Style Your Body Shape

If you have a small bust then you need to go with sleek, chic clothes.

OPT FOR

• Halter necklines
• Crew necklines
• Subtle revelations (eg fitted blazer with nothing underneath)
• Girly details like ruffles, bows etc

AVOID

• Structured bodices
• Scoop necklines
• Clingy fabrics
• Corset style tops

CELEBRITIES WITH SMALL BUST

• Debra Messing
• Selma Blair
• Kylie Minogue
• Sarah Michelle Gellar

You know how sometimes you get up in the morning, chuck on some clothes, maybe try some different combinations, and create the perfect outfit for how you’re feeling. Mission accomplished – I look fabulous. Oh but wait, possibly this pair of jeans is not the best idea for work. Don’t give up just yet; any outfit can be dressed up, or as the stylists say, torn down.

A great piece of clothing makes a statement all by itself but it’s what it’s paired with that makes the outfit. Take for instance this sequined skirt that Rachel Bilson wore to a day-time event. Generally sequins are a strictly after-dark item but in this case the pairing with the very casual blouse, plain shoes and casual loose hair detracts from the formalness of the skirt. If she’d paired this with a dressier shirt, even a black shirt, she would have looked overdressed. It’s the boxiness of the shirt, the I’m-really-ordinary-ness of it that detracts from the movie-star-glamour of the skirt and vice versa. With anything other than the sequined shirt Rachel would have looked as if she were heading for the gym rather than making a public appearance.

In our example above re jeans for work the idea is to smarten up the jeans enough that they become suitable for work.

These great wide leg jeans will flatter big bottoms, wide hips and heavy thighs. The classic rise will cut across the stomach so will flatter larger bellies as well.

This elegant blazer is a three button blazer with a shaped hem. The tabs at the waist with bows and the detail stitching describe a slender waist and the deep open v-neck, notched collar will draw eyes upward and keep them there. It’s perfect for defining a waist and will work for a rectangle or someone wanting to conceal a little extra in the middle.

Pair the blazer with some classic jewelry to further dress up the jeans and simple classic pumps for a very dressy look that’s torn down by the jeans. It’s a great way to mix up day and evening wear.

Good shopping.
LISA

I just love the pattern on this dress. Patterns and detailing on the clothes you wear are a great way to add extra definition to your frame, to trick the eye into seeing what it is that you want it to see. For instance with this dress the eye is drawn first to the neckline of the dress where the v-neck cuts the body creating the illusion of slenderness (though it’s not much of an illusion on this particular model). The stripes change from being on an angle to vertical just below the breasts effectively reinforcing that slimming effect by creating an empire waist. From there the stripes look as if they flow straight down when actually the fabric is draped so the stripes on both the arms and the body of the garment are actually getting further apart as they go down giving the illusion that the model is straight up and down. Without the colored band on the skirt the effect of the stripes would be more apparent and the dress would look quite severe. The waves also add a hint of curviness in the lower part of the body to counteract the stripes. This is a cleverly designed dress, which is probably why it retailed for $1,000 (sold out now).

It’s amazing how much difference seams, patterns and just plain the way the garment is put together can work with your shape. Sometimes they flatter, make you look thinner, like the dress above, and sometimes they just work against you. So be aware of the detailing on your clothes.

Good shopping.

LISA

An A-line skirt is a skirt that flares out at the waist to a hem that is wider making, funnily enough, an A shape.

An A-line skirt will

• Create the illusion of curves on a straight frame
• Minimize hips
• Minimize a tummy
• Complement extra curvy frames

An A-line Skirt Will Suit

• The A-line skirt is the staple for every wardrobe as it’s a style that’s simple and easy to wear and will be flattering on all body types; BUT
• If you have a big butt be careful because some A-line skirts can billow out over the bottom making it appear bigger than it is

How To Wear It

• The best hem height is mid or just below your knee. Showing the upper curve of your calf makes your legs appear longer and thinner
• If you’re bigger on the bottom then make the skirt plain and darker colored and pair with an eye catching top
• An A-line is enormously versatile and can be worn in any number of ways:

FOR PLAY

Empire waisted tops are an ideal way to conceal a stomach as it’s cinched at your narrowest part giving the illusion of a small waist. The empire waist also creates length in the entire body. The halter neck draws the eyes up to the shoulders and bust and keeps it there with the bare shoulders look. The A-line skirt will offset any heaviness around the middle, bottom or thighs and give you extra curves. The knee length hem will display your shapely calves making your legs look longer (and therefore narrower) and the shoe will not interrupt the line of your leg as a strapped one would so will again make your look taller. This particular skirt is made of broderie anglaise which is a sturdy fabric which is great for those with a little extra curves as it helps keep things in place. Avoid this top if you have big breasts – it will be too difficult to carry off with class.

FOR WORK

This great outfit would be perfect for the pear or rectangle shaped lady. The A-line skirt is great for minimizing heavier thighs and bottoms and the jacket with it’s subtle horizontal pinstripe will add volume to the top half. The change to vertical stripes at the waist combined with the detailing where the two stripes meet gives the illusion of a curvy waistline. The monochromatic look will increase the length of your body and make your legs look longer. The shoes just make the whole outfit pop. This is an outfit that would work well for a petite lady as well because it is simple and will make you look taller. Be cautious if you are bigger on top as the pinstripe may make you look bigger again.

One of my biggest ‘pet peeves’ is that plus size clothing is so often shapeless and smock like, not to mention plain. It’s as if clothing shops decide if you’re over a size 14 you must be so ashamed that the only thing you want to do is cover up and fade into the background and in all honesty once upon a time that was an accurate estimation of how I felt. But not any more. Now I believe that I, like all big women are just the same as our slender, less curvy sisters … only, um, bigger. We need sexy, stylish clothes as much as the next woman.

Finding it can be a bit of a challenge, which is one of the reasons I started this website. I find I spend a lot of time going through clothing catalogs looking at individual items of clothing. Luckily I enjoy this or it would quite quickly become mind numbing. One of the things I find with most plus sized sites is that the majority of clothing is big, bulky and shapeless, with a few excellent items buried in the chaff. Again, since I enjoy the process it’s not that much of a hardship.

If you prefer to get straight to the point then www.curvety.com is the place to go. This is a United Kingdom based site offering clothes from size 16 to 36. They have a great range of clothes from designer dresses to your daily basics. Prices are mid-range and they will ship internationally.

The thing that I love about curvety.com is that almost everything in the catalog will work with a curvy shape. Curvy women are ultra feminine and there’s just no hiding it. Covering up is not a good strategy. We need to work with our curves and that means creating an hourglass silhouette. Much of what you find at curvety.com is going to help create those curves. Since all the models are plus-sized it’s easy to get an idea of how things will look.

Check out www.curvety.com today.

LISA

Plus size women’s Clothing Online shopping emporium of plus size womens clothing and lingerie with designer chic and a comfortable fit, offering plus size women out size fashion clothes that celebrate our curves!

Jennifer Love Hewitt in a casual yet feminine outfit on the 4th of July. The wide legged jeans are baggy and do a good job of distracting from the width of her hips and any saddlebags while the extra length covers her heels and makes her legs appear longer than they really are. The tiered top is ultra feminine, which perfectly reflects Jennifer’s style and it resists crossing over into girly territory with it’s simpleness. With a u shape neckline it opens up her chest drawing attention to her face which is great for Jennifer as shes quite .. um stacked. The sleeveless top keeps the eye very much centered on her top half.

On the downside this outfit could easily cross the line into frumpy without the right hair, jewellrey and makeup, or flat shoes with those ultra baggy pants. The layers could easily overwhelm such a small frame. but the length on the pants, combined with the heels gives Jennifer the extra height to make here whole body look longer.

This is a great casual outfit but could easily be turned into something a little more dressy with a different top and shoes.

If you’re petite, or as more commonly referred to, short, then you need to create long lean shapes.

OPT FOR

• Clean shapes
• Heels (but avoid heavy ankle straps)
• Compact accessories
• Extra long jeans and pants – wear them with heels and your legs look much longer

AVOID

• Anything that makes you look like a boy
• The ‘chop’ effect (division of top and bottom)
• Cuffed or cropped pants (including rolled jeans)
• Any sort of detailing that is ultra feminine (bows or ruffles)

PETITE CELEBRITIES

• Reese Witherspoon (slender)
• Alyssa Milano (slender)
• Jennifer Love Hewitt (pear shaped)
• Salma Hayek (big busted)
• Rene Zellweger (triangle)
• Julia Louis Dreyfus (average)
• America Ferra (curvy)
• Roseanne Barr (extra curvy)

A surplice top is like a wrap top but without all the fussing with the ties. It is made with two separate pieces of material ‘wrapped’ across the body and secured at the side seam sometimes with a button or tie but most often actually sewn into the seam. The cross over of the material creates a deep v-neck which is flattering to everyone but the flat chested. The wrapped pieces are joined creating a ruching effect over the breasts and stomach.

A Surplice Shirt Will…

• Separate and define your breasts so is ideal for bigger breasted women to avoid a uni boob look. Plus the ruching over the bust will disguise any ‘pull’ over the breasts.
• It’s a fitted style so will mold to breasts and follow the curve of the waist – ie boost your boobs and narrow your waist.
• Open up your chest and draw attention to your face and away from your lower half.
• The ruching over the stomach is a great way to disguise any bulges.

How To Wear It

• This top will draw attention upwards. It will minimise the top half.
• If you are bigger on top look for a plain shirt in this style, preferably in a darker color, that fits nicely following the curve of your body and then pair with a eye-catching skirt, jean or pant. Creating interest on your bottom half and minimising, though still flattering the top, will give you a more even silhouette.
• To draw attention to your top half choose in a bright color or with a eye-catching pattern and match with plain, darker colored skirt, pant or jean.
• Wear with a camisole underneath for a more restrained daytime look or without for a sexy evening outfit.

This Will Flatter

This style will work for almost anyone however it is better for:

• Pear Shaped – brings all eyes upward
• Curvy – will work well with your killer curves
• Big Breasted – a very forgiving, yet flattering style
• Rectangular – works to create a waist through the deep v and ruching over stomach
• Large tummy – ruching covers bulges whilst the deep v draws eyes

There’s a famous quote by Edna Woolman Chase – “Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess.” You’ve no doubt heard it, and if you’re anything like me looked down at your sweat pants and thought, well damn! But don’t be discouraged; when you give your inner style queen a little bit of room to breath you’ll find she’s alive and kicking and has lots to say for herself. So here are a few easy steps to take to give her that room.

1. Make an effort – It sounds simple but there’s a huge number of people who get up in the morning, reach for what ever is clean and that’s it. Style takes effort. Every morning make an effort to reach for the ‘best’ outfit you can put together, whatever your day holds. That doesn’t mean wear a floor length frock with a tiara to work or a suit to drop the kids at daycare, but it does mean take the time and effort to put together a suitable, comfortable outfit that shows you’ve put thought and effort into what you’re wearing.
2. Grooming – You’re going to find it hard to present a stylish image if your hair needs a cut, your makeup’s stuck in the 80’s which handily is the last time your eyebrows were plucked. Again, you don’t need to go to extremes with this, personally I hate fussing with my hair, but being unkempt is not an option. Tame those eyebrows, get a good haircut – regularly! – and keep your nails trimmed. If you’re not a great fan of makeup then invest in some good skincare products and a tinted moisturizer. It’s all about your attitude and it should be “I care about me.”
3. Care for your clothes – You’ve got your favorite jumper stashed somewhere haven’t you – the one with the big hole. Or maybe it’s your favorite shirt which now has the big stain on the back. It’s sad, devastating in fact, but they have to go. The clothes you wear need to be hole free, wrinkle free, spot free, smell free and above all else, clean. Yes, even your favorite but scuffed beyond repair shoes.
4. Forget size, fit is king – The key element of dressing with style is fit. Don’t buy clothes that are a size too small because you’re going to loose weight. Don’t buy clothes that are a size too big because you think you’re too fat. Both will make you look bigger than what you are. Clothes that fit are instantly slimming and always chic, be it a jeans and t shirt or a little black dress.
5. Flatter your shape - Whatever your size or shape there is a cut that flatters you more than others, just as there will be those cuts that will never in a million years work for you. Learn what they are. Slavishly go with the first and pretend the second doesn’t even exist. Forget trends. Never get sucked into the ‘latest it thing’; well … unless you know it’s something that’s going to flatter you outrageously.
6. Accessories are everything - Accessories are the icing on the cake, the shine on the diamond, the alcohol in your favorite adult beverage. Without them the world will still turn but it’s a much sadder and less bright place. With the right accessories even the most banal outfit can be transformed into a stylish comment about you. Incidentally accessories are a great place to start changing your look. Investing in a pair of earrings is cheaper than buying a pair of pants and you’ll feel a lot less upset if you never wear them.
7. Shoes are not just an accessory – If accessories are the icing on the cake shoes are the difference between Brad Pitt and Homer Simpson. Shoes are of the utmost importance to an outfit and they should good quality – you can dress up practically anything else but a cheap shoe looks like a cheap shoe. Buy the best that you can afford. Go for different shapes, colors and styles. The more shoes you have the more outfits you can construct. And, yes, some of them will need to be heels. Alternatively, for all you diva’s, a pair of flats is going to be essential at some stage as well.
8. Keep shopping – Looks change, makeup changes, hair styles change and of course fashion changes at the speed of light. There is no necessity to keep up with the trends but a great wardrobe is going to be a mix of timeless classics and modern fabrics, colors and styles. Regularly clean out your closet getting rid of anything old or that you haven’t worn in a while, or possibly at all and replace them with modern items. BUT, keep all your classics or those things that make you look fabulous and have a copy made from it’s carcase when it passes on.
9. Steal the best looks – Always keep your eyes open for an outfit or look that totally screams style and is somehow just… you, be it on tv, movies, on the street, your boss, your sister, your best-est friend in the whole wide world, and then ruthlessly steal it. Be sure you adapt it to flatter your shape and coloring but then wear it with pride. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and no one, but no one with even a modicum of style got that way on their own.
10. Take some risks – Try something different; for you. I’m not suggesting that you suddenly decide you’re going to dress like the latest ‘it girl’, but maybe you could wear a sequined top to work, or jeans and t shirt with a string of pearls or maybe a hat of some description. Something outside of your comfort zone. Something funky and fun. OK, it may end up a shameful memory, but more than likely it will pass in a blur of nobody-even-noticed, and it’s always possible you’ll find out something new an amazing about yourself, and that is what style is all about.

Ahh, summer. Time to dust off the swimwear and head to the beach. I don’t know about you but for me this can be quite a trying time. Particularly as where I live in Australia it’s summer for practically six months of the year. I’m generally pretty happy with my shape but that’s all challenged when it comes time to bare all in a swimsuit. Eeeep! Still this year, armed with a little knowledge I figure I can choose a swimsuit that’s functional, comfortable and stylish, and so can you.

I’ve broken this up into general body shapes but you should really consider it from a point of view of what do YOU personally want to reveal or conceal. You may be a pear shaped but have issues with your stomach, In which case you probably won’t be opting for a bikini, so read through the whole thing and then apply the bits that you need to.

Big Breasts – dealing with a bigger top

• You need to hoist those babies up there for best effect. Anyone over a C cup needs to look for underwired cups to give you the support you need. Yes, even in a halter neck!
  
• Try a style that will spread you breasts further apart as this will have a minimizing effect. Wide placed straps are perfect.
  
• Avoid something that just squishes you down – think of the sausage effect; it will ruin the line of your body. Most halter tops will have this effect, but there are some good ones out there.
• If you choose a bikini opt for substantial briefs. The size of the top that contains your rack needs to be offset and a little string bottom won’t do that. Look for something that supports your butt.
• To balance out a bigger top highlight your waist with banding or a change in color.

Rectangle – creating a waist

• Your aim is to create curves. A simple way to do that is to look for swimwear that has a detailing or pattern on it suggesting curves.
  
• A strapless suit will do the same thing.
  
• Avoid a bikini. You need to accent you waist which is not easy in a bikini. If you do opt for a bikini choose one with wider straps (unless you’re very small on top) and a low leg or boy leg pant to elongate your waist and make it seem curvier.
• A belted swimsuit will give you a very definite waist.
  
• Look for suits with detailing on the hips as this again creates curves where you want them.

Pear Shaped – taming the booty

• Your aim is to draw the eyes upward. The best choice for you might be a string bikini, preferable a halter top as it will broaden your shoulders, but anything that is going to draw the eyes upward is ideal.
  
• A high cut bottom will elongate the length of your leg and reduce the size of your bottom.
• Avoid a swim skirt as it will draw eyes to your thighs. Draw the eye to your top instead.
• To conceal a big butt look for a bright print or detailing that draws the eye upward instead.
  
• If your bottom is big it needs support. Look for a substantial brief or a suit with good support.
• A long sarong tied at the waist and open down the length of one leg will minimize a large thigh will remaining sexy and stylish.
  

Conceal Your Stomach

• If you have larger breasts (anything from a C cup upward) you need good support. Hoisting your boobs up is a simple way to make your stomach look smaller.
• Look for the Miraclesuit swimwear link the link below. There is a double layer of material for extra hold.
  
• Ruching on a one piece suit along the sides a good way to confuse the eye and draw it away from your stomach.
  
• One part of your body needs to be the focus. Its best to draw the eye upward.
• Avoid metalics or busy patterns as they will draw the eye. Simple is better.
• Look for vertical lines or detailing that give the illusion of curves where there are none.
• A boy leg cut will not offer as much support for your stomach as a higher cut swimsuit.

Petite and Slender

• A high cut suit will extend the length of your leg and make you look taller.
• For the very slender look for horizontal stripes – they will add volume to your upper half.
• Those cute triangles are made for the very slender and not so well endowed. The size of the suit is perfect for your small proportions.
• Any bows, ruffles, flounces will add volume to your top half will

Curvy

• Don’t just cover up – think about which body part is your most favorite and work to reveal that and conceal everything else. If you cannot decide then opt for your chest and face. Refer above for ideas on how to flatter breasts, stomach or bottom and thighs.
• Darker colors will conceal. Lighter colors will reveal.
• Ruching is great for confusing the eye – what is part of the suit and what is a little extra flesh.
  

General Tips

• As with all outfits there should be one element that is the focus be it a great rack, fabulous thighs, flat toned stomach or your beautiful face. Choose one and deal with the rest.
• Fit, as always, is important both in terms of personal comfort and style. You may need a different size for your top and bottom so don’t be afraid to go to a bikini or tankini.
• If you’re bigger on either the top or the bottom mix plain blocks of color with prints, the prints being on the smaller portion to create interest and the plains on the area to minimize.
• If you tempted to cover up in a big oversize t-shirt get yourself a wrap instead. They come in a variety of styles and fabrics and you will feel a lot more feminine and sexy.

I hope this has been helpful. I’ve certainly enjoyed writing it and researching all the different types of swimsuits and what they do. Thanks for reading.

LISA