Life of the Lintee Bean

I’ve been talking about going to a tailor or seamstress for FOREVER. Well, okay, not forever, but for many months. I can NEVER find clothes that fit, especially at my current weight – as I’ve mentioned in my posts about shopping at Macy’s. I know my weight affects my feeling of well-being and self-confidence, and I know, perhaps even more than the pounds is the fact I feel so dowdy and dumpy in my clothes.

So, for a while I’ve been looking for someone to do alterations. I’ve checked out dry cleaners in the area. I had finally found one I thought would work – and happened to mention it to a coworker. She said I MUST use a woman she knows, Julia Needlman. She said Julia was FANTASTIC and had made a mutual friend’s professional performance costume, etc. So, I jumped at the referral, as I’d much rather use someone with a good recommendation.

I arrived at her house this morning, late of course. I brought two suits and three pairs of pants. I explained the situation. I was trying to lose weight, but I got these two suits on sale, and figured I’d have them tailored to fit now. I get paranoid if I don’t have suits in my closet – just in case I have an important meeting with a client or something. (I didn’t mention I do not own a single skirt or dress, or even nice trousers, so my suits also double for any other dress-up occasion, like weddings.)

I tried on the first suit and Julia took a look and started pinning.  She complimented me on my choice, and I admitted I’d been watching Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.  (Tim is a a hero of mine – my fashion hero.)  Tim says we shouldn’t plan on buying clothes off the rack and having them fit, we should look for clothes that can be altered to fit.  When I tried the suit on, I’d tried to imagine the flaws fixed, and how difficult it would be to fix them.  Julia said the suit was a great choice – there were lots of seams to use for alteration.  The fabric was nice.  In addition to altering it, she also suggested replacing the buttons with something nicer.  The suit was a great buy, 60% off, so even spending money on alterations it shouldn’t be too pricey.

About this time, Julia drops the first bombshell.  She lets me know, ever so delicately, that when I come back for a second fitting on the suit, I need to wear a better bra.  WHAT?  I WAS wearing
one of my best bras!  She asked to take a look, and I lifted my shirt, reluctantly.  She explained what was wrong with the bra, and told me the correct size, which was nowhere NEAR what I’d been buying.  She pinned the bra I had on, and I could FEEL as well as see the difference.  She said she could easily take in the bras I had, so I plan on dropping those off.
I try on the second suit and about this time, she drops the second bombshell.  She notes my obvious discomfort with my body.  She says she works with bodies all the time, and she says I have a lovely body.  She says it’s well-proportioned.  I have beautiful skin, a long neck. She asks if I’d like her to take my measurements – and she does, and tells me I have a luscious Marilyn Monroe body!  Marilyn Monroe!  She comments that she thinks I should consider a longer, more feminine haircut.

I try  on a pair of pants I brought along, and Julia notes I have long legs and a long rise (crotch to waist) – I should be shopping for TALL pants.  TALL?!?  I look for short or petite pants!  She says this is why I am continually frustrated shopping for pants.  It is NOT that my butt is so big, it’s because I need more fabric between the crotch and the waist.  I can always hem the pants, or bring them to her for hemming.  I have NEVER tried on tall pants!  We decide the three pairs of pants I brought weren’t worth altering.

Julia was just wonderful.  I was there two hours – and I figure 30 minutes was spent fitting the clothes, and 90 minutes was spent on therapy.  I have to say, my self image has rocketed through the kindness of this woman.  My friends had encouraged me to go to a tailor, but I don’t know if they fully realized what an impact it would have.  I certainly didn’t.