Let’s not be alarmed but Summer is coming. September holidays are here and beach days along with them.
The cozy winter weight was meant to have shifted on by now. Unfortunately, my wishful thinking method has failed spectacularly. I know I need to add some much need exercise to my routine (and less Tim Tams). But while I’m waiting for that to work, I thought I’d share some ways to flatter your figure.
I almost called this post “Dressing Yourself Slim”, but truth is dressing in a flattering way has absolutely nothing to do with your size. It has everything to with how you use your shape and your confidence. I’ll show you some ideas to emphasise what you have and subtle tricks to create curves where you want them. But most of all, the key is making sure that the eye is drawn to your lovely face. You should aways remain the star in any outfit.
To be honest, the only reason I have realised what works for me is because I take part in #everydaystyle on instagram and now have a visual guide to what outfits seem to drop the kilos.
Even if you don’t want to post your OOTD to instagram, a quick snap of your outfit in the morning is a really useful tool in figuring out exactly what suits you. As they say, the camera doesn’t lie. Well, maybe it does after a few filters are applied, but you get my drift.
This what works for me…
The perfect length skirt/shorts
If a skirt hits me at just the right point, the magic happens. It’s the same for longer style shorts. There is a particular point (for me it’s just above the knee, particularly with full styles) where it just works. Everyone will have a different point where a skirt seems to transform into a wondrous thing – pop in front of a mirror, play with the hem of skirt your already own and find it.
Long singlet with cropped jacket
I have a long torso and this exaggerates it further. Long will always also look lean. The addition of a cropped jacket that finishes at my waist gives me definition.
Elongation
Following on from the idea of long = lean, by using a block colour or similar shades, you elongate the body. This is why nude coloured shoes are so slimming on the leg – they create that idea of length. You can also use long beads to create the same illusion. On fuller tops, they also give some shape to the body by virtue of their weight.
Billowing sleeves
For me, long and billowing sleeves are a nice balance against wider hips. They are also a great idea if you aren’t comfortable with your arms.
Highlighting the waist
Your natural waist is the point on your torso where you are slimmest. It can be very different from woman to woman. Whenever I draw in at the waist, it instantly adds shape and makes me appear slimmer. The garment might be naturally fitted, or I’ll wear a belt or use a jacket or cropped top that finishes at the line I want to draw attention to.
Using panels
I helped my gorgeous sister, who has recently had a baby, with some corporate outfits for an event she assisted me with. She’s VERY tall (I’m standing a step beside her here) and is currently breastfeeding. We shopped her wardrobe for a printed jersey dress she hadn’t worn before and a short, black trench coat, worn belted but slightly open to reveal the print as a panel. The belt emphasised her waist, while the open jacket provided panelling in slimming black.
Highlights near face
Whether it’s a gorgeous necklace or a flattering shade of white — I will try to bring the focus back to my face. Bring the eye to where you want people to notice.
These are good tips! 🙂 I definitely find black really slimming – my black breastfeeding singlets were great go-tos in the postpartum days, haha! 🙂
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I found that I keep the top pretty plain and simple when feeding and then had fun with the bottom half – which was bit less limited (aside from the baby weight!)
These are great tips! I use longline tops and v necks to length and flatter my shape.
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V Necks are another great tip. Most flattering neckline on most people I think.
With me being 37 weeks pregnant now, I think I will definitely be ‘dressing slim’ this summer as there is no way I will be able to loose all of my baby weight before it’s time to rock the frock and shorts.
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But you will have all those delicious new baby cuddles! Not long to go now.
Great tips – I really have to remember that belts exist! Love a good billowy sleeve in summer too.
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I LOVE belts – use them all the time to create shape.
Great tips! I’ve never tried paneling before but I like how it looks! I definitely need to give it a go! And you’re so right about the perfect skirt length, I’m like you and it’s right at my knees!
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Isn’t it strange that hem lines can make such a difference.
I think anyone of any size can dress well! Good taste fits anyone!
I like this because we should love our bodies how they are now. Doesn’t mean we might not want to improve some things, but we should put just as much love into how we dress as we would if we were our ideal shape or size.That philosophy has done wonders for me!
I learned that rolling up my jeans to just above the ankles has made my chubbier-than-I’d-like legs look that tiny bit more elongated and that thrills me!
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Good taste does suit everyone! And there are so many little tweaks that can make an outfit our own. The cuffing for elongation is brilliant.
YEs, yes and yes! Dressing should be fun no matter what size we are. I am in a similar boat filled with Tim Tams at the moment. haha. x
See you can’t be, because I’m pretty sure I ate ALL the tim tams 😉
SUCH a great post! So many fabulous tips and I love that not one of them included going to the gym 😉
Hahha – no, that won’t ever make it to a style post 😉
I have wide hips and thick thighs, on a 5’3″ short waisted body. I really struggle to find my style that suits me. What would compliment one area cuts off and shortens me, and makes me look wider overall. How do you know which rules to follow when you don’t fit the mould?
There are some guidelines (not a fan of rules 🙂 ) that work for everyone – the solid colour block and using necklaces etc. to elongate for example. What you want to do is aim for balance. So perhaps some wide legged, long pants might work for you with a top that extends your shoulders so that your top half doesn’t look disproportionate. I honestly think you just need to play – either in your wardrobe or out at the shops and keeping trying things on until you start to notice what works for you. That’s why I like the idea of taking photos every day – you gradually learn what works.
Holy shit. I know absolutely nothing about fashion but I’ve actually learnt a whole bunch of useful stuff here! I always wondered what the point of those tiny cropped jackets were. Now I know (and just to clarify, there is no sarcasm there whatsoever. LOL!)
Well, I am aiming for useful, so I’m chuffed 🙂 I have a bit of a problem with those cropped jackets – I own way too many of them. And I didn’t presume sarcasm, but that’s just my trusting nature, tee hee.