DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a seamstress who I have frequented for the past few months. All of her work has been excellent and affordable, so I bring all of the pieces I've been meaning to fix to her.
A jacket that I ripped is one of my "goal" clothes. I hope to lose enough weight to fit into the jacket again. When I took it to my seamstress, she insisted on letting the seams out so I could fit into it again without ripping it. I told her I wanted it small so I will fit into it when I lose weight. She shook her head silently and fixed the jacket just as I requested. I still don't fit into the jacket, but I was wondering if I had been unreasonable by not listening to the professional. -- Pulling at the Seams, Baltimore
DEAR PULLING AT THE SEAMS: I'm sorry to say that your seamstress was right. To go to the expense of having a jacket repaired to a size that you do not fit was probably a waste of money. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to lose weight, but most people do not get back to that magical weight or size that allows them to fit favorite clothes from yesteryear. That your seamstress could have recut your jacket so that it fits you now would have been a bonus that would not necessarily have meant that you would stop trying to trim down and get healthier.