Whether you’re bootylicious, boobylicious, or some other combination, most women aren’t perfectly proportioned. The way I see it, you can either work out like a madwoman and only eat salad, or you can learn to dress in a way that flatters your body. My pick of these options is the one that allows me to eat ice cream on the couch and watch Everybody Loves Raymond reruns. Call me crazy.
There’s a pretty simple rule for highlighting the parts of you that you love and de-emphasizing the parts that you don’t: if you want to add volume, add volume. If you want to minimize size, simplify. Now I’m not going to ask you if your body looks like a triangle or a pear or a box or if you’re petite or plus size or busty or whatever like the magazines do…the shape of my body cannot be found on a preschool classroom poster. When dressing to fit your body, it’s easiest to go part by part, and not try to squeeze yourself (no pun intended, for some of us with bellies) into a category. Let’s take it from the top! A 5, 6, 7, 8…
ARMS:
If you’re like me and your arms look like the giant turkey legs they sell at the Friar Tuck stand at Six Flags, you may be a wee bit self-conscious about them. If you’re going to go with a tank top, it’s best to make the size of the straps proportional to the size of your body. Teensy spaghetti straps are less flattering to larger arms because they look even tinier and flimsier next to a larger frame. That being said, you don’t need to get all Sister Wives with your tank.
Another way to slim your body, no matter its type, is to have a lower cut neckline. Don’t get crazy with it, but v-neck, sweetheart neck and lower-cut crew necks expose more skin so that your arms aren’t the only parts of your body that are showing skin, which takes the attention off of them. Halter necks and other tank tops with cutaway shoulders extend the line of the arm all the way up to the neck, which draw attention to them. So if you want to show off your arms and shoulders, this is a great cut for you. If not, feel free to buy tank tops like this, but pair them with a cute cardigan or jacket to flatter your body best. So…
If you’re selling tickets to the gun show, try:
Cutaway shoulders and a high cut neck to highlight your Michelle Obama Arms, you lucky lady.
If you don’t, try something like this:
Wider straps and a lower neckline without being too scandalous or too grandma. Also: sequins.
If you’re going to go short-sleeved and want to conceal your arms, stay away from “cap” sleeves. These baby sleeves will make your arms look larger in comparison. Lucky for you (and me, let’s be honest), tees with sleeves that almost reach the elbow have been in style for a few seasons now and will leave you feeling confident but not overly covered. This season the dolman (read: flowy) sleeve is also in style and is super flattering as well. Check out this hybrid of the two:
Read the rest of this post by clicking here!
What is your body type? What pieces look best on you?
Guest post submitted by What Would Jesus Wear?
guest
Most things look good on me. I am lucky. I don’t have to worry about whether or not things will look good. I do have to be cautious of the fact that people think cleavage is slutty and if I wear a tank top, I am less smart than if I wear a t-shirt.
guest
your original post said that you aren’t going to ask us our body type because it can’t be found on a poster, but lovelyish added the forbidden question anyway. so I won’t answer
great tips! dress accordingly
guest
I am insecure about my arms, but mine actually look bigger with wider straps. I’m not sure why. Anything between a wide-stapped tank top and cap sleeves emphasize my arms, but a thin-strapped tank top seems to bring less attention to them.
guest
I have a decent body and in general I can dress it quite well. However, I’m realizing recently that at 26 I have no idea what kind of jeans look good on me. What?! What looks good on scrawny legs?
Leg presses, here I come!
tulip / 20 posts
@Topaz85@xanga - Lucky you! You can really wear any style of jean but the key is balance. If you’re wearing something looser-fitting on top, you can definitely rock a skinny jean. If you’re wearing a more fitted top and are worried about your legs looking too tiny in proportion, stick to a trouser or a wideleg style. Either way, I’m jealous!
guest
@whatwouldjesuswear - Ohhh! That makes perfect sense. Thank you!
Of course, I’m jealous of girls with thick, muscular legs and they’re jealous of me. Go figure. Please take some solace in the fact that those cute flouncy rompers from this past spring looked stupid on me. I looked like a marshmallow on toothpicks. Ha!
guest
With a little waist and a big booty, I finally had come to the realization that my best bet is higher fitted waists on my jeans and got myself a pair of Levi’s 525. They felt a bit “mom jean” like at first, but I realized I looked better in them than pants hanging at the butt.
tulip / 20 posts
@Topaz85@xanga - I’ve tried on rompers too and with huge boobs I just look like a weird baby fetish porn star. It’s awkward.
@Digital_Angel21@xanga - Yes!! I’ve resorted to mom jeans too lately. I like a higher waist because it keeps the gut locked and loaded and helps my shirts fit better too. Never tried Levi’s though, I’ll have to check ‘em out!