The importance of dressing for your body type

With spring + summer come all things strapless – dresses, blouses, bikinis, etc. While strapless items look amazing on some women, they are far from flattering on my body type. The unflattering cut, combined with the discomfort of a strapless bra, mean I completely avoid them.

BUT, I think I can pull off the one shoulder look (at least I feel more comfortable doing so), because the top highlights different parts of your upper body. (And since I’m always a bit too honest on here – I’m actually wearing a regular bra with one strapped tucked down #lazy).

For me, strapless has never been flattering or comfortable and will never be. So, no matter how “fashionable” or “in style” it is, I won’t be wearing it. I think oftentimes people confuse their style with what is popular in the fashion world. Now, there are definitely items and pieces that will coincide, but they don’t have to. I started reading the Curated Closet last night and one quote already stuck out to me,

“Being fashionable is optional.”

I loved it. The author, Anuschka Rees, went on to explain how (now famous) fashion icons weren’t fashionable. They had created their own authentic style and stuck with it, regardless of what was trending. They knew what they liked, and what worked for them, and they owned it.

The more I learn about myself, the more I am able to hone in on my style. I have a mental list of items that will and will not work, whether it be because of my body type or because of my lifestyle. When I help style someone and clean out their closet, the first thing I do is note their body type, colors they tend to wear + colors that flatter them, and what their life truly consists of. Maybe you’re a nurse, so your typical week involves scrubs, workout clothes, and then a few nicer outfits for the weekend. No matter how much you like them, it doesn’t make any sense to stock your closet full of stilettos, because it doesn’t fit your lifestyle.

This principle is something I have been trying to focus on in my closet + life. [More coming soon on this!]

Back to body type + this dress. Not only do I like it, I feel GOOD in it. I’m not worried about the dress being too tight, or riding up when I sit down. I can zip it without sucking in, and I think it will be versatile this summer. For me, I am unbelievably self conscious in body con dresses. Seriously, no matter how thin I am, I’m still self conscious with them. I like this dress because it comes in around the waist, isn’t skin tight around my middle, and flares out nicely with the natural shape of the body.

By now, I would hope that most of us have some idea of what we’re comfortable in, what works for our body type, and what items fulfill our day to day needs. If not, I challenge you to play around  in your closet. Try items on, and if they don’t fit, don’t flatter, or are uncomfortable, either sell them or donate them.

You want your clothing to be a reflection of you. It is an art form, and the better you feel, the more confident you will be. On that note: wear what flatters your body type (work with what ya got) and what you feel comfortable in.

Happy Hump Day friends. Thanks so much for reading + hopefully this post was helpful to at least someone.

If you’re in the market for closet help, feel free to reach out. Formal packages coming soon 🙂

xo, Maddy

Shop my look:

PS. Sorry for linking 678,869 items, but JOA makes a ton of cute items in the same print. So, if you’re not into one shouldered dresses, there are tops + skirts available as well. Same goes for these Sam Edelman heels – the pink is a great color for spring/summer, and there are a variety of heel heights and shoe styles available in it.

Disclosure: This dress was purchased with a giftcard courtesy of ShopBop as part of an on-going collaboration. I  only work with brands I love and want to share, and all opinions are always my own.