How To Dress Well If You are Curvy

I have struggled all my life with weight. Now as a senior I have some tips for choosing clothes. Remember gravity is not your friend. Never accentuate your negatives. If you have loose under arm flesh wear 3/4 or long sleeves. Never wear tight clingy tops if you have any rolls around your middle. Never wear skinny jeans or leggings if you have thick thighs. Never wear a halter top over the age of 25. Never fool yourself into thinking you can wear a size 8 if in reality you are a size 12. Tips from 50 years of experience.

carol

I love Carol's response above! Let's try to keep it real ladies - as a rubenesque woman myself - I agree with everything she said. No more halter tops, skinny jeans, etc for us more mature gals. LOOK in the mirror! If things are drooping, rolling or visible to YOU, then they're visible to everyone else - get a bigger size. There's no shame in it! Cut out the tag if it bothers you - just be realistic and don't show the world 'everything'. :) Great comment, Carol!

Sue G

I love the advise you give and the comment I just read from the lady with 50 years experience, HOW TRUE!!!!

You need to love yourself the way you are in the present. If you're working on changing yourself by losing weight thats great, but in the present love yourself. I went to my daughters wedding in August and wore a dress. I haven't worn a dress in 10 years. Last time was my sisters wedding, every 10 years. Anyways the dress I chose was a aline dress, no sleeves, just above my knees and I looked in the mirror and surprised myself on how good it looked. Everyone thought I looked great. Even being a size 16. So I told myself I'm going to have a great time and danced most of the night. Danced with my 4 year old grandson and he said Grammy you look so pretty. I couldn't ask for more.

Ruth Cyr

Love all the advice! I tried RTR for a recent black tie wedding and found a 14P gown that was stunning, that would have been impossible to find in stores even if I had searched for weeks (and I never would have paid the $900 retail price).... it fit like a glove, was suitable for my age (53) but sexy as heck, and was cheap/easy. The reviews and pictures helped - I knew I needed a heavier weight fabric to hold me in (ha!) without showing bumps/lumps, and that i I had to accommodate my —cough cough - generous Boobs and butt. My BF couldn’t take his eyes off me!

Other than that, I find that open necklines draw the eye up, along with pretty necklaces, and that confidence is the best accessory. Love reading Snack Girl!

Eileen

Thank you for talking about Goodwill. I love that place for jeans. They have so many different companies/styles that you are sure to find something that fits. It introduces you to new brands without going to every store in town and being frustrated.

Julie

Good stuff - especially to look into your eyes! As I get older, I'm more about comfort than fashion! FYI, Glamour features bloggers, including this one: Girl with Curves- migh have some good tips

https://girlwithcurves.com/category/style

Maria

I am only 4 ft. 9-1/2 inches and 64 years old. It is so hard to find things that fit well or that are for someone my age. I go into a petite section and what they have is for the younger set or something I may wear (not even sure even then) when I'm 80 years old or more. I liked what they did in Targets but there are no petites. I just keep trying clothes on & see what works.

linda Neff

Love this post and your tips. I have to say I’ve been noticing more and more clothing companies featuring a variety of bodies in their ads and websites. It’s a move in the right direction.

Katie

I read this book called The Science of Sexy by Bradley Bayou that really helped identify my body type. Tells how to dress to maximize your good parts and minimize your not so good parts. Expands on what Carol said in the first comment.

Suze

L loved reading all the suggestions on how to dress t accent your positive attributes.. I’m 4’10” and have a hard time finding clothes that don’t hugh my hips but in Florida I am finding more stores carrying Petite large sizes ... I also take pictures of the outfits I have that I want to match the colors ...takes the guess work out of wether a blouse , shirt will match WW hat I already have

Safti

I am 72 years old, 5'1", and a size XL/1X. I have my greatest success at Talbots, Chico's, QVC, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom. QVC makes everything in size XXS to 3X, and their models are in all sizes, which is really helpful. I wear mostly NYDJ (Not Your Daughter's Jeans--Made in USA!) black jeans available at Macy's and Nordstrom. Once you know your jean size, you can buy them lots of places including QVC, Chico's, and Amazon. I wear mostly colorful jackets over either a (most often black) scoup-neck tee or (most often black) turtleneck. I have NEVER subjected myself to Spanx or the like. I like to cook, I like to eat, and it is what it is. I have been at peace with it all for a long time. I add shoulder pads to a lot of things--buy Dritz at Amazon. Final advice: return it if you don't love it it. Return postage costs are your friend. Only own things that you love and that make you feel good. Love you, Snack Girl! Thanks for everything you do!

Sue

I believe also that just because a woman is bosomy does not mean she needs to advertise it. I know men might like that, but I do feel it is inappropriate. I have a friend that is very endowed and she seems to think that we all want to see her cleavage and her spill over. I do not want to see that. I know that is what her husband loves, but then let him see it at home and leave it there.

Donna Murphy

I tell my daughter: "enjoy your body and your life..in 10 years you will look back at pictures and wonder why you thought you were so (whatever)". I am 72 and 5'1" and wearing a 1X. I'm comfortable with me but it took 20 years to get here. You younger gals don't have to wait til you're 50....do it now! It's Ok!

Dee

Amen Dee. You are so right. I'm 62, 5'3", size 16. Yes it's taken years to finally say I'm okay, I'm just fine.

Ruth