Life’s A Garden…

Dig it in figure flattering clothes!

(I promise there is body image stuff if you scroll down past me blabbering about my garden.)

If you read my personal posts, too, you know that I’ve been doing some gardening. I’ve started to transform my front yard from this:

to this:

I’ve since weeded that rose bush to the left of the porch and found another rose bush hiding in some tall grass nearby that has also been weeded. The dirt is cleared up now, as well, but I’ve been too lazy to go back out and take another picture. Oh damn it. Fine, Liz. Do it now.

I just walked outside to take the last picture. Obviously, the hubs needs to get a weed eater out there around the bushes and we are waiting for the bushes to grow, but they only have a medium growth rate. And we want to paint the stupid cable cords to match the color of the house so they aren’t so disturbing. The next step for the front yard is deciding which flowering ground cover to go under the tree. Any suggestions? We also plan on building a pergola in my back yard. And I’ve recently decorated my nails to match my determination.

But this blog post isn’t just about me. It’s about you and how you can dress in a practical way for gardening while also dressing in a figure-flattering way.

Life’s A Garden by lizkzook featuring embroidered t shirts

Hourglass: A simple top with flattering jeans go a long way on an hourglass shape. Be careful not to wear cap sleeve tops that can make you look top-heavy.

Column: I like a flowy top on a column as long as you’re sure to tuck it in to accentuate your smaller waist. The bell-bottom shape of these jeans give the illusion of a curvier hip to balance out your top-heavy proportions. The close neckline of the shirt also helps.

Apple: These wide-leg jeans are going to help minimize the appearance of your tummy. They also have a higher rise, which acts the same way. This top is loose around the midsection, but accentuates your bust with knitting detail. It’s subtle, but it works. The cap sleeves also help to make the top half of your torso appear wide, which in turn minimizes the appearance of a larger stomach.

Boy: Normally I don’t recommend capris, however, the cut and shape of this denim can create the look of curves in the hips. This top is great for accentuating a smaller bust with the baby pleats and the wider set straps on the shoulders.

Pear: This simple cap sleeve tee is going to help to balance out your hips by giving you a wider shoulder. These wide leg jeans also help to minimize the hips by bringing the line straight down from widest part of your body.

Follow my How To Wear board on Pinterest for more info on dressing for your body type!

White Party

It’s MAY, y’all!!!! And white is back!

So I’ve decided to pick out a few dresses for every body type! And for an added challenge, I’m going to try to keep them all under $50!

White Party by lizkzook featuring a capped sleeve dress

Okay, I did it. One white party dress for each body type; all under $50. Plus, shoes to match! Also, all under $50!

Next will be gardening looks! Mainly because I love to garden.

Follow my How To Wear board on Pinterest!!!

Sunbathing Hourglass

Dressing an hourglass can vary greatly depending on whether you want to accentuate your curves or minimize them. If you want my advice, I say “accentuate them, baby!” Most women would kill for a perfectly proportioned hourglass shape; this girl included.

Here are my hourglass tips:

• Accentuate your waistline if you’re wearing a one-piece!
• Balance your top with your bottom. If you have ruffles on the top, you need ruffles on the bottom. If you have a bold pattern on the top, you need an equally bold pattern on the bottom. Especially be wary of your cut. If the top is a string bikini, the bottom needs to be the same. If your top is modest, your bottom should be as well.

And that’s really about it for hourglass!

Sunbathing Hourglass by lizkzook featuring a halter swimwear

If you have more specific body typing questions, I’m always willing to answer them. In fact, that’s my favorite thing. So just leave your question in the comments!

Summer Is Coming!

And in Tennessee it comes a lot faster!

I’m getting very excited for flip-flops, strappy dresses, sunblock, braided hair, and a trip to Tybee Island!!!

Two of my favorite things about this time of year: I get to make more dresses for my little Zo to wear, and I get to jog more.

It was just last June that I started my fitness adventure. (There is a small explanation on the Dream page of my website.)
I am in better shape now than I have ever been and the thought of more improvement excites me. I’m still a pear shape. The more I work out the more pear-shaped I get! My husband claims that it’s my hip bones that are large. I think he’s right. Plus, working out makes some parts smaller and other parts bigger, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, my point is that I’m excited. I’m so excited that I’ve already started thinking about all of the summer clothes I can wear. I’ve started thinking about all of the summer clothes that you can wear, too!

This week, I’m going to start working on posts for dressing for summer for different body types.

In the meantime you can check out my other summer wear posts here:

• 90′s Summer Concert
• Don’t Hide This Summer (my article in B.Real Magazine – link to article is at the bottom)
• Summer Looks For Less
• How To Mix and Match for Easy Summer Looks
• Picnic and a Barbecue
• How To Wear A Romper
• How To Dress for Bonnaroo

Have a great week!

HOURGLASS

If I have previously written about a staple it will be linked to that post.

T-shirts:

T-shirts must always be fitted. Otherwise, follow the rules for casual shirts.

Casual Shirts:

If you’re going to wear a shirt with any kind of embellishment or ruffles or anything then you need to make sure that you’re balancing that out somehow on the bottom.

Blouses:

You already have an hourglass shape, so you don’t need to worry about structure or anything else. You do need to make sure your waist is in. So wear a belt or tuck in your blouse. Also, if you don’t tuck in your blouse, make sure that it’s not landing on your hips and making them appear wider.

Sweaters:

Any fitted sweater is going to look great. Be wary of where they fall on your hips to make sure that they aren’t making your hips look wider than the rest of you.

Blazers:

If you go with a wider lapel make sure your jacket sits out from the hips. If you go with a skinnier lapel make sure the blazer sits flat against your hip.

 

Skirts and Mini Skirts:

Skirts with a higher waist are great for your shape. You can go for any fit of skirt. If you wear a pencil skirt that is cut close to your legs make sure that your top is just as fitted. If you go with a flared skirt then make sure that there is slight flare to your shirt in order to keep your shape balanced.

Skinny Jeans:

I DON’T RECOMMEND SKINNY JEANS FOR ANY BODY TYPE.

That being said… mid to high-rise is going to work best. If you’re not going to tuck in your top you need to make sure that your waist is pulled in somehow, whether it be the cut of the shirt or an added belt.

Jeans:

Mid to high-rise jeans are going to be best for your curves to minimize muffin top. Straight leg, wide leg, or bootcut are all good. Just be careful with your tops and balancing your shape. If you wear straight leg pants with a really baggy or ruffly top you will end up looking top-heavy. If you wear wide legs and a tight top you’ll look pear shaped.

Pants:

I love an hourglass in slouchy, but fitted, pants. Of course, if that’s not your style I would recommend a mid-to-high rise wide or straight leg pant. If you go with a wide leg pant be sure to wear a fitted top and vice versa. You don’t want to look vamp-ish, but you don’t want to look like a potato sack either.

  

Little Black Dress:

If you want to show off your curves I would pick a LBD that resembles a 50’s wiggle dress – like a sheath dress. If you would like to tame your curves then find a dress that sits on your curves without pulling in at the waist.

Rompers:

You need a romper that is going to keep your shape balanced. If you wear a romper with wide legs, make sure that is also has wide-set straps or a wide neckline to balance out the legs. If you wear a romper with a spaghetti strapped top you can go a little lighter on the shorts, too. If you don’t want to accentuate your curves go without a cinched waist. If you really want to accentuate your curves you can add a belt.

Swimwear:

The only thing that you need to worry about if you’re an hourglass shape is keeping your balance. If you’re going for a two-piece be sure to cover as much, or as little, on top as you do on the bottom. If you wear a pattern on top balance that out with a pattern on the bottom. When looking for a one-piece try to find something that pulls in at your waist and, again, covers as much on top as it does on the bottom. If you cover more on top and less on bottom you’ll end up looking like a pear and vice versa if you cover more on the bottom and less on top.