Fashion Lab: Boxy Tops
Some time ago we were discussing the uniform typical of some of our moms:
elastic waist pants + boxy top + “earth shoes”
Hoping to address this topic delicately and helpfully, without being unnecessarily hurtful or judgmental, I would like to once again quote the illustrious (although I really should look that word up first) Imogen Lamport, from her article The Long and Short of It, which explains how to work with vertical body proportions (aka length-balancing):
Baggy or boxy clothes will make you look bigger (they do that to everyone) …
The proof (I used pictures of a plus-sized model because it’s just more illustrative):
Comments?
Great illustrations Rebecca - couldn’t have found better ones myself. The ideal is to find clothes that skim without clinging.
Someone needs to blow up that post to poster size and hang it on the main street. Maybe then we’d get less eye-ache from looking around at boxily dressed women…
Really great examples. The first image looked strangely familiar. Couldn’t quite put my finger on it, until I looked down. At my light blue, boxy linen shirt with the pintuck pleats.
Sigh. I am a “don’t” this morning.
I’m off to pop on a white tank, so I can open this thing like a jacket.
You mean the ‘box’ doesn’t hide anything??? BTW, your first ink (… discussing uniforms…) didn’t take me to any posting. Can you help me find it with a month or category?
oh my. How beefy she looks. And the worst thing about it is that, as your examples show, it’s *unnecessarily* bad - doing the exact opposite of what people wish for when they choose it - to disguise. Disguising what could otherwise be an asset, a shape.
Besides wearing something open and on the fly, I think it helps, too, to layer something more shaping over - like that menswear style vest trend, so long as the boxy shirt isn’t also stiff.
I have a question. A woman who has slender legs and small bottom but who carries all her weight in the front and has large bosoms plus a very large abdomen so, yes, it looks like the apple shape - and the bosom doesn’t protrude much beyond the upper stomach , what on earth is she to do about a top?
You want to create the illusion of a waist, so empire tops (that encircle just under your bust, which is your slimmest point up top) are good, but make sure it’s not too gathered under the empire line otherwise you’ll look pregnant, keep is smooth and simple. Make sure any t-shits are ruched down the side - I often do this myself to tops - buy one that’s way too long, then run some stitches up the side seams to gather them, go over the top to hold in place, and you’ve created your own ruched top.
Look for trousers that have a straight leg or even a wide leg, or flare, otherwise you’ll look like a lollipop.
A jacket that’s left open, but has some waist shaping (not boxy or square) is good. Wear a lighter coloured jacket over a darker coloured top and your tummy will disappear.
Make sure all skirts and trousers are pleat-free - flat fronts, and side zips can really work for you.
If you like to wear heels, make them a wedge - stilettos and kitten heels will just look too dainty on your frame.
Keep necklines lower to break up your bust. V-necks are great, as are cross-over tops (though avoid wrap dresses as they won’t suit at all).
Large pendants are great to draw attention up to the face and away from your boobs.
Hope this helps Vidly.
Thanks Imogen! You really know your stuff - but I knew that because I’ve read all the material of yours I could find. This figure type is not me, but exactly describes a friend and many women I see. I was interested to see you reject the ubiquitous wrap dress for it. Your crossover top does sound much better. And I can picture how a v-neck is so much better for that shape than a tee shirt type jewel neck. For me, I was fascinated by the side ruched top you describe. I can sew and aim to try this out.
I use my ‘home ruching’ technique for all tops that are too long (plus I love the spare tyre disguise effect it has), on not just the body of the garment, but also on the sleeves of any knit that the arms are too long.
It also adds a little detail that creates some visual interest to what otherwise might be a plain and boring top.
The trick with the ruching is to do a few stitches, then go over a couple of stitches as if you were going to tie a knot off, so that the ruching doesn’t slide round. Hope this makes sense.
Plus anyone can do it, you don’t need a sewing machine, just a needle and thread.
I need some better instructions on this ruching ting… just this morning I was trying to get dressed and put on a t-shirt with my jeans. it looked AWFUL, and I knew it. I like the print on the shirt, but just can’t wear a crew neck.
Where can I find more detailed instructions on how to transform a crew neck?
[…] case you missed it back here, Vildy asks: A woman who has slender legs and small bottom but who carries all her weight in the […]