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FEATURE ARTICLE
Dressing
the "Non-Standard" Body
What can you
do if you aren't an "average" size? What choices do you
have if you're small, tall, petite, or plus size, and every
clothes-shopping trip you take becomes an exercise in frustration?
For starters,
don't give up!
Just because
nothing in the stores seems to be made with you in mind doesn't mean
that you can't find what you need. You just have to understand a few
basic tenants before you head off to the mall or start clicking away
online, including:
1. Most
Retailers Only Stock Regular Sizes
The fashion
industry offers the largest bulk of its merchandise in "standard
sizes," which includes Misses sizes 4-14, for women 5'4" to
5'8" in height (European sizes 34-44 and 1.6256-1.7272 m).
Because SO many women fit these parameters, this is the largest
target market of ready-to-wear apparel.
If you don't
fit these categories, your choices are considerably reduced, but not
non-existent. You just can't go into a regular, brand-name clothing
store and expect to find your non-standard size. If you DO find what
you need, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, head for specialty
clothing stores that offer merchandise designed with you in mind.
Some online
options include:
PETITE
TALL
WOMEN'S
2. Come to
Grips with Your Body
Have a large
bust but small hips? Have large hips but no bust? Need one size on
top and another on the bottom?
Identify the
parts you like and the parts you don't, then get busy
"accentuating the positive" instead of lamenting over the
negative. It's a much better use of your time and with a little
practice, you may be able to fool others into thinking you have a
better body than you do.
How? Keep reading!
3. Learn
Some Sleigh-of-Hand Tricks
You can appear
larger or smaller depending on what kinds of clothes you choose. Some
elements to consider include:
Lines
Horizontal
lines or details on a garment will make you look wider; vertical
lines or will make you look taller and thinner.
Color
Light colors
will make you look larger; dark colors will make you look smaller.
Texture
Smooth
textures make you appear smaller; chunky or shiny textures add bulk
and will make you look bigger.
4.
Experiment with Different Elements
Once you find
clothes that fit your shape and size, try experimenting with
different clothing elements to bring about the desired effect.
For example,
If You're Heavy...
-
Try adding a
long beaded necklace or pendant to your ensemble to give you a
slenderizing vertical line.
-
Avoid clothes
that add visual bulk, like chunky sweaters, horizontal stripes, or
light-colored fabrics. |
Coldwater
Creek |
Or, If
You're Very Thin ...
-
Use gathers
and soft fullness to visually add pounds.
-
Use multiple
layers to create fullness and interest.
-
Wear
contrasting colors on top and bottom. |
Coldwater
Creek |
See how easy
this is?
Once you come
to grips with your body and realize that if you wear a non-standard
size, then you're probably going to have to buy clothes from
specialty retailers, your clothes-hunting duties become a lot less frustrating.
Make a list of
stores where you know you can find clothes that fit, and stick with
them. Ask for recommendations from family and friends. Go online and
look around.
Then,
experiment to find what looks best on you. With a little practice and
determination, you'll soon learn what kinds of clothes look best AND
where you can regularly find them.
Instead of an
exercise in frustration, it could become a modern-day treasure hunt.
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Need some
other suggestions for dressing your particular shape?
Download a
copy of WARDROBE MAGIC
http://www.WardrobeMagic.com
to see just
how easy dressing well can be.
Happy
Valentine's Day!
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Until next time,
Diana
diana@fashionforrealwomen.com
http://www.FashionForRealWomen.com
http://www.BusinessWearMagic.com
http://www.WardrobeMagic.com
http://www.FashionJobReview.com
------------------------
Published by:
Top Drawer
Publications, LLC
256 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE
19711 USA
Copyright
© 2005 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved.
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