the most dreaded of tasks

I am not a normal woman in this regard; I hate shopping for clothes. It's something I despise doing. Clothing designers, being the evil creatures they are, design clothes to fit women who are 6'4" and weigh anywhere from 95-105 lbs or Paris Hilton types. In other words, they design clothing for women who look like they just left Auschwitz. I don't know a single soul who is healthy and is actually as skinny as Hilton or a supermodel.

I am 5'2" and I weigh around 130-135 lbs. My pants size is usually an 8 or a 10. That is pretty darn normal. My size is average. I am pear shaped. Bootylicious is my middle name. I have an abundance of Junk In the Trunk. I remember some years back when everyone was making such a big deal about J-Lo's backside. I couldn't figure out what the fuss what about. J-Lo has nothing on me!

Summer is fast approaching and I need a few new pairs of capri pants. I have only one pair that I really love. They are wide-leg, mid to low rise and black cotton. They look great on. I bought 2 pair last summer, but one of them mysteriously acquired a bleach stain which rendered them garbage. By that time they were no longer available and thus I couldn't get a replacement. I went on a shopping excursion this week on a quest to find capri's. I found nothing but a great deal of disgust and annoyance at the fashion industry.

The problems is that most capri pants have a tapered leg. Now while I have no problem with my aforementioned caboose, I don't want to wear clothing which make it look larger than it is. Tapered legs on pants make the backside look BIG. A wide or straight leg makes everything look more in proportion. The same holds true whether it's capri pants or full length pants, slacks and jeans. Yet for some unknown reason the fashion industry is pushing "skinny" jeans-with a tapered leg. Why do women buy pants like that?! The only people that look good in "skinny" jeans are really skinny people with no ass to speak of.

Knee length, A-line skirts cut on the bias are the friends of everyone. I don't know anyone who doesn't look good in that kind of skirt. Yet it is near impossible to find one. I have a friend who made me a gorgeous skirt with 4 or 5 different blue and green batik fabrics. I get compliments every time I wear it. I've lost a few pounds since she made it, so it's a little big on me now and it still looks fantastic. Professional clothing designers refuse to make clothes like that. The malls are filled with ugly skirts that are either too long, too short, too tight or just plain ugly.

A few months ago I bought a pair of slacks in The Limited. I didn't even want to set foot in that store, but on a whim I went in and the first pair of slacks I tried on fit beautifully and the fabric felt good. Fantastic! They were more expensive than what I had planned on spending, but I gladly paid. I went back about a month ago and bought a second pair. I marched into the store and within 10 minutes I was out the door. (Including trying on the slacks and paying at the register.) That shopping experience was pretty darn painless! I don't think they have wide leg capri pants but I need to check.

I've shopped at cheap crappy stores and high end places. No matter where I go it's hard to find stuff that fits properly, is constructed well and with quality fabrics. I have no problem paying more for a garment if it fits and is going to last. I am not a fan of cheap and trendy clothes. Today I checked out the Saks 5th Avenue outlet in the big monstrosity of an outlet mall that is in the western end of our county. The fabrics were better, but the cuts were weird. It seems like almost every store I step into the fabrics look and feel like they will fall apart in the first wash.

About a week ago I bought a beautiful, hand made dress on eBay. It's made of hand dyed hemp and cotton fabric. It's a halter style with spaghetti straps that criss-cross and tie in the back and it fits like a dream. Interestingly enough, it's designed to fit a variety of sizes and yet it looks like it was made for me. The fabric is gorgeous. The woman who made it obviously takes great care with her art form. (Making clothing is an art form with people like her.) Color, line, texture, movement, value, space and shape were all given careful consideration in the construction of my dress. Based on the quality of the fabric and the construction I can only assume the dress is going to last a long time.

I am so frustrated with what is available in most stores and malls. I need to start buying more clothes from people like her. I'm kicking myself because I didn't buy a skirt she had listed for the past few days. I'm seriously considering commissioning her to make me a few custom pieces.