Challenge of a Good Fit...Part 1

 

The challenge of good fit plagues every person in America. I don't care what size you are, I am telling you most people wear clothes that are either too big or too small for them. I have seen countless fashion "faux pas" recently and I want to help you, my dear sisters!

Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to start (sorry, I had to). I am going to be very frank with you and tell you the problem starts with those evil little numbers...on the clothes. So many of us - I am including myself in there - get "done in" by that number. "Oh, I'm a size 6" or "I just dropped to a size 12". Those numbers are evil ladies - evil! Please do me the favor of not even taking that number seriously. Think of it as a suggestion (a "guess"timation if you will) of the actual number you are. I say this because a size 14 in jeans might actually be a size 16 in khakis. I'll go even a little farther to divulge a nasty little secret: retail stores lie about those sizes.

That's right, you heard me ladies. They lie about that size on those jeans you wear every day! It's called vanity sizing. Their thinking goes along these lines: women can't handle the truth about their weight and that she is not the size10 she thought she was; she is actually a size 18. Did you know, ladies, that the size 8's of today are actually the size 10's from yesteryear? I did some research on my own when I heard this and confirmed this shocking truth.

I took a pair of size 14 jeans from a major retailer (no, I will not name names) and compared them to a size 14 jeans from a plus size clothing store. I was floored when I realized that the size 14's from the major retailer was about an inch or so larger than the plus size stores size 14's. Why you ask? Great question friends, the reason is simple: retailers believe that women would not buy clothes if we were confronted with our real size. That we would run out the doors empty handed and dissatisfied.

Ugh, I cannot tell you how annoying that is! Meanwhile, you have the average Jane trying to fit into clothes that are two sizes too small because they believe the lie of the number. Well ladies, it's time to put a stop to this horrific fact of life right now! The next time you go shopping for clothes, please try them on before you leave! But don't only try on the size you normally wear, take one size larger and one size smaller into the dressing room. Don't look at that number; just buy what fits best!

The next step is to take a look at what fits your particular body shape best. Let me ask you this: what body shape are you? Take a look at that picture and be honest. Are you a triangle - bigger on bottom? Are you an upside down triangle - bigger on top? Are you square - not curvy? Are you hourglass - curvy? Are you diamond shaped - a little extra in the middle? Or are you round - extra curvy? Sorry for the analogies ladies, I just needed a perfect picture and this was the best I could find. I will be using the second name from now on. Well, now that you know; I will take the next couple of weeks going over what looks best on that body type. This week we'll take a look at the "extra curvy" woman and what looks best on her. Mind you, some of this can apply to many other body types.

Most women who fall into this category believe the lie that bigger makes you look smaller. Women falling into this category are what Tim Gunn has deemed the "Oversize Club" or the fashion's version of the O.C. To let you know how serious this is I will divulge another little secret here too: I was one of those women who believed that nasty lie. It is not at all true!

Case in point - the muumuu, a dress-me-up look from the seventies that was all the rage from poolside to penthouse; and made many gorgeous plus sized women believe they looked slimmer when, in fact, they looked like floats in a parade. Now, I'm not saying wearing this is wrong; wear it around the house! It's a great and comfortable piece of clothing...but please, please, please, don't wear it outside the house! Women with extra curves need to embrace those wonderful curves!

By that I mean downplay your extra "fluffiness" (as I like to call it) and draw attention to what you feel are your best body parts. It may be your face, your legs, your arms, or even your chest - please enhance that last part modestly. Don't go for too much ruffle and frill (some embellishments on clothing is nice), but rather look for things that will not add weight to the look of your frame. Also, avoid fabrics that have no shape or tend to drape (think muumuus). And please do not wear a shirt with horizontal stripes - it will make your bust and waistline look ten times larger.

Look for is clothing with clean lines. Something that has great structure will flatter your curvy body type. For example, a great jacket or blazer that sits at the top of your hips is perfect. Word of caution though with blazers, make sure that the shoulder pads are small or non-existent. If they are too large, it can make your chest and tummy look even larger. In line with structured clothing, try to stick with wider leg jeans to help balance out the body. Now, when it comes to shirts - I always stick with a non-patterned shirt, but if you see a great patterned shirt, make sure the pattern is proportionate to the size of the woman. Too small a print can make a woman with a larger frame look childish. And too busy of a shirt can make you look larger, in this photo notice how wide she looks. Lastly, pointy shoes or boots will help elongate your legs.

I have said a lot here, but there is much to talk about with regards to what fits best on which body type. Believe me, I have only begun! Next time I will cover more and go onto the next body type. Until then my beautiful sisters remember; as important as it is to look your best, it is more important to remember Proverbs 31:30 says: "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing; but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."