The Joy Of Clothes Shaped Like You Are
Posted by Jen Anderson on
Last weekend, I watched an old movie and the main character went to visit his tailor. He'd gained a little weight after quitting smoking and the tailor told him there were only 2 options - go on a diet or take up smoking again. I yelled at the TV screen, "or you could alter the clothes!! What's the point of a tailor if they're going to tell you to change your body to suit the clothes?!"
I mean, come on fictional 1960s tailor. Are you seriously going to fat shame the famously slender Tony Randall? Is no one safe from this nonsense?
Longtime readers won't be surprised by my outburst. My long suffering husband certainly wasn't.
My #1 Style Secret
Wearing clothes that accommodate your body will have you looking much better than trying to alter your body to accommodate your clothes. Or trying to use clothes to make your body look different than it is. This one rule leaves you comfortable and confident all day long. You won't be distracted by worries that you don't look good, or by having to adjust your clothes over and over again.
It's OK Not To Be Hourglass Shaped
Most of us are apple or pear shaped, which means that the lower half of our bodies are bigger than the upper half. So why not wear styles that celebrate this fact? I'm not suggesting we exaggerate our shapes, but emphasize them.
I know this goes against so much of what you've been told, so it's fine if you need to take a few deep breaths here.
Fit Is All About The Shoulders
If a top fits you properly across the shoulders, then it fits. So tops like our Handkerchief Hem Tunic and our 2 Pocket Swing Tunic have a lot of volume without being shapeless or oversized. They also have the advantage of never ever being too tight across the stomach or hips. Plus they're fun and swishy, like your favorite party dress but casual enough for everyday wear.
These styles don't make you look bigger. Because they're more closely-fitted at the shoulders, it's obvious that your clothing is providing any added volume.
I often advise anyone with a bit of a tummy (apples, apple pears, etc.) to wear separates thoughtfully. You want something that won't cut across your curves - which includes your stomach as much as your hips or bust. Tunics are long enough that this isn't an issue. And an A-Line shape ensures that the top fits you properly all over.
Slimming Is Overrated
These styles won't make you look thinner than other styles. Poor fitting clothes (either too tight or too baggy) certainly make you look bigger than you are. So in that sense, these styles are slimming. But no clothing will ever make you visibly thinner than you are.
Sure, shapewear can squeeze you in by an inch or so, but that inch is distributed all around your body. Visually, shapewear can smooth your body's topography, but it can't make you look slimmer.
You Get To Choose
You're not required to follow my style advice, but the same goes for every other bit of style advice you've heard over the years. If you shy away from styles that mimic your natural shape, think about why you do that. Are you the one really calling the shots or are you obeying a bunch of magazine articles you read in your teens and twenties? These same articles treated plus size as a distinct body shape - which it isn't - so maybe they were inaccurate in other ways.