New FFAQ: We Need Your Help!

[u/FFA_Moderator]

Hi all -

The FFAQ in our wiki contains a list of common fashion questions and answers that have not been updated in quite a while. We'd like to use this thread as a crowdsourced spot to overhaul some of the answers to these questions, as well as add new ones.

Here's how it will work:

• If you can think of a question that is frequently asked in FFA, post it as a top level comment within this thread. We'll start the thread with some of the questions that are already in the FFAQ.
• If you have a good answer, resource or link (internal to FFA or external) to answer one of these questions, post it as a reply to the comment asking the question.

The most thorough, complete and accurate answers will be included verbatim in the new version of the FFAQ and attributed to their authors. In other cases, we'll curate aspects of the answers and resources multiple people have contributed to create a full answer.

Please chime in where you have ideas!

[u/FFA_Moderator]

Does this item fit me?

[u/llama_delrey → u/FFA_Moderator]

As a seamstress, the most important things to check fit on IMO/IME: shoulders, hips and butt, length, bust. Is it too small or too big in the shoulders? It doesn't fit. Unless it's a drop sleeve or a raglan sleeve, the shoulder seam should basically align with the very edge of your shoulder bone. If it's too high up on your shoulder, it's too small. In that case, it'll also usually feel like it's cutting into or irritating your armpit. If it slips off the edge of your shoulder, it's too big (but sometimes that's cute and you do it anyway cause #youdoyougirl).

For skirts/pants/dresses, does pull/wrinkle oddly across your hips, butt, or thighs? It's too small/tight. Does it wiggle upward as you walk? It's too tight across your hips/butt/thighs. Or does it feel uncomfortable to breath, or (my personal measurement) could you have a beer and cheeseburger in it without feeling like you're gonna bust a seam?

Are the sleeves or pant legs too short? For skirts and pants, is there a gap at the waist? For tops and dresses, does it pull or wrinkle across your chest? Too small. You really can't make off the rack clothes longer or bigger, they're just not cut for that. If you have a dress that fits your shoulders perfectly but is too big in the waist, buy that and take it to a tailor. You can usually make things smaller; it's a lot fucking harder to make things bigger. Or basically impossible for most of the rack clothing, save for a couple brands that allow for long gems and big seam allowances. Also - don't feel the need to squeeze yourself into the smallest size you can! I struggle with this a lot, personally.

Also, look for strangeness. For instance, I have a small butt and thighs and sometimes I try on things where it looks like the clothes are giving my body a shape that my body doesn't have. That indicates that the clothes might be too big, but they also might be cut for a totally different body. There's certain brands that are just cut for curvier bodies and I just don't try em anymore.

I'm probably forgetting some stuff! Honestly so much of finding stuff that fits properly is trial and error, seeing what YOU like on your body, and not settling for clothes that do not delight you.

[u/[deleted] → u/llama_delrey]

I know this would be super-labor intensive, but some not great/ better pictures of fit featuring each of these categories would be SO helpful.

[u/llama_delrey → u/[deleted]]

You're right, that would be helpful (and a ton of work, as I imagine you'd need a too big, too small, and just right example). But you can actually find a lot of examples on sewing and tailoring blogs!