Clothes that you buy at stores are sized based on standards set by the pattern makers. These sizes are based on average body proportions and dimensions. As you are most likely well aware of, few bodies have these exact dimensions and shapes and that is why clothing off the rack doesn't always fit or flatter your body's shape. Fortunately, there are ways to make off the rack clothes fit your body better.

Tip #1 - Use Belts

One simple way to make adjustments to the shape and fit of clothing is to utilize a belt. Belts can be used with jeans and slacks to help bring in the waist of pants that are a little too big, or they can be added to a shirt to create a more tailored look. You can also use belts of different colors and textures to add a point of visual interest to your outfit.

Tip #2 - Make Adjustments to the Seams

If you are between sizes then you will want to buy the next size up and then make adjustments to the seams. You can do this simply by figuring out where the clothing is too big and then by taking in the seams. Usually you will only need to take in the side seams to make a shirt or a pair of pants fit your shape better. When you take in the seams you need to do it evenly on both sides so that the clothing item will fit properly on your body.

Tip #3 - Make Adjustments to the Length of the Item

Another dimension that may not fit your body properly is the length of the clothing item. If the item is too long then you can hem the bottom of the item. This is a very simple fix that even novices can handle. Keep in mind that you can shorten shirts and jackets, as well as pants, shorts and skirts. Hemming can be done by hand with a needle and thread, or it can be done using a sewing machine. There are also hemming tapes that you can use to quickly set a hem. You can use the tape to hold the hem for a day while you wear the item, or you can use it to hold the hem in place while you stitch it up with a needle and thread.

You need to put as much thought into your eye wear selections as you do into the rest of your wardrobe. Fortunately, shopping for eye wear, whether it is fashion eye wear for everyday use or sunglasses for outdoor use, is a lot of fun. Today there are hundreds of different types of glasses to choose between, ensuring that you will not have a hard time finding the frame style, lens features and frame colors that you are interested in.

Prescription Glasses
If you need corrective lenses then it is a good idea to start your eye wear wardrobe with a good pair of prescription glasses. Even if you normally wear contacts, having a pair of glasses is a good idea, as they can provide your eyes with a break from the close contact of contact lenses. When selecting frames for your prescription glasses you need to select a style that is going to compliment the shape of your face and that will also reflect your personality. People with very outgoing personalities will want to select frames that are a bit more daring and loud than those that are selected by people with a more laid back personality.

Sunglasses
You have a lot of choices when it comes to sunglasses. The first aspect of your sunglasses that you need to think about is the type of lens treatment the glasses have. If you need prescription sunglasses then you will want to look for lenses that change color in the light. This type of lens will provide you with clear glass when you are inside and darkened glass when you are outside. You can also select polarized lens treatments and impact resistant lens treatments.

After selecting the right type of lenses for your sunglasses you will next want to look at the frames. The style of the frames for your sunglasses needs to reflect your activity level. If you are very active in sports then you will want to select sports frames, which wrap around your face and they tend to be more resistant to impacts. If you use your sunglasses for wandering around and hanging out, then you will want to look for more fashionable frames.

When you are building a wardrobe you need to think about adding items that have specific purposes. For example, you will have collections of clothing that are for work, clothing collections that are for going out and having fun and clothing collections that are for going on vacation. When you are building your vacation wardrobe you will want to look for functional clothing items that are also fashionable.

Activity Specific Clothing Items
The clothing items that you purchase for your vacation wardrobe will reflect what you will be doing on your vacation and where you will be going. You will have several different types of vacation clothing, with items selected for the most common activities you participate in while on vacation. For example, if you are a camper you will want to select clothing items that are breathable, that are durable and that will protect your body from insect bites, scratches from vegetation and that will stretch and move with you. You will also want to select footwear that has a good tread and that are supportive of your feet.

On the other hand, if you are planning a luxury vacation, such as going on a cruise, your clothing choices are going to be different from those selected for going camping. First of all you will need a formal outfit for dining and night time activities aboard the cruise ship. You will also need casual wear for touring ports and lounging around on the ship. Finally, you will need great swimwear that is flattering to your figure.

If you will be traveling abroad then you will need to select clothing items for your vacation wardrobe that are culturally acceptable for the country that you will be visiting. For example, if you are going to a country that is more conservative than the United States, then you will want to select clothing items that cover your arms and legs and that also have a more conservative neckline. When selecting clothing items you will want to look for clothing options that are comfortable, that resist wrinkling and that flatter your shape and body type. You will also want to select clothing items that are appropriate for the climate and weather conditions that you will be encountering in the foreign country.

Today, fitness activities are a major part of people's schedules. However, many people don't give their fitness wardrobe much thought. As a result their workout outfits are ill fitted, they are not flattering and they do not provide the person with the protection that they need from chafing and rashes. Fortunately, all of these problems can be resolved by simply giving your fitness wardrobe a little thought.

Sizing Fitness Clothing
While you may not think that the size of your fitness clothing makes much of a difference it is actually very important to wear fitness clothes that actually fit your body. Clothes that are too tight can keep your body parts from completing their full range of motion, they can cause serious chafing and they can cause rashes and sores from rubbing on your skin. Fitness clothing that is too loose can also cause problems. For example, loose clothing can get caught up in fitness machines, it can cause chafing and it can make completing exercises difficult to do because the material gets in the way.

The best way to avoid all of these problems is to select fitness clothing that fits your body properly. This means that it is lose enough that you can bend, twist and stretch without discomfort and that it is form fitting enough to prevent material from getting caught in fitness equipment or bunching up on you. If you don't know what size to get look at the sizing chart found on the clothing item or on the website.

Selecting Fitness Clothing Pieces
To develop a fitness wardrobe you will want to start at your feet and work your way up. To begin with you will want to buy socks that are designed for sports. These socks will give you a little more padding at the Achilles' tendon, they will be more absorbent and they will provide you more cushioning on the soles of your feet. Next, you will want to select a couple of pairs of workout shoes. They should fit your feet both length wise and width wise.

Your workout undergarments should be made from material that will breathe and that will also wick about moisture from your skin. They should also provide you with the support that you need for your exercises of choice. Finally you will want to select tops and bottoms that fit your body shape, that are appropriate for the exercises that you do and that are made from a material that breathes well.

As you transition from teenager to young adult your wardrobe also needs to transition. This transition is best done gradually as opposed to being done in one big shopping spree. To keep your transitional wardrobe affordable you will want to buy pieces here and there as your teen clothes wear out or need replacing.

Transitional Shoe Wardrobe

The first items that will most likely be upgraded from teen styles to young adult styles are your shoes. As a teen you can get away with wearing crazy footwear and more casual footwear. However, as you enter the job market you will need footwear that will be appropriate for your work environment. This means that if you are working in an office that you will need to wear dress shoes and that if you are working in a mechanics shop that you wear tough leather boots or shoes to protect your feet.

In addition to purchasing work appropriate shoes you will also need to mature your socializing shoes, or your party shoes. As a teen you probably wore low heels or flats if you are a girl and tennis shoes if you are a boy. While these shoes are still okay for social situations, as you enter your early to mid-twenties you will want to buy more mature looking shoes such as pointy toe high heels for women and loafers for men.

Transitional Clothing Wardrobe

Like your shoe wardrobe, your clothing wardrobe also needs to mature as you do. As a teen your clothing most likely focused primarily on casual wear. As a young adult you will want to mature the look by adding a few structured pieces like a fitted jacket, slacks and a basic suit. Since you are still young you will want to avoid pieces that are too mature or stoic looking, you will want to focus on pieces that perhaps have a funkier color or that have a younger cut to the piece. For example, young women can buy a fitted jacket in jewel tone as opposed to a black or navy jacket that is cut shorter in the body than a traditional suit jacket. Here the fit will be critically important to the overall professionalism of the item.