Reader Request: Adjusting to Formfitting Clothing

by Sally on February 14, 2020 in the category: body image, proportion, psychology, reader requests, style

Emily e-mailed this request:

I wonder if you’d be interested in doing a post about the discomfort, early discomfort anyway, involved in making the right choices for your body type. When you wear flattering clothes, clothes that fit to the body, well, they show the body shape. And as many many guests on What Not to Wear show with their reactions to belts and waisted dresses, it’s uncomfortable, at first, to wear things on your waist when you’ve been hiding your waist under baggier clothes, or bloused clothes, or what have you. read more

Originally posted 2012-07-30 06:24:30.

Counter-intuitive Figure Flattery Advice

by Sally on July 23, 2019 in the category: style

Dressing to flatter your figure can be a tricky business. And I don’t just mean for those of you who define your own figure flattery priorities and chuck the traditional ones because they don’t suit your tastes and needs. Even if you choose to dress in a way that aligns with the current set of stylistic mandates – even if you dress to create a tall, balanced, slim-looking figure – your task can feel confusing and challenging because certain bits of stock style advice may not work for your unique figure. And even more confusingly, other bits may go against your fashion-y instincts. read more

Originally posted 2011-06-17 06:23:13.

Reader Request: Professional Style for Figures With Larger Hips

by Sally on February 6, 2018 in the category: proportion, reader requests, style

Reader Karin sent me this request via email:

I am a 43 year old woman returning to work after 10 years out raising children. I am looking to return to mid-level corporate management, so a fairly traditional atmosphere. I am a chubby pear. Bust size 12, waist size 14, hips size 16/18. The full skirts, tighter shirts combinations that are generally flattering on my figure look a little bit too “1950s Picnic,” for a corporate office. I just look dumpy in the sheath dresses and trouser/blouse combos that seem so of the moment. read more

Originally posted 2015-04-09 06:22:10.