Make the clothes fit you, not vice versa April 6, 2013 2:00 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for an AskMe comment about getting clothes tailored.
The comment in question was talking about off-the-rack clothing, and how they were designed to fit the most number of people possible, which basically meant that they fit no one. There was some discussion about "true sizes" and how very few people are a "true 6" (or whatever) as the clothing measurements define it. The comment also talked about how eye-opening and how much of a relief it was the first time the commenter realized that part of the reasons celebrities wear clothes so much better than non-celebs (even ones with stereotypically "good" bodies) was that they get everything, including T-shirts, tailored to their body shape, and that it was the clothes that were not suited to our bodies, not vice versa.
It was either in an "what epiphany has changed your life" thread, or maybe a thread asking for advice on how to get department store clothes to fit properly. (Or maybe my memory is totally off.) I think it was almost certainly on AskMe, at least 2-3 paragraphs long, and it was posted at least 2-3 years ago. I've searched a long time and seen the sentiment paraphrased a few times in comments since then, but always as a shorter parenthetical rather than as the main thesis of a comment.
Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?
The comment in question was talking about off-the-rack clothing, and how they were designed to fit the most number of people possible, which basically meant that they fit no one. There was some discussion about "true sizes" and how very few people are a "true 6" (or whatever) as the clothing measurements define it. The comment also talked about how eye-opening and how much of a relief it was the first time the commenter realized that part of the reasons celebrities wear clothes so much better than non-celebs (even ones with stereotypically "good" bodies) was that they get everything, including T-shirts, tailored to their body shape, and that it was the clothes that were not suited to our bodies, not vice versa.
It was either in an "what epiphany has changed your life" thread, or maybe a thread asking for advice on how to get department store clothes to fit properly. (Or maybe my memory is totally off.) I think it was almost certainly on AskMe, at least 2-3 paragraphs long, and it was posted at least 2-3 years ago. I've searched a long time and seen the sentiment paraphrased a few times in comments since then, but always as a shorter parenthetical rather than as the main thesis of a comment.
Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?
That is it! Thank you so much, Ouisch, you rock.
Incidentally, I searched for that URL, and it turns out this MeFi comment linking to it in a thread about clothing sizing differences across different stores in the US/UK is what I thought I was remembering, which sort of makes sense, but is no less embarrassing for how hilariously wrong I got the details.
posted by Phire at 2:27 PM on April 6, 2013
Incidentally, I searched for that URL, and it turns out this MeFi comment linking to it in a thread about clothing sizing differences across different stores in the US/UK is what I thought I was remembering, which sort of makes sense, but is no less embarrassing for how hilariously wrong I got the details.
posted by Phire at 2:27 PM on April 6, 2013
That was a great post. Thanks for pointing me to it!
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:17 PM on April 6, 2013
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:17 PM on April 6, 2013
Whenever I think of clothing fit I recall this metatalk thread and paulsc's increasingly cryptic writing about being able to "stand for measure" in the world of bespoke mens suits. Something about the way it was written continues to tickle my brain to this day.
posted by davey_darling at 6:48 PM on April 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by davey_darling at 6:48 PM on April 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
One Size Fits All !! = doesn't fit
posted by dancestoblue at 10:20 PM on April 6, 2013
posted by dancestoblue at 10:20 PM on April 6, 2013
I too always think of that MeTa davey_darling linked at times like these. paulsc's contributions are just incredible, in every sense of the word. I remain baffled by his insinuation that an expert tailor could tell which pant leg you put your business down by looking at the backs of your hands.
posted by SpiffyRob at 8:17 AM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by SpiffyRob at 8:17 AM on April 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think he was implying that an expert tailor would feel, gently, while measuring, with the backs of his own hands, on which side someone was hanging, probably while taking an inseam measurement. A discreet way to find out.
posted by Ouisch at 9:14 AM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ouisch at 9:14 AM on April 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Aha! Yes, that makes much more sense. I would blame my confusion on a slightly liberal approach to second/third person phrasing, but on a re-read prompted by you explanation, yes, clear enough.
posted by SpiffyRob at 5:48 AM on April 8, 2013
posted by SpiffyRob at 5:48 AM on April 8, 2013
Whenever I think of clothing fit I recall this metatalk thread and paulsc's increasingly cryptic writing about being able to "stand for measure" in the world of bespoke mens suits. Something about the way it was written continues to tickle my brain to this day.
That was severely strange. Like I agree with just about everything paulsc said, but the sentiments could have been easily expressed with far less verbosity.
But for some people, MeFi is there forum for their commenting performance art.
posted by deanc at 6:16 AM on April 8, 2013
That was severely strange. Like I agree with just about everything paulsc said, but the sentiments could have been easily expressed with far less verbosity.
But for some people, MeFi is there forum for their commenting performance art.
posted by deanc at 6:16 AM on April 8, 2013
I've always loved paulsc's post. It's probably how I'll sound when I wax poetic about working in Yellowstone when I'm in my declining years or something.
Will you gaze at the buffalo or will they gaze at you? Their gaze is steely like their winter surroundings and prone to contemplative thought generating. By the way, *insert interesting, highly technical details about trail maintenance here*. But most people will never experience Yellowstone as it is truly intended, and that is as a resident, drunken with joy, near disaster, but still in control of their wits and bearing as an acquaintance who did something unwise is carted off to an emergency room over 3 hours of road construction, a trip that they'll not end up paying for by the time all is said and done.
A man can hide his sins from his family and his friends, but never from geothermal crevices in the most remote portion of the lower 48.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:14 AM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Will you gaze at the buffalo or will they gaze at you? Their gaze is steely like their winter surroundings and prone to contemplative thought generating. By the way, *insert interesting, highly technical details about trail maintenance here*. But most people will never experience Yellowstone as it is truly intended, and that is as a resident, drunken with joy, near disaster, but still in control of their wits and bearing as an acquaintance who did something unwise is carted off to an emergency room over 3 hours of road construction, a trip that they'll not end up paying for by the time all is said and done.
A man can hide his sins from his family and his friends, but never from geothermal crevices in the most remote portion of the lower 48.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:14 AM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by Ouisch at 2:16 PM on April 6, 2013 [7 favorites]