Okay, okay- the trend this year is prints, WE GET IT. The only catch is that not every woman is meant to wear them and although designers are making beautiful garments that look perfect on the hanger, once it reaches the body….not so much.
Take this Just Cavalli, leopard print pencil skirt for example. Gorgeous. However, take a closer look at the stomach area:
To me, it is not flattering; imagine if you weren’t a size 2! The eye is drawn to her stomach. And look from the back:
The seams are at a curve to go along with the frame of the body, however her bum looks like a square. Now I’m not sure if that’s a personal problem, or if the skirt itself is just not flattering. I’ll go with the latter. The ruching and gathering in the front is distracting. Pencil skirts are already shaky, but if you go with a printed number; make sure you choose wisely on the prints, where the pattern falls on the body, and the fit is right for your body type.
Another example of a printed beauty not meant for everyone: the Alexander McQueen silk chiffon dress below. Paisley print strapless, pleated bodice, with an empire waist, interior hardware, padding, and boning for support in the bust. I love this dress; can see it flowing with the wind while walking. But the model has a 24in waist and she looks slightly pregnant; that’s the problem with empire waists as well. Unless you’re as thin as a twig, I wouldn’t recommend this particular dress.
“S”-shaped silhouette dresses are (typically) ideal for all body types. Beneath the A. McQueen is a floral Diane Von Furstenberg, strapless piece; and a striped, slightly pleated, high-waist Marc Jacobs skirt. In my opinion, both can be worn to disguise those unwanted layers and create a silhouette. Careful not to wear flats with these looks though; that could make some legs appear stubby. ~C.M.
