• Style
  • Women
  • Huff/Post50
  • Weddings
  • HealthyLiving
  • Divorce
  • Parents
  • Sign In / Register
  • stylelist home
  • huffpost style
  • FASHION
    • Departments

      Fashion News Fashion Features Fashion Trends Designers Models Accessories
      In The Market For Intern Diaries Step Into My Office Object of My Affection Stylelist Network Stories

      Featured

      Can You Guess The Child Model's Famous Aunt? Can You Guess The Child Model's Famous Aunt?
      Vintage-Obsessed Blogger Shares 18 Recent Finds Vintage-Obsessed Blogger Shares 18 Recent Finds
      Pinterest Cracks Down On Thinspirational Images Pinterest Cracks Down On Thinspirational Images
  • BEAUTY
    • Departments

      Beauty Basics Beauty News Beauty Features Beauty Trends Uptown Downtown Makeup Healthy Beautiful You
      Skin & Body Fragrance Nails Facetime The Unexpected Icon

      Featured

      This Student Reveals Her Bright-But-Wearable Pink Lipstick Shade This Student Reveals Her Bright-But-Wearable Pink Lipstick Shade
      Do You Use A Facespray Like This Yoga Instructor? Do You Use A Facespray Like This Yoga Instructor?
      Morgan Spurlock Waxes Philosophical On Mantyhose & Manscaping Morgan Spurlock Waxes Philosophical On Mantyhose & Manscaping
  • HAIR
    • Departments

      Hair Trends Hair How To

      Featured

      The Hair Doctor Is in: Consultation Is Key The Hair Doctor Is in: Consultation Is Key
      Guess Which Beauty Treatment She Gave The President Guess Which Beauty Treatment She Gave The President
      Can Pink Hair Look Sophisticated? Can Pink Hair Look Sophisticated?
  • CELEBRITY
    • Departments

      Style Evolution Look Of The Day Uptown|Downtown A Look Back

      Featured

      How Donna Summer Helped Me Through College How Donna Summer Helped Me Through College
      PHOTOS: Cameron Diaz's Life In 54 Looks PHOTOS: Cameron Diaz's Life In 54 Looks
      PHOTOS: 27 Stars Who Look More Beautiful Without Makeup PHOTOS: 27 Stars Who Look More Beautiful Without Makeup
  • CULTURE
    • Departments

      Art & Design Film Music Books & Magazines

      Featured

      How Long Does It Take To Become Mrs. Don Draper? How Long Does It Take To Become Mrs. Don Draper?
      5 Things This Hot New Musician Can't Live Without 5 Things This Hot New Musician Can't Live Without
      PHOTOS: SXSW Street Style PHOTOS: SXSW Street Style
  • FASHION WEEK
    • Departments

      Fashion Week Spring 2012 Fashion Week Fall 2012

      Featured

      Fashion Intern Tells All From Behind The Scenes At Two British Magazines Fashion Intern Tells All From Behind The Scenes At Two British Magazines
      Prada's Take On Ombre Prada's Take On Ombre
      The Intern Diaries: Behind The Scenes At A British Magazine The Intern Diaries: Behind The Scenes At A British Magazine
  • VIDEO
  • STYLELIST NETWORK

Find out how to flatter your figure

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
Posted Mar 3rd 2008 at 10:24AM  
3 Comments
Share
If you've ever watched an episode of TLC's What Not to Wear, you have seen the importance of dressing to accommodate your body type. It seems like people should know this instinctively -- choose clothes that accentuate the positive and disguise the negative aspects of our bodies. However, in an era of skinny jeans and cap-sleeve tees, it's hard for women (and men, too, I'm sure) to sort through the trends and find pieces that flatter their body but look like they're still from this season.

Well, ladies, I -- er, I mean iVillage -- has a fabulous tool (thanks for bringing it to my attention, Chatterbox). It's called the Figure Flatterer (clever, I know), and it gives you tips on what to wear (or avoid) if you dislike certain body parts. For example, if you have Big Arms, it gives you a rundown of the best jackets, dresses, and accessories, as well as examples of shirts and necklines you should not wear, EVER.

Regardless of what you're trying to show off or hide, keep this in mind -- if it's not the right size, it will look wrong. You can follow the Figure Flatterer's advice to a T, but if you insist on wearing a size 6 and you need to bump up to an 8 or a 10 for certain styles, swallow your pride and do it, because wearing something that fits properly is the quickest way to flatter any figure.

Flatter your figure

(click thumbnails to view gallery)

  • Boyish figure
  • Short legs
  • Big tummy
  • Small bust
  • Big arms
Read All Comments
Filed under: Fashion, Best of the Season
Tags: advice, clothes, figure-flatterer, fit, flatter, flaws, style, trend
Share

Style Around the Web

ImaxTree

ImaxTree

  • Make Up Tips For Girls With Glasses - Refinery29
  • How Celebs Work Red Into Their Wardrobe - FabSugar
  • Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions - The Daily Beast
  • Deodorants that Actually Work - Daily Candy
  • Would You Wear Long-Sleeve Shirts As Skirts? - The Frisky
  • Tricks That Guarantee Gorgeous Hair - Daily Makeover
  • Celebs Have Us Seeing Stars - People Style Watch

Related Videos

by 5min
  • How to Flatter a Boyish Figure How to Flatter a Boyish Figure Play A boyish figure is easy to dress: It's the shape high-fashion designers create for! Here's how to maximize the impact.
  • Tips for a Flattering Shirtdress Tips for a Flattering Shirtdress Play Learn quick, easy tricks to make a shirtdress flatter your figure.
  • Choosing Maternity Wear Choosing Maternity Wear Play A look at the fashion choices available to pregnant mums as the bump gets bigger. Two expectant mothers act as our models and try on the clothes at one specialist store.
  • How to Pick Office Trousers How to Pick Office Trousers Play Finding figure-flattering trousers can be the difference between looking like a well-tailored businesswoman and looking like you're wearing your partner's suit. Fashion stylist Jess Zaino breaks down this wardrobe basic and tells you her stylist secret: where to find perfect trousers for under $75.

READER COMMENTS

(3)Add A Comment

Jen, 3-06-2008, 4:15PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Jen

It would be nice if all these styles came just elongated for tall ladies like myself *sigh* I have that hourglass figure that is supposedly envied but it comes with a deluge of problems especially when I'm 6'2" and more like 175 not 150 like them models. I'd giggle if I actually got to be on what not to wear and they tried to give me advice to buy clothes that just don't exist in my proportions (size 13 womens shoes hah hah). I have a tiny waist but half the time all the shirts I try on need an extra 3-4 inches in length from my shoulders to my chest to make it sit properly. Its annoying that larger sizes just get wider and not longer as well : /

Reply »

Mandy, 3-08-2008, 3:05AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Mandy

I have the same exact issues. Hourglass figure, Six feet tall, 165 lbs. size 11 shoe. I hate shopping for clothes because it's so difficult!

»

Guy who likes tits, 3-06-2008, 7:15PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Guy who likes tits

If you have big titties show them. Hiding your tits will get you nowhere with men and wear tight jeans if you have a big booty.

Reply »

ADVERTISEMENT

STAY IN THE LOOP!

Most Popular

 
 

Hot on Facebook

 
 
36 Stars Show How To Wear Yellow
Stevie Nicks' Truly Epic Outfits Through The Years
Look Of The Day: Kate Stuns In Calvin
PHOTOS: 27 Swimsuit Style Icons From The '40s To Today
C.Z. Guest's Unusual White Accessory
Your Grandma Could Rock A Bikini

MORE ON Stylelist

Outdoor Decor
Inspiration Create A Getaway Feel For Your Backyard, Patio Or Balcony
City Gardening
Gardening and Landscapes Tips For Growing A Garden In A City
Room Makeover
Know-How 3 Life-Changing Room Makeovers
Weekend Diys
DIY Weekend DIY Ideas: 8 Ways To Fix Up Your Home In 2 Days Or Less (PHOTOS)
Ray And The Ro Ksubi
Stylelist Network Ksubi 'Bad Sports' Lookbook: From The Stylelist Network
Memorial Day Sales
Projects Memorial Day Sales 2012: Home Decor And Outdoor Furniture Sales At Macy's, Sears, Home Depot And More (PHOTOS)

SITES WE LOVE

Meet Fashion's Coolest Moonlighters — & See How They Make It Work

Headphone Stalking! 9 Rad 'Phones From The NY Streets

5 Outfits To Try This Week: Sneakers, Overalls, & More

Jeanine Celeste Pang: Reinventing Happily Ever After

Get Jordin's Lacy Look For Less

Mary Kincaid: Weekly Roundup of eBay Vintage Home Finds (PHOTOS)

Carine Roitfeld, Janet Jackson, Karl Lagerfeld, and More at Last Night’s amfAR Gala in Cannes

Natalia Vodianova Was Royal in Blue

Cathy Horyn Deems Mickey Drexler’s Life ‘Not the Stuff of Novels’

Scrub Down: Hadali Detoxifying Body Scrub

Dressed In White: Sophie Theallet Sea Island White Cotton Gown

Patriotic Purse: Edie Parker Red, White and Blue Jean Clutch

Heat It Up: 5 Cool Outfits Inspired by Our Favorite Summer Movies

One Awesome Thing: A Swimsuit to Make You Feel Like a Bond Girl

Look of the Day: Leopard Meets Brights

Kim Kardashian a Kopy Kat?

Priscilla Chan’s Wedding Secret

Mozart Meets the Future

EVEN MORE ON Stylelist

Design
Clean Home
Beauty
Home Design
 
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trademarks
  • Advertise
  • About Our Ads
  • Get AOL
 
 
© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved