Dressing for Curvy Body Types

Dressing for your body type doesn’t mean that you are hiding what God gave you.  You are simply balancing it across your entire body.  When working with my clients, I find a celebrity they connect with so that they can see what type of silhouette they should wear.  Helps you see what to wear- without having a stylist.

There are SO many terms out there to describe different body types. I am going to make it as simple as possible. I can almost guarantee that you will find yourself somewhere in here. So let’s chat about your body type and what works best for you-

Bigger on the top- busty or broad shoulders; usually have to size up on the top 

• Danielle Brooks

• Queen Latifah

• Christina Hendrix

Avoid: thin straps (desperately holding on), kind of avoid skinny jeans( too tight and too loud of a top makes you look like a lollipop), baggy tops (hides your shape and makes you look larger), high neckline( looks like your suffocated)

Go To: If you want to look more balanced, slimmer, taller and more like the ideal body type- cowl neck, v-neck (opens up the face, shift focus away from top,  layer tops, use over size button downs, use cropped jacket, white on the bottom (draws away from chest), use loose blouse to create a waist, use a bright color on the bottom, distract with nice shoes

Bigger on the bottom- wider hips, bigger booty, pants fit in the thighs and but not the waist

• Beyoncé

• Octavia Spencer

• Kim Kardashian

Avoid: loud prints/colors on bottom (magnifying glass on the bottom), thick fabrics (adds dimension thickness to the bottom), 3-D details (flap pockets add weight and attention), avoid covering the enter butt with your shirt, avoid whispering on jeans in most cases

Go To: Colorful and printed tops, stripes, sequins ruffles, single button blazer (emphasizes your waist), jacket with a slight shoulder pad, structure on top, pointy toe, streamline the bottom half, wear dark rinse jeans, use bright tops with unbutton neck to draw line to the waist, add weight to the top with a sweater, use a structured bag (avoid sloppy bags so they don’t add weight to your body), use a pop of color up top, use a flared cut pant, pants with low placed pockets 

Bigger in the middle- midsection protruding more than your bust or thighs, don’t have a defined waist

• Melissa Mcarthy

• Kelly Osbourne

• America Ferera

Add interest to the top and bottom of the body

Avoid- leggings, super tight skinny jeans, things that make you look shorter, wear a pant that goes over the shoe, any top or jacket that’s going to make you look stuffed in, avoid a buttoned three button blazer, hiding or camouflaging your middle, tube dress

Go To: Use trouser cut jeans and trousers, flare leg, single button blazer, use belts (wide or narrow- not too narrow for plus sizes), fake a waist, fake an hour glass- a line skirt, deep v neck, prints hide trouble areas, use heels to elongate, add a clutch for visual interest, go with a higher rise pant

Proportional- 8% of women have this body type, not necessarily easy to dress, easy to look bigger than you are, defined waist

• Ashley Graham

• Scarlett Johansson 

• Marilyn Monroe

Avoid anything super super tight- you can do body con, nothing too short or too plunging, avoid tent dresses, empire waist, anything over drapey, or shapeless 

Go To: Wear belts to define waist and corseting, Wear clothes that go with the curves of your body but not too tight, wrap dresses, tailored blazer, use horizontal stripes, wear a structured jacket, tuck in the shirt to add definition, use seems to add shape.

There are many more ways to describe body types but these are the most basic and easy to understand descriptions.

  I challenge you to find your self here, go to your closet and make some changes…for yourself. Need some help?  Schedule a style service with Latham Loft Style.  After all, what do you have to lose beside clothes that shouldn’t have been there in the first place. 

Happy Dressing!!