Making Reality from Runway Fashion Looks

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Kate

Ads and magazine covers typically feature very similar looking women. The top actresses and models are almost all stick thin with long arms and legs, with maybe a few curves added by way of plastic surgery. Do you know anyone in real life who looks like that? I don’t.

Some women are naturally thin, but certainly not the majority. Most women have curves and range in height from very short to very tall, whereas models pretty much have to be at least 5′ 8″ or taller. The fashion industry selects these women because they show clothing well, but that’s exactly why a lot of women can’t quite figure out what the clothes on the runway look on normal sized women who don’t have the option of surgically sculpting a perfect body.

Here are some of the classic, dependable ways you can incorporate some of the trends into your wardrobe.

If your overall shape is full-figured, be careful of clothing with lots of layers and clothing that is tight. You can find pieces made to cling nicely to your figure’s assets, like a full bust or hips, while draping quietly over the other parts of you. If you’re naturally thin, then you can probably more easily wear some of the runway looks. Layers often look really good on thin women.

In general, feminine shapes look good in rounded necklines. Even v-shaped necklines can be cut so as to have a slight curve to them. Thin women can look smashing in a bateau neckline, which comes up to the collar bone but is open from shoulder to shoulder. Audrey Hepburn wore this type of neckline well.

Keep in mind that “skinny jeans” are not the same as “tight jeans,” and that “skinny” refers more to the way the jeans are cut than their size. Obviously if you have long legs, you should go for it. Just make sure you buy a pair that fits. Don’t try to squeeze into jeans that are too tight. They won’t look skinny, they’ll just look like you should have bought another size. Even curvaceous women can adopt the “skinny jean” look by selecting jeans that fit well in the waist and hips and that have straight cut legs – neither flared nor pegged.

High heels are pretty much always in fashion, though there may be one particularly hot style during a given season. You don’t have to go for the 4-inch heels with the 1-inch platform to look great. A pair of “go-to” black pumps that don’t torment your feet and have a classic shape will serve you well for years. If you want to try the “nosebleed-high” heels, practice walking in them before taking them public.

jackets must be cut very well to flatter a curvaceous figure. Styles that go in at the waist then gently flare compliment a curvy figure. It is also important that the shoulders of the jacket line up with your actual shoulders. Otherwise the jacket will simply look too large for you.

Accessories are one of the best ways to make a look your own. If you have a graceful, long neck, choker necklaces and pendants will look good. If you have a small waist, a beautiful leather belt can emphasize it. If you have nice legs, a pencil skirt will look great on you. If it’s summer and you have beautiful feet, then wear sandals whenever you can to show them off.

Face it: runway fashion looks rarely translate into realistic looks for normal life. But you can certainly pick and choose among a season’s trends to find some that flatter your figure’s most attractive parts.