The stylist's eye: find the dress that really suits you
1616Short, long or mid-calf, how do you know which dress length to wear? © Leon and Harper
We repeat at less than 1m65 to flee the mid-calf hem. We reassure the round bellies to forget the fitted dresses. Women are asked to wear boots with court after a "certain age". But you are called upon to "assume" your forms. How to find one's way in the midst of these contradictory injunctions?
By Isabelle ThomasSome women naturally feel the urge to change the story and prefer the mid-calf to the short dress after a certain age. Others swear by the above-the-knee length regardless of age or shape. But there are short and short. And so many ways to wear it. So why ban it if you are comfortable with it on the pretext that you have too many thighs or too many years on your identity card?
Wondering if you can still wear short
If you know the difference between a second skin dress that sticks to the thighs and a flexible dress that nicely reveals your legs, trust yourself. To limit the risk of bad taste, leave out materials that mold or cling, frills and other girly fantasies, details and cuts that are too junior (skater, pleated, frayed denim, etc.), prints and colors that make sore eyes… Aim for assertive materials (cotton poplin, thick knit, silk crepe…), straight cuts, flared cuts, shirt shapes and large shirts or on the contrary well marked at the waist. Instead of veil tights (too evening), prefer semi-opaque (40 or 50 denier) or sheathing opaque (80 denier). Put on ankle boots, sneakers, tapered boots rather than pumps (too "business girl" 80's).
Read also >>> The eye of the stylist: the 7 morpho mistakes you will no longer make
How to Relieve Colds Through Diet https://t.co/DPL0xw5Cl7
— wikiHow Recipes Thu Feb 11 12:32:42 +0000 2016
You have trouble getting along with your thighs
And you don't necessarily want to take refuge in those below-the-knee lengths you don't like. With curves and a slender silhouette, I recommend the hem 10 centimeters above the knee visually more flattering than the one that falls right at the knee. So if you like the short, accompany your dresses with semi-opaque tights that will smooth and sheathe your legs. And above all, avoid straight boots which, by leaving too little space between the top of the shaft and the hem of your skirt, emphasize the knee and the less thin parts of the leg.
And then know that the midi length is not only the friend of tall, thin girls. If wrapped ankles sometimes have trouble being seduced, it's more a story of (slender) pace than of fathom and balance.
You want to hide your forms
A little too many breasts, belly, arms and hips for your taste? As soon as you try on the sea, do you feel like you're wearing a maternity dress? I advise you to try straight, slightly trapeze dresses in a flowing fabric – that's important – viscose, silk or cupro style, which will follow your movements. To enliven the silhouette, bet on a dress with a wrap-over (or V) neckline with gathers under the chest that will blur the belly and hips. Think of the loose drooping armholes to envelop your bust. With delicate and feminine transparent sleeves. Another option: a loose, slightly gathered baby doll high waist that will camouflage what's bothering you without giving the impression of hiding under a cape. You can also redraw the contours of your body with a fitted jacket or a perfecto. Do you want to show off your waist but erase your hips? Count on a tulip shape that will perfectly blur this area of contention. Short or long hem, it doesn't matter. Whether you want to show off your legs is up to you.
You find yourself too skinny
Forget the straight and elongated "Mormon" cuts that will highlight what bothers you, flatten your bust and your buttocks or eat you. Add volume with materials that have relief, a thick cable knit, an XL sweatshirt cut, gathers, pleats, ruffles on the shoulder, a high waist, stitching details, puffed sleeves, a plunging neckline, shimmering prints... Put on thick boots that give you confidence.
You hate your calves
The long is not incompatible with round calves – provided you avoid the insipid cover-up. Indulge yourself with a length below the calf but do not hide your ankles: marked, they will lighten the silhouette. Don't like the long? The hem of your dress should not stop at the strongest part of the calf but above the knee or right below. If you are flat, beware of details that will protrude the calf: soles that are too thin, sets of thick straps that block the top of the foot, elongated muzzle...
You think the long will cut your legs off
Again, the long one is surely not reserved for one figure type. She is not aging either, on the contrary. The mid-length is often more modern than the straight meniscus hem. Especially for the straight skirt or the pencil skirt, much more interesting with 15 centimeters more: we go from a boring office look to a more committed style. What long to remember for you? Analyze your appearance as objectively as possible: do you feel "packed" and "crushed" by your clothes? Do you have a drawn size? Thin ties? It is probably in your interest to find a flowing dress that reveals a little skin (neckline, three-quarter sleeves, visible ankles) and to mark the waist to give air to your figure and reveal your curves harmoniously. Good point for the dress that unbuttons from the bottom to the knee. In any case, so as not to be mistaken, forget the long dress with overinvestment in ruffles, materials, details and effects. Prefer simplicity in a cut that matches your style and your morphology. For example, if you have a short bust, a generous chest, broad shoulders and a low waist, you risk feeling drowned in a long straight dress loaded with prints. Instead, opt for lightness (featherweight and plain fabric). The ideal long is easy to live with, it does not hinder your movements and gives height. Does the mirror tell you otherwise? Skip your turn and see the following racks. Fitting is the key.
