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Contact: Lillian Zane, 845-9203	Air Date: March 23, 1998

Altering the Reality of the Fit   You want to buy clothes for that special someone and you're not sure whether you should buy something too small, or too large. The right answer, says a Honolulu Community College Associate Professor, is to take someone who knows how to sew, with you. Lillian Zane says that a seamstress will know what can and cannot be altered. Fabric and construction make a big difference as does the quality of clothing. Higher quality garments will have larger seams and therefore more opportunity for altering. Certain styles are also more conducive to alterations. Princess lines for example, have side seams, two front seams and two back seams, allowing for six places to let out. Men's jackets also have lots of seams and are alter-friendly. For women's garments, says Zane, the bust measurement is the key. That's because if the bust doesn't fit, it is nearly impossible to make the garment work. The fit here will affect the shoulder, armhole, neckline and waistline. This is the University Report, I'm Tracy Orillo Donovan.

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