If you are curvy, chances are not many people have talked with you about fine fabrics, timeless designs, quality construction techniques, or clothing that suits your unique beauty. Why not? Maybe they were waiting for you to lose 50 pounds to have this little talk? Who knows? Let’s get on with it now that you are all grown up and uniquely you.
As a mostly self-taught seamstress and clothing designer, I have a slightly different perspective on what is valuable in an article of clothing than your average salesperson. Let’s say we are talking about a dress. Let me walk you through my observation checklist as if we were out shopping side by side.
1. The first question I ask about the dress we pick out is…was this design made to flatter a curvy woman, or is it just a skinny woman’s dress made a few sizes larger? If you want to look great in Olive Oyl’s dress, you have to look like Olive Oyl.
What makes a dress “flattering” on a curvy woman? Personally, I am not fond of the old adage “drape yourself, darling.” Your dress should have a shape and make the most of physical features you like best about yourself. Do you have great legs? Wear a shorter hemline and show those babies off! Do you have a Mae West bust? Find a dress with a unique and daring neckline. If you like definition, wear a dress that’s not afraid to emphasize your waist. Look for a design that celebrates your curves instead of trying to hide them.
2. Okay, next question. Let’s take a look at the garment’s care instructions. Honestly, if I have to hand wash this dress in 60 degree spring water with hand-shaved laundry bar soap and lay it flat to dry while fanning it with a palm leaf…it’s just not happening. Not ever. Do not buy what you will not take care of, period.
3. What is this dress made of? Let’s make this simple. If you want something you can throw into the washing machine and dryer, get fabric that withstands that kind of treatment. A very common and durable blend is cotton/polyester. A higher priced dress should be made out of something special like silk, wool, linen, rayon, suede, leather, or fine cotton. You may have to make a trip to the dry cleaner for this, but them’s the breaks. What is “valuable” to you may be different from what other women value. That’s OK. Get what suits you and your lifestyle, but better natural fabrics fetch higher prices, just so you know.
4. Now the hard one…construction. The way a dress is made makes all the difference in the world. Turn the dress inside out. If the inside looks like a mess, the dress is worthless. If you are spending a lot of money (relative to your budget) choose a dress that looks almost as good on the inside as the outside. Why? Because this indicates attention to detail, care, skill, comfort of wear, and durability. Generally, a more expensive dress is lined, has a nicely concealed zipper (inside and out), has seams and hems that can be let out or taken in by an alterations specialist, and very smooth, flat seams on the outside. No puckers. No bumps. Here’s a great example of an inside-out dress that looks fabulous.
5. Last but not least, read the label and find out where the dress was made. If your dress was made in a third world country, it was probably made in very poor working conditions by people who make pennies on the dollar. If you care about bringing skilled labor back to the USA, buy American! Also be aware that many fine garments are made in Europe where there are good laws about working conditions and fair pay. A dress made in France may cost you more because of the skill involved in construction, and the shipping, of course.
Personally, I also look for special features like reversible sides, big pockets, fun prints and textures, and design lines that won’t come and go with the latest trends. Comfort is very important to me. If I have to suck in my stomach and avoid sitting down, it doesn’t make the cut.Think about what is valuable to you as an individual, too!
You are now armed with the basics for valuing a dress out there in ready-to-wear world! Be brave and use your superpowers for Good. Happy shopping!
Curvy Health & Happiness Blog 