I’m a different size on top and on bottom (bigger on the bottom) and finding dresses that fit me can be a real challenge. It feels like I’m either squeezed in at the hips like Christmas ham, or falling out at the top, which is so awkward. Do you have any suggestions?
G.G.
Dear G.G.,
I hear you! Let me start by saying you’re not alone and if we still lived in a time when clothes were tailor made for the individual, you wouldn’t be feeling like Christmas ham. Ready-to-wear or off-the-rack clothing is mass-manufactured in standardised sizes, but this sizing is based on the incorrect assumption that all of us have the same shape!
If you’re looking for a dress, the key thing is to know what styles might work for you, and which styles are unlikely to fit. A fitted straight silhouette dress will be too tight in one area and too loose in another. Try looking at styles that have more material at the skirt to give your hips more room while still fitting your bust nicely. A tunic style dress may also work, as it is a looser fitting style – you can add a belt if you wish to better define your waist. You might like to try out a kaftan, as they are unsized and designed to drape over your shoulders and fall loosely.
If you want the effect of a dress without any of the sizing challenges, you could pair up a top and skirt in the same print or fabric with a wide belt.
Don’t despair, G.G.! Your perfect outfit is out there waiting for you!
Feel fabulous,
Billie
