How to Achieve Your Desired Silhouette

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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.

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