Some women have to deal with one important issue in dressing their body type – not having a defined, slim waist. It´s not necessarily because you have a prominent tummy, but it could be due to your shape. You probably have a rectangle, straight up and down, or an inverted triangle, broad shoulders and narrow hips.
Most fashion models have an inverted triangle body shape, and there are only a few of them in the whole wide world. But contrary to the popular belief that the majority of women have a pear, most women, especially in the US and the UK, actually have a rectangle shape.
That means, defining the waist is an important goal in dressing up for many of us.
Here are six tips on how to create an illusion of a defined waist, straight from the runway.
1. Belted Drape Dress
Donna Karan, SS15
Choose a figure skimming dress with a drape from its top down to its skirt. Cinch the waist with a regular width belt to create a blousy, drape-y top. Distribute the resulting ruching under the belt evenly for a little volume. Enjoy the bounce of your skirt.
2. Break a Monochrome Dress with Wide Waist Band
Diane von Furstenberg, SS15
Use a wide waist band to break a monochromatic fitted dress. Go for black or other dark colored waist bands for maximum effect.
3. Sleeveless Top + Flared Skirt
Diesel Black Gold, SS15
Create a tonal combination of a sleeveless, non-fitted top and a normal-volume flared skirt. Tuck in your top and add a complementary belt. In the light blue combination above, I would suggest a darker shade of blue for the slim belt. Between the slight volume of your tucked in blouse and the flare of your skirt, you have a slim waist.
4. Halterneck Top + Fitted Skirt
Carolina Herrera, SS15
If you have an inverted triangle or a rectangle body shape, the halterneck top will flatter your shoulders. The flare of your top which hits just around your waist, and the slimness of your waist brought by the fitted skirt, will give an illusion of a narrow waist. The oversized florals subdued in black of the skirt also help in giving your hips more width.
5. Flared Top with Knee-Length Pencil Skirt
Whether it´s a ready-to-use fit and flare top or a wrapped top which you can create a flare with a belt, partner it with a knee-length pencil skirt for a defined narrow waist and curvaceous hips.
6. Belted Fitted Midi Dress
Donna Karan, SS15
How does Victoria Beckham getaway with fitted midi dresses in spite of her rectangle body shape? She makes use of double-wrap belts which contrast her dress and slim down her waist. If you´re not into double wrap buckled belts, go for any belt with normal width and dark color.
Do you have a slight or no waist? How do you flatter your shape and create an illusion of a slimmer waist?