There are so many different style of jeans today, how do you know what looks
right on you? Try them all on! Let go of all of your preconceived, outdated
notions of what jeans should look and feel like. In the 80’s and 90’s we wore
high-waisted, tight fitting, tapered jeans and thought we looked good. Look
back at a picture of yourself wearing those jeans – does it look good? Probably
not, because that style didn’t really suit anyone very well. Mostly it just
made everybody look like they had longer bottoms and shorter legs.
While the best way to find your most flattering jean is to test out as many
styles as possible, there are some basic aspects that look good on most women.
First, ditch that light blue acid-washed color and look for darker denims,
which elongate your leg. Choose a straight leg or boot cut style, but never,
ever wear a tapered leg. The straight or boot cut creates a sleeker line for
the eye, again, making you appear longer-legged. Also, make sure that your
jeans just cover the heel of your shoe so the line of your leg continues all
the way to the floor.
Other slimming tricks for jeans: Watch out for slanted pockets at the hips
if you are fuller in that region. Stay away from snaps or buttons or other
hardware on your back pockets unless you have a very slight bottom. Never wear
jeans with pleats at the waistline because it makes your belly look fuller.
Most women over age 18 should not wear low-rise hipster jeans because we tend
to ooze over the top. Choose a mid-rise that’s not too high and not too low
instead. Above all else, do not choose jeans that are too tight fitting or too
baggy. Pick out jeans that leave room for breathing and moving without hiding
all of your curves, especially in the rear.
Jackets and Blazers
Wearing a jacket or blazer is very trendy right now plus they can hide a
multitude of problems. The main thing to look for in a jacket or blazer is a
smooth, tailored fit. It should fit around your curves, not be a big box over
your figure. Single-breasted styles are also less bulky than the
double-breasted. Like hemlines, the bottom of the jacket should not fall at the
widest part of your hip area because it will make it look even wider there.
Pockets with flaps or buttons will also accentuate the breast or waist area, so
be aware of what you are accentuating. Generally, solid neutral colors for
jackets look best on most women. Small, simple prints may be OK, but stay away
from very large, bright prints. Finally, wearing your jacket open with a
contrasting solid color beneath can help elongate and narrow the body as well.
Capri Pants
Capris may be cool and comfortable to wear, but unfortunately, they make
many women look short and chunky. The main problem is that they often end at
the widest part of the calf. In general, taller, leaner women look best in
capris. However, if you are shorter but have skinny calves and ankles, you can
also wear capris. Just consider wearing them with a heel to lengthen your line.
Choose a straight line with no flared or cuffed bottoms. Also, stay away from
bold prints and textures as they can visually add pounds where you don’t want
them. Like the guidelines for jeans, choose flat front, mid-rise capris. Stay
away from drawstring or elasticized waistbands if you want to minimize your
tummy and hip zone.