I have a bunch of clothes that need to be taken in by at least a couple of inches. They are way too nice to give a way and I don't want to part with them yet, so my ma has offered to alter them for me, so I'm pretty lucky there. I used to be a real sewing enthusiast but I've lost interest altogether.

I have a few things. 1 is a pair of wool trousers I bought in Ireland. They were expensive, and gorgeous, and I'm hanging on to them with hopes I can get them altered when I'm done. I have a collection of Irish wool sweaters, too. Not sure if anything can be done about them. And a couple cashmere sweaters, too. Pretty much everything else I was happy to shrink out of.

My winter coat is a size 18. I'm not particularly enamoured with it but it's the only one I have and I live in the tropics where there are only two seasons (wet and dry- both hot!), so I keep it for occasions when I'm in a temperate country for winter. I've tried to do "fun" things with it like belt it etc but meh... I don't see how it can be altered. It's obviously a too-big coat and it doesn't make sense to invest in another.

I have 2 pairs of jeans (one trouser jean and one skinny-fit straight leg jean) however, which I love which are are a both US 10. They stay up on if I wear a belt, but everything I love about the fit that made them my favourite jeans is lost and it's not the same anymore. Tailors are plentiful and cheap here, but I've had jeans altered before, and they never fit exactly the same. I find dresses and skirts tend to hold up better to alterations.

I've had to let a few favourites go with a heavy heart, but they just look silly on me now and aren't suitable for altering. Sob.

I've also just found the coolest top in a shop and keep going back to look at it - unfortunately for me it's in the plus size section only and 3 sizes too big, but I keep going back in the vague hope it will suddenly fit, lol.