By Lesley Kennedy

Ever take a look at your closet and wonder just how it is that you can have piles and piles of clothes, but absolutely nothing to wear?

Maybe the question should be, who doesn't?

According to a new survey conducted by Talbots, 80 percent of women are not wearing at least a quarter of the clothes in their closets.

Why is that? Well, it might just come down to fit. The survey says women ages 35 and up know what size they are, but they don't know their measurements. And in a time where one label's size 6 is another label's size 10, that can make shopping beyond frustrating.

Consider the following:

• 56 percent cited fit as the main reason for not wearing their clothes more often.

• 62 percent admitted to not knowing their own measurements.

• 62 percent said they only consider clothes in their specific size when shopping.

• 85 percent of women determine if something fits them by looking at the size tag.

• Among the respondents willing to try a larger size, 40 percent indicated one size up was their limit, and less than 20 percent said they would be willing to try two sizes up in their quest for the best fit.

• Women are not likely to check the manufacturer's size chart against their own measurements. Only 16 percent said they regularly check the size chart when shopping in a store, and nearly 19 percent said they did only when shopping online or via catalog.

• Only 6 percent of the women surveyed said they wear all of their clothes on a regular basis.

• More than 40 percent admitted to buying clothes they planned to fit into when they lose weight, while 33 percent said the clothes in their closet were too small.

• 36 percent said they owned unworn apparel that needed to be tailored, while 20 percent said their unworn clothes no longer suited their lifestyle.

• The survey found women shop for size yet have "fat clothes" (60 percent) and "skinny clothes" (60 percent), while what they desire are clothes that are comfortable but shapely.

So, what's the lesson learned here? If you want to actually wear your clothes, rather than let them gather dust in your closet, ignore the size on the tag, and go for fit.

And, if you have to go up a size or two, and can't stand to see a 12 where you think an 8 should be, just cut that stupid tag out. We won't tell.

(Contact Lesley Kennedy of the Rocky Mountain News at www.rockymountainnews.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)