11 Ways To Dress A Not-Slim Body
WANTED: My waistline. It hasn’t been seen since approximately May 2002, when my baby-carrying belly popped. One gift of motherhood is that I haven’t had much time to mourn my shape’s disappearance. Recently, though, I had a body panic attack: I had two events to attend, and I no great outfits for them. I needed a dress, bad. I needed my waist even more.
Then a fairy godmother arrived in my email in-box: Kimberly Garrett of Plush Fashion Styling, to be exact. Formerly part of the celeb dressing team at Polo Ralph Lauren, she’s helped style Blake Lively, Julianne Moore and Debra Messing; she’s also worked with the wardrobe designers on Gossip Girl and Sex and the City 2. Turns out she now specializes in working with New York City moms, and she was up for lending me—non-celeb me!—her expertise for events. Free. Was I interested?
Two words: HELL yeah.
We met in person at MaxMara on New York City’s Madison Avenue. Kimberly looked just as chic as I’d expected, and she’s nice, too, so I instantly felt comfortable. Then she started grabbing dresses off the racks. I looked on, horrified, especially when she picked a turquoise blue wrap dress. A bright color?! A dress that was going to cling to my body?! What was she thinking?
I tried on dress after dress: OK, not bad, no way. Then I slipped on the turquoise blue one. Wait, could it be? My waist! Found! I couldn’t believe my eyes. It wasn’t like I’d suddenly morphed into Gisele or anything, but the dress gave me shape that even Spanx hadn’t. “When you go against your usual ‘type’ of clothes, you may be pleasantly surprised by how something makes you look and feel,” Kimberly said.
Given that I wasn’t going to be able to haul her along on shopping trips for the rest of my life, I asked for her best advice. “Once in a while, bring your most honest friend when you shop!” she said. “That may not necessarily be your best friend, but the one who’s going to tell you the truth about how things fit. Also, get past size-phobia! Some clothing runs small. Don’t feel bad about trying on stuff that’s one or two sizes up from what you usually wear.”
Here, top tips for the most flattering ways to dress a non-slim body (and, wait for it, one amazing Spanx pick).
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Go for clothes that hug your curves
“Some clients get freaked out about clothes that conform to their shapes,” says Kimberly. (AHEM.) “They’re actually great for creating curves!” Try wrap dresses and ones with wide belts; for blazers, seek out jackets that nip at the waist, which give the illusion of a smaller waistline.
Look for: A stylish wrap dress, like this one from Talbots.
Photo credit: Talbots -
Choose the right fabrics
“Fabrics that have a little structure, like a silk crepe, crisp linen or stiff cottons, are really flattering,” says Kimberly. In other words, they’re good at disguising lumps and bumps. Jersey cotton doesn’t do women with full-ish figures any favors, so steer clear.
Look for: Clothes with fabric that’s a bit stiff, like this luxe silk crepe blouse from J.Crew.
Photo credit: J.Crew -
Know the best length
The most flattering dresses and skirts fall a few inches above the knee or (for dressy events and work) graze the bottom. If the hem is on the shorter side, place four fingers horizontally at the top of your knee — that's typically a super-flattering length.
Look for: A skirt that falls at the right spot,
Photo credit: Ann Taylor -
Think slimming sleeves
“I like a three-fourth sleeve in general, whether a blouse comes that way or long sleeves are rolled up,” says Kimberly. “Most of us have thin wrists and forearms — call attention to them!” This definitely helps you avoid the sausage-arm effect. “If you’re wearing a sleeveless dress and want some upper-arm coverage,” continues Kimberly, “drape a pretty scarf around your shoulders.”
Look for: Tops with three-fourth sleeves like this cardigan from Nordstrom.
Photo credit: Nordstrom -
Remember: Black isn't the only skinny color
“A lot of women think that black is most slimming. Yes, it can be, but so are navy, dark purple and chocolate brown,” says Kimberly. “They have the same slimming effect black does but they can be much more complementary on fair skin.”
Look for: Not black, like this navy dress by Lilly Pulitzer.
Photo credit: Bloomingdales -
Find flattering necklines
“Ones that are open are universally flattering on all women,” says Kimberly. “They draw the eye inward and upward, giving you the illusion of being taller and thinner.” V-necks and scoop necks are perfect; flashing collarbone is always sexy. Who doesn't have a buff collarbone?
Look for: A v-neck top, like this cotton top from Anthropologie.
Photo credit: Anthropologie -
Let Spanx suck it in for you
“A well-made camisole can hold you in, define your waist, smooth out your silhouette and lift you in all the right places,” says Kimberly. “I’m very open with how I feel about Spanx! They make everyone look better.” God. Bless. Spanx.
Look for: Spanx magic, like this Hide & Sleek cami.
Photo credit: Spanx -
See a pattern here? Good!
“Don’t be afraid of patterns! Just pay attention to whether their size makes you look slimmer or wider,” says Kimberly. “Polka dots, for example, are most flattering when the circles are small. Big dots on your hips or chest isn’t a good look for most women! If you’re doing stripes, go for vertical ones — they make you seem taller and slimmer.”
Look for: Clothes with small patterns, like this top by Susan Graver.
Photo credit:QVC -
Pick sexy jewelry
The right bling can elongate your arms. When you’re dressing up for an event, “I suggest just a prominent ring and a few delicate dangling bracelets,” says Kimberly. "The idea is to wear ones that don’t cut your arm off and give the illusion of length.”
Look for: Skinny pretty bangles, like these by Nyla Star.
Photo credit: Jess Levey for Josh Strauss Weddings -
Go for shoes that give you lotsa leg
“If you’re wearing flats, choose ones with pointy toes to elongate,” says Kimberly. “For dressier shoes, go with peep-toe pumps or sandals in a nude color — they’ll make your legs look endless.”
Look for: Peep-toe pumps, like these by Nine West.
Photo credit:Endless.com -
And get yourself some good jeans!
“I love boot-cut jeans on most women — the width at the bottom makes thighs appear thinner,” notes Kimberly. (The same goes for shorts — ones that flare out a bit are more flattering than straight-fit ones.) Also, think dark-wash: “Jeans with bleaching on the hips and thighs can draw attention to what women consider their problem areas,” says Kimberly. Word about skinny jeans: “I see a lot of women wear them with fitted tops. It’s tricky because you can end up looking like you’re in a unitard — a scary thought for most of us! Flatter by wearing skinny jeans with a blousy top, or boot-cut jeans with a more fitted top”.
Look for: Boot-cuts, like these by Style & Co.
Photo credit:Macy's
Photo credit: Jess Levey for Josh Strauss Weddings
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If this article is about dressing not-thin bodies…then why are the pictures of thin models? I want to see women with curves like me
Alison, great point. And thanks for thinking I’m one of the thin models pictured. You did think that, right? RIGHT?! He.
I wish there were more curvy girls featured in popular catalog and clothing sites. Over at J Crew, for instance, if you look at dresses offered up under 16, 18, or 20, the models shown are slim chicks. Many sites don’t even go up to those sizes.
I’m surprised there isn’t an attempt to use bigger models more often because it always seems when it happens it receives a great deal of attention.
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Some good tips, thank you for sharing! And you look great in that wrap dress.
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http://the-quiet-corner.blogspot.com/
Nordstrom uses a variety of models in many sizes…and they’re not just in the plus section. It’s pretty cool.
[...] like Karen Walrond, Kristen Howerton, Casey Mullins, Joanne Bamberger, Tracey Gaughran-Perez, Ellen Seidman, Tanis Miller, Megan Jordan, Sarah Braesch, Meagan Francis, Alli Worthington, Anissa [...]
Besides that the slidehows are a major pet peeve, then to take time and see all the skinny girls air brushed in the pictures is very disappointing. In a quick search I have found numerous sites who use real size models for their clothing. The thin models out of healthy body range sizes really make the article hard to take serious.
Love the silk crepe blouse – it’s $198.00…. Just shy of $200. For a blouse…. I’ll stick with my t-shirts and jeans. And I agree with everyone else – why are all the models skinny.
I understand the theory of the structured blouse – but I have yet to find a flattering button down shirt that fits a woman with large breasts. they either don’t button on the chest or are huge around the waist and stomach and hips and do nothing for your shape. and that spanx would give me crazy uniboob.
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I agree on the wrap dress – works wonders.
Regarding the structured blouse that others are having less than positive comments about – they can be hard to have fit well if you have the inverted triangle figure. You need to find blouses that can be adjusted at the tailor. I have a hard time getting blouses large enough in the sleeves. If the sleeves are big enough the body lets me have two or three friends in the shirt. What a pain, but we’re all having to have them adjusted or learn to sew from scratch.
Really Disappointing.
This is an article to assist plus size women yet it uses skinny models.
Wear was the common sense in the making of this article.
This was insulting if anything.
Really!?*&@!?!