We had the privilege of collaborating with our friend, Laura, from Everyday Charming to bring you a few helpful hints when shopping for new clothes (or maybe trying them on again for the first time this season). Listed below the video are a few tips to keep with you while you find a great fit. Also please excuse my (Camie's) slightly sick, slightly manly voice! And a huge thank you to Lori Stratton for working that model status!
A few things to look for in a good fit:
1. Shoulders: Make sure the seams hit right at the edge of your natural shoulder, that is unless it is a "dropped shoulder" garment. Seams that are too close to your collar bone or falling off the shoulder make it appear as though your shoulders are either broader or narrower than they are in actuality.
2. Darts: These partial seams allow for the gathering of clothes to give a piece a more tailored fit. If the darts fall too high or low on your bust OR too far away from your natural waistline, they will not only draw unwanted attention but also create a disproportionate look to your body.
3. Jacket/Cardigan Length: Outter layering pieces are great for bringing structure to otherwise slouchy ensembles. Again, check in the mirror to make sure that your outerwear is highlighting your natural waist line. Pieces that ride too high above the natural waist can give the illusion of extreme long-waistedness or an unsightly muffin top. "Boyfriend" Cardigans, on the other hand, usually have hems that fall past the bum area and are great for layering over leggings and skinny jeans.
4. Skirt length vs Boot height: Pencil skirts and riding boots are all the rage. However pairing them together can prove to be a bit tricky for your proportions. As a general rule of thumb, riding boots look best when there is ample amount of leg showing to balance them out. NOTE: We are NOT promoting mini skirts. We ARE, however, suggesting that If your skirt falls at the knee cap or lower, your proportions will look more balanced with a bootie or pump. Save your riding boots for your skirt hems that are either to the floor or a few inches above the knee cap.
5. Flowy vs. Tailored: When clothing your body, you usually think of covering two different areas: your upper half and your lower half. Flowy and tailored clothes can actually be paired together to help maintain appropriate body proportions. For example, a flowy or blousy top should be paired with a more tailored or straight fitting pant to balance out the proportions. You would want to avoid, say, palazzo pants or wide leg jeans. And the reverse is true as well. When wearing pants that have more volume, it is better to pair them with a slimmer fitting or more tailored top. Tight, slim-fitting clothes on both top and bottom can actually make you appear to be larger than you really are. Whereas blousy clothes on both top and bottom create a swamp affect, where you get lost in your clothes and make you appear to have little to no shape at all.