Good Fit

The last great seamstress I had was Franka—that was 25 years ago when I still lived in Dobbs Ferry. Franka made average clothing look couture.

Because the thing is this—fit sometimes is more important than style. Good fit is what makes inexpensive clothing look expensive. And conversely, ill-fitting clothing can ruin good style. If you watch Project Runway like I do, you know this is true. Design and fit go hand in hand. They must be fluid.

Today was fitting day. My niece Sara was fitted for her maid of honor dress. As the shoulders were picked up and a seam or two was pinned here and there, the already beautiful dress became magnificent. And after Sara’s fitting I went with both my mother and my sister-in-law Jodi to have their dresses fitted. And it was at this fitting that I truly admired tailoring as an artform—a creative talent---a gift that few possess. Here was where I saw vision and perfection become one. Catarina, the seamstress, saw flaws that none of us noticed—and she pinned creative solutions. And when she was done both my mother and Jodi looked red-carpet worthy. Good fit elevated good style to a celestial state. The reflection in the mirror was unrecognizable—neither my mother nor Jodi ever looked so glamorous. The dresses looked nothing like the samples they had tried on months before---the final product was the elevated version.

And I am no fool. I found a way to have Catarina fit my dress even though I did not purchase it at the store where Jodi and my mother bought theirs. I too will look couture. My dress, through the eye of perfection and at the hand of talent, will elicit envy. It will look richer than the price tag.

But do not ask me to share Catarina with you—because I won’t. Talented seamstresses are too hard to find--and when you find one you must keep it to yourself. It’s why it took me so long to find Catarina---no one would give me a good recommendation—people kept their secret.

As Heidi Kum says: in fashion one day you are in, and the next day you are out. Catarina is in. She is also the winner of our own wedding  project runway. Catarina understands how to make it work.  We look couture. We look fashion forward .Even Nina Garcia would give us rave reviews.