Dressing to Flatter Yourself

"This makes me look fat."

"I'm too tall to find anything long enough."

"I'm so petite; everything swallows me whole."

We're girls. We have insecurities. That's just the way things are. And more often than not, clothing seems to play on those insecurities and make us feel worse. Most girls are unsatisfied with their bodies for one reason or another. 

But you don't have to give in to pressure to conform to every trend. Just because something is trending and everyone else is wearing it doesn't mean you have to. 

I'm going to repeat that because it's very important:

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS TRENDING AND EVERYONE ELSE IS WEARING IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO. 

A lot of girls feel that they are overweight. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if you are plus sized. There is a way to dress that will flatter your body, though. Skintight clothes are not the answer, however.

If you are plus sized, here is a good example of how to dress:

Always look for something that accentuates the smallest part of your waist, rather than your midsection. Rouching, flare, and ruffles are often good ways to flatter your body. 

Or maybe you're short. I am rather vertically challenged myself, so I can speak to this on a personal level. Here's what not to wear if you are short:

Maybe at first glance, there's nothing wrong with this outfit. But let me pick it apart for you. First of all, I would not leave the sweater untucked. It hides most of the skirt, giving somewhat of a stumpy look. Next, if you're going with a flowy top, try a more form fitting bottom, and vice versa. Too much flowy just makes a short girl look wide. Lastly,

if you want your leg line to appear longer, don't wear black flats and black tights. A great trick is to wear tights and heels of the same color, and it gives the illusion of a longer leg line. This doesn't mean you have to wear high heels all of the time. A wedged bootie like this one is a versatile and adorable option:

Just for reference, here's a great alternative to the outfit above:

Notice the tucked top, heels, and contrast of the loose skirt to the slightly more form fitting blouse. 

See? You can dress to flatter your body. Look for part two of this post soon!