Why you shouldn’t give up on that style!
Do you avoid pencil skirts with a passion? Have you written off dresses, empire-waist tops or low-rise jeans?
While it is true that some styles just aren’t flattering on everyone, you might be selling yourself short if you base those judgments on the few pieces that you’ve tried on.
Here’s a simple tip to find styles which flatter you… without costing a cent!
I confess, while I’ve always loved the look of a pencil skirt on others, I only wore one yesterday for the first time. It just took the right skirt in the right size to see how it could work for me. Now I’m hooked! My husband and I both love how it shows off my curves while still looking professional.
If you haven’t had luck with pencil skirts, don’t give up. I realize now that I wrongly expected to wear the same size as I wear with A-line skirts. As a result, they hugged my behind way too much (generally, the skirt should hang straight down, not tuck under your rear). But because the skirts I tried on also pooched out at my stomach, I thought that going up a size would make that worse. I was wrong. A size up fit perfectly.
Of course, the same goes with other fashions!
Do you think you look dowdy in dresses? Try a different length. Around knee-length is usually the most flattering.
Do empire waist shirts never seem to fit right because you have a larger chest? That doesn’t mean that the style doesn’t work for you. You might find more forgiving shirts in the maternity section. (Don’t laugh, they do tend to have more room for us busty gals.)
Low-rise jeans are hated by many women, but if you find one that fits right, you might be surprised how nice a lower rise can look.
So remember, it doesn’t cost anything to use the dressing room. Take a few extra sizes with you and experiment with styles that you don’t think will work on you. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Have any styles you thought didn’t work on you ended up working great once you got the right fit?
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I just discovered this blog, and I am in love!
This is superb advice. I generally avoid ANYTHING empire shaped because I have a fear of “looking preggers” even though there have been a couple that have looked fantastic on.
Also, since fit/sizing can vary a lot from store to store, taking a few different sizes to the dressing room is very helpful while shopping.
Welcome Shopahilia! I’m glad you found us because we love enthusiastic readers like you! I hope we’ll see a lot more of you, too : D
Oh yes, empire waists can definitely do that! A lot of it is in the material and how it’s cut. I’ve seen better tops lately — thank goodness, because I don’t care for the preggers look except on those who really are. Ironically, you might still have better luck with those tops in the maternity section because often the tops have more stretch and therefore won’t just puff out. Try a size or two smaller than you normally wear and you may be surprised. It’s odd advice, I know. I actually figured it out by accident.
You’re definitely right about fit and sizing! I hate when I have a limit on how many items I can take to the dressing room because I usually grab 2-3 sizes of everything I want to try on.
Thanks Meg! It’s always fun to find people who have the same interests and share tips also.
Maybe if I’m brave enough one day, I’ll check out the maternity section (perhaps I worry about being spotted by someone I know!). I tried on an Ella Moss Empire top that looked amazing, but I talked myself out of it because I thought I just couldn’t see the “preggers-ness” (this is why you should always go shopping with a friend!) and the top was final sale.
Dressing room (and their limits) are a pain, but inconsistent sizing is even more frustrating when buying online. Have you heard of sizemeuponline.com? Sounds like it might become a very helpful tool!
I’ll admit, even I feel a bit nervous shopping in certain sections. It takes a little getting used to.
No, I had not heard about that site! Thanks for sharing the link! I gave it a quick look and want to try it out later. It looks really interesting.
Great tip about trying clothes one size up! I had written off purple based on some not-quite-right tops and dresses from the 90s, but now that I try it again, I find that I love the color.
Hi Trisha! I’m so glad that you did try again — especially because I absolutely love purple!