When I was a girl, I loved Barbie. Scratch that, I wanted to be Barbie. Why? Well, for starters, she was tall, blonde and beautiful. She had a perfect body, and she maintained that figure without the toil of grueling workouts or the expense of a personal trainer.
Best of all, in my eyes, she had a fabulous wardrobe…every piece custom-made… to tackle even the most challenging aspects of her day, including shopping, sunbathing, and dinner dates with her equally-perfect boyfriend, Ken.
Then, I grew up and reality set in. I learned that at 5’ 9” tall, Barbie would have a 36-inch chest, an 18-inch waist and 33-inch hips. And, after working with many women of various ages and lifestyles, I can attest that not one of them is built like Barbie, and that every one of them has a flawed figure (at least, in their eyes).
The good news is that looking your best doesn’t mean having Barbie’s body. It means knowing what to wear to flatter your body. Following are styles to consider for your ‘figure challenges.’
Well-Endowed
Open necklines such as V-neck, round-neck and/or sweetheart necklines
Empire-waist or wrap styles
Fitted jackets with tight waists and narrow lapels
Dark tops and jackets
Solid or simple patterns
Not-So-Well-Endowed
Higher necklines (including turtlenecks)
Cut-away sleeves or long sleeves
Halter tops or backless tops
Breast pockets
Heavy Arms
Three-quarter-length sleeves
Bell-shaped sleeves
Long sleeves or those that end just above the elbow
Raglan, dolman or kimono sleeves
Sleeves that taper to the wrist
Narrow Shoulders
Shoulder pads
V-necks or boat-necks
Collared shirts
Breast pockets and lapels
Structured, tailored styles
Broad Shoulders
Raglan sleeves
V-neck styles
Dark tops
No Waist
V-neck or sweetheart necklines
Tailored, fitted styles
Lower-waisted bottoms
Longer shirts and jackets
Pooch-y Tummy
Longer or shirt-tail hems
Empire-waist styles
Ruching fabrics
Low-waisted bottoms
Tailored, fitted styles
Large Bottoms
Wide-leg or boot-cut slacks and jeans
Lower-waisted bottoms
Flared or pencil skirts
Tailored jackets with narrow waistlines
Dark-colored bottoms
Short Legs
Wide-leg or boot-cut slacks and jeans
High-waisted dresses
Three-quarter-length coats
Long skirts
Medium-to-high heels
Saddlebags
Wide-leg or boot-cut slacks and jeans
A-line skirts
Three-quarter-length jackets
More Figure Flattering Tips:
Invest in a good tailor and have your clothes altered for the best possible fit.
Wearing the same color, or different tones of the same color on the top and bottom (also known as a 'column of color') creates the illusion that you’re taller and thinner. Wear this look by itself or underneath a longer jacket or cardigan sweater.
If you are short-waisted, stick with lower waistlines, and if you are long-waisted, look for higher waistlines.
Wear bright colors to draw attention to the most attractive features of your figure.
Choose patterns wisely – those with petite figures should pick small patterns and vice versa.
Dawn Mellon is a Dallas-based stylist. Contact her at dmellon7964@msn. for your styling needs.
