I was just thinking about this situation yesterday.
I have *several* gorgeous dresses (evening gown type) that fit my body perfectly slinkily, that, however, I have never worn, that languish in my bedroom, because they are too long. I would trip over them. They fit the rest of me but I am too short for them. I don't know how to sew and I haven't been able to save up $ to have them altered. What I really need is to find someone who wants to barter for skills I can offer. Anything from proofreading/editing/beta reading/writing/dictation/transcription to personal assisting to child or pet care to gardening or rides to places or anything at all. Anyway the few times I have paid to have dresses shortened what I have done is have them make "wraps" out of the cut-off material. Did this for my cousin's wedding last year, worked out well (she's Orthodox Jewish, so I had to cover my arms).
Another problem I have is that most of the clothes that fit me are in the "teen" sections and "teen" stores and sometimes the stores clerks look at me funny for being there since I am neither a teen nor the parent of a teen.
Back when I did wear jeans I used to have to get boys' as I wasn't curvy enough for girls'.