which is so weird and the waist just never fits right while everything else does!
Hey Verena. I found your channel one week ago and I'm addicted! Thank you so much for sharing your passion and knowledge. I'm finishing to declutter my clothes and starting to try my capsule wardrobe. You were very inspirational. Thanks again ;-)
This is a really great, informative video - I had no idea clothes manufacturers based their clothes on actual people - some of the sizing/fit is so bizarre you think they just grabbed an office intern and drew around them with a sharpie and called that a template. Thanks for this!
You're right and I've had issues with clothing not fitting as well, especially shirts and dresses. I have incredibly, abnormally skinny arms, and I've tried on clothes in size Large or even Extra-Large that were too tight or even tore on my upper arms. Another problem is shirts/dresses that seem to fit, but you can't fully raise your arms while wearing them without the shoulders or underarms becoming too tight. It's nearly impossible to find a shoe that fits my feet properly because my toes are an inch wider than my heel, and bras are probably the most difficult thing for me to shop for because they have to have no latex in the elastic, nothing sharp that pokes my skin, such as the latch, nothing that causes tickling or tingling, such as lace, and they have to be cut in a way that they stay clear of two sensitive scars, one below my breast and one in my underarm, no matter how I move. All of your suggestions are good, except for complaining to a store employee. The employee probably has no way to pass your complaints to the company who makes the clothes and might not care to do so. Take pictures of videos of how the clothes fit on you in the dressing room and send them directly to the company.
This is so true! I actually applied (last year) the rule of trying to have all my clothes tailored. Not only I think much longer about the item I need/want (building my personal style) because it takes a lot of time to tailor literally anything but due to the cost, I am much more careful and respectful towards the items. I made this change because I was ending up with a looooot of stuffs that I didn't even like, but mainly because 90 % of my things did not fit me perfectly. And if they don't, you feel like crap :P
This is really important and helpful. Thank you for making this video. I was shopping recently and discovered I was one size in most of the fabrics but had to size up because one of the pants was cut small.
I used to get very upset buying pants because I could never find pants that fit my hips, but didn't gap at the waist. I have finally found a specific brand of jeans (especially) that are pull on but don't remind me of old stretchy pants. And the fit is great and finally, flattering!
You have great insight... I've found great pieces before but didn't even think of tailoring them to fit. I'm excited to do this! That might be a great idea for future vids, show some great finds, and model before/after tailoring. Luv your channel! - Dana
I was surprised when buying clothing patterns to make my own dresses that the patterns were not fitting. It wasn't until I realised they were based on a B cup that I figured out why they were looking so bad! Now I've learnt to alter patterns so they fit me better ☺️
Good point! Sewing patterns often follow similar "standards" too. That's great you learned to alter your patterns! Unfortunately some people give up on sewing when the patterns don't fit :(
If I ran the world I'd do away with with the broken sizing system in favour of measurements. Walk into a store for a high waisted pant with a 30 in waist, 42 hip, and 32 in in seam, and know it's going to be close to the right size. Anyways I love this style of video, kind of in depth about navigating the fashion industry.
Yeahhh, I work as a sales assistant. Giving them a comprehensive list of how the clothing didn't fit is just kind of a waste of time. We can't do a thing about it, so you'd be better just emailing the company.
I have a large wardrobe, but I cherish all my clothes and want to keep them and have them last as long as humanly possible. I can't replace individual items if something happens to them, because of this very issue with fashion, so I baby clothes A LOT. It's really frustrating that fashion is on such short sessional cycles. -_- and knowing how to sew doesn't really help because fabric prints go out as well. so, so frustrating.
This is why I make my own clothes. I have a petite but curvy figure with a generous chest so most button front clothes don't fit. I have found an Indy company called Colette Patterns that use a larger model size and you can adapt most patterns to fit you where you need it most. I appreciate your channel and congratulations on having a part in the minimalists documentary!
My Green Closet But when buying patterns you can just buy multi size ones and grade between sizes. I'm generally one or two sizes bigger on the bottom than the top 😄
I have not completed my research yet, but am delving into trying to find USA made denim that would fit me. Have I found anything yet? No. I am a size 14/16 and cannot find a pair of jeans that fit me. I can't tailor a garment that won't fit me in the first place. I went into Nord Rack back in April and was honestly shocked that I could not fit into the largest size of several denim brands. A 32 in a premium denim line is not likely to fit. I am so aggravated with the concept of fit modeling based on one size. People come in so many shapes and sizes! Is it that hard to use more than 1 fit model? And note, I did not feel sorry for myself, I felt sorry for the brands. Because if I am about average and can't fit in the largest size, then they are leaving out a lot of customers.
I bought this smock dress to try on for a wedding in a month, its pretty but I guess I am a unicorn. Inverted triangle, plus size, petite and warm autumn. It is so difficult for me to find things now that I have taken time to learn what looks good on me. It gets discouraging at times.
I guess slow fashion can offer more body shapes and maybe we should question the fast changing cycles of fashion. Even the 'slower' old two collections a year. You might have heard about Swedish jewellery designer JohannaN? (If not you gotta check her out!) she is not offering a SS16 and AW16 collection instead she has a theme and creates a collection from that. It suits me really well because I do not like 'the Zara approach' if I do not buy now it will be gone in 2 weeks. I am a slow shopper and I want to be able to get things once I am certain I want it and have the funds. Now jewellery isn't really fit related but I think of jeans and lingerie as two areas that can be supertricky to find good fit. For me being tall it took me 5 year before I found a decent bathing suit that didn't have the breast section just over my waistline or would ruin my wallet. I guess we need a slower process on developing good products and question this need to offer a total new collection twice a year. Maybe business can offer collections at different pace depending on what they offer?
This is very informative and interesting, so thank you! It makes me curious about plus size clothing brands--what size is a standard plus fit model? How do brands accommodate for curves in different places? The conversation makes you appreciate the beauty and complexity of body diversity. :)
I can go shopping for hours trying to find a garment that fits and come out with nothing. I'm always end up getting more important pieces tailored if I don't want to look like I'm being swallowed.
I'll never understand why people get so critical over clothes size... I just want the clothes to fit... I really don't care the size, it's supposed to be a guide but shouldn't be that relevant...
Loved the video!!! This topic is something that i already thought about! It's important to point out this questions, because a size 10 now in a store is not the same has 10 - 20 years ago... its not a problem of our body shape but a problem of the industry itself. Once again, tks for this content and to share ur opinions and insights xD
Hehe I love to write reviews on sites about clothing or shoes I bought. But most of the time, if I say that I had to correct any fit-issues. That review won't be published. Even if I say that I love tha item, after any such change. It's just a hard no. But if I say I love it and don't mention having to correct the fit myself, they almost always publish it.
Very interesting. I am someone that for tops and often also dresses i almost entirely have to wear stretchy fabric as i can never get button up cotton shirts for example as they either don't fit my boobs or are then too wide at the shoulders and waste so look very frumpy. I don't even think my body shape is all that unusual or out of proportion- i'm not that big!.
I've noticed that at some stores none of their clothes fit me right, but at others they fit great. It's kind of annoying because most clothes are made to fit shorter girls.
Reading this after a frustrating trip to Old Navy... I know... fast fashion. But I had to get a specific clothing item for work and will only be using it for two weeks and needed it by Monday. I swear their clothing is always so sloppily sewn together
i'm petite so ive always had to tailor clothes at some point.do u know any brands for petite adults? i'm just curious.. i studied my body type well so as to know what kind of clothes are better for me, the problem is to find them hehe. but all in all, i'm pretty Happy with my capsule
"Quality over quantity"is kind of my moto or life mantra. I agree that people tend to forget what is really important in life so they get stressed because of clothes that don't fit right (in their opinion), they get stressed because of new trends that they don't already own, and so on... about stupid things really! In life what's really important is your own health, people and animals that you love (and who love you back), their health and the little joys in life. Of course financial problems can be really stressful too, but money is not the most important thing in this world (although it seems to be judging by how people act in order to have more and more money). I think money is necessary in order to live healthy - food can be quite expensive, also to have a place to be, sleep, to live basically (home) is also quite expensive, clothes too, but if you buy only what's necessary and what you truly need (and forget the other bullshit you're used to buying) then you can actually save some money too! Of course we don't live in an ideal world - I honestly think we never have and never will - but if we can just try to spend our money more responsibly we will really benefit from it (at least in a long run)! Just something to think about. I'm glad I reconsidered my own purchasing habits and I'm slowly turning my life around. =) Great channel, btw!
I'm curious why you moved to Germany? I'd like to move there myself and be a freelancer. I'm sure there are other subscribers who would love it if you share. :)
But they fit beforehand? Im a skinny one, ive been skinnier and when i tried clothes there was always problems with them. Now ive gained a little weight and they fit even worse😭
As a feminist, I believe that this is a purposeful part of patriarchy. Making women have bad body image fits in very well with keeping women subordinate to men. Don't take my word for it, study the topic yourself! Look at "the gears of Patriarchy" online and The Beauty Myth book to start.
I work with teenage girls and I can't even count the number of times I've had to explain this. It's sad that fast fashion not only hurts the environment and the workers, it actually hurts the consumer in more ways than they realize as well.
Very sad :( clothing and style/fashion play a huge role in so many people's lives (we wear clothes every day!) and yet the "behind the scenes" of fashion and how clothes are made is something most people know very little about and it's rarely discussed.
I still hate shopping. I'm an hourglass. you'd think that would be great, right? but I can never find cloths that fit. I used to hate my shape because of that.
thankfully there are more curvy fit fashions, and love high waist as it helps with curvy ladies.
I'm at the point where I think I look good as long as I'm healthy. I eat right and exercise, and my body will be what it ought to be.
trying to learn how to make my own cloths, still learning. but also agree with the minimising or MariKondo method of does it spark joy? then get rid of it! don't buy it, and learn why it was there way to you.
cheers!
Gratitude Ranch as a woman with small waist i totally understand your struggle
Shopping as an hourglass is one of the most painful things in the world.
Thank goodness I'm not the only one with this issue
Yes its seriously so difficult shopping, on top of a small waist im also very tall. On the small chance i find something that fits my waist and hips at the same time, it will probably be too short :'(
I literally have just three 'bottoms' right now, 2 jeans and one circle skirt
being an hourglass makes me hate every person who buys something and it fits them 😞
Thank you. Very interesting. I've learned to sew when I was a teenager, just for that reason.
Fantastic video! When I started getting curves my mom explained to me that she and I have a different hip:waist ratio than a lot of women, and that I would struggle to find jeans that would fit properly. It was down to chance instead of some fault of my own. That realization meant I never beat myself up in the changing room when clothes didnt fit. The way you explained it makes it all the more clear. This message really needs to get out to all the young people struggling with their self image.
I always thought it had to do with my hipdips as to why pants never fit right but i only now realized the pants didnt fit ME
Yep. If it fits my chest, it's baggy across my midsection. If it fits my midsection, it must be very stretchy or I wouldn't have been able to fit it over my chest. And I don't even have a large bust.
Yes! After years of making my own clothes, I can say that it is definitely the clothes and not my body! I now know what things will never fit me properly off the rack, what things I can buy and alter at home and which things should fit me spot on or will only have small fit issues that I can live with.
I also learned a lot about industry sizing from my friend who launched her first clothing line last year. There's a lot of work that goes into sizing (or at least should) and having different size ranges (ie misses, petite and plus size) means basically starting from scratch on each item because the proportions are so different!
i do love the blog 'Tilly and the Buttons' specifically because she states that she started sewing her own clothes because she wanted them to fit her perfectly. A wonderful resource for women wanting to attempt sewing their own clothes!
She has some really cute patterns!
Amen to this!!
It took me many years and A LOT of unsuccessful purchases to come to the same realization. I have always been healthy and quite fit, but my body shape does not agree with the standard fit a lot of the time - especially in the pants department. It feels SO good growing up a bit and start to truly feel that it really is not my body that is the problem, but the clothes.
I guess to some extent I would never have realized this if I had not bought and tried out a lot of different clothes, many of which were rarely ever used. (Or they were used merely because of the guilt of having purchased them, leaving me feeling insecure and unattractive.) It is really quite sad the amount of consumption, guilt and insecurity this issue must add up to on a global level!
I never thought about this. I always blamed my body (expect ally after having 2 kids) but when I look back at old photos of myself, I think to myself "why did I think I was fat back then? I looked so thin." Thanks to your videos I've been looking for sustainable companies and came across this company called Encircled in Canada. I love the versatility of their clothes and I feel like the fabric and cuts really adjust to my fit. I'm in love with this company and haven't purchased anymore clothes since buying a few key items from their line. Can you maybe check them out and do a video?
This is a great message! I once fit into a UK size 4 yet at the time I was 8/10 on top! So bizarre!! Vanity sizing is misleading!
This was really fascinating, I've been sat for the past hour or so complaining about clothing (lots of issues not just size) to my mum. I recently bought a vintage 1970s size 10 (UK) sewing pattern which has the same waist size as a 6 today! I think vanity sizing has gone crazy I remember the uproar here in the UK when a size 4 was introduced but recently I saw a size 2!
Very informative, and I appreciate how you focused on not allowing a fit to dictate how we feel about our body. I've slowly gone down a couple sizes since high school and being in a 0-2 has taught me that a bad fit can make anyone look like they aren't skinny enough. I'm stayed loyal to a lot of brands because I know there fit works for me. And tailoring for pants is a lifesaver!
This is so so interesting and informative, I'll definitely share this to any friends who criticise their bodies because of clothing size. Great video!
Also yay Patreon! I'll pop over to yours once I get a job, pinky promise!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for this! No one's body is the same, and that's the way it should be.
I'd love to hear if you (or any other viewers) have tips for dealing with clothing when it comes to weight loss/gain. My weight has fluctuated a lot over the years, and I'm always torn with whether I should hang onto clothes, donate, buy new ones.. it can be tricky.
I have the same problem, my weight often fluctuates and I can go between dress sizes very quickly without meaning to. I know when it comes to decluttering people often say to get rid of sizes that don't fit as when you slim down into that size or gain weight you can treat yourself to a new wardrobe. I confess though I don't follow this rule. I keep basics in sizes below what I am now and bigger than I am now so that when my weight changes I don't need to worry about it. I just think it is less wasteful this way, I don't keep a full wardrobe in different sizes just a few of my favorite jeans and dresses that I genuinely love and would wear again if I was that size. I think you just have to find what works best for you, when I have gotten rid of things that didn't fit and then ended up that size again I have cursed myself as I have had to go out and buy things again. As I'm not planning on moving anytime soon I just keep a suitcase hidden away in case I need anything.
Sarah Blackburn This is such an awesome me idea!
I think this is an awesome video. I like that its different from your other videos and I think your perspective on this topic is really interesting, because you obvious have a lot more knowledge about it then most people.
This was SO helpful to me. I have been struggling for years since I got an “endo belly” due to my endometriosis. I can’t find any bottoms that fit. I will try non-fast fashion and tailoring - thank you for helping me realize it’s not just me ❤️
Some of these truths I knew, some I didn't. You can always tell that the upper body of a dress has just been sized up and not re-fitted from the way the arms are attached-- a huge expansion of fabric in the chest, but the sleeves set at an angle that is bizarrely inappropriate... or some other ridiculous look. Thanks for the knowledge!
Wow! Thank you Erin, this is a really powerful video! I never thought about clothing sizes that way and was certainly criticizing my body when clothing didn't fit me. But this totally makes sense. Every body is unique, so how is one item of clothing supposed to fit them all. Thank you for once again encouraging a change of perspective :)
Thank you!
Thank you!!! I am anywhere from a size 2-5 because of my gymnastics background, my thighs are too big and my stomach to small for anything to fit right. this makes sense then why I have almost nothing in my wardrobe that hasn't had to be altered.
I have the same exact problem, except I was a swimmer and rower! It's so annoying when your jeans keep falling down because the waistband is too big but you know that if you went down a waistband size, it would squeeze your ass down way too much!
Yes! Exactly! They need to have a few clothing lines for different types of athletes.
becca jameson there is a brand for weightlifters that makes jeans to accommodate muscular thighs! I can't remember the name I'll try to find it!
I'm not even an athlete (or do some random squats int he bathroom and a plank sometimes count?) and i have that problem. Fits in the butt, too big in the waist or too small in the butt and fitting in the waist. Particularly with shorts, skirts and dresses. I have some shorts and dresses that count as cardio when I try to get them over my butt, and even then I have some space in my waist. It's annoying, as having a butt and thighs is a bad thing but I know it's not so whatever.
This is such a great video! I wish the teenage me knew this years ago, I used to beat myself up over why things didn't fit properly as a tall pear-shape. Some brands I just completely write off because I know the clothes were meant for shorter ladies than me, so it's really interesting to learn from you about fit modelling! Love your content :)
How tall are you?
Thank you I range from a xxs/000 to XS/2 depending on the brand, which makes shopping so hard now I just stick with the same 5 to 6 brands that I know work for me which I try to buy second hand if it all possible since some of them are not the most ethical.
Thank you. Off the rack clothing has never fit my unusual body type. Most tailors won't go beyond the basics, like waistbands and hems. Most "custom made" clothing on the market just follows the same basic patterns. I feel depressed every time I put on my "don't quite fit" clothes or see someone who look well dressed. I would pay dearly to have clothing I could feel good wearing.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. So many times I have been out shopping for clothes and come home depressed because nothing fits right, too small or too big and I know my weight has not changed. This gives me new perspective that it's not me and I am fine. The next time I'm looking for clothes I will keep this information in mind and hopefully return home being happy no matter what the outcome. : )
Thank you for this!! I was reading a magazine article that was all about how to find clothes to "fix your body flaws." And it was full of "because my x-body type is too big/small the x-part of the clothing does x-undesirable thing." Nothing said the problem was with the clothes. It was 100% that the problem is the woman and her body and finding specific clothing was the "solution." Even though the clothes where the problem in the first place.
This was such a great video! I have often found that pants won't fit in both the waist and hips, and some stores and brands seem worse than others. Now I kind of know why at least
Thankyou! I have problems buying jeans because theres always a part that portrudes either in the back or the front which is so weird and the waist just never fits right while everything else does!
Hey Verena. I found your channel one week ago and I'm addicted! Thank you so much for sharing your passion and knowledge. I'm finishing to declutter my clothes and starting to try my capsule wardrobe. You were very inspirational. Thanks again ;-)
I explain this to my custom corset clients all t he time. Thanks for this video. I just shared it on my corset business fan page.
Thanks for sharing! That's so cool you make custom corsets!
This is a really great, informative video - I had no idea clothes manufacturers based their clothes on actual people - some of the sizing/fit is so bizarre you think they just grabbed an office intern and drew around them with a sharpie and called that a template. Thanks for this!
You're right and I've had issues with clothing not fitting as well, especially shirts and dresses. I have incredibly, abnormally skinny arms, and I've tried on clothes in size Large or even Extra-Large that were too tight or even tore on my upper arms. Another problem is shirts/dresses that seem to fit, but you can't fully raise your arms while wearing them without the shoulders or underarms becoming too tight. It's nearly impossible to find a shoe that fits my feet properly because my toes are an inch wider than my heel, and bras are probably the most difficult thing for me to shop for because they have to have no latex in the elastic, nothing sharp that pokes my skin, such as the latch, nothing that causes tickling or tingling, such as lace, and they have to be cut in a way that they stay clear of two sensitive scars, one below my breast and one in my underarm, no matter how I move. All of your suggestions are good, except for complaining to a store employee. The employee probably has no way to pass your complaints to the company who makes the clothes and might not care to do so. Take pictures of videos of how the clothes fit on you in the dressing room and send them directly to the company.
This is so true!
I actually applied (last year) the rule of trying to have all my clothes tailored. Not only I think much longer about the item I need/want (building my personal style) because it takes a lot of time to tailor literally anything but due to the cost, I am much more careful and respectful towards the items.
I made this change because I was ending up with a looooot of stuffs that I didn't even like, but mainly because 90 % of my things did not fit me perfectly. And if they don't, you feel like crap :P
This is really important and helpful. Thank you for making this video. I was shopping recently and discovered I was one size in most of the fabrics but had to size up because one of the pants was cut small.
I used to get very upset buying pants because I could never find pants that fit my hips, but didn't gap at the waist. I have finally found a specific brand of jeans (especially) that are pull on but don't remind me of old stretchy pants. And the fit is great and finally, flattering!
Love this. You are quite right. Also women's bodies change many times throughout their lifetime.
You have great insight... I've found great pieces before but didn't even think of tailoring them to fit. I'm excited to do this! That might be a great idea for future vids, show some great finds, and model before/after tailoring. Luv your channel! - Dana
I was surprised when buying clothing patterns to make my own dresses that the patterns were not fitting. It wasn't until I realised they were based on a B cup that I figured out why they were looking so bad! Now I've learnt to alter patterns so they fit me better ☺️
Good point! Sewing patterns often follow similar "standards" too. That's great you learned to alter your patterns! Unfortunately some people give up on sewing when the patterns don't fit :(
If I ran the world I'd do away with with the broken sizing system in favour of measurements. Walk into a store for a high waisted pant with a 30 in waist, 42 hip, and 32 in in seam, and know it's going to be close to the right size. Anyways I love this style of video, kind of in depth about navigating the fashion industry.
I wish! The current sizing system is pretty ridiculous. Glad you liked the video :)
Yeahhh, I work as a sales assistant. Giving them a comprehensive list of how the clothing didn't fit is just kind of a waste of time. We can't do a thing about it, so you'd be better just emailing the company.
I have a large wardrobe, but I cherish all my clothes and want to keep them and have them last as long as humanly possible. I can't replace individual items if something happens to them, because of this very issue with fashion, so I baby clothes A LOT. It's really frustrating that fashion is on such short sessional cycles. -_-
and knowing how to sew doesn't really help because fabric prints go out as well. so, so frustrating.
This is why I make my own clothes. I have a petite but curvy figure with a generous chest so most button front clothes don't fit.
I have found an Indy company called Colette Patterns that use a larger model size and you can adapt most patterns to fit you where you need it most.
I appreciate your channel and congratulations on having a part in the minimalists documentary!
Thank you! Great to know about that pattern company, unfortunately lots of people struggle with buying patterns too.
My Green Closet But when buying patterns you can just buy multi size ones and grade between sizes. I'm generally one or two sizes bigger on the bottom than the top 😄
I have not completed my research yet, but am delving into trying to find USA made denim that would fit me. Have I found anything yet? No. I am a size 14/16 and cannot find a pair of jeans that fit me. I can't tailor a garment that won't fit me in the first place. I went into Nord Rack back in April and was honestly shocked that I could not fit into the largest size of several denim brands. A 32 in a premium denim line is not likely to fit. I am so aggravated with the concept of fit modeling based on one size. People come in so many shapes and sizes! Is it that hard to use more than 1 fit model? And note, I did not feel sorry for myself, I felt sorry for the brands. Because if I am about average and can't fit in the largest size, then they are leaving out a lot of customers.
The problem with vanity sizing is that for those of us who normally wear a size 0-1 the companies that have vanity sizing don't offer my size.
How to find a good local tailor? What to look for? I want to find someone to custom-make my clothes.
How can i find more brand that suit my body type?
I bought this smock dress to try on for a wedding in a month, its pretty but I guess I am a unicorn. Inverted triangle, plus size, petite and warm autumn. It is so difficult for me to find things now that I have taken time to learn what looks good on me. It gets discouraging at times.
I guess slow fashion can offer more body shapes and maybe we should question the fast changing cycles of fashion. Even the 'slower' old two collections a year. You might have heard about Swedish jewellery designer JohannaN? (If not you gotta check her out!) she is not offering a SS16 and AW16 collection instead she has a theme and creates a collection from that. It suits me really well because I do not like 'the Zara approach' if I do not buy now it will be gone in 2 weeks. I am a slow shopper and I want to be able to get things once I am certain I want it and have the funds.
Now jewellery isn't really fit related but I think of jeans and lingerie as two areas that can be supertricky to find good fit. For me being tall it took me 5 year before I found a decent bathing suit that didn't have the breast section just over my waistline or would ruin my wallet. I guess we need a slower process on developing good products and question this need to offer a total new collection twice a year. Maybe business can offer collections at different pace depending on what they offer?
THANK YOU!! This rly makes me feel a lot more comfortable in my skin
This is very informative and interesting, so thank you! It makes me curious about plus size clothing brands--what size is a standard plus fit model? How do brands accommodate for curves in different places? The conversation makes you appreciate the beauty and complexity of body diversity. :)
I can go shopping for hours trying to find a garment that fits and come out with nothing. I'm always end up getting more important pieces tailored if I don't want to look like I'm being swallowed.
A bit different but super interesting!
I'll never understand why people get so critical over clothes size... I just want the clothes to fit... I really don't care the size, it's supposed to be a guide but shouldn't be that relevant...
Loved the video!!! This topic is something that i already thought about! It's important to point out this questions, because a size 10 now in a store is not the same has 10 - 20 years ago... its not a problem of our body shape but a problem of the industry itself. Once again, tks for this content and to share ur opinions and insights xD
Happy you enjoyed it! :)
Hehe I love to write reviews on sites about clothing or shoes I bought. But most of the time, if I say that I had to correct any fit-issues. That review won't be published. Even if I say that I love tha item, after any such change. It's just a hard no. But if I say I love it and don't mention having to correct the fit myself, they almost always publish it.
Very interesting. I am someone that for tops and often also dresses i almost entirely have to wear stretchy fabric as i can never get button up cotton shirts for example as they either don't fit my boobs or are then too wide at the shoulders and waste so look very frumpy. I don't even think my body shape is all that unusual or out of proportion- i'm not that big!.
This video was incredibly helpful and informative! I loved this! 👗
Thank you! :D
I really enjoy your videos! Thanks for sharing the message
Very informative video!
I hate the size-changing! It kind of freaks me out when a 00 pant size is too big for me at some stores and makes me feel like I need to gain weight.
It's completely crazy that a 00 is even a size. If they keep up with the vanity sizing are they just going to keep adding zeros?
I've noticed that at some stores none of their clothes fit me right, but at others they fit great. It's kind of annoying because most clothes are made to fit shorter girls.
Great video! Thanks for sharing
Paying extra for tailoring is totally worth it when you have a good piece 👌
Thank you so much for this video!
Reading this after a frustrating trip to Old Navy... I know... fast fashion. But I had to get a specific clothing item for work and will only be using it for two weeks and needed it by Monday. I swear their clothing is always so sloppily sewn together
literally me (criticizing my body) yesterday when I went bra shopping. UGHHHH must've tried on TWELVE before one fit.
I really appreciate the knowledge, content and style of your videos. Keep it up :)
Thanks!
Would a fit T shirt make sense to make for an overweight male, or is it more for thinner body types,
i'm petite so ive always had to tailor clothes at some point.do u know any brands for petite adults? i'm just curious.. i studied my body type well so as to know what kind of clothes are better for me, the problem is to find them hehe. but all in all, i'm pretty Happy with my capsule
I have this fitted dress that dosent fit right it always keeps rising up anytime I walk
"Quality over quantity"is kind of my moto or life mantra. I agree that people tend to forget what is really important in life so they get stressed because of clothes that don't fit right (in their opinion), they get stressed because of new trends that they don't already own, and so on... about stupid things really! In life what's really important is your own health, people and animals that you love (and who love you back), their health and the little joys in life. Of course financial problems can be really stressful too, but money is not the most important thing in this world (although it seems to be judging by how people act in order to have more and more money). I think money is necessary in order to live healthy - food can be quite expensive, also to have a place to be, sleep, to live basically (home) is also quite expensive, clothes too, but if you buy only what's necessary and what you truly need (and forget the other bullshit you're used to buying) then you can actually save some money too! Of course we don't live in an ideal world - I honestly think we never have and never will - but if we can just try to spend our money more responsibly we will really benefit from it (at least in a long run)! Just something to think about. I'm glad I reconsidered my own purchasing habits and I'm slowly turning my life around. =) Great channel, btw!
You forgot to mention what that body type is exactly.
An alternate title for this video could be “why I have to make my own pencil skirts”
My clothes don't even fit me being skinny isn't good
I'm curious why you moved to Germany? I'd like to move there myself and be a freelancer.
I'm sure there are other subscribers who would love it if you share. :)
Thank you! :)
Ugh god music to my ears. I love your angle. 👍💕❤️😘🌸
Thanks! :D
this is really am excellent video. super informative
I mean...when some of my pants got tighter, I knew I needed to shed some pounds.
But they fit beforehand? Im a skinny one, ive been skinnier and when i tried clothes there was always problems with them. Now ive gained a little weight and they fit even worse😭
I love your channel!!
Thanks! :)
That's so true!!! :-*
Good vid!
As a feminist, I believe that this is a purposeful part of patriarchy. Making women have bad body image fits in very well with keeping women subordinate to men. Don't take my word for it, study the topic yourself! Look at "the gears of Patriarchy" online and The Beauty Myth book to start.
I don't buy things that don't fit just right. Either that, or I alter it with my sewing machine ^_^
Learn to sew, and in the process you will love your body.
Hate, HATE high waist. I'm going to boycott buying at all until they make normal pants again. Pinchy AF. Stretch pants are even WORSE.
666 likes haha
You look like you got spaghetti falling from your head!
Thank you so much for this video!