What to Wear

The Dreaded Muffin Top

What to do:

• Try a higher rise. Low rise pants/jeans usually start three inches or more below the navel. Any soft flesh there will spill over.
• Try a larger size. If the pants are too small, the waist band can bind your skin. Although, this may make the pant leg too baggy or too long.
• Wear long, fluid tops to mask your muffin midsection

Pants Gape at the Waist

What to do:

• This is usually the result of having fuller hips and a slim waist, so find some low-rise pants that start at the hips or at least have a “contorted waistband” that is higher in the back than in the front
• Go to a tailor. He/She can probably make some affordable adjustments.

Wide Hips & Belly

What to do:

• Wear bootcut pants to balance your hips, paired with a two inch waistband (to contain your stomach)
• Forget low-rise pants and instead wear a rise that hits about an inch or two below your belly button
• Stay away from belts and tab closures, which add bulk and accentuate hips

Petite & Curvy

What to do:

• Head to the petites department: mainly Ann Taylor and Banana Republic
• Stay away from pleats, cuffs, and tapered or cropped legs because these shorten and widen the frame
• Don’t forget heels! This will make your figure look extra long and lean

Full Thighs

What to do:

• Invest in wide-leg bootcuts or stovepipe trousers, which will balance your leg from top to bottom
• Be cautious of too much stretch. No more than 4% spandex. You need something to keep your figure.
• Skip flared cuts – they make knees look skinny and thighs bigger

High & Round Butt and Slim Legs

What to do:

• Look for darting in the back, which makes room for a rounder bottom without causing the seat to look baggy
• Choose pants with back pockets because without pockets your rear might look like a “unibum”
• Try a bootcut style, which helps to make your rear seem more proportionate to slim legs
• Might be good to look for Baby Phat and Apple Bottoms because they are cut for fuller behinds and skinny legs