Showing off your height

OPT FOR A BELT

By accentuating the line of your shoulders and hips, you create the impression of a more pronounced waist. So the best accessory for emphasising the waist and making your silhouette more feminine is a belt. Of course, it's no good trying to shape the waist at all costs if it's not very pronounced, so you need to choose the right belt, in terms of width, colour and, above all, location.

It's often thought that only 'X' or 'hourglass' shapes, i.e. with a slim, well-positioned waist, can wear a belt. But this is not true! Obviously, women who are lucky enough to have prominent, well-balanced shoulders and hips, with a pronounced waist, can afford to do anything, including creating a 'wasp-waist' effect by placing a belt exactly between the bust and the navel. But not everyone has the figure of Marylin Monroe or Kim Kardashian...

Depending on your body type, you'll know whether it's better to emphasise your waistline or just suggest it. That's what guides you in deciding how high to wear the belt, and how.

Belts aren't just for skirts and trousers with belt loops. It can also be worn on dresses, even loose-fitting ones, on loose tops or blouses that look like tunics, or on a long cardigan or light coat. All with skinny jeans and heels. It's the perfect look to elongate your legs, show off your hips and visually refine your figure.

Here's our advice! To wear a tight belt properly, your waist needs to be accentuated. It's a way of highlighting a figure with a pronounced waist and a flat or slightly rounded tummy. Avoid this if you're an A, H or O-shaped woman! In this case, our recommendation is to tie the belt looser, falling slightly over the hips, or even down the back. You can also tie it instead of fastening it in the traditional way. This will be a discreet way of structuring your look and giving it an original touch.

Learn to choose the right width too. It should be proportional to your body shape and measurements: in principle, it suits tall women with structured shoulders and long legs. The wider and stiffer the belt, the more it will tend to flatten and even 'sausage' the figure. This must-have fashion item should therefore be worn in moderation!

WHICH CUT TO CHOOSE?

A word of advice: Forget extra-large garments, especially tee-shirts and sweatshirts, which hide everything but make your curves look bigger. As tops, opt for flowing blouses and shirts that hug your curves, as well as jackets or blazers that fit close to the body! If you don't have a slim waist, a slightly fitted garment will do the trick. And, of course, don't hesitate to opt for a slim fit if you have an X or V shape.

Don't worry, you'll soon find your feet as soon as you decide to change your style!

Jacket

It's clear: a jacket that's slightly tighter at the waist will refine your silhouette. The same goes for a slightly fitted 3/4 length coat, which is more flattering than a straight overcoat: so there's no need to go looking for the coat of the man in your life!

Military or sailor-style jackets (particularly pea coats) are also interesting options, as they are not form-fitting but relatively close-fitting, short enough to show off your legs and give them a slimmer look. As for the indestructible trench coat, which is worn throughout all the fashion seasons, it's the perfect way to sublimate and slim all women, whatever their style or body type.

Dress

If you love dressing up in a dress, whatever the season, you'll love skater dresses (high-waisted, flared below the bust), wrap dresses or wrap dresses. They'll show off your shoulders and bust to best advantage, while minimising the curves of your hips and thighs.

With the right accessories, the wrap dress can be worn in any situation. It's ideal for women who don't have a very pronounced waist, because it gives structure to the silhouette. Simple and timeless, it adjusts at the waist, so can be worn either loose or close to the body.

Last but not least, the sculpting bodysuit is one of the tricks of the trade, even if you have to pay for it, as it's quite expensive. Virtually invisible, they can be worn under skirts or tight dresses to erase imperfections. With the return of the 60s spirit, it's at the height of fashion. The stars don't hesitate to slip it on before getting dressed for an evening out. So why shouldn't you?

WHAT LENGTH TO SHOW OFF YOUR WAIST?

The look of a silhouette depends on balance. Dare to vary cuts and lengths, and get away from the oversize system. On a day-to-day basis, it's a simple, cosy way of dressing for many women, but don't overdo it. It quickly turns into a shapeless, unattractive camouflage outfit that ultimately benefits no body type.

A well-cut jacket, a little square at the shoulders, reaching to the waist without going over the hip line, can emphasise your waist without weighing it down.

And what bottoms should you choose to enhance your shape? As a general rule, go for high waists! For a skirt, trousers or jeans, a high waist that's adapted to your shape (neither too tight nor too wide) will give structure without bulging. This is the big trend of the season, so you'd be wrong not to give it a try.

Another type of trick, if you've definitely decided to draw attention away from one part of your body, is to draw the eye elsewhere. If it's your waistline that's bothering you... play up your décolletage! A long V-shaped neckline will automatically restructure your silhouette by creating an 'hourglass' effect. The wider the shoulders and the deeper the neckline, the greater the impact! And this advice applies to almost every item of clothing, from a swimming costume in summer to a dress for going out, not forgetting a wrap-around jumper or V-neck in winter.

COLOURS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT

One of the best ways to emphasise your waistline is to create a colour contrast between tops and bottoms, creating an effect that draws the eye where you want it. It's all the more effective if your bottoms are high-waisted and your top is tied or shortened!

For curvaceous women, it's best to adopt a medium or soft contrast: either a cameo in the same hue (such as a powder pink top worn with a skirt or trousers in an accentuated pink, or even fuchsia), or a more intense visual impact, which still favours pastels so as not to clash (for example, a light orange jumper with light khaki trousers).

Conversely, it can also be interesting to create a powerful contrast with black tops (t-shirts, jumpers, jackets, etc.) and light jeans. This refined style, classic without being namby-pamby, suits almost all body types. In particular, it creates a waistline without ostentation.

Another option is to stay with the same colours, but with printed patterns for tops.

PATTERNS TO CHOOSE

Patterns, especially if they are contrasting or brightly coloured, are generally recommended for tops (tops or jackets), or for dresses, rather than for trousers or skirts.

Pretty patterns will help to enhance your bust, visually emphasising your waist and balancing your figure.

With jeans, because of their sobriety, you can do almost anything. It's a good idea to match the colour of your tops with that of your shoes (preferably with heels, to make you look your best!). If, on the other hand, you're wearing coloured skirts or trousers, opt for more sober or muted patterns, which will contribute to the fluidity of the ensemble.

At ELORA, all our collections include suggested looks and combinations of patterns and colours. During a fashion presentation, the sales advisor, who is trained as a personal stylist, will guide you in your choices and give you personalised morphological advice. There's no commitment and no extra cost to you. So give it a try!