I’m not a fashionable dresser. Never have been. But in the last seven years, gaining and losing thirty pounds, expanding and contracting, I discovered that I look much better when I’m pregnant…because the styles flatter me. I decided it’s time to find flattering styles when I’m not pregnant, too! When Elizabeth of That Married Couple had the audacity to suggest one day that it would be easy to check books out of the library, I was astonished. Call me dense; it had never once occurred to me that duh, of course someone has written books on this topic!
I went to the library. And I thought I’d share the general lessons I found out:
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You want to balance the top and bottom of the body. So if you have a long waist, then look for high waistbands.
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Prints on darker backgrounds are more slimming. Low-contrast prints attract less attention (i.e. pink on red, rather than yellow on black).
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Any kind of detailing, i.e. ruffles, etc. draws attention to what’s underneath. (Which is why I’ve never been happy with my last purchase. It’s a blouse that’s all ruffles.)
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In general, cheap fabrics don’t flatter as much.
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Stark color contrasts between top & bottom create horizontal lines.
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I’ve always been a “neutral-colors-go-with-anything” and “otherwise-match your-colors” kind of wardrobe person. Even though I adore bright colors and I love seeing people who mix up colors, I have never trusted my ability to mix them myself. That color wheel thing has never been my strong point. Here are three suggestions I gleaned from reading: navy with bright jewel tones (green, yellow, pink); gray with pastels; khakis with fall colors. (Well, I had that last one nailed, anyway.)
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The rest of what I collected is for curvy bodies, but I’ll share that next week. In the meantime, my daughter keeps taking “BRAVE” stickers off her shirt and sticking them on my arms and my face while I’m typing. Talk about disracting! (And super cute.) (Call me Ms. Sticker Nose.)
Oh yes, and in case you wanted more lists to peruse, here’s a bonus take: a list of Catholic music–my newest post at Catholic Mothers Online.
Tim Gunn was talking about that on The Revolution on ABC this week as well. He was talking about using the color wheel and making a T…I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to do that, but it was fun to watch. He also talking about complementing colors and how to use them. I highly suggest it.
That’s interesting–I’ll have to try that!
He gives real world advice (I was surprised) and helps people figure out how to hide the parts they don’t like. 🙂
My favorite show is What Not to Wear. They really give great advice and suggestions for how to dress. I love shopping, but hate trying on clothes.
This whole post makes me happy! Were there any particular books that you would recommend?
I got the most use out of a book by the “What Not To Wear” people, and from one I can’t find now on the library’s catalog quickly! I just went to the style section and started pulling things off the shelf till I found ones that looked like they’d be helpful.
Funny, I never would have thought to take a book out of the library about fashion – great idea. I am so not a fashonista either! Picking out appropriate colors and styles are so intimidating…
I’m doing well just to wear colors that look good on me. Fashion has never been my thing, either.
Maybe that’s why we’re all bloggers instead of movie stars. 🙂