It’s 2019, and we’re totally over subscribing to some colonial standard of beauty. Avenue T believes “beautiful” comes in all shapes and sizes. Having said that, we also understand that most people take some time to learn to love themselves, including all those parts of themselves that they perceive as flaws. This is where any good stylist will step in and ask you to ignore trends and focus on clothing that will help you play up your assets and frame your size and shape in the most flattering way possible, so that you can feel confident just the way you are. Here’s a cheat sheet to help you customize your look to your body.
Rule of thumb: Invest in a good tailor. Whether you’re buying off the rack, or shopping online, a well-placed alteration can make the outfit truly yours, and will make trying out a new trend work for you.
Tiny dancer
There are perks to being petite or cute-sized, particularly on a long flight on a cramped plane. But every so often, you want to add a few more inches to your look. Here’s how:
Photo: Luis Quintero
Do:
• Choose high-waisted jeans/trousers in a dark wash. They give you legs for days
• Go for nude heels. Or if you’re not a heels kind of person, opt for nude flats with pointed toes.
• Vertical stripes draw the eye in a vertical line, and add the illusion of length to your body
• Medium sized tops, and drop-waisted styles add length to your torso
• Monochrome looks are really flattering.
Don’t:
• Pick oversized bags. They only make you look smaller
• Go for large prints. You’ll drown in them
• Voluminous silhouettes will overwhelm your look
• Wide belts tend to chop your look in half – unless they’re monochrome and blend in with your outfit.
All about that bass
There are so many pop songs that celebrate the booty, that you might feel weird to be complaining about it, but if this is an area you want to downplay, we got you covered
Photo: Chelse Daniel
Do:
• Opt for high-rise jeans and trousers. They emphasize the waist and give the booty a good lift
• Bootcut jeans are the most flattering style
• Wear outfits with shoulder detailing that draw the eye upwards
• Fit and flare silhouettes look flattering and feminine
• Choose fitted jackets that end right above the widest part of your body
Don’t:
• Pick horizontal patterns in your pants or bottoms
• Wear jeans with back pockets or too much detailing at the back
• Wear leggings as pants. Jeggings aren’t particularly flattering either
Gut instinct
Has there ever been a feature more vilified than the belly? The pouch might be wonderful to snuggle up against, but if it causes angst in your waking life, here’s how to deal
Do:
• Wrap dresses/kurtis, fit-and-flare and A-line silhouettes are the most flattering
• Experiment with drapes
• Choose leggings that tuck in your tummy
• Shapewear is your best friend
• Create vertical lines with kimonos and shrugs
Don’t:
• Wear fabrics that cling to your belly
• Tuck in your shirt. This will draw emphasis to the belly
• Wear low-rise jeans and pants. These will only result in muffin tops
• Wear boxy silhouettes or too-loose clothes. They will only make you look shapeless
Photo: Bigstock
Thin ice
With the media always spreading the ‘thin is in’ messages, it might be hard to imagine a skinny girl being dissatisfied with her looks, but it happens. Don’t worry. We’ve got ways of adding curves to your look
Do:
• Dresses/tops with ruffles, pleating and 3D details add dimension to your body.
• Say yes to peplum
• Dropped waist styles give you a modern Flapper Girl vibe
• Low to mid-rise jeans are flattering
• Colour blocking is a good way to make a statement
Don’t:
• Wear too much detailing around the waist
• Opt for straight (sheath/column) silhouettes. They tend to make your curves vanish
