Choose Your Own Figure-Flattering Priorities

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Choose Your Own Figure-Flattering Priorities

— by Angie

on August 9, 2023

Body type dressing guidelines that create traditionally flattering outfit proportions are helpful, but not essential. Instead follow your own set of figure-flattering priorities. Choose proportions and fits that celebrate your body and style, not a generic standard.

We all have different figure-flattering priorities, and they evolve over time. It might be about looking streamlined, structured, and long in the leg. Or it might be about boxy cuts and volume in the right places. Follow yours and feel your best.

Outfits that are traditionally flattering and outfits that veer away from this standard can both be fabulous. The important thing is to go with the combinations that make you feel the most attractive, comfortable, at ease, and ready for the day.

Individual Style

32 comments · Add a comment

April

Veteran

Amen, Angelique. I gave up long ago trying to look long-legged, will have to think about what I still hold dear.

August 9, 2023 at 4:37 am

Dee

Veteran

Half the time I’m not even sure exactly what my body type is, so I just try to please myself with what I think looks and feels right on me whether its trendy or not.

August 9, 2023 at 4:54 am

suntiger

Ditto Dee!

August 9, 2023 at 5:02 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Truth!

I feel like I’m frequently trying to find the balance between stretching my boundaries around flattery with feeling like myself. I adore some of the roomy, floaty looks I see on others, especially for hot summer, but they often just don’t translate on me. I think it’s because of a big bust — things tend to look more tent-like or matronly than effortless when one has that trait, sadly. So I always try to find the balance in which I feel the look is JFE!

August 9, 2023 at 5:08 am

gryffin

Veteran

Agree DYOT. So much easier to be an original vs a copy. Happy dance!

August 9, 2023 at 5:08 am

Bijou

Veteran

Feeling like myself is my main priority when purchasing new items. Even if it is conventionally flattering, if it does not feel like me, then it is a definite NO.

It’s always a thrill to find something that is perfect for my style, I have now got to the point where I don’t want to settle for near enough.

August 9, 2023 at 5:24 am

Helena

Veteran

I have to admit I’ve been delving into some of the traditional body flattery content as I figure out how to tweak things to accommodate my mid-age, changing shape, and a closet clean out and facing some hard truths about what still fits me well is in order!! But I’m taking a “tools not rules” approach and ultimately it’s what *feels* good that I’m going to wear … As always Angie thank you for your wonderful combination of good sense, kindness and support! Xoxo

August 9, 2023 at 5:55 am

LJP

Veteran

I can ignore some (making legs look longer) but am highly aware of others (trying to minimize a larger bust , as Janet already mentioned, and camouflaging a rounded belly ) . I’ll just continue to bumble along doing my best Decades of ingrained beliefs etc.

August 9, 2023 at 6:16 am

RobinF

Veteran

I suppose I do a bit of both. I’ll never look tall and thin but I do try to minimize those parts that I can. Nothing better though, than trying on something and going “yes, this is me!”.

August 9, 2023 at 6:24 am

Eliza

Veteran

I embrace DYOT. I do stir in considering proportion and balance when creating outfits; some are more pleasing to my eye than others. Happy to find some looks flattering, yet seem to focus most on how the pieces work together and accommodate my activity without fuss. I think experience brings awareness of what tends to work best and periodically try something different deliberately, to see what I think now. Often, my inclination that it’s not for me is confirmed, but sometimes new possibilities emerge with experimentation.

August 9, 2023 at 6:28 am

Gloria Mitchell

When I was growing up (I’m 52), the advice in fashion magazines seemed to revolve around disguising “flaws” by examining any ways your body deviates from the presumed ideal, and then finding ways to camouflage the deviations.

I’ve been very taken with the Kibbe body types idea — which I know has been around a long time, but I only discovered it a couple years ago — because in a way the advice is the opposite of that. It says your outfits should reflect and amplify your body type, not try to disguise it. The premise is that you look best when you look like yourself. It took me a while to accept my long, skinny arms and legs and angular face as evidence of a “dramatic” type, because I didn’t like the idea of looking masculine — but it’s not really masculine, it’s just angular and pointy. Now I love wearing elegant, simple, tailored clothes and wish I’d been dressing this way for years!

August 9, 2023 at 6:29 am

DonnaF

Veteran

I confess to having been thoroughly brainwashed for well over a half century. (I’m 70 y.o.) Looking taller isn’t a particular priority of mine, but I still can’t (psychologically) wear two blocks of high contrast colors. Other than that, I hope I don’t look at photos of myself years from now and say, “What was I thinking?!? What a fashion victim!”

August 9, 2023 at 7:17 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the interesting thoughts! Back to reply in more detail in a bit.

In the meantime, sweet Helena, when traditional figure flattering guidelines work – MILK IT! We all adhere to them in smaller or bigger ways and that's a good thing. As long as we know that we don't need to adhere to them to look and feel fabulous – my message hit home

August 9, 2023 at 7:18 am

rachylou

Veteran

‘Tall and thin’ and what Gloria said about disguising flaws are things I remember too… but in all honesty, there are actually too many rules for me to remember them all. It’s easier to go your way, Angie! I can remember what *I* like, lol!

August 9, 2023 at 7:59 am

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I never entirely understood the old rules. They just didn’t make sense. As a shorter than average person, I didn’t look taller, no matter how I dressed, unless I wore towering heels. Which I couldn’t. ;). And I often find it’s the body type modifiers (e.g. “long arms,” or “thick calves,” or “narrow feet,” or “muscular thighs” or “short waist” or “long rise”) rather than the more expected areas of bust, waist, hip measurement, per se, that lead to fit problems in off-the-rack clothes and the accompanying confusion or frustration. It helps so much to know 1). It’s not you, it’s the clothes; and 2). You don’t have to look like any idealized image of womanhood to look great.

August 9, 2023 at 8:08 am

Veteran

Great advice as always and what Janet said is very true for me.

August 9, 2023 at 8:25 am

Helena

Veteran

Thank you Angie x

August 9, 2023 at 8:28 am

nuancedream

Veteran

Trinny and Susannah’s Body Shape Bible was something I followed when I was first trying unlock the personal style puzzle. Then, I realized it was limiting because there was no room for body shape variations. Not all women with a pear shape have a small bust. Jennifer Lopez, for example. Now, I dress for myself, and figure flattery is something I may or may not consider. If I feel fabulous and confident in what I’m wearing, that is all that matters to me.

August 9, 2023 at 8:44 am

nancylee

Veteran

Excellent advice. It can take some time to figure out what styles works best for your own body, but once you do shopping gets a lot easier! One of the nice things about getting older is that you know yourself and your body much better than in your younger years and are less likely to wear trends that don’t flatter.

It’s almost like figuring out how your body processes different foods. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another, and general guidelines don’t take this into account.

August 9, 2023 at 9:13 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

April, all of you is dear

Dee, Bijoy, Suntiger, good strategies! You get it.

Janet and Eliza, YES! BALANCE is an aspirational and magic word in my own life. Follow those feelings. After all, it’s ultimately you that has to feel good in a look.

Gryffin, exactly.

LJP, Suz, Nancylee, JP and RobinF, sounds like you’re successfully adhering to your figure flattering priorities!

DonnaF, you wear a lot of high contrasting black and white! And with the best of them.

Nuancedream, agreed!

Rachy, the process that is easier to remember and manage wins.

Gloria, glad you’ve found your way through to dressing the way you want to, and feeling great in those looks.

August 9, 2023 at 9:38 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Helena,

August 9, 2023 at 10:05 am

Kay

I read and see on videos a lot about adding structure to an outfit, using tucking or belts, but that doesn’t work so well for lots of post-menopausal women, even those who aren’t technically overweight. I’m only 5’5”, but I wear lots of dresses that hang straight down to my calves, or longer. They’re either fitted at the shoulders or sleeveless. (No puffy sleeves.) They’re loose and comfortable, but I still get frequent compliments on the way I dress, the style of which is very out of the ordinary where I live. Most people, men and women, wear t-shirts and shorts or jeans, and sweatshirts when it’s cooler. Upper middle class women wear fitted pants, often cropped, with tops of various kinds. It’s like a uniform, at both ends of the class scale.

Not having a big bust and having an essentially straight up and down figure are factors in this approach looking good on me. And my shoulders are straight, neither narrow nor excessively broad, which probably helps as well.

August 9, 2023 at 10:18 am

kj2008

I don’t think my broad shoulders & big bust are a figure flaw, they are just part of my shape. I’m dealing with a thick waist by avoiding tucking shirts in. I’m basically not worrying about it much. Just trying to get clothes I like that fit.
But what I don’t understand is the part about having long legs/looking tall. If it’s supposed to be a good thing, why do gals with long legs have to wear pants that are too short?

August 9, 2023 at 10:30 am

Sal

Veteran

Very true Angie. There are all sorts of ways to look great. For me the main one is looking and feeling like me- a happy healthy stylish me.

August 9, 2023 at 1:50 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kay, there are MANY ways to add structure to an outfit. Some make a statement while others are more subtle. You might find this post interesting:

https://youlookfab.com/search/?t=structure&p=blog

kj2008, absolutely not figure flaws!

To answer your question, the looking taller is part of the traditional aspiration to look "long and lean", like most catwalk models. That's where it stems from. It's a type of benchmark beauty that makes no sense. I'm with you! Not sure if your last sentence refers to the cropped pants trend or something else?

Sal, you are wise and wonderful!

August 9, 2023 at 3:19 pm

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

It can take a long time to figure out one’s own style and figure-flattering priorities. And then, as you point out, Angie, one’s taste in these areas may continue to change. Personally, I rarely feel I really know what I’m aiming for. I just try not to stress about it, too much.

August 9, 2023 at 3:41 pm

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Absolutely! Thanks for the reminder.

August 9, 2023 at 5:55 pm

Column

Veteran

Today`s style wisdom is why I love Angie`s approach and this forum. Choice; outfit formulae with swap-out options; individual preference. Thanks to this blog (which substitutes for my previous magazine reading), I`ve never been more confident in my style.

August 9, 2023 at 6:07 pm

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It is all so personal. I am always amazed how differently people see flattery. Agree completely that the one to please is oneself!

August 9, 2023 at 6:45 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sharan, I like that you are relaxed about it

Column, that is high praise – thank you!

Barbara Diane, yay!

Jaime, ALL soooo personal

August 10, 2023 at 6:36 am

Carol

(website)

Veteran

My favorite “figure flatterer” would be a fitted tee–don’t have to think too hard about it.

Rule breakers would be many hipster girls I’ve seen, who wear absolute sacks of dresses with no belt to break it up.

August 10, 2023 at 8:20 pm

Sabrina A in VA

Agreed. As a pear-shaped, short legged, long torso’d gal on the cusp of 50, I long ago gave up on being trendy.

I wear what flatters the figure I have, not what I’d like to have.
As such, no one ever believes me that I wear a sz16 or18, & 185lbs til I show ’em the tags/scale.

One trick I discovered long ago was since I’m going to have to get dang near any pants to be hemmed anyhow, I might as well get Tall+curvy fit. The extra length of the rise on “Tall” brings the waistline where it should sit vs “at waist”=”on hips & below belly button+belly bulge”. Getting 6″ cut&hemmed costs same as 2-4 in Misses.

The current trend of high waisted pants is a dang dream, & I’m stocking up on jeans & work pants I don’t need right now to tide me over between waves of poorly fitting waistlines!

August 14, 2023 at 11:35 am

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