How to Dress a Curvy Figure for a Flattering Silhouette

Have you ever pivoted to a loose-fitting blouse instead of a slinky pencil skirt? Are you hiding underneath oversized silhouettes and boring fits? It’s time to embrace your body and learn how to dress yourself in fun, chic styles!

If you’re a curvy girl, this will be your feel-good guide on how to dress a curvy figure. Find guidance, outfit inspo, and advice for adjusting trends to your own unique shape.

1. Highlight Your Curves

People often think that loose clothing is the best option for a curvy figure. This is a myth! Oversized styles add bulk to your body, making you look frumpy. Instead, opt for clothing with fitted and tailored cuts that highlight your natural shape.

While you’re not looking for skin-tight options, belting your dresses and blazers is a great choice. Make sure your undergarments make you feel secure before playing with silhouettes that highlight your figure.

Fitted curvy outfit ideas to consider include:

• A-line LBD with a colorful belted blazer
• Fitted knit top with a flared skirt
• Wrap-around dress in a fun print

2. Consider Necklines & Hemlines

Hemlines and necklines play a key role in flattering your face and body. When learning how to dress a curvy figure, you’ll need to experiment to find what works best for you.

An important tip here is to avoid styles that cut off at unflattering parts of your body, like the mid-calf. Instead, look for midi skirts that are just above or below the knee. You should also explore tops that draw attention to your neck without being too provocative.

Play with lower-cut necklines, asymmetrical hemlines, keyhole cutouts, and sweetheart necklines.

Here are a few playful outfit ideas to inspire you:

• Off-the-shoulder sweater dress
• Cropped shrug with keyhole cutout and high-waisted pants
• Pleated midi skirt with sweetheart tee

3. High-Waisted for the Win

While low-rise jeans may be back in style, you don’t have to succumb to this trend—plenty of people are sitting this one out! How you dress a curvy figure is all about high-waist pants, shorts, and skirts.

A higher pant creates a more defined waist and streamlines the rest of your silhouette. Combine this style tip with a fitted pant leg to ensure you’re not adding any extra volume to your bottom half.

Try these high waist outfit ideas for curvy figures:

• High-waist slacks and a bodysuit
• High-waist shorts and a graphic tee
• High-waist denim culottes with a tucked-in blouse

4. Go Bold with Print & Color

We need to make this clear: bold prints, bright colors, and quirky patterns are NOT off-limits! Embrace these instead of avoiding them. Even though black has been hailed as a slimming color, empower yourself with prints and showcase your personality.

If you’ve ever wanted to explore brighter designs, take the leap! Leave your self-consciousness behind and choose peppy prints that enhance your body rather than overpower it. Dressing in prints can be a challenge when learning how to dress a curvy figure, so check out these ideas:

• Break up a bold top and bottom with a dark belt
• Empire dress with a small floral print
• Gem-toned jumpsuit with a tie-around waist

5. Finding Footwear

Now that you know how to dress a curvy figure, we can start talking about accessories—like shoes! Whether you love flats or heels, the right shoes can transform your entire outfit, elevating it for formal events and relaxing it for casual occasions.

Pointy-toe shoes can help elongate your leg, so these should be your priority. But you can totally wear rounded and open toes if that’s your preference. Just avoid shoes with ankle details, as they can shorten your legs.

Browse shoes that enhance your outfits, including suede pointed pumps, bejeweled mules, and ultra-comfy sneakers. With every type of shoe in your closet, you have some well-rounded options for every situation!

6. Tote Proportions

With your shoes set, let’s talk bags. Purse and handbag sizes are crucial for balancing out your frame. If you’re slightly larger, shop for medium totes or shoulder bags that are comfortable to carry. We also love a micro-bag—don’t worry, it won’t make you look bigger!

What can interrupt your silhouette and make you look disproportionate is actually a larger bag, like a bowler bag. These can disrupt the clean lines of your clothing and make you look messy and frumpy.

7. Choosing Jewelry

How you dress a curvy figure includes everything from head to toe—even jewelry. Look for balance when choosing jewelry. Statement earrings could spotlight your face instead of getting lost, like subtle studs, but they can also draw attention away from your outfit.

Compromise on bling with larger pieces that enhance your diva energy while exuding sophistication. Look for angular hoops, pearl embellishments, and chain necklaces to keep it simple and stylish.

8. Comfort Is Key

While we’ve given you a few rules and regulations, everybody is different, and you need to do what feels right for you. Use our guide as a starting point and modify our recommendations as needed to ensure your comfort.

And if you find yourself falling back on old habits and hiding behind oversized clothing, force yourself to make bold tweaks that put you back in the spotlight. Just make sure you’re dressing for yourself, your needs, and your lifestyle!

Some days, how you dress a curvy figure might mean a sweatshirt and joggers. But every day is a chance to shine, so push your boundaries and rejoice in all the styles that represent you!

Your Closet, Your Life

Now that you know a little bit more about how to dress a curvy figure, it’s time to explore different curvy outfit ideas on our website. We’ve given you a few broad recommendations, so check out the options we have in our women’s clothing boutique!