Contributed by: Melissa Cassutt
January 20, 2008
Whatever women have, they usually complain about it.
Short-legged ladies want longer legs; long-legged girls want shorter ones. Big-busted women want smaller breasts; small-busted women want bigger ones.
It's not just about vanity or self-image. It's often about the hassles of trying to find clothing to fit a not-so-average body.
Legs
Major retail chains have introduced tall lines. If you're willing to shell out some dough, high-end boutiques can provide a quick solution, especially with jeans. Lisa Borden, owner of Gloss, a Colorado Springs boutique, suggests that long-legged women try the following brands, which come in 35- or 36-inch inseams:
- True Religion's "Candace," "Joey" or "Bobby."
- People's Liberation's "Karen." • Grass' "Topanga."
- Joe's Jeans' "Rocker" or "Cigarette." advertising
- AG's "Stilt."
For shorter women, Borden suggests petite-specific clothing. Many stores carry petite lines designed to fit the smaller proportions of women 5 feet, 4 inches and shorter. She suggests: •
- iT Jeans' "Baby."
- Paige Premium Denim's "Pico" (which has pockets) or "Laurel Canyon" (no pockets).
- Joe's Jeans' "Provocateur."
Short or long-legged, be prepared to shell out a pretty penny. These jeans cost $70 to $300 a pair and need a little more lovin' — hand washing or dry cleaning. To keep jeans the length you bought them, wash with cold water and lay out to dry.
Feet
Whether you're on the large or small end of the spectrum, finding shoes that fit can be next to impossible. The average shoe size for women is a 7-8, and many brands stop production at size 10. Finding shoes smaller than 6 can also be a challenge. In general, big- and small-footed women tend to have better luck in big-box stores that can afford to purchase shoes outside the average range.
Some suggestions for hard-to-fit feet:
- Hit Nordstrom's over/under shoe sale, a yearly event that showcases hard-to-find sizes such as 5 and 13. The event is in the fall.
- Check kathrynkerrigan.com, an online business catering to women who wear sizes 9 to 15. The company was started by Kathryn Kerrigan, who sports a size 11 shoe. Prices range from $100 to $300 per pair.
- Go to zappos.com or shoes.com, which stock a variety of styles on the extreme ends of the spectrum.
Chests
Whether you're big or small, shirts often don't fit right.
The problem isn't you. Certain styles are designed for specific body types in mind, and if you don't have it, it's tough to pull off.
Borden, of Gloss, suggests Miss Sixty jackets, which are fitted at the waist but generous in the bust, and Free People tops, which are generally fitted on the chest and flowy at the bottom, she says.
For women with small busts, layering gives the illusion of a larger chest, as do dresses that gather at the bust.
Busty women looking for tailored shirts might try Banana Republic's "tailored cotton sateen" button downs, which have 2 extra inches in the bust. The shirts cost $58. If all else fails, tailor it.
Almost anything can be fixed to fit perfectly. |
