While it might seem odd to buy clothing to have altered, it’s a good idea. People who have perfectly fitting clothing do not necessarily have perfect bodies. They have competent tailors. I have most of my pants altered at the waist because it’s virtually impossible to get a waistband to fit when you have a slight sway back. Some alterations are absolutely worth the expense while others are not. Before you purchase a garment that doesn’t fit perfectly, be sure to weigh up the cost of the alteration against the price of the garment itself.

Of course, prices will vary. But here are ball park estimates for common alteration jobs based on my experience in the United States:

• Seam repair $3 – $5
• Hems on pants, skirts and sleeves $12 – $15
• Hems on jeans $15 – $20
• Hems on pants with cuffs $15 – $18
• Hems on dresses $15 – $18
• Waist on pants $15 – $25
• Waist on un-lined jackets, blouses, shirts and tops $12 – $30
• Zipper replacement $12 – $15
• General tapering of garments at the side seams and sleeves and dress-strap adjustments $10 – $18

Alterations get expensive when lining is involved. Any adjustments in the shoulder line and armhole are achievable, but will cost a pretty penny because they are labour intensive. In my experience, this type of alteration on a women’s garment is not worth the expense. If the item doesn’t fit you properly on your shoulder line – don’t buy it. Men’s suiting is the exception because it’s standard to have a men’s suit altered for free when you make the purchase. Note that American stores like Banana Republic, Nordstrom and J. Crew will offer to hem regular priced merchandise for free. Most stores in Hong Kong are happy to do any alteration for free.

It’s worth every penny if alterations are minor and affordable (like hem, sleeve and waist adjustments), because perfect fit is a crucial component of dressing well. When garments don’t fit perfectly straight off the rack, remember that it’s never our body type that’s the problem… it’s the clothing. Altering them is often the best way to go.

In your experience, how does pricing compare with my estimates above?

I have been preaching my perfect pants length mantra for as long as I can remember because it’s a fashion faux pas that I feel especially strongly about. While the default perfect pants length (when hems skim the surface of the ground) works beautifully for boot-cuts, flares and wide-legged pants and jeans; it won’t work for skinnies, tapered-legs and super straight-leg pants and jeans. Narrow pant-leg openings scrunch at the ankle and over your heels instead of skimming the surface of the ground no matter how long their in-seam. It’s therefore fab to wear these types of long pants ankle length. This is an acceptable and ultra fashion forward look. And thus far the only exception to my very rigid rule.

Skinnies and tapered pants are stylishly acceptable ankle length.

Oversized bags and totes are all the rage, but your body shouldn’t ache as a result. Fashion is for fun, not for pain. If you remember two simple things, you’ll sport a statement bag with style and comfort:

• Consider the weight of the bag itself. Large leather bags with loads of pocket and hardware detail can weigh a ton before you’ve even packed your essentials. Faux leather/patent, plastic, PVC, nylon, and canvas fabrications make for lighter and cheaper options. If you are going to go leather, keep design features simple as this tends to shed excess weight off any bulky bag. 
• Don’t pack the kitchen sink. Be ruthless with what you need daily and try and find ways to downsize everything. If the interior of your handbag is a mess, empty its contents and re-pack.

Don’t damage your posture and wreck your outfit by lugging around a heavy handbag. A roomy, light and uncluttered version is a more practical and healthy solution.

A large PVC tote and simple leather bags with no hardware or outside pocket detail.

By answering a few simple questions, Zafu.com will “find the perfect jeans for you”. I had read about this site in InStyle magazine and decided to give them a bash. I was skeptical, but to my surprise their recommendations for my body type were rather accurate. Their comprehensive recommendations covered 3 brands and cuts of denim that I actually have hanging in my cupboard. If you are at a complete loss when it comes to buying the best jeans for your body type, try this completely free site. It’s frustrating to try on jeans for hours and feel like you’re never going to get a pair that fit. Zafu narrows down the search before you’ve stepped into a store and that’s fab.

The roomy look is sticking around for at least another season. I adore this marvelously feminine trend. Voluminous sleeves, baby-dolls, sack-dresses, wide-leg pants and trapeze jackets have revived a look in fashion that we haven’t seen for years.

But the voluminous look hasn’t been easy to put together. A voluminous top worn with a voluminous bottom is shapeless and unflattering. The trick is to sport one voluminous piece at a time. Here are guidelines that will help you pull off volume with style:

• Wear wide pants with fitted and tailored tops. It’s essential to show your waistline with an A-line silhouette.
• Keep the silhouette long and lean underneath a trapeze jacket. Slim fitting tops and boot cut pants, straight legs or skinnies will have you looking your slimmest in this type of jacket.
• Sack dresses and boxy tunics are best worn with straight cut pants, tapered walk shorts (mid calf length and no longer) skinnies or leggings.

If you wear volume on top, keep it slim at the bottom; if you wear volume at the bottom, keep it tailored on top. Easy!

Left: voluminous gauchos worn with a tailored top.
Right: voluminous tops worn with slim bottoms.

Cap sleeves on tops and dresses are one of the hardest styles of sleeve to wear. They either cut straight across the least flattering part of your arm, or look like little wings. Unless you have lusciously toned arms, avoid cap sleeves altogether. It’s a popular misconception to think that you’ll look better with some coverage over the top part of your arm, rather than none at all. This is simply not true.

The right type of sleeveless top is often more flattering than a cap sleeved option. The secret lies in showing your shoulder bone. Everyone has alluring shoulders, but fewer people have toned upper arms. The best type of sleeveless top is one that is cut more closely to the neck than it is to the shoulder.

Less flattering cap sleeve (left) and more flattering sleeveless (right) tops from Banana Republic.

No, they don’t. While I can’t argue that white or cream pants are practical (one wear and in the wash they go), they’re stylish regardless of your size. The important factors are the fit and the ensemble. Here are guidelines for choosing a perfect pair of white or cream pants:

• Choose a shaped waistband that’s lower in front than at the back. A wider waistband (about one and half inches) gives our bodies that extra bit of structure around the tummy area.
• Keep the front plain (no pleats) and the pockets off. Side entry pockets or any type of patch pocket tends to show through the front of light pants. Flatter fronts keep your fit smooth and streamlined underneath your tops.
• Make sure that white pants made of softer fabrications like viscose, silk, rayon and linen-blends are lined.
• Consider denim and thick cotton twills in white/cream. These fabrics don’t need to be lined and the classic “5-pocket styling” works well.
• Stick to boot cut leg openings as the most versatile and flattering option.

Striking contrast is key to creating a stylish ensemble with white pants. Match them up with a dark top and shoes and your look will pop.

All women can look incredible in the right pair of white pants. Get your head around the fact that white is a modern update on black, and that it doesn’t make you look fat.

Excellent white and denim pant silhouettes from Ann Taylor and Nordstrom.

Mothers Day is an opportunity to spoil our Mothers (and ourselves) with the gift of style. In keeping with the notion that stylish is a mixture of both timeless and of the moment, my top picks for for Mums are:

• A scent
• A bright pair of shoes or handbag
• A dazzling day dress
• A sassy new hairdo
• A white shirt
• A new pair of specs
• An updated pair of jeans

As I did last Mother’s Day, I’d like to dedicate this blog entry to my late Mother who remains one the most stylish women I’ve known. We at youlookfab wish you a magnificent and stylish Mother’s Day.

I would have thanked my Mum for being as wonderful as she was with a pair of red patent shoes, a bright yellow handbag or a bottle of YSL Opium.

Red started to trend for Autumn 2006. It wasn’t forecast as a major colour for Spring 2007, but it’s everywhere. Favorable reactions to the resurgence of the colour last season have kept the trend alive and kicking for a good while longer than expected.

There seem to be more red shoe and handbag options available than any other bright. This is nifty news because red is a basic colour. Alongside staples like black, white, cream, grey, brown and tan, there’s red. All colours can be matched with the right shade of red (it’s strangely glorious combined with pink and orange). If you prefer sticking to neutrals, remember that red also falls into this category. Sport maroon or paprika instead of fire engine red if the classic feels too bold. There is a shade of red for everyone, gents and children included.

Anything red (clothing or accessories) makes my “must have” list for Spring and Summer. Take advantage of the abundance of red product that’s on hand. It’s the perfect combination of timeless and “of the moment”.

Red bag (Nordstrom) and shoes (Zappos.com).

Camisoles are an extremely important part of your wardrobe. Cropped, rigid, highly lacy, shiny and often itchy cami’s sold in underwear departments are no longer the norm. The camisole has transformed into an unfussy, longer, softer, more stretchy and superbly comfortable item that’s part of everyday outerwear. After a proper bra fitting, finding a range of camisoles that work for you is the next step.

Camisoles are fabulous because…

• They smooth out your silhouette underneath your clothes, thereby giving you a slimmer and more polished appearance.
• They make an outfit more interesting when the top and bottom peak through from underneath (either through a contrasting colour or fabrication).
• They act as a flattering layering item by deflecting the eye to your upper body.
• They give you effective coverage when you bend over (both on top and bottom).
• They can make ultra trendy looks wearable.
• They keep you warm when it’s chilly.

There are countless options. From built in-bras, solids and prints, to v-necks, lace trims and breathable cotton-rich fabrications. Express, Nordstrom and Banana Republic have a particularly good assortment at the moment. Try the concept if it’s new to you. If you already sport the look, ensure that you have a good collection. My wardrobe wouldn’t function without them.

Basic, longer camisoles are available alongside most clothing ranges.