FLATTERING FIT Looking fashionable

Looking fashionable has less to do with women putting the most up-to-the-second styles on their body than making sure the clothes -- from head to toe -- fit properly. Talbots, a specialty retailer, offers these tips on choosing garments that will look good from all angles:
Don't compromise. No matter how fashionable the outfit looked in the window, clothes should never pull or gape, regardless of your size.
Think proportion, not size. Consider coordinated separates if you need a different size top and bottom. Don't be afraid to try a petite size if have a proportionately shorter waist, rise or inseam.
Spend time in the fitting room. When trying something on, stand in front of a full-length mirror and check the front, back and side views. Start at the top and work down.
Watch for wrinkle clues. Wrinkles often indicate there is either too little or too much fabric. For instance, tight horizontal wrinkles probably mean the garment is too narrow.
Finishing touches make a difference. Certain adjustments are worth a trip to the tailor. Nothing throws off a beautifully cut jacket more than sleeves that are too short or so long they double as mittens.