I'm kind of obsessed with dressing for my shape. Are you? It dominates my daily outfit choices, even more so than color or quality. One thing that really matters to me is selecting pants and tops that create a pleasing silhouette. When I say pleasing, I mean most of all, to my eye, because then I have the confidence I need to go through my day.
The best style of pants for the apple shape, which I think is common for many women, is one that provides balance to the larger middle. Voila! The bootcut or wide jean. I have tried the wide jean, and it is really fun to wear, and it almost creates a waistline where there is none. However, it requires a tighter or tucked in top and that is a challenge for me. I prefer the bootcut, pictured. The bottom of the leg balances out a large bust, wide shoulders, and/or a large tummy. It looks especially flattering if the thigh area is somewhat fitted.
For further balance, it really matters where your top ends. As a petite with a short torso, here are some of my tips and tricks. Most Misses tops will be 24-25" in length. This means they will cover my behind and create a straight or round silhouette, or if there is a band at the bottom, a very unflattering bulging fattening look. For some reason, although petite women are often many inches shorter than average, the petite tops are usually about an inch shorter. I have searched far and wide and have rarely found any tees, sweaters or tanks that hit me in the right place. So I get out my sewing shears and cut them to the right length, which is around the middle of the abdomen and the middle of the behind, as shown in the following photo.
As you can see, I'm wearing a top that is not so tight as to reveal every lump and bump. Because my torso is so short, a mock neck creates a bit of a longer line, so I find it flattering, although every other fashion advisor will say to only wear v-neck tops. A long necklace adds interest and helps create that flattering v shape.
Of course, nothing replaces eating good food and exercising to get in better shape, but the choices we make regarding clothing help us to create a flattering shape and to look and feel great on the outside!
We all have to get dressed anyway, so we might as well have some fun!
-Karen