Advice for choosing women's blouses
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Index: 1. General advice 2. Curvy 3. Short 4. Narrow shoulders 5. Broad shoulders 6. Full bust |
7. Small bust 8. Tummy 9. Short waisted 10. Long waisted 11. Pear shaped |
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This section contains advice to help you to choose the style of blouse that is the most flattering for your figure type. |
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General advice:
Collar:
The most flattering collar shapes are those that are the opposite of the shape of your face.
For example, if you have a round face, a short, round collar will only emphasize the fullness of your face – but a long, angular collar will add length.
However, if your face is petite, your collar should be small as well.
Armhole:
A high armhole is universally flattering to all figure types.
A larger armhole is generally more comfortable to wear, but they obscure the point were the torso ends and the arm begins, which can make a woman look larger than she is.
While women with fuller arms need the extra ease provided by larger armholes, they should find a cut that allows enough room for comfort without excess fullness.
Sleeves:
Long sleeves flatter everyone, provided that the sleeves are the correct length and width for the arms.
Sleeves that taper at the wrist are the most slimming.
In fact, this one detail can make the whole arm appear more slender.
As for width, sleeves should be as narrow as possible without being tight.
Bust:
The classic men’s style shirt is cut to hang straight and loose from the shoulder and is not meant to accommodate a bust like a blouse does.
To adapt this style for women you should look for a blouse that has bust darts.
Also look for fluid fabrics, stretch fabrics, and a better-fitted, flattering style.
Following you will find tips to identify the blouses that are most flattering for different body shapes:
Back to index
Curvy:
For your best look:
- Look for styles that end below the belt or can be tucked in.
- Create vertical lines with deep V-necks, small collars, or narrow lapels.
- Check out wrap styles and off the shoulder necklines.
- Try styles with bust darts because they fit better.
- Try soft fabrics that will hint at your curves without over-accentuating them.
- A natural shoulder line will make you appear leaner.
- Keep decorations to a minimum.
Avoid these mistakes that are not flattering for your curvy figure:
- Very thin fabrics
- Blouse hems that end right at the fullest part of your hips
- Anything oversized or too tight
Short:
For your best look:
- Choose higher-waisted blouse styles to make your legs look longer.
- Wear styles that fit naturally at the shoulder.
- Use vertical details, such as high armholes, vertical seams, high closures or mandarin collars, to make you look taller.
- Choose only fluid fabrics.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your short figure:
- Stiff fabrics
- Horizontal details of any kind
- Anything baggy, cropped, or highly embellished.
Narrow shoulders:
For your best look:
- Try shoulder pads.
- Choose puffy or gathered sleeves.
- Use shoulder details that create horizontal lines, like yokes, breast pockets and wide V-necks openings, to make your shoulders appear stronger.
- Try a blouse with wide collars, sailor collars, or peaked lapels.
- Wear wrap tops to create the illusion of stronger shoulders.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your narrow shoulders:
- Raglan sleeves
- Kimono style blouses
- Gathered necklines
- Off the shoulder styles
Broad shoulders:
For your best look:
- Look for dark colors.
- Try raglan or set in sleeves that do not extend beyond your shoulders.
- Choose deep, narrow, V-neck styles.
- Keep collars and lapels narrow.
- Wear cuffed sleeves.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your broad shoulders:
- Wrap-style shirts
- Wide collars
- Puffy sleeves
- Shoulder pads
- Patch pockets
- Horizontal lines and shoulder yokes
- Shiny fabrics and wide open necklines
Full bust:
For your best look:
- Look for small vertical lapels and collars with a minimum of detail.
- Try wrap styles that are tight to the body but looser in the bust.
- A natural shoulder line gives a leaner appearance.
- Choose a blouse style with bust darts because they tend to fit better.
- Use a bit of shoulder padding in order to elongate the torso.
- Use vertical details, like seams or stripes, to help elongate the torso.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your full bust:
- Double breasted blouses
- Styles with horizontal detailing
- Wide waistbands
- Big lapels and collars
- Large prints or stiff fabrics
- Droopy shoulders or anything with a baggy fit
- Puffy, raglan, or kimono sleeves.
Small bust:
For your best look:
- Look for fitted blouses, empire-waist styles, halters and narrow V-neck styles.
- Wear a blouse that is a brighter color than your pants or skirt.
- Try wide lapels and collars.
- Create fullness with breast pockets, gathers, ruffles, shirring, or a contrast fabric over the bustline.
- If your arms are slender, try flared or tabbed sleeves.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your small bust:
- Blouses that you can not completely fill out
- Raglan or kimono sleeves
- Stiff fabrics
- Anything voluminous
Tummy:
For your best look:
- Look for a blouse that does not tuck in and falls just below the waist.
- Draw the eye away from the tummy with a low V-neck or an elongated oval neckline.
- Choose styles with vertical detailing, such as narrow lapels and high armholes.
- Consider empire-waist styles.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your tummy:
- Lots of details
- Bias cut and belted
- Cropped or very fitted styles
- Anything that is tight around the tummy
- Horizontals detail across the middle
Short waisted:
For your best look:
- Look for blouses that extend below your natural waistline.
- Use tabbed collars to elongate the torso.
- Add vertical lines with high armholes, narrow V-necks, button closures, lapels, and princess seams.
- Keep flourishes to a minimum.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your short waisted stature:
- Anything that cinches at the waist
- Anything that is cropped
- “Off the shoulder” or high waisted styles
Long waisted:
For your best look:
- Look for high waisted, off the shoulder, or cropped styles.
- Use horizontal lines, like a yoke, wide collar, or square neckline, to balance the body.
- Choose styles that tuck in as long as the waistband sits slightly higher than your natural waistline.
Avoid these mistakes that accentuate your long waisted stature:
- Anything too long or too fitted
- Long narrow lapels
- Vertical seams
- Any other unnecessary vertical lines
Pear shaped:
For your best look:
- Choose blouses that float over your hips and derriere or styles that end right as your hips start to curve out.
- Draw the eye up with a deep V-neck or by wearing a lighter color on the top than the bottom.
- Try empire-waist and wrap styles.
- If your shoulders are small, you can choose wider necklines or shoulder pads to balance your figure.
Avoid these mistakes that are not flattering to your pear shaped figure:
- Detailing at the shirt hem
- A length that stops at the waist or hits at the widest part of your hips
- Voluminous sleeves
- Any styles that are too fitted