The Key to Outfits That Fit
Do you know the key to creating outfits that fit and flatter your body? In this article, I’ll share three silhouette secrets to help you create flattering outfits and avoid the frump.
When I was a busy mom of school-age kids, with a wardrobe full of nothing but jeans and T-shirts, I found myself in need of a dress to wear to a wedding. Unfortunately, that year the styles were not my friend. And I had not yet discovered that understanding your silhouette is the key to outfits that fit and flatter your body. Want to skip straight to having me teach you the best styles for your silhouette? That is in your visual identity journey and included in either The Resort package or The Sabbatical.
So, here’s what happened that year. It wasn’t pretty. I bought a dress I could afford. It was kind of a butter yellow.
Parenthetically, when I first started training with global style expert Carla Mathis, I sent her a picture of me in a color similar to that and her response was who told you to wear that color? See how much better you look in white? Of course, I wouldn’t wear white to a wedding.
Anyway, back to the dress. The primary feeling of it was that it flowed past the waist and I need more definition to not look frumpy and shapeless.
How to Build a Template for Outfits That Fit
- Here’s how you can build an outfit template based on your silhouette and not look frumpy and shapeless:
Your skirt or trousers should mimic your hip shape. There are basically three hip shapes
With a low hip, the widest point is at the top of the thigh. The upper pelvic bones are narrower. This hip shape is most compatible with an A shape skirt or wide leg pants. Of course, there are always exceptions and workarounds.
With a high hip it’s the other way around: the widest point is at the upper pelvic bones, just below the waist. It’s a great place to set a baby or a bag of groceries. The point at the top of the thigh is narrower and this body type is most compatible with Pencil skirts and pegged or tapered pants
And you can probably imagine what a straight hip is and that it is compatible with straighter skirts and pants
Tops and jackets should maintain your waist shape. I’m gonna mention three.
Arc waist dips in below the shoulder, creating a smooth arc down to the lower hip
You can bypass the waist if there’s not much definition or if it ovals out
Then, there’s the cinch waist, which is A small waist above a high hip. This looks great with a belt at the waist.
The final concept is choosing where to put your horizontal lines. Keep in mind that:
Horizontal widens. You never want a horizontal line at the widest point, which includes like wear a garment ends so if you’re wearing a jacket over a pair of pants where the jacket ends is a horizontal line and you want that to be usually not at your widest point.
Vertical lines narrow. This includes construction lines, stripes, even if you have a long hair and it intersects your shoulder.
Diagonal lines are magic! They balance whatever needs balanced simultaneously.
Create Your Own Outfits That Fit
If you want a project to do, a simple bit of homework would be trying some clothes on. It counts for exercise too! Try on your pants and decide which hip and leg shape is best for you. Then try on your tops and jackets and decide where you want them to end. Are you tucking or flowing?
One last thing: do you have the new free color guide? Download Discover Your Style DNA: A Guide to Seasonal Energy & Personality Colors here.