Went to an outlet mall that's about half an hour's drive from here, in search of something specific for a gift for someone on my list. On our way out, I spied an Ann Taylor Factory Store. Sent my husband off to some other store, and went into AT Factory.

I'd previously gone into Ann Taylor in the mall a week or so ago, and come away feeling a bit disappointed. The regular Ann Taylor store didn't seem to have the range of sizes, and perhaps I was trying on the wrong things somehow, but I felt like AT clothing wasn't going to work for me right now. They had a lot of the really small sizes, and not so much in the 'medium-ish' range.

I had a *great* experience at the Ann Taylor Factory Store. Once again, I grabbed the wrong sizes and kept picking the wrong style of pants. One of the sales clerks spied me in the dressing room, dealing with some dress pants that were just plain ill-fitting on me. She said, "Let me get you some pants.." and comes running back with really nice dark charcoal 'fit and flare' dress pants in their Modern Fit.

I had ignored the Modern Fit pants because they said, "Slim through hips and thighs" or something like that on the labeling. Due to weight loss, I still have a bit of a perception problem when it comes to fit and so on. I usually always avoid anything that says 'lower waist' too because I fear muffin-top.

The pants were absolute perfection. The exact right size, extremely flattering and even the length was spot-on. No need to hem or anything. I don't know how she did it. She didn't even know what sizes I was trying on or anything. She looked at me, and somehow magically found *the* perfect pants. I couldn't believe it!

I explained that I was having a hard time finding things that fit, and that I'd lost a bunch of weight. That I needed some dress pants for an upcoming trip. She suggested me returning the pants for a smaller size if I lose any weight before the trip - said I could phone and she'd get out the pants for me and that I could return the ones I bought if need be.

For the first time in a long time, I am finding stuff that fits in the shoulders too. So many things are too big in the shoulders, and this is not happening at Ann Taylor or Ann Taylor Factory stores. Still struggling a tiny bit with ordinary button-down shirts, but that's ok - I can put that off until I get to goal.

Anyway - just wanted to say that Ann Taylor Factory store is a great resource for those in the process of losing weight. I don't mind spending some money on clothes, but I'm also being a bit careful here, because of 'cost per wear' issues, meaning - I am not likely to get as much wear out of something due to ongoing weight loss.

Finally, I don't feel so odd-ball re: my shape. I made a joke last week or thereabouts, about feeling like my shape is that of a Christmas tree or something, because I have had such a tough time finding things that fit me properly.

A single pair of perfectly-fitting dress pants has changed my perception of myself. I cannot believe that I look better in something that says 'slim through hips and thighs' and 'lower waist'.

My 'fat head' is slowly going away because of this. 'Fat Head' is where your body image and perception is still 'off' - your mind hasn't quite caught up to where you are now.

I was honestly starting to feel a bit like a misfit, simply could not find ordinary basics that would work. It took someone who obviously knew what she was doing to pick out just the right pants for me.

Now that I know that Ann Taylor Modern Fit pants are the right shape and fit for me, I can avoid the process of trying on like 39 different pairs of pants and ending up in near-tears.

Very happy!