Ya know what I hate?  Being tiny. 

You just rolled your eyes, didn't you?  Yeah, I know.  I get that reaction a lot.  Usually from taller or heavier or less *ahem* endowed people who tell me how they'd love to be my size.  You wouldn't.  Trust me.

I am 4' 10" tall (just an inch past requiring a booster seat, by law).  My weight persistently fluctuates between 110 and 120 lbs (I wear somewhere between a size 3 and 6).  I wear a size 5-6 in women's shoes and a size 2-4 in children's.  Chesticly-speaking, I'm a 36D. 

Buying clothing is ridiculously troublesome.  If I shop the women's department, pants and dresses are always too long, and shirts often fit longer than they should, as well.  I can shop in the children's department, but then I have the issue of finding something that doesn't make me look (more) like a 12-year-old and fits in the chest area.  Some of the department stores sell petites, but the general consensus there seems to be that the only short people in the world are little old ladies or folks with no fashion sense whatsoever. 

Shoes?  Thankfully, I don't have quite as much trouble buying shoes as I do buying clothing.  But it still makes me want to scream, at times.  Especially when buying dress shoes, as a 6 is often a bit too long and anything smaller is virtually impossible to find.  And children's shoes?  See above.

So shopping for normal, every-day clothing is often an enormous pain in the arse.  Now let's try shopping for costume items!  This is where things get really fun...

I spent most of the day today doing research and shopping around for the various components of my upcoming Abel costume(s).  Which is the impetus for this rant.  Let us take a look at some of the individual componets:

The Pattern:  I've decided on using Simplicity's pattern for the Matrix coat (http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=5386).  Now, this is handy 'cuz I happen to already have this pattern.  I've also already used this pattern.  So I know, right off the bat, that I'm going to have to shorten it by a foot or two and, for this particular costume, take it in a good deal.  And that's with the smallest size available.  *shakes fist*  Darn men's patterns!

The Boots:  These are driving me bonkers.  I found an awesome pair (http://www.charmedbymisty2.com/servlet/the-41/GOTHIC%2C-PUNK%2C-ROCK%2C-BIKER%2C/Detail) that I would love to use.  And holy balls, they actually come in my size!  *does a dance*  Problem is *stops dancing* they're not totally accurate.  And I am an obsessive perfectionist in terms of accuracy.  Also, they're not cheap ($104).  So I had the bright idea of getting a cheaper pair of plain ol' leather boots and adding the buckles and what-not.  The only women's boots I could find that weren't obviously girly weren't any cheaper.  And the only men's boots I could find didn't come in a small enough size.    

The Gloves:  Thanks to bridal stores, I may actually have solved this one.  As soon as I figure out whether my hands are closer in size to a 7 to 9-year-old or a 10 to 13-year-old.  Fortunately, I just needed simple, white gloves for this one.  Anything more exotic--say, fingerless or elbow-length vinyl or heck, just plain leather--and I'm essentially screwed.  The only way I can find such women's gloves in a size small enough to fit me is to pay an arm and a leg for them or hope I can find a vintage pair that will work.

The Glasses:  These should be no problem, right?  After all, thanks to John Lennon, and Harry Potter, there are round frames floatin' around all over the place.  That's right.  But let us remember two things:  1) I am an accuracy nut.  2) I'm tiny.

In regards to Point Number 1, none of the glasses I've found (including the ones sold by costume suppliers, specifically labeled as "Abel Nightroad Glasses") have the right bridge.  I have yet to start my researching/experimentation on this matter, but I may be able to fix that.  But then there's Point Number 2.  I am small.  My head is also small.  So your average, run-of-the-mill, adult-size glasses are likely to be too big.  They may technically fit my head and not fall off, but the diameter of the frames will probably still be too large.  I learned my lesson on this matter with my Vash glasses, which look awesome... until I put them on.  I defaulted to my usual method and started looking for children's glasses, but thus far, I have had no luck whatsoever finding any round children's glasses at all. 

Long story short, I'm frustrated with fate for making me a perpetual child and angry with the world at large for their "serve the majority; screw the minority" mentality.  This is not an easy costume to begin with.  I have enough hurdles to leap in regards to its construction.  The last thing I need to deal with is sizing issues in regards to the purchased pieces.  Blarg!

*sigh*

But I will prevail.  It's what I always do.  If I can't leap the hurdle, I'll find a way around it.  I just wish they wouldn't make the damn things so tall.  *trudges off to find a step-ladder*