To Lengthen a Short-Waisted Body…

DO:

  • Conceal the natural waist with dropped, raised or no waist line styles
  • Choose jackets or blouses that cover or blouse over the waist
  • Try skirt and pant styles with waist facings instead of bands
  • Match a belt color to bodice rather than bottoms

DON’T:

  • Use horizontal bodice details (yokes, pockets) that visually shorten torso
  • Select full skirts that balloon out form waist
  • Create a strong color break at your waist by tucking shirts and sweaters into your waistband

To Shorten a Long-Waisted Body…

DO:

  • Choose shorter jackets in bold, advancing colors, often with horizontal details in the lapels, pockets and trim
  • Use lengthening vertical details on the lower body for balance
  • Try raised-waistline skirt/pant styles or wider waistbands
  • Color-match belts to trousers or skirt, not to bodice

DON’T:

  • Choose low-rise styles or faced waistlines instead of bands

To Lengthen a Short Neck…

DO:

  • Wear V-necklines or open collars to elongate the neck
  • Keep earrings close to the ear, not dangling
  • Wear longer necklaces to expose more neckline area
  • Keep hairstyles short or upswept

DON’T:

  • Wear turtlenecks or other high necklines
  • Choose choker necklaces or tie scarves high on the neck

To Shorten a Long Neck…

DO:

  • Long necks are often a fashion asset
  • Enjoy wearing turtlenecks, choker necklaces, and other accessories close to the neck
  • Fill in the neckline area with longer, fuller hair

DON’T:

  • Exaggerate the length with severe V Necks in garments or jewelry
  • Choose earring styles that are very long and narrow

To Lengthen or Slenderize Arms…

DO:

  • Choose tapered set-in sleeves or raglan styles
  • Use shoulder pads and details like epaulets to further enhance length
  • Keep cuffs moderate in size and color-matched to sleeve

DON’T:

  • Choose sleeves that either too tight or too full
  • Wear short sleeves, especially ones with fitted cuffs

To Camouflage Long, Thin Arms…

DO:

  • Choose horizontal sleeve details like puffed, dropped shoulder, push up, or short, cuffed sleeves
  • Find long sleeves with wide or contrasting cuffs
  • Be sure long sleeves are not too short; alter if necessary

DON’T:

  • Wear raglan-sleeve styling
  • Choose very tight sleeves

To Diminish a Prominent Tummy…

DO:

  • Create a prominent shoulder line with shoulder pads, yokes, wide lapels, or horizontal collar styles
  • Wear styles that skim over the abdomen and taper at the hemline
  • Wear cardigans, swing jackets or shirt jackets that conceal, pair with tapered skirts or pants
  • Try longer blouson tops softly banded or tied below the tummy
  • Choose gently gathered skirts in soft fabrics
  • Draw attention upward with eye catching scarves or necklaces that end above bust level
  • Wear elastic waist pants and skirts to fit your waist with minimum fullness in the hips and thighs

DON’T:

  • Use bulky, stiff or shiny fabrics on the lower body
  • Choose front closure styles, full gathers, trouser pockets or bold belts

To Minimize a Thick Waist…

DO:

  • Keep belts and waistbands narrow and inconspicuous
  • Look for straight, body-skimming styles that obscure the waist, tapered at the hemline
  • Choose semi fitted jackets with shoulder emphasis for balance, wear them unbuttoned, for a slenderizing vertical band or blouse color underneath

DON’T:

  • Wear A-shapes in dresses or skirts
  • Wear wide or contrast-color belts

To Lengthen Short Legs…

DO:

  • Keep skirt lengths flattering, just below the knee and just below the full calf are safe spots
  • Choose trouser style with vertical details like fly-front closure, pleats or creases
  • Look for skirts and pants with wider waistbands to elongate the look
  • Create an upward focus with eye-catching jewelry and bright tops
  • Shop for skirts and pants in the petite department even if you need regular size tops and jackets

DON’T:

  • Wear pants/skirts with horizontal details (cuffs, yokes, patch pockets, border prints)

To Shorten Long Legs…

DO:

  • Wear sweaters tunics or jackets that end at mid-thigh or lower
  • Match belt color to top garment, not skirt or pants
  • Choose pants with horizontal yokes, faced waistlines and cuffs
  • Hem fuller skirts to mid-calf length
  • Keep waistbands narrow or choose bottoms with a narrow binding or facing at the waist

DON’T:

  • Tuck fitted blouses into high-rise waistlines

To Enhance Narrow Hips/Derriere…

DO:

  • Choose flared or gathered skirts in moderately crisp fabrics
  • Try jackets with peplums or swing styles to add hipline fullness

DON’T:

  • Wear pants or skirts with baggy fullness below the derriere. Alter if necessary for proper fit.

To Slenderize Heavy Hips/Thighs/Derriere…

DO:

  • Broaden shoulder with shoulder pads, yokes, and wide collars to balance hips
  • Use brightly colored tops with eye-catching details to focus attention on the upper body
  • Select dark-colored skirts or pants that skim over the hips and taper at the hemline for a narrower look
  • Look for skirts with center-front pleats or plackets to draw the eye toward the center of the figure
  • Choose jackets that end above or below the widest part of hips
  • Tuck in shirts and choose jackets that end between the waist and high hip.

DON’T:

  • Position eye catching details at the hip-line
  • Wear pants too tight, buy to fit the hips and alter the waist