If you’re an hourglass then you have a classically elegant shape that is the very essence of femininity. You are lush and curvaceous and just all round sexy. Lucky you! For making the most of your curves remember:
- Don’t cover up! Accept you’re a red hot sexy woman and work with it. To cover up is to look frumpy and bigger.
- Forget clingy clothes as well. For you there’s a fine line between awesomely hot and tragically trashy. Fit is everything – you clothes should skim your shape showing your amazing silhouette.
- Accent your waist. Lift up your bust, slim down your belly and hips and keep all eyes on your waist.
- Opt for open necklines and low necklines. V-necks, scoop necks or sweetheart necklines are great – really anything that shows your collarbones will work.
- A-line dresses with fitted tops and waists will look fabulous.
- Stay away from stretchy jersey dresses as they’ll show far too many lumps and bumps.
- Wear a dress with a belt at your waist to highlight your waist.
- A wrap dress is great because it can be adjusted to fit your proportions.Avoid any pencil shape skirts or dresses that narrow at the knees – they will over emphasize your hips.
- A-line skirts with fitted waists are a good option.
- Shorts and skirts should finish at your knee line to show your sexy calves.
- When looking for tops think fitted – anything that fits below your chest. Wrap tops are particularly good, as is anything in a corset shape.
- Open neckline always. Anything high necked like a polo shirt will make you look like frumpy and bigger.
- Avoid loose, square-cut knits as they will mask your waist. For the same reason think twice before buying an empire line top.
- Belts will work great to accent your waist, BUT, be careful if you are bigger. They can make you look like a loaf of bread that’s been squished in the middle.
- Opt for high waisted, wide legged trousers. This will skim hips, hiding any unsightly bumps and lumps but emphasizing your waist.
- Avoid cropped pants – they make your legs look shorter and wider.
- Straight leg or parallel cut trousers will suit you, as will a men’s cut, but remember, fit is everything.
- Jeans should be plain and dark. Any detailing on the front will make your hips and thighs look bigger.
- Classic straight cut jeans are your best option. Aim for the waistband fitting just below your belly button to avoid ‘muffin top’.
- Jackets should be short and fitted to flatter your waist and make your legs look longer.
- Look for jackets with vertical princess seams to really flatter and make you look thinner.
- Avoid double breasted jackets or those that button up to the neck. Open is always better.
- Wear pants and jeans a little longer over your shoes so you can boost height with a heel.
- Avoid round toes ballet pumps. They will make your legs look shorter and wider. Instead opt for a pointed toe with a kitten heel. Or heels; heels will always suit your classically elegant shape.
About Lisa
OMG…the hints for what to wear for a curvy figure is DEAD on. I have looked for a comprehensive list to take on the road shopping with me, I have found it and will live like’s it’s my fashion bible!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Shonene
Yeah, everything’s great but.. the jeans. It’s not the best but by far the worst short women (like me) can wear. You gave here an example of Trinny&Susannah’s body shapes and they point-blank say the same. The trousers need to be long and WIDE at the bottom. In trousers like those above, legs are exposed exactly as they are, which is short, unfortunately. http://www.trinnyandsusannah.com/rules/shortlegs/trousers
Sorry, wrong article.
Since I’m big on top and big on the bottom. I love the jean Idea I should try it.
Because, you said, I’m a rectangle, but all my evidence points to curvy, and an hourglass.
The answer I have always hated…
But yea, because I’m short, it’s good to create the illusion of longer legs.
Thanks for this, I wonder when our shape will come back into fashion so that when we wear what suits us we don’t get labelled a fifties (or seventies!) throwback (if we can find it to buy it!) You’ve pointed out that this (never-ending) trend for baggy tops with skinny jeans and ballet flats is not our best look and it’s true imo!
You rightly advise against cropped trousers, but fitted capris to just over the knee can be nice
Wish belts were less tricky too, as finding dresses with the right fit at the waist -without being skintight- can be challenging; a 2″ belt if it’s curved and not too stiff or bulky can work for me…
Thanks again for your good advice.