Curvy girls long for the lean look. Lean girls long for curves. But fashion has so much magic up its sleeve that with just a small trick at your natural waistline, neckline, or hem length, you can create Houdini-level illusions.
By Maureen Mancini Amaturo
Curvy girls long for the lean look. Lean girls long for curves. But fashion has so much magic up its sleeve that with just a small trick at your natural waistline, neckline, or hem length, you can create Houdini-level illusions.
Belts, prints, silhouettes, hemlines, and color are masters of deception. With some manipulation, you can conjure fashion hocus-pocus. Put this style sorcery to good use. You never get a second chance to make a good false impression.
Master of Deception
The belt is the greatest magic-maker. Belt a baggy dress or top at your natural waist. Whether thin or wide, a belt will draw the eye to your most narrow body area and pull you in to create an hourglass figure. Own your curves and show them off. Slim girls, if you don’t have hips, making your waistline look smaller will make your hips and bust appear wider. Abracadabra, an hourglass figure.
Only Make-Believe
Pretend your bust is bigger or smaller. Curvy Girls, to minimize, try a wrap top or dress to contour, separate, and define. Avoid halter, high, and rounded necklines, especially turtlenecks. Stick with scoop or v-neck styles to expose skin between your neck and bust, which will make your bust look smaller.
Sleeve length matters. Opt for three-quarter or long sleeves. Avoid short or sleeveless looks. Avoid boxy (baggy) or bomber (rounded) jackets. Fitted, streamlined silhouettes work best. Go with single-breasted over double-breasted and avoid wide lapels. Slim Girls, high necklines are for you. Sweetheart and square necklines work, too. Keep the focus on your arms and shoulders with short sleeves. Go backless, and move the focus off the front. Cinch your waist (that magic belt again.) A small waist will make your bust look bigger. Wear tops with embellishments like ruffles, beading, or prints in the chest area. Another tip: layer scarves for volume.
Optical Illusions
• High-waisted pants minimize the waist, accent hips, and make thighs look longer.
• Pencil skirts lengthen your look and make your bottom appear toned, rounder.
• Wrap dresses enhance hips and minimize the waist.
• Tuck in your top, especially if you’re short. Curvy? Long, loose shirts can make your middle appear larger.
• Hemlines: Avoid pants that bunch at the ankle to slim the leg. Mid-knee skirt hemlines cut the leg. Go just above or below.
• Avoid shoes with ankle straps to make legs look leaner and longer.
• Silhouettes: Curvy? Go for soft draping, flowing bias-cut bottoms, figure-skimming styles. Slim? Avoid boxy cuts, oversized maxi skirts, or flowing pants. Flared, A-line, bubble skirts work. Pencil skirts, tapered at the knee, add roundness to hips.
• Colors and prints: Petite? Use the “Fist Rule” to judge if a print is right for you. If the pattern is larger than your fist, the print is too big for you. Monochromatic works for you too. Gives a taller look. Curvy? Avoid eye-popping patterns and big prints. Brown, black, navy, red, or deep jewel tones work.
Monochromatic creates a slim look. Simple contrasting, like black and white, works too.
• For both curvy and petite figures, the wizardry is in balance and proportion. Wear short over long (a short jacket with long pants or maxi skirt) or long over short (a tunic top or long sweater over a short skirt.)
