In the business of making clothes fit shapes

Leonie Hastings from Havelock North, has a business tailioring clothing. Photo/Paul Taylor

EVERY WOMAN wants a wardrobe that is functional and fashionable, yet practical.
It's something which can be nearly impossible when you're buying clothes straight off the rack - enter new Havelock North business Tailored to Fit.
Leonie Hastings creates totally unique statement pieces from existing items, or uses small changes to ensure clothing suits your shape.
Her new venture goes a step beyond alteration to design - where the only limitation is imagination.
"Every woman has got something that they keep hold of, but never wear," she says.
It may be an ill-fitting jacket from the 1980s or a skirt you'd adore, if only it was a different cut.
"It could be something as simple as taking the sleeves off a dress, if you love the fabric, it's worth looking at something you have already got."
Women often make the mistake of thinking something didn't suit - when, in reality, just a few inches off the hemline or some additional fabric could mean a total transform. And with no set regulations on sizing in New Zealand, "small", "medium" and "large" can vary dramatically, making fit difficult to determine, especially when buying online.
"Fashion is very figure-specific - you might like the latest prints but the cut doesn't look any good.
"To me, fashion is clothing that fits well; something you feel good in. It's really easy to make a small alteration, there are lots of little tricks of the trade."
Leonie enjoys the idea of reinventing garments to fulfil a new purpose - something she has put to good use in her own wardrobe. A skirt with a vibrant cotton insert was once a merino top, changed to survive another season, then altered once more and handed down to her 8-year-old daughter.
"Any garment can be made into something else, within reason," she says.
Clothing with sentimental value can be kept in one form or another - her totally worn-out denim jacket is now a shoulder bag - with every piece put to good use.
Originally from Canterbury, the mum-of-two studied fashion design in Otago, before heading to the UK on an OE, and spending time away from the sewing machine.
After returning to New Zealand she worked for Swanndri, then joined a design team at Macpac that created prototypes for backpacks and sleeping bags.
From there she went on to work at Grace & Lace, a specialty bridal store in Christchurch, where brides-to-be could select a fabric, and have a dress design mocked up. "We would put them in touch with a dressmaker, but if there was a pattern I really liked, I would make it."
Having worked with many different textural mediums, from industrial fabric to delicate lace, Leonie is well equipped to take on any challenge.
Eventually her dream is to have a line of hard-wearing, well-tailored merino pieces - but not before getting herself established.
"I love merino because it's comfortable, it has stretch, it doesn't pill ... but that is definitely in the distant future."
# To contact Leonie at Tailored to Fit, call 021 443 130 or email leonie.parker@xtra.co.nz