Struggling to find clothes that flatter your shape, fit well, and stay within budget? You’re not alone. Many women face these challenges, but with a few strategies, you can build a wardrobe that makes you feel confident and stylish. I received a message from a reader who expressed a common struggle: finding clothes that fit well, flatter her figure, and fit within her budget. Here’s some tips on how you can tackle this.
Understand What Suits Your Body Today
First things first—understand your body shape. Remember, your weight is not your shape; it’s important to know what shape you are, whether it’s X, A, H, O, 8, I or V. Every shape has different proportions and styling strategies. Knowing your shape helps you choose clothes that enhance your best features. For example, if you have a waist-defining shape like an X or A, focus on pieces that highlight your waist. If your body shape is more straight like an H or O, you’ll want to wear a column silhouette rather than the fit and flare of the A and X shapes, avoiding waist detailing so you don’t draw attention to your tummy.
I offer a free body shape calculator to help you figure out your shape, and if you want more tailored advice, my 7 Steps to Style program offers my professional analysis of your body and colouring, along with personalized recommendations.
There are only three main silhouettes to consider, the column, the waisted column and the fit and flare. When you know which is yours it really makes deciding what to take into the change room so much easier and quicker!
As an H shape, my best silhouette is a column, which I wear in most of my outfits.
Body Shape Guidelines
Once you know your shape, you can start looking for clothes that work for you. Body shape guidelines will tell you where to place horizontal lines to balance your figure and where to add vertical lines to elongate it. This knowledge saves time and frustration—before you even head to the fitting room, you’ll be able to see whether a garment is likely to flatter your shape.
Too often, we take clothes that don’t suit our body into the fitting room, try them on, and leave feeling defeated when they don’t work. Knowing what to look for makes shopping more productive and enjoyable.
Budget-Friendly Tips for Flattering Clothes
If you’re working with a limited budget, don’t worry—there are many ways to find stylish, flattering clothes without breaking the bank:
- Thrift and consignment stores: These are treasure troves for finding unique, high-quality pieces at a fraction of the price.
- Discount department stores like TK/TJ Maxx and Marshalls often carry great pieces at reasonable prices.
- Clothing swaps: Organize one with friends or check for community events where you can exchange pieces you no longer wear for something new to you.
The key to budget-friendly shopping is knowing exactly what works for your body. This way, you’ll invest in pieces that you’ll love and wear often rather than spending money on random items that don’t suit you.
Alterations: Key to Clothes That Flatter
If you’re struggling to find clothes that fit, remember that your unique body is not the model for the manufacturing standards—nobody came and took your measurements then created garments to fit you. If your hips are wider than your waist, for instance, you may need to buy clothes that fit your hips and have the waist altered. Or, if your waist is wider but your thighs are slimmer, you can buy for your waist and adjust the legs.
Alterations are a key tool in making clothes work for your shape. Even a simple adjustment like hemming trousers or taking in a waistline can make a big difference in how an outfit looks and feels.
Learn to Sew
If you frequently need alterations or want more control over your wardrobe, learning to sew can be empowering. When I found it difficult to buy clothes that suited my style, fit, and colour preferences, I started sewing again. Not only does it give you control over your wardrobe and actually help you create styles in prints, patterns, and colours that you love and work for you, but it can also be a creative outlet for designing clothes you love.
This is a dress I made, in a signature colour from my palette. I’d never find this in a store unless I got super lucky!
By understanding your body, learning the features to look for in clothing, and considering fit and budget, you’ll be better equipped to build a wardrobe that makes you feel great! It’s not about hiding your figure—it’s about dressing in a way that flatters your shape and showcases your personal style.
Get Your Personalised Style Guidelines
The key to having a great wardrobe is having an education in colour and all aspects of style, from the basics of body shape, to the more nuanced elements of personality and values. This is why I developed my 7 Steps to Style program, as I’m so passionate about giving intelligent women the knowledge and wisdom to make the best choices, so they build sustainable wardrobes that work for them, ones that give them confidence and that support them in their life and goals.
Get Dressed Like a Pro: The Silhouette Shortcut to Effortless Style
