Right Size for Shapes

Dear Glinda:

Seriously! What is going on? How do I buy the right size for my shape? This stuff is so confusing! One person says pears can’t do this and apples can’t do this – what’s the real deal here?

Lost in the Department Store

Dear LDS:

It’s a total matter of trial and error. Too often women overly hide what they dislike about their body which causes them to look worse not better. It’s kind of basic if you wear something loose wear something else fitted. This is honestly all about proportions.

If you are bottom or top heavy your natural inclination is to “hide” the problem area by draping it in obscene amounts of fabric – this is bad. All it does is make people go “why is there all that fabric there and why does it look like she has the ass of a tractor/legs of a elephant/is she pregnant?” these are not good thoughts. When you are trying to “hide” all you are doing is taking a big ol spot light and shining it bright on the “issue”.

Okay so here it goes. If you have wide thighs or hips you are going to want to purchase only flat front trousers. I swear to Gucci if I see a pleat I will kill you – pleats are like little loud speakers that broadcast your big hips with every step. They don’t camouflage they draw attention. Okay so back to pants. Now this may seem counterintuitive but you actually want to buy a fitted pant. You want something that is more fitted and then lies straight down. This is commonly referred to as a stove pipe leg. What this is going to do is give you one long unbroken line from hip to foot. This creates the illusion of height and symmetry all the way down your body. Now I know it seems wrong but believe me it is SO right.

Now for tops. Many of us (okay every single woman on the planet) is uncomfortable with their mid section. Many chose blousy tops and over sized shirts to hide the “problem area”. Again all this does is draw attention and make the area look larger then it is. Again, this is going to seem counterintuitive, but you need to buy tops that fit. You may go up a size but not to the point that you look as though you are in a tent. The point is to see the curve of your body. Babydoll tops can be great for concealing a midsection but you have to be careful because if the top is too loose you will just end up looking pregnant. I following the rule that if the top is loose or babydoll I buy one to two sizes down. It allows you to still have the tummy coverage you want while not looking pregnant. I tend to look for them to only have a minimal amount of excess fabric around the midsection you want it to skim the body not float around you like an orbiting planet.

Fashionably,

Glinda,