Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...

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Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...



Do not be discouraged by the body you have right now! You can spend all day wishing you had some type of body you see in a magazine or maybe you're working out to get the body you want but still want to look your best in the meantime, or maybe it's just genetics and you've got what you've got and you want to work with it. Either way, there are clothes and shoes for you. So if you've got a big butt/hips, boobs, arms, feet, or a belly, there are ways to flatter and show off these assets that hopefully will help you to feel good about who you are right now.



Note: these are just suggestions. You can and should wear whatever you want to wear and whatever is going to make you happy. These lists are just ideas for those who are trying to figure out ways to work with their larger sized body parts. I am in no way suggesting that having a larger body part is wrong, so please put all pitchforks back in their proper holsters. :)


Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...


I've got a big butt/hips



If these body parts make you super self-conscious, draw the eye away from these areas. Wear your darker colors on bottom, light on top. Wear the stripes, the florals, the sequins, the ruffles, the big dazzling jewelry up top to help draw the eyes where you want them to be. Peplums are good for hiding tummies, not so much for butt and hips since they tend to stop right above this area. If you're going to wear one, look for one that hits at least mid hip, not above it. Buy illusion dresses with geometric designs that literally create a different silhouette than the one you actually have.



Look for tops that hit mid butt or longer like a tunic top or a-line tops that lightly flare away from your body. To create balance between top and bottom half, boot cut jeans create a bit of width on bottom to balance the width of your butt/hips up top. A-line skirts and swing skirts are wonderful for disguising the area. Avoid pencil cut jeans/pants/mom jeans/skinny jeans unless you're rocking a top that covers your hip/butt region because these cuts often highlight the hips and butt by creating a large V shape that draw you to them in your silhouette and tend not to balance your body or create a flattering proportion overall.



Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...

I've got big boobs



NUMBER 1, get the to a bra fitter. Most women, no matter the size, are wearing a bra that is wrong for them, that is uncomfortable, and most importantly doesn't fit. YES, I 100% will tell you it is much harder to find a larger sized bra. You WILL have to go to a specialty store if you wear above a DD cup, but it is worth it for your comfort and to improve the look of your silhouette (no one wants boobs which meet them at their waist, no ma'am!). V-neck neck tops are super flattering as are wrap dresses. Avoid boat neck, crew neck, and turtle neck tops.



Boat necks add more bulk to your bust which you don't need, and the latter two offer no break between the neck and the bust giving you a big buxom block shape. The buttons on your shirt should not be holding on for dear life. You should not be able to see gaps between them. Avoid straps or bands right below the bust which can give them the propped up on a shelf look. When shopping for shirts/dresses, always buy for the biggest part of you, your bust (forget what your actual so called size is!), and go to a tailor who can tailor the rest down to fit the often times smaller parts of you. Avoid a lot of detail on your chest especially ruffles which add more bulk, patterns that can look askew, or buttons right on the bust which kind of remind you of, well you know (its nipples. They remind you of nipples).



Wear your darker colors on top, and lighter on bottom to draw attention away from the area. If you have the problem of leaning down and flashing everyone, buy a bra panel which hooks to the inside of your tops to offer you more coverage. When it comes to jackets, look for ones which will give you a longer silhouette (avoid crop styles because they will hug this area). And don't focus on buttoning your jackets, because just the jacket type can be flattering if it hangs just right and includes some darting at the waist.



Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...

I have big arms



Do not force squeeze your arms into any sleeve that is tight on the arm. This will give you that sausage casing look that isn't flattering. Look for sleeves that are looser like butterfly sleeves, peasant sleeves, poncho styles, or just sleeves that aren't tight. Cap sleeves cut the top of the arm sharply drawing attention to the bulk of the arms. If you are going to wear a tank, look for one with thicker straps. Tiny spaghetti straps make your arms look bigger because as with the shoe examples, you basically are seeing more flesh. If a tank is definitely not something you would ever wear, look for sleeves with cut outs that allow you to show a bit of arm, without letting them all hang out. Three quarter length sleeves tend to be the most flattering on larger arms because the end at a place below the girth of your arm, and showcase the typically smaller part of any woman's arms in the forearm and wrists.


Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...

I have big feet



Most department stores and discount stores carry up to 10s and maybe even 13's these days so that's good news, if not hit the online racks and seek out your size especially if you need wide shoes as well. To minimize the look of length of the foot, avoid pointy toed shoes which give you that witch look and serve to add more length to the foot. Opt for closed toe round toe shoes which visually stop the line of the leg and round out the foot. This type of shoe does not expose your long toes which can show the length of your foot rather than help disguise it.



Gladiator flats will always make your foot look longer because there are so many straps that act as continual markers for how long your foot is. Look for thicker strapped shoes because the skinnier the straps, the more of your foot is exposed as is its length. Opt for a shoe with a few straps like an ankle and a toe strap that can minimize the look of length as can a wedge which adds girth to the back, while elevating the foot and making it appear smaller. A lot of accents on the shoe like giant bows can call attention to big feet.


Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...

I have a big belly



Do not, I repeat, do not wear empire waist anything. An empire waist is one on a top or dress nipped or banded in just below the bust, with the fabric flowing down from there. There is a reason this cut works wonderfully for PREGNANT WOMEN! If you're not pregnant, these will make you look like you're a couple months along. Not a good look. Peplums are great for hiding tummies. Try using jackets and tops with darting to disguise this area. You want to bring things in at the waist using heavier material like those found in jean and wool jackets. Lighter and cheaper fabrics tend to just cling on top or outline the area rather than disguise.



Do not wear clingy or tight clothing which can give you that terrible donut belly. Opt for tops and jackets that slightly graze or drape over this area. Wearing a darker colored jacket over a lighter covered top helps to minimize the look of girth here as do illusion tops. An a-line top that skims over the area is flattering. Don't add a belt right at your belly point, because your pooch is going to struggle to go up or down (let it breath, darn it!). Use pattern that cuts across your top at an angle or vertically which help draw the eye straight up and down. Use a scarf that drops straight down to at least your waist level to help hide the area. No crop tops. No high-waisted jeans/pants/shorts which can trap your belly love in a kangaroo type pouch which isn't the best look. Do look for pants that do have tummy control panels to help suck things in instead of having to wear a hot shaper in the summer months.

Work It Girl: Figure Flattery If You've Got a Big...
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