Figure-Tastic Dressing - Tips and Advice on Clothes that Enhance Your Figure
Dressing to suit your figure type, clothes to flatter your figure
We’ve all seen women who always manage to look chic, pulled-together and infuriatingly perfect! But look further - chances are they don’t have the perfect figure. Most likely they’ll dress to enhance their best features and play down the bits of their bodies they don't like so much.
Fancy employing some of their tricks? Read on and find out how to flatter your particular shape. You too can look and feel your best.
Top Tips for Flattering your Shape
Tip 1: As a general rule use darker colours on areas of your body you'd like to play down and lighter colours on areas you'd like to enhance. For example, if you are looking to downplay your hips or thighs, try pairing black or dark trousers with a white or light-coloured blouse. The blouse will draw eyes up toward your bust, shoulders, and neck.
Tip 2: Use fabric prints to slim and shape your body. Solid colours are a great wardrobe staple but prints lend your outfits some real individuality. Use a fabric print with a dark background to slim your body or a print with an all-over, swirling pattern to prevent eyes from resting on any one place.
Tip 3: Shiny fabrics can add glamour to special events but they tend to draw attention to any figure flaws. Duller, matt fabric finishes are best for minimising heavier areas and making you appear generally smaller. If you like the effect of a shiny fabric but not its enlarging effect, try it in a muted or dark colour for a slimmer profile.
Tip 4: Get your underwear right. A great fitting bra will lift and support for a more youthful profile. Shape enhancing underwear such as ‘Magic knickers’ or the ‘Spankeys’ beloved of celebrities big and small, will slim bottoms, tums and thighs. For the full low-down, visit our underwear pages.
Tip 5: Any extra detail that’s added to an outfit (e.g. belts, embroidery, shirring, ties, etc.) will grab attention. Try using details to draw eyes toward flattering features and away from less desirable areas. For example, if you have great breasts, fabric shirring at the bust will keep attention where you want it! For more info, visit our accessories pages
Chic Shorties
If you’re short, avoid horizontal stripes, wearing too many colours at once, too many or big accessories, or bags slung across the body.
Stay clear of the fashionable layered look. Too many different things going on in an outfit visually 'chops you up' and makes you appear shorter. So keep things simple for a streamlined and lengthening effect.
Short skirts look great on petites, so get those legs out.
Matching tights and shoes elongate the leg and a heel will help add height.
Don't wear trousers with turn-ups or wide legs. Don't buy trousers that are too long and chop them; that only alters the fit and not for the better.
Avoid short A-line skirts and large prints.
Do wear outfits in one colour and slim-fitting straight-leg trousers. You can look more edgy by wearing a skirt, tights and shoes in the same tones. Wear simple lines and keep to small accessories.
Do scour petite ranges and teenage girls' sections. Wear one button jackets done up above the waistline.
Bodacious Beanpoles
If you’re tall, slender and leggy, you can wear most styles (grrr….!). Many otherwise hard-to-wear trends look fabulous on you, so be adventurous with skinny jeans, prints or clingy dresses.
Don't wear clothes with vertical lines, patterns or pinstripes.
Don't wear one colour head to toe or crop tops. Don't carry tiny handbags or wear small earrings or necklaces.
Do wear low kitten heels rather than completely flat shoes. Try layering and skirts with a frill around the bottom or a patterned hem.
Do wear low-waisted bootcut or straight-leg trousers and jeans. You can carry off bigger handbags and ones you wear across your body.
Do buy clothing that is long enough and fits properly. There are many high street and specialist clothing companies offering Tall clothing ranges.
Busty and Beautiful
If you have large breasts, avoid wearing a too-small bra and spilling over the top (the infamous double-boob effect)! To get it right, check out our underwear pages.
Don't wear tops with ruffles or pastel shades, thin spaghetti straps, delicate camisole tops or complicated necklines.
Don't wear bulky tops, necklines that are too revealing, tops in spangly fabrics or sloppy casual tops that cling. Watch out for 'pulling' on shirts.
Do wear subtle v-neck tops that hint at cleavage, dark colours in matt fabrics on your top half, and tailored shirts.
Wear wide-leg, bootleg trousers or fuller skirts to balance your heavier top half. Try scoop necklines in plain fabrics.
Fabulous Flatties
If you have small breasts don't just assume any bra with padding will work and look convincing. It must fit so the seams and padding aren’t obvious. Check out our underwear pages.
Don't go bra-less under flimsy fabrics.
Do wear jewellery such as chokers that detract from a flat chest and balance your outfit.
Halterneck tops are great for giving shoulder width. Check out our accessories pages.
Do wear pretty tops or dresses with spaghetti straps. Other good choices include curvy jackets nipped in at the waist, tops in lighter fabric than your bottom half, coat dresses and ballet-style cardigans.
Plush Posteriors
If you have large hips or thighs, avoid bias cut skirts or dresses that cling, narrow-leg trousers or jeans, flat shoes, any kind of cropped top or tapered knee-length skirts.
Don't wear cargo pants or combats with side pockets, jackets or coats with belts that will flare out over your hips or belts that cinch the waist.
Do wear bootleg or flare-cut dark denim stretch for a relaxed line over curves. Combine with heels, low-slung belts and fine-knit cardigans with just the top button done up.
Do wear close-fitting denim skirts to below the knee with split, baggy cotton or parachute trousers and knee-length jackets with structured shoulders that will balance out a heavier bottom half. Take out pockets in trousers or sew them down.
Don't wear light colours below your waist. Also avoid shiny fabrics, leather trousers or thin heels.
Don't wear oversized, baggy or men's trousers, jeans with detailing and pockets, short skirts, anything half a size too small.
Do wear looser fitting, lower slung trousers that skim, longer length jackets that end below your bottom in a single breasted simple shape and open-toe shoes.
Do wear dark colours on your bottom half. Jeans in dark denim stretch will minimise baggy waist problems, or try trousers with no back pockets and pinstripe trousers. Try tying a thin knit cardigan round your waist for chic and casual camouflage.
Cuddly Tummies
If you have a large tummy don't wear skirts or dresses in flimsy fabrics that offer no support, drawstring waist trousers or low-cut hipsters, elastic waist tops, big prints or tiny floral prints.
Avoid support knickers that are too small or tops that contain lycra - they just emphasise spare tyres. Don't wear tops designed to be tucked in.
Do wear denim skirts with a zip or buttons at the front - the fabric really holds your stomach in.
Do wear shirts or cardigans with buttons, leaving the last three or four unbuttoned to skim over tummy. Wear longer length jackets, trousers that zip at the side and flat-fronted skirts.
Dropped waist skirts are great.
Do wear big chunky belts slung around the lower stomach, long and lean stretch jeans to elongate your body and slightly low-slung waistbands.
Plump legs/ankles
If you have plump legs or ankles don't wear mid-length skirts that end at your calves, short mini skirts, calf-length or ankle boots, light coloured or shiny tights. Don't let your hem end at the fattest part of your leg.
Avoid very delicate strappy shoes, ankle straps or ankle chains. Don't wear heels above 2.5 inches if you are a size 4 or under - you'll just look off balance.
Do wear wedges, low-cut shoes, black knee-length boots in suede or stretch fabric (if they won't do up around calves). Skirts that end just below the knee make lower legs look longer.
Do wear sandals with broader straps across the foot to disguise puffy ankles. Wear dark coloured plain tights or fake tan.
Baby Bumps
If you’re pregnant don't hide under smocks and tunics.
Stretchy jumper dresses create an uncluttered line.
Wear a wrap top or dress - adjust as necessary. Bias-cut and wrap dresses are a real maternity favourite as they have more 'give'.
Empire-line dresses are ideal to wear on their own or over loose fitting maternity trousers.
Ballet pumps are perfect for comfort and style.
Avoid crop tops, which can look a little tacky!
Do YOU have any tips on how to flatter your figure? Why not share them? Click here to visit our forums or post a comment below.
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