So, I have a confession. I’m a shop-aholic. Well… more like a window shop-aholic. I don’t have the budget to be a real shop-aholic. Anyway. Recently, I was going through my closet and couldn’t find anything I liked. It all made me look pregnant or frumpy. They were baggy, and not bohemian chic kinda flowy baggy. So, I did something I don’t get to do often these days. I went shopping for me. But I spent an hour and a half walking around several stores and in several dressing rooms, only to leave empty-handed and frustrated. I was looking for smaller clothes, wasn’t this supposed to be easy?!
I have another confession. I have a thing for What Not to Wear on TLC. But, we don’t have TV, so the TLC website has become a friend of mine. I realized I wasn’t shopping for my body shape. When I lost weight, the shape of my body changed and my clothes didn’t compliment it anymore.
Here’s the first how in dressing for your body:
1) Determine whether you have a long torso and short legs, a short torso and long legs or if you are fairly balanced. I am pretty close to balanced, but have a slightly longer torso.
To figure this out, measure your total body height. Then measure to the fullest point of your hips. Determine where that comes in correlation with your total body height. For example: I am 60 inches tall. My hips are the fullest at 29 inches. So, I have a slightly longer torso.
Long torsos should wear:
- Jewelry, scarves and garment designs that draw the observer’s eye up towards your shoulders and face
- Short to medium-long tops
- Tucked-in tops (if slim)
- Layered tops
- Medium or light tops and dark pants or skirts
- Medium to wide belts
- Straight skirts
- Straight or boot-leg pants
- Pant, sock and shoe colors the same
- Medium to high heels
- Pant hems to the ground
Long torsos should avoid:
- Long tops (if you are short)
- Pants or skirts with a dropped waistband
- Tight or tapered skirts
- Tight or tapered pants
- Cropped pants
Balanced bodies should wear:
- Jewelry, scarves and garment designs that draw the observer’s eye up towards your shoulders and face
- Medium-long tops
- Un-tucked tops
- Tops and bottoms in the same color
- Tops and dresses that flow through the waist
- Skirts and pants with narrow waistbands or no waistband
- Straight or flared skirts
- Waisted, low-rise or hipster pants
- Straight or flared pants
Balanced bodies should avoid:
- Short tops
- Empire line tops and dresses
- Wide belts
- Pants or skirts with a high waistband
Long legs should wear:
- Design details that draw the eye down, such as border prints on skirts and pants (unless you are short)
- Medium-long to long accessories (unless you are short)
- Skirts and pants in the lighter colors than tops
- Medium-long to long tops (if you are short, no longer than knuckle length)
- Un-tucked tops
- Tops and dresses that flow through the waist
- Skirts and pants with narrow waistbands or no waistband
- Straight and flared skirts
- Low-rise or hipster pants
- Straight and flared pants
Long legs should avoid:
- Focal points that draw the eye upwards
- Pin stripes
- Short tops
- Empire line tops and dresses
- Wide belts
- Pants or skirts with a high waistband
- Tapered pants and skirts
