Thread: What costume cut/style is most flattering for your body? What doesn't work?

Right now I am trying to get a beautiful bedlah (the bra, specifically) to work for me. It got me started on thinking what I have that is most flattering versus what is least flattering for various body types. I thought it might be useful to put into a groupthink for costuming ideas.

Body type:

Skinny, short, and flat-chested, long arms and legs comparative to body, nice hip-to-waist ratio

What works:

Bedlah and skirts worn on the very lowest hip point possible (Accentuates my curves and plays down the skinniness).

Straight skirts with slit(s). Shows off the leg length and hip width, making my figure more lush.

Triangular-shaped bras with the points upright (my cups are so small that other shapes show too much chest skin, making my torso seem too long above and below the bra, and making me look too naked).

What doesn't work:

Full skirts. I adore the look, but the fullness on bottom erases my curves and makes me look like a stick.

Mermaid/trumpet skirts. Also stick-making.

Really bold styles. Really asymmetrical things, large patterns or patterns that cover a large area. It is overwhelming on me and the costume ends up wearing -me- instead of the other way around.

Lots of fringe on a bra. Completely swallows me up and looks ridiculous. Great Loops will never be right for me, much as I love them on others.

Body type:
tall, sort of an hour glass figure with big hips, but I could (should) loose 10-15 lbs. Long legs.

What works:
-Form fitting lycra costumes are best, the types that have the skirt beaded, with no belt. I like to have a slit in my skirt, normally 1 on the left side, I think that looks nice, but I don't like 2 slits. I like to show some leg (normally 1, haha), but not too much, just where part of my leg shows.
-Other than this, full chiffon skirts are also good, with 1 slit on the left.
- Halter style bra, I think that's the most flattering for most people - that's all I have: that what I buy, that's what I make. Some fringe on the bra, just enough in the middle to cover part of the belly (but not lower than belly button), or loops.
- belt: either straight across front, "cupping the butt" in the back, or V shape, but not too wide Belts that are narrower look better on me, if it is too wide, it adds bult, and makes look more heavy set.


What doesn't work:
-Any costume that is worn too high is not good for me, I have a medium / long torso and I need to accentuate that. But I can't wear my skirts / belt too low either, it makes me look chubbier.
-Costumes with straps around the waist would never work, and I don't even like the feeling nor the look in general.
-Straight skirts would be ok, but mermaid or form fitting skirts are better to accentuate the hips.
-Too much fringe will make me look heavier, and I definitely don't need that on any part of my body, so I like the minimalist look (but not too minimalist)
-The Dina style bras would not work for me, I would look too hoochie. Also the type of bra that has the straps come from the middle, as opposed to from the outside of the cups don't look good on me - I love the look, and had a bra like that once, but it doesn't look good on me.
-Sleeves - I love them, but I think that would add more bulk, so I just use armbands or wristband.

Because I'm tan and blonde, pretty much any color or shade looks good on me, so I can play with that and not be limited. I do think either bright colors or light, pastel colors are best for me. I am not a fan of dark shades such as navy blue, olive green, brown, etc.

Here's what I found out for myself over the years:

Body type:
Medium size, pear shape, long legs, short upper body, small breasts.

What works:
Can wear most skirt styles, but with a belt (worn low) to "cut off" some of the length of the lower body
Belts with long fringe, especially the V-shape.
Bras with fringe in the center and/or fringe on the cups
Bra cups that cover well, to give the illusion of "more" - and loads of padding
Embellishment on the shoulders or upper arms that give more width to the upper body
Hair bands etc. that add to the upper body length
Bra straps as short as possible to give more space between bra and belt
Necklaces


What doesn't work:
Halter neck bras make the A-line even more evident and the hips look bigger
Slim skirts without belts - especially when worn with heels. They make me look like a dwarf on stilts.

Small bra cups, skin colored bras, bra darker than skirt
Fringe on the side of the bra, anything that covers the belly too much and makes it look even shorter

MEISSOUN