Hello SMARTgirls!
You hear so many people tell you what is in, what is hot, what you need to wear this season, and the colors to choose. Now, this is all fun and great, however, if you don’t have the basics down you are going to be wearing all the wrong styles and all the wrong cuts. Following trends is a must, but knowing what looks good on YOU and what clothing choices make YOU feel amazing, that’s your prerogative when developing your style.
The number one thing to remember is you are dressing YOUR unique body, not the lady in the magazine. What makes her look like a princess may turn us into a toad. So let’s look at the main questions we need to ask ourselves.
Question 1: How tall are you?
Shopping in the correct department is a must if you would like clothes to fit you properly. If you have trouble figuring out which section to shop in let these guidelines help you.
Ø 5’4” and under is petite. So if you see the petite section head for it, the clothing will usually have the size and a “P” after it. Pieces in this area are cut shorter, narrower with smaller openings and adornments to fit a petite women’s body. You have options with sizes 2-14 with the occasional size 16 piece.
Ø 5’5”-5’8” is average. You can certainly shop in the misses but do not try to go into petites, even though it looks like it might fit, it is cut to be most flattering on someone with smaller features.
Ø 5’9” and up is tall. Tall women can mostly shop in misses. Length of pants is usually the main concern for you, however pay attention to the listed inseam or the letters S=short, R=regular, or L=long. If you are over 5’9” chances are long pants are your best option.
· Side Note: The Junior’s section is not an okay option unless you are under the age of 25; even then it’s a little shaky. The cut, coloring, and the sizing are very different from misses. The clothing is cut for people with less curves, smaller busts, hips, and smaller thighs. If you like a younger style misses usually has better cut and colored options for those of us with more mature figures.
Question 2: What size/shape are you?
This is always an uncomfortable topic for us women. But having this knowledge is essential to looking your best. Use the following guidelines to accurately assess what your body shape/size is, the sooner you figure out what shape were dressing the sooner you will start looking and feeling great!
From Calculator.net
Banana, or straight (rectangular)
Banana-shaped women's waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hip or bust measurement.
Apple (triangle downward)
Apple-shaped women have broader shoulders and bust, and narrower hips.
Pear, Spoon, or Bell (triangle upward)
Pear-shaped women's hip measurements are greater than their bust measurements.
Hourglass Shape (triangles opposing, facing in)
Here, the hip and bust are almost of equal size, with a narrow waist
Now as we talk about what clothing/cuts look best with what general body style you are, you will know that you can apply those aspects to YOUR wardrobe.
Having these two pieces of knowledge in your corner can help you tackle the main struggles of dressing for your body and style. Happy shopping!
