The requirement that girls will have to tuck in their shirts with the new uniform code has caused quite a stir for some
of us that have a bit more pudge around the middle than we'd prefer. But never fear...the Dress Code Diva is looking
out for you! She contacted Stacy on TLC's What Not To Wear (yep, that Stacy!) and received several helpful tips
from her staff to pass along to students.
The most important thing the Diva learned is that how you wear
your clothes can say a lot about you. And as for shirts being tucked in, WNTW says it's "not about tucking
in, it's about proportions". Tucking a shirt in doesn't bring out the muffin top belly unless your attention
to detail when fitting your clothes properly takes a detour in the wrong direction! WNTW says a tucked in shirt gives
a more pulled-together, neater look to any outfit. A tucked in shirt keeps you from looking sloppy and can make you
look slimmer, rather than like you are trying to hide your shape. Here's what to do:
You need to make
sure that your pants, skirt, etc. fit properly. If they are too tight, muffin top is a sure thing. WNTW says that
a common mistake is that girls buy bottoms that fit the waist and hip area thinking that if that is a good fit, then all is
well. However for avoiding Muffin Top you should look at the top of your thighs (or the widest area) and fit that area
loosely. The pant leg should fall straight down to the knee area from that widest area (below the knee it should never
taper in if you are trying to appear thinner, but a bit of a flare out is fine). Then get a seamstress (Mom!) to take
in the waist to just barely touch your waist (or just below the belly button area). Finally, the seamstress can taper
the waist to the widest part gently to prevent any bulging. WNTO says that a $10 pair of pants with this correct alteration
method can look like an $80 pair of pants!
Now, don't forget your tops. To prevent Muffin Top
even further a seamstress will be your best friend! Most polo (and even some tailored) shirts tend to be box shaped.
They do not taper in toward the waist. A seamstress can quickly run a seam down each side (or put darts in the back)
that will give you a more flattering shape. Leave it loose enough to be comfortable but not so loose that it looks baggy
(thus making you look larger).
Other suggestions:
A wider waistband that drops from just below the waistline
(belly button) smooths out belly rolls more gently. The perfect waistband touches the skin along the very top of the
pant but tapers out toward the hip. The bottom of the waistband should not touch the skin tightly, or alas, Muffin Top
occurs.
Downplay the possibility of a Muffin Top by wearing darker colored shirts. Typically girls wear dark
bottoms thinking it makes them look slimmer, and while this can be true for large hips, to avoid Muffin Top: lighter bottoms,
darker tops.
Wearing matching tops and bottoms give a sleek, seamless look that detracts from any extra weight
you may be carying.
Tips from other sources that you may find helpful:
Remember capri pants:
*
Make you look shorter
* Make you hips look larger
* Your legs look shorter
* Your ankles thicker
However,
some of these problems can be avoided depending on the style of Capri pant. Capris that are the best choice:
* Dark
in color
* End just below the knee
* Have tapered legs (more fitted at the bottom)
* Without cuffs
Most
young women like to wear low-rise jeans despite how ill fitting they might be. Low- rise jeans sit below the hips about 3
inches below the belly button. Low-rise jeans can:
* Make a thick waist look thicker
* Narrow hips look more narrow
*
A long waist look longer
* Short legs, shorter
* Can make you look 10 lbs larger
This style (low-rise) is
flattering only to those who are absolutely slim. Don’t be discouraged. You can still wear pants that look great
and wear them low, but not low enough that they create bulges. Wear them:
* Not too tight
* Approximately 1 inch
below the belly button.
High-rise, tapered pants fit snuggly around the waist with a leg that tapers in close to the
ankle. If you own and wear high-rise tapered pants or jeans get rid of them now unless you want your:
* Hips to look
wider and larger
* Tummy to look bigger
A better choice is straight or wide leg pant with a flat front.
Wow! That's a lot of information to take to the store! Think how great we are all going to look next year!
Happy shopping!
