Your Help Needed: How to Dress an Hourglass Figure
June 21st, 2007
Asks Olivia, "I’m in my twenties, and in the process of losing weight. I’m down to a 12 now, and working on getting a size or two slimmer. I have an hourglass figure, [but] I really don’t know how to dress for my size! I feel too old for the mega trendy stuff going on right now, but I feel like a 40 year old soccer mom when I stick with the basics (no offense to 40 year old soccer moms out there). So, can you help me pick out some stuff to wear that will show off my new figure, and will make me look like I’m in my 20s?"
Tell us, what do you think Olivia should wear to show off her hourglass silhouette? Please leave your advice in the comments of this post.
As usual, the best answer (as chosen by Olivia) by Monday, June 25 gets a treat from Omiru’s goodie closet.
5 Comments
1. April | June 21st, 2007 at 9:47 am
DVF hands down. She makes a size 12 and sometime 14 that can still be worn when you slim down. These dresses look great on hour glass figures and hide what you want them to hide. Plus there are lots of styles on sale right now and you will keep it forever. Check out saks.com.
2. Missy | June 21st, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Wrap dreses! Ot any dress that has an A-line skirt that hits you right at the slim spot of your leg. They are so figure flattering! I love them. Pretty, feminie and they go from the office with a smart jacket by day to dinner by night. You can get them at just about every price point from Target to desinger. Look for ones that hit you right at the knee of just below (basically the slimmest part of your leg) and it makes your legs look super shapely and lean! I am a budget girl, so I gravitate to the lower prices… Pair with heels and you are stunning!
Here are some of my faves:
Target: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-35/qid=1182441270/ref=sr_1_35/602-2656050-4522212?ie=UTF8&asin=B000QZHN7C
White House |Balck Market: http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product.asp?PID=300107862
Macy’s: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=226557&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=243829&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
3. enna | June 21st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Add a cinched waist-belt to an outfit of basics. It’ll accentuate your figure, and it adds a little bit of trend without being over the top. If you want to be really daring, you could go for a bright color (or even neon) this summer.
4. Kate Whelan | June 21st, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Accessorize! Since you can’t live every waking minute in gorgeous DVF wrap dresses, you simply must have other options.
Show off your waist with slimming belts over longer tunics. Tunics are fantastic for both camouflaging and accenting a shapely figure – especially when paired with a cute belt! But stay away from tunics and dresses with bold patterns like plaids and stripes – pick softer patterns to stray from flattening your curves.
Cowls, V-necks and Scooped necklines as well as surplice/wrap styles accentuate your bust while a soft, rounded, and feminine collar will mirror your curvy physique. Look for darts that embrace a curvy shape – but stay away from anything with angular lines.
As for pants, try for pants with darts instead of pleats – they’ll show off your waist and avoid bulking up your hips. Feminine skirts with flow will add movement and drape gracefully over your curves as well.
Last but not least – to bring it back to accessories, try adding metallic gladiator sandals, flats, or heels in , gold or silver as a substitute for brown or black – it’s a fantastic way to update and glam up any look. Scarves and headbands are also very popular right now – and can definitely give you a youthful, sometimes even edgy look.
5. Olivia | June 25th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Missy wins! Her choices were a slam dunk. Thanks to everyone that helped dress my unfashionable self!