Which clothes will help you hide or show your best features
Last time we looked at clothes to ‘Hide & Seek’ the top half of the body. Now let’s see what we can play with for the bottom half.
Remember the ’Hide and Seek’ clothing rule – guide the eyes to where you want and away from what you don’t want it to see, to maximise or minimise certain areas of your body.
First things first let’s tackle your Bottom
Hide – I’m going straight in for the kill here. For the bigger, curvier derieres it’s all about smoothing fabrics, so think of matte jersey, soft silks and satins. Tighter man made fabrics are just not for you and don’t give any room to be free. For skirts and dresses it’s all about ones that flow outwards from the upper hip down. For trousers keep it wide leg or boot cut to balance out your curves. Check out this fab dress below.
Seek – If like me you are stuck with a small, invisible bum (do a lunge a day and I’ll be good apparently)..…the best way to add some curves is to love some side pocket details. Look for ‘weighted’ looks which have ruching or gathering at the sides or all around the hip area to add more definition. Also try skirts such as a tulip to give you a fuller frame. Love and adore back pockets on jeans that are lower down to add definition to your little bot bot. I’m loving this drop pocket dress.
Hips
Hide – Ladies with bigger hips tend to fall into the pear or hourglass category. If you are pear your main aim is to balance out your hips with your smaller upper half. So try jackets with wider or sculpted detailing in the shoulders. Jackets need to stop just above the hip rather than on the hip to avoid it looking even wider and play with design and pattern to draw the eye up and away from the hips. Forget about skirts that have detailed and fussy waistbands go for an off-center slit to draw attention to the legs and not the curves.
Seek – Again like the bum, it’s all about building out the hip area. So side pockets on jackets add an extra layering to make even the smallest of waist and hips put on some weight. It’s all about body balance. So if you are top heavy where your shoulders and chest are broader than your hips try these techniques. Also grab a peplum, they were made for you. Have fun with pleats, slanted pockets, asymmetrical jacket hems and thick waistbands on skirts.
Thighs
Hide – Flare leg or boot cut trousers skim and slim thighs as well as sculpt the legs to balance them out. A-line skirts also hide the widest part of the leg. Skirts or dresses should have vertical details in dark colours.
Seek – If you have slimmer thighs go a little shorter if you dare. Loose and draped dresses with soft pleats will enhance smaller thighs. Try a boyfriend cut jean to give more shapely looking thighs. Hemlines should be detailed, flared or asymmetrical.
Calves
Hide – Dresses need to stop at knee length to slim down bigger calves. Play with detailing higher up away from the hemline to keep the eye up and away from the calves! Wearing shoes with ankle straps is a booboo – that line just chops your leg in the most unflattering way.
Seek – Skirts or trousers that hit mid length will make calves look bigger, and high heels make your calves shapelier and less skinny. Flap skirts add depth down the middle of a skirt to add width to your calves. You may wonder who the heck would want bigger calves, but we come in all shapes and sizes, everyone has their own body gripes.
Feet
Hide – Boy do I know about big feet! Whilst I do love a pointy toe it is best to try a round-toe or square-toe cut depending on your body type. Immediately I look like I’m wearing a cute size 5 (ok maybe a 6). T-straps make the feet look bigger with that center strap just guiding the eye and elongating the foot…sad times 
Grab a peep toe or sling backs for your foot cleavage fix.
Seek – Go all out with the strappy sandals here, more foot exposure makes the foot look longer. Get playful with your shoe so go for bows, laces, buckles, fabric detailing to get more foot exposure.
See you soon
Samantha x
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