Women's Figure Flattery Guide: Short Waisted

Visually lower your waistline and re-direct attention towards your face or legs.

Look for...

• Monochromatic and tonal outfits.
• Vertical lines above the waist.
• Narrow belts at the hipline.
• Narrow belts that match the color of your top.

• Jackets & Coats
• Long jackets: hipbone, below the hips, three-quarters, and seven-eighths styles.
  
• Single breasted styles.
• High armholes.
• Narrow lapels tapering to the waist.
• Some shoulder padding.
• One or two button closures.
• Deep V necklines.
• Jean jackets that hit at the top of the hips.
• Biker jackets.

• Tops
• Long tops that end below your natural waistline.
• Vertical detailing.
• Deep V necklines.
• High armholes.
• Princess seams.
• Tabbed collars.

• Pants & Jeans
• Wear pants slightly long and with a heel for added leg length.
• Low-waisted bottoms.
• Flat front styles.
• Jeans with a longer rise.

• Skirts & Dresses
• Straight shapes with a dropped waistline.
• Styles without waistbands.
• Fluid fabrics.
• Empire waist styles.
• Straight sheaths.
• Coat dresses.
• Deep V-necklines.
• Verticals on the torso.

• Suits
• Long jackets, which should reach below the waist or longer.
• Fluid fabrics.
• Narrow pants.
• Short skirts.

• Swimsuits
• Two piece suits with bottoms that hit below your natural waistline.
• Strong verticals on the torso.
• High necklines.
• Darker side panels.

Run from...

• Belts at the waistline or above.
• Wide waistbands or belts.
• Any horizontal lines at the waist.

• Jackets & Coats
• Double breasted styles.
• Flap or patch pockets.
• Wide collars.
• High round necklines.
• Belted styles.
• Bomber jackets.

• Tops
• Overembellished styles.
• Anything cinched at the waist.
• High-waisted styles.
• Cropped styles.
• Waistbands, especially those that sit at your natural waist.
• Off-the-shoulder styles.

• Pants & Jeans
• High-waisted bottoms.
• Cropped pants.

• Skirts & Dresses
• Dresses with waistline details.
• Wide waistbands.
• High-waisted styles.
• Contrast color belts.
• Horizontal lines at natural waistline or above.
• Stiff fabrics.

• Suits
• Cropped jacket tops.

• Swimsuits
• High waisted bikini bottoms.
• Horizontal detailing on the torso.