Room at the top
What happens when you've recently shed those pounds and find yourself the proud owner of several voluminous jackets or coats that seem ill fitting and one or two sizes too big?Before you give it them away to your bigger sister/girlfriend/mom, keep this in mind: for many designers, bigger is better.
Yohji Yamamoto and John Galliano for Dior are two influential designers who have traditionally loved playing with volume, and this season, 'room at the top' is a true fashion statement with "Thriller"-worthy blousons, sweaters that appear to fall off the shoulders, jackets, and overcoats with a mannish bent.
Just remember to keep the bottom lean: a tall boot, narrow trouser, slim skirt. You might also opt for a pair of shorts, a mini, or leggings- if your legs are good enough.
If you still find that you want your pieces taken in and professionally altered maybe you should first glance at Miuccia Prada's recent fall/winter 2003 collection in Milan (it might thwart you from spending your hard earned money on tailoring bills).
By following her lead, you can create a smaller, leaner look by simply tying a grosgrain ribbon or a piece of leather (it doesn't even have to be a belt) around the waist, at the hips, at the bosom: anywhere you want instant definition.
The incredible shrinking jacket
On the other hand, what happens when you've outgrown your favorite jacket, or gained weight after having that baby?Tops and jackets that are shrunken one or two sizes too small have been making news for the last several seasons. Fashion savvy women even shop for their tailored togs in little boys departments (I kid you not), and magazines raid these resources for photo shootings.
And what if it's just a case of the sleeve of a coat or a jacket being deemed too short? Well, this coming season, you'll see that there's no such thing as too short: ¾ length (bracelet) sleeves -- or even shorter -- on coats and jackets are de rigueur (very 40's, 50's).
Shorter sleeves create the perfect opportunity to show off gloves (another big fall/winter 2003 trend). This was evident on many recent, influential runways including Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
What if your pants shrunk, or perhaps were shortened a tad too much? Don't despair: short pants of all lengths are being proposed, and Marc Jacobs, for his spring/summer 2003 collection, showed many of his beautifully crafted ladylike jackets and coats with a cropped pant paired with sexy open toed shoes.
Lost (g)love
While we're talking about sleeves and gloves, what if you lose just one glove?Several seasons ago, fashion went completely asymmetrical and off kilter: there were jackets and tops shown with just one sleeve, or with one sleeve a different length than the other.
Even gloves were given the same treatment and many outfits were shown with just one glove.
So, don't despair: go ahead and wear just one glove.
