What Flatters...What Flattens (and sometimes Fattens)

One thing that I talk to clients a lot about is what combinations are flattering and what combinations make the outfit look off.  Proportion is key.  Here are a few examples of how proportion should work:

1.  Cropped Top: High Waist 

If you are wearing a more cropped top wear a higher waisted pant, shorts or skirt.  A low waist will make you look wide and too much like one of the Kardashian's showing tummy.  

Cropped top: High Waist Lookbook

2.  Long Top-Long pants

If you are wearing a longer top or tunic do not wear it with shorts or even capri pants--it will make you legs look squatty and your hips look wide.  Pair a long top with a long slim legged pant (to the ankle or just below).  This will elongate your body and make you look slim. Think cigarette pants or skinnier jeans.

Long Top: Skinny pant Lookbook

3.  Boxy top: Tighter bottoms

If you are wearing a boxy top do not wear pleated or super baggy pants.  A boxy top belongs with a pencil skirt, straight leg jeans or slim cut cropped pants.  Remember--Big top, small bottom.

Boxy Top: Slim pants Lookbook

4.  When wearing a dress that needs to be belted belt at the waist--if you belt low (unless you are tiny) you are adding major bulk to your hip area.  Usually a woman's torso right below the bust to the top of the waist is the area to showcase.  Not where your hips widen.  And lose the wide, low belts.  They don't work on most people.

Rebecca Taylor belted silk dress