My body has shifted and changed a lot over the years, but my hips have remained constant. No matter how much or little I’ve weighed, I’ve always had full thighs and hips. And I’m not afraid to show them off on occasion, but I generally dress to downplay them a bit. As always, each woman determines her own figure flattery priorities and many of you may not care to minimize your hips. But in case you’re looking for the basics of hip minimization, here are some illustrated examples:
TRY FULL SKIRTS
Full skirts had a resurgence in popularity a few years ago, and I honestly felt like I’d never even considered them as a possible option before that. Now, I know that full, flared, pleated skirts in gorgeous colors are comfortable, stylish, and possibly the ultimate tool for downplaying a set of hips on a figure similar to mine. Their hip-minimizing power relates to ratios: A flared skirt emphasizes the waist and deemphasizes everything below, until the hemline hits. A-lines are great bets, too, especially if the fullness of a pleated skirt overwhelms or works against your unique proportions.
EXPERIMENT WITH LONG OVER LEAN
The legging-tunic combination works marvelously on many figures with full hips, and picking the right layers can create some artfully flattering ensembles. Longer cardigans can feel clingy and unflattering for those who are self-conscious about their hips, but heavier knits will often skim over your hips instead of glomming onto them. Tunics should bell at the hem and empire styles work for many women. Play around with the long-over-lean formula until you find a version that works for you.
BELT HIGH
One of the simplest ways to downplay a part of your figure is to highlight a different part. With hips, it’s often most effective to draw the eye to the waist or narrowest point on the torso. Many women with pronounced hips also have defined waists, so belting at or above the natural waist creates a long, lean silhouette. Belting high also creates the impression of longer legs which helps to balance out full hips.
This suggestion won’t work for everyone, and women who struggle with belts or have short torsos may want to skip it entirely. But if you’re already belting and seeking to distract from your hips, see if belting higher on your torso does the trick.
BELT INNER LAYERS
Belts needn’t always cinch the outermost layer, and placing them on inner layers can have fabulous effects. If your hips and midsection are a bit squishy and putting a belt anywhere near them creates divots, you may shy away. But belting the layer closest to your body, then throwing on a flattering, looser outer layer will help downplay the divots, too! This technique also defines your waist, draws the eye up on your torso and away from your hips, and elongates your legs.
ELONGATE YOUR LEGS
Leg elongation has already come up several times, but it deserves its own moment in the spotlight. Anyone seeking to downplay hips is likely doing so because she feels her hips are slightly out of proportion. Creating the impression of more height can counteract that disproportionate feeling, and making your legs appear longer is a quick way to do just that. Wearing like-colored tights and shoes and playing with platforms are among the simplest ways, but here are more tips for how to make your legs look a mile long.
Again, these are merely guidelines and you should take what applies to you and leave the rest. Furthermore, if you prefer to highlight your own hips, go for it! We all select our own dressing priorities, and there’s no right way to look amazing. Hopefully, though, a few of you looking for ways to minimize your hips found these basic suggestions helpful.
Originally posted 2012-02-07 06:19:07.
The post How to Downplay Your Hips appeared first on Already Pretty | Where style meets body image.