Mitred pleat-front dress c/o eShakti | ikat scarf: Adrienne Vittadini (Beall’s Outlet) | sunnies: Tom Ford c/o RueLaLa | embroidered leather handbag: Gianni Bini (A CUTE ALTERNATIVE) | leopard sandals: Castlefranco (SIMILAR) 

Fit is always a challenge for me. I’m little, but curvy: 5’4″ with a 27″ waist and 37″ hips. This often leaves me perplexed and frustrated in the fitting room… I can wear anything from a 2 to a 6, depending on the garment and designer.  Petite sizes are the perfect length, but are often too narrow across my hips and derriere. Average sizes fit my curves but are too long. The ideal solution would be to bring everything I buy to a tailor and have it custom-fitted. Or take up sewing. But time and my bank account don’t allow for such extravagances, so I just make do.

eShakti contacted me a few months ago and offered to send me a piece of my choice from their dress collection, customized to fit my size and my style. I was intrigued; could this be an answer to my fit conundrum? I was surprised to find a really wide selection of apparel and super cute handbags. Each apparel item is available in ready-to-wear, but for a small fee of $7.50 any piece can be custom-fitted to order. You can specify your measurements, preferred hem length, and — on many pieces — color. {Psst, customization is free on your first order!}

It was nice to pick a dress I loved, skip the fitting room, plug in my measurements, and slip it on upon arrival and have it fit like a glove. A girl could get used to this made-to-order thing…