How do you transform angular silhouette clothes to curved ones in a world of angular silhouettes? Many A, S and X Body Shapes ask this question. It can be so frustrating to find clothes that flatter your body when all you can find are ones with an angular silhouette.
My Body Shape has a curved silhouette and finding clothes that fit my silhouette can be difficult. I love to sew and as a result I make many of my clothes especially pants, dresses and jackets to make sure the silhouettes match my silhouette.
But I don’t always have the time to create clothes and I see blouses, tops and cardigans for sale and I really love their style, color and design lines. However they have angular silhouettes. In this post are three tricks I use to transform them into curved silhouettes. They are:
- Belts
- Tuck ins
- Darts
These methods can be used on blouses, tops, sweaters, dresses, cardigans and jackets.
How To Transform Angular Silhouettes -- Belts
Belts are the easiest way to transform angular silhouettes to curved ones.
This is a great strategy for dresses, tops/blouses, sweaters, cardigans and jackets.
If you choose this strategy first consider whether placing a horizon line at your waist will enhance your overall look. Are you short between your bust and waist, and/or waist and crotch? The horizontal line created by the belt will make these areas look even shorter and more out of balance.
Another thing to consider when wearing a belt is: do I want to bring attention to this area? All my life I’ve been fairly thin with a flat tummy. As I’ve gotten older I’ve started gaining weight in this area. I personally don’t like bringing attention to it so when I’m heavier I don’t wear belts. Maybe that’s just me. You might feel different which is OK. You just need to consider how you feel when you bring attention to this area.
If belts are perfect for you, now you need to consider the belt as an accessory so it can add value to the overall outfit. When choosing a belt consider:
- Color
- Shape of buckle
- Width
Belt Color
When considering color it should tie into the whole outfit. It can be either a neutral or one of your favorite colors and color combinations. If you need to review your best colors and color combinations go to the following posts:
Belt Buckle Shape
The shape of the buckle should match your face shape. However there are times I can’t find the right buckle for my face shape and in the color I’m looking for. For these times I make sure every element for the rest of the outfit matches my body elements.
Belt Scale
The width should match your Scale Strategy. You can go to my post Scale Strategy to review or determine your Scale Strategy.
How To Transform Angular Silhouettes -- Tuck Ins
Another strategy to create a curved silhouette for a blouse, top or sweater is simply to tuck it into a pant or skirt. This is similar to using a belt.
When considering this strategy, think about your body proportions between your bust and waist, and waist and crotch. If you’re short in one or both of these areas, the horizontal line created by the pant or skirt waist will make the areas look even shorter.
The waistband will bring attention to these areas so take that into consideration as well.
How To Transform Angular Silhouettes -- Darts
My favorite way to create a curved silhouette is through the use of vertical darts. This method is great for many tops, blouses, dresses and jackets.
I have a client who has a very hard time finding clothes that fit her body. She is petite with an A Body Shape and short between her bust and waist (typical for A Body Shapes). She purchases knit tops that mostly fit her in her shoulders and I alter them to fit her waist and make sure the horizontal line created by the hem is placed perfectly for her body.
To transform the top’s angular silhouette to a curved one, I use vertical darts in the front and back. These darts do two things:
- Transforms the silhouette to curved
- Create vertical lines between her bust and waist creating visual length
This is why I love this method.
However this method doesn’t work on everything. For example with the blouse pictured above, the only way to put this blouse on is over the head. There isn’t a zipper or buttoned opening. To get it on and off it needs the unaltered fullness. This is the main reason I haven’t sewn darts into the blouse and why I use the belt and tuck-in methods of creating a curved silhouette.
Talk to your tailor/seamstress to determine which blouses, tops, dresses and jackets are candidates for inserting darts to transform an angular silhouette into a curved one.
Summary
Unfortunately we live in an angular silhouette world. We’re able to transform many clothing items to curved ones through: belts, tuck-ins and/or darts.
When you consider the belt or tuck-in methods remember they create a horizontal line at the waist. Remember these lines bring attention to this area and can make it appear even shorter.
Darts create vertical lines which can length the area which is great for those of you who are short in this area.
Knowing how to transform angular silhouettes to curved ones expands your choices of clothes. In a world where curved silhouettes are limited this is a great thing.
Next week’s post is going in a whole new direction. During this last year more and more women purchased clothes online. However many end up returning most of what they purchased. How can you better the chances of purchasing a winner? Learn to analyze and determine if the design lines on the outfit matches your body clues. This post will include a video of me walking you through the process. It should be interesting. It’s called: Analyze Design Lines Online.
Wear Your Greatness!!
Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!
Thank you for your kind words.