Tim Gunn's Budget Fashion Strategy

Although Michael Kors has said that women shouldn't expect ready-to-wear clothes to fit, fellow Project Runway celebrity Tim Gunn remarked in a video on Bravotv.com that he saves money by buying many of his clothes "right off the rack" at Banana Republic, a fashion retailer that offers both men's and women's clothing, including petites.

Finding clothes that fit well proves a more difficult task for petites than for women who wear regular sizes simply because there are fewer options available for petites. Compare the size of the petites department with other store offerings next time you visit your favorite department store, and you'll see what I mean.

So we know we face a shopping challenge, but finding clothing lines that fit without alterations is well worth the effort because you can stop spending time and money on alterations. Or if you've been "making do" without altering clothes that really don't fit correctly, you can improve your appearance in styles that fit you well. If you're one of the lucky ones, you'll be able to buy "right off the rack" just as Tim Gunn does.

Pictured: Tim Gunn, Project Runway mentor
Photo Credit: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images