Women's Figure Flattery Guide: Curvy

Elongate your figure while featuring your waist.
Showcase your curves.

Look for...

• Garments that drape nicely over your curves.

• Jackets & Coats
• Styles with simple lines.
• Semi-fitted styles that just cover your derrière.
• Belted styles.
• Single breasted jackets.
• Closure (button or otherwise) just below the bustline.
• Vertical lines through seams and/or lapels.
• Snug fit jean jackets.
• Snug fit, high collared biker jacket.
• Bomber jacket worn open.
• Single breasted boxy styles.


• Tops
• Semifitted styles that end below the belt and can be tucked in.
• Styles with bust darts.
• Drapey fabrics.
• Tops with fitted waists.
• Shoulder-baring tops.
• Collarbone-baring tops.
• Tops that subtly reveal cleavage.
• Wrap tops.
• Deep V-necks.
• Small collars.
• Narrow lapels.

• Pants & Jeans
• Classic flat-front straight-leg pants that rest at your natural waistline.
• Side or back zip pants (invisible zipper) reduce bulk and can be more flattering.
• Subtle flare at ankle is flattering on taller women.
• Wide pants can be tapered slightly at calf-height on heavy women.
• Stretch jeans are perfect for showcasing curves.
• For a look that’s less form-fitting, try straight-leg jeans one size up.

• Skirts & Dresses
• Slitted skirts and dresses that showcase your legs.
• Bottoms that narrow at your knees.
• A-line skirts.
• Tapered skirts.
• Flat front styles with side or back zipper.
• For a thin waistline, show your waist with a belt or prominent waistline.
• For a thicker waistline, look for dropped-waist styles.
• Wrap dresses.
• Semifitted styles.
• Shift dresses.
• A-line dresses.
• Shirtdresses.
• Medium-weight knits and drapey fabrics are flattering.
• Shawl collars.
• Keyhole necklines.
• Strapless necklines.
• Asymmetrical necklines.

• Suits
• Fluid fabrics.
• Fitted jackets and skirts.

• Swimsuits
• Wrapped styles.
• All-over patterns.
• Side shirring.
• Dark side insets.
• Underwire bra-tops.
• Halter necklines.
• High-cut legholes.
  

Run From...

• Oversized clothes.
• Overly tight clothing.
• Clothes that are cut straight up and down, without regards to curves.
• Horizontal lines at the fullest part of your hips.

• Jackets & Coats
• Jackets without waist definition (e.g. those that are loosely buttoned at the waistline).
• Styles that end at the fullest part of your hips.
• Rolled lapels.
• Cropped styles.
• High necklines.
• Jean jacket with pocket detailing.

• Tops
• Styles that end at the fullest part of your hips.
• Cropped styles.
• Overembellishment.
• Extremely thin fabrics.
• Oversized tops.
• Anything too tight.

• Pants & Jeans
• Cuffed pants.
• Very tapered styles.

• Skirts & Dresses
• Boxy styles.
• Stiff fabrics.
• Extremely full skirts.
• Pleats.
• Bulky pockets.
• Horizontal detailing.
• High necklines.

• Suits
• Tight styles.

• Swimsuits
• Suits without enough support.
• Improper fit.