Undergarments now seem designed to shape the body invisibly, because clothing is so much lighter, thinner, and sheerer, and offers less coverage. I see women wearing clothes to the office that you wouldn't have dared to wear in public 30 years ago. If you are wearing just a thin jersey dress, you need sleek lingerie that doesn't show through. Now bras and panties are seamless, with "no show" edges and everything is elasticized.

Oh, dang, I meant JOYCE not "Jean." I'm sorry!

Just sign me,

Ms. Baggy Pants

I would love to take this workshop. I have struggled for decades to sew pants for myself, and I just cannot get the fit right. I have tried the Palmer/Pletsch approach, and it's helpful, but not perfect. (Their advice seems aimed mainly at overweight/out-of-shape older women, and if that's not you, their advice is not quite on the mark.)

$650 is a very reasonable price! With only three participants, I'll be sure to get the instructor's attention--I won't have to wait my turn behind 15 or 20 other students, like I have to in the community college sewing classes I've taken.

And the expert will draft the pattern for me instead of simply supervising me drafting my own. I've take that kind of class too, and the pattern did not fit me, but I couldn't get the teacher's steady attention to fix the fit. Then the class was over, and I was out both time and cost, still with no pants that fit.

I'm somewhat ashamed to see the derogatory comments on here, saying that $650 is "staggering" and so on. If Jean is an expert in her field, she OUGHT to be well paid. Don't you want to be well paid for your expertise? I suppose when you need surgery, you shop for the cheapest surgeon? I don't. When I need a job done well, I expect to pay well. And when I do a job well, I expect to be paid well. I'm glad that Jean can make a living from her skills.

I have spent far more than $650 over the years on pants that did not fit me, both storebought and sewn. If I could pay $650 for a custom pattern that truly fit me, it would be a savings. I would love to feel confident in pants that don't sag, pull, wrinkle, and bunch. I'd pay $650 to solve this years-long problem.

If you can buy off the rack, lucky you. But don't begrudge a skilled sewing professional reasonable pay for her expertise. Jean, sign me up. SOON.

I've never heard of those two businesses. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Kenneth!

You can look at the website here:

http://www.monabismarck.org/current.html

and order the exhibit catalog here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marie-José-Savoie-Reine-Luciano-Regolo/dp/2873862416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259697333&sr=1-1

Gorgeous! Thank you, Susan, for bringing this to our attention!