Not all of us have 5% body fat. That’s fine. What you want to do is slim your silhouette and draw attention away from your midsection. Here are 15 tips how to slim your silhouette:
(1) Button your jacket unless you are sitting down. As Tom Ford says, “It takes 20 pounds off your silhouette.â€
(2) Avoid bold patterns. Simple, solid colors are your friend.
(3) Dark colors make you look slimmer.
(4) Don’t buy clothes that are too tight.
(5) You want to draw attention to your chest, not your stomach. Wearing a pocket square and a jacket that does not have sloped shoulder (but slightly squared shoulders instead) can help do this.
(6) Minimize the stuff you put in your pockets. If you have a fat wallet, invest in a cardholder and carry folded cash in your front pockets.
(7) Don’t wear cargo pants.
(8) Pleats attract attention to you midsection and they make your thighs look bigger. Wear flat front pants without cuffs.
(9) Wear pants with a longer hem. This creates the illusion of longer, slimmer legs.
(10) Not wearing a belt will help do this too.
(11) Don’t wear chunky sweaters or bulky blazers (this one’s true no matter your build).
(12) If your wear stripes, they should be subtle and vertical.
(13) Your jacket length is key. If it’s too short or too long, it will look awkward.
(14) If you can, wear suspenders with your slacks. This will float your pants and you won’t have to choose between buttoning your pants above or below your waist.
(15) Keep clean. Keep your hair (and your beard, if you must have one) short.
Picture courtesy of The Sartorialist.
Have a great tip about how to dress to flatter a heavy build?
Share it with us in the comments!
July 2nd, 2008
Great cut in a fantastic color with a subtle pattern.
$146 at Oak.
July 2nd, 2008
Q: I love retro style like Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly. How can I modernize these styles into today’s fashion?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn all embody timeless American style. Audrey is famous for her elegant black sheath dress, capri pants, ballet flats, and large dark sunglasses. Her style is perfectly suited to her body type and personality - thin, graceful and gamine. (She was also fortunate to have Hubert Givenchy to dress her.) Grace Kelly is famous for her cinched waists, full skirts, fitted tops, pearls, and her classic Kelly bag. And Katharine Hepburn, exuding professional style, made menswear her signature look.
What do Audrey, Grace, and Katharine have in common? Each was an icon of their own personal style. So to modernize this looks, do as these style icons did:
Wear clothing that suits your figure. Not your style icon’s figure, not your best friend’s figure–your figure. Be honest with yourself about what works and what doesn’t–and choose your silhouettes accordingly.
Create, don’t Copy. Instead of copying Audrey, Katharine, or Grace’s style directly, create your own signature style. Sure, it can be based on that of your style icon, but make it your own. Katharine Hepburn made trousers her signature piece. What will your signature piece be?
Create your signature style around classic, clean lines. Your clothes won’t overwhelm you, and maintaining a clean silhouette allows you to play with accessories, hairstyles, and makeup.
Pictured: Katharine Hepburn (courtesy of Fashion Me Fabulous), Audrey Hepburn (courtesy of AudreyHepburn.com), and Grace Kelly (courtesy of GraceKellyOnline).
Have a great tip about how to be a modern day style icon? Share it with us in the comments!
July 1st, 2008
Lilac is such a lovely color, especially on this 20s inspired double layer frill dress.
$90 (approx) at Topshop.
July 1st, 2008