7 Pieces You Need To STOP Avoiding If You’re A Curvy Girl
Yes, the one you’re thinking of is probably on this list.
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by The Candidly Team
There’s nothing we enjoy more than busting some very stupid myths about what women should and shouldn’t wear when they have curves.
Being curvy isn’t size specific. You can be a size 2 and never wear shorts because the leg holes feel akin to strangulation. You can be a size 22 and struggle to find jeans that fit your hips without leaving a big old gap at the waist. Curves are curves on any size, and finding ways to flatter them should not be a dreaded experience. We actually believe it can be fun.
So in that spirit, we’ve compiled 7 things you can and should absolutely wear if you have curves. And since we can’t control what models brands use for photos, and any photos we take are on our own in-house non-models, we understand that not every size is represented in every style. However, we did our very best to choose pieces that are gorgeous on curves and size from 0 to plus.
1. STRIPES
Stripes do not make you look wider. How is this idea still around? Do they make you look chic? Yes. More quiet luxury? Without question. Wider? No, no, no. Let’s take a few of our favorite striped pieces as examples/ proof:
Universal Standard Montauk Breton Stripe Bell Sleeve Top
This is the classic Breton tee that you can wear with jeans and instantly look perfectly Parisian. It was, in fact, made famous by Coco Chanel. The stripes and boatneck paired with that glorious spacious sleeve give you the chicest shape that happens to flatter thicker arms and waists. And the size range of Universal Standard is unbeatable.
Price: $88
Aritzia Babaton Technique Poplin Dress
Fit and flare is a curvy gal’s best friend, but add this stripe, and the effect is elongating and gorgeous. This dress does miraculous things for the boobs even without a bra and even for bigger boobs. Here is one of us trying it on before immediately buying:
Price: $168
The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve: Printed Linen Edition
We talk nonstop about these pants, because the fit is phenomenal on curves, smoothing all our bumps in all the right ways, making us feel held in without making us suck in. But when they released them in a stripe, new summery possibilities opened up. Ones with basket bags filled with strawberries, the chicest of tan sandals, and lightest of linen button downs. But whatever you wear them with, these pants are a dream to slip on.
Price: $148
2. CROPPED
Of course we’re afraid of crops. We grew up in the Britney era where midriff pretty much meant bra length. Plus, now we’re over 40, and our bellies aren’t shredded or snatched or even just un-bloated 65% of the time, giving us even more reservations. But cropped things are not scary. They make our waists look smaller. They make our legs look longer. And they don’t need to be fitted to make us look cute instead of frumpy.
J.Crew New classic denim jacket in Bianca wash
This is THE jean jacket we reach for more than any other. It cuts at the most flattering spot on the waist and makes everything we wear look cool and classic. Here we’ve paired it with the above pants:
See? Not scary.
Price: $79.50
* Gifted product
Madewell Everyday Boxy Crop Tee in Stripe
Yes, our stripes obsession is unyielding. But look at the sleeve on this top. The answer to our prayers when we’re hot but not into showing our arms.
Price: $59
J.Crew Squareneck button-back top in linen
If this elegant linen top were longer, it would make us look wider. That’s just how lines work. Instead, it pairs beautifully with a high-waist pant or linen shorts (for an effortless summer uniform).
Price: $39.50
3. STRAPLESS
This is another thing we thought was only for teeny tiny 22-year-olds (which we never were), but the truth is that strapless can be more flattering than tanks at framing bigger busts and broader shoulders. It also creates very pretty proportions with wide-leg and flowier bottoms. We urge you to give it a try. It’s a bit of wizardry.
J.Crew Smocked maxi dress in cotton voile
We know we’re talking about curves while showing you these styles on the narrowest of 6ft bodies. But while we can’t choose the models, we can assure you dresses like this are made for curves. This one sizes up to 3X (bless J.Crew for that). The smocking holds you in comfortably, while the light skirt has just the right amount of volume to skim the hips without adding bulk. Comes in black as well.
Price: $138
Denim Smocked Tank in Rinse Wash
Like we said, smocking is such a welcome hack for curves because of all the support and shape it gives without a lot of fuss. This one’s straps are removable so it makes chests and shoulders look lovely. It also has an equally flattering smocked maxi skirt* to make it a set.
Gifted
Price: $98
4. Jeans IN GENERAL
Has anyone ever found that elusive pair of jeans that magically makes your butt look phenomenal? So often, when jeans feel good, they look not so great. And vice versa. We found 3 pairs we believe will solve the woes of apple and pear shapes alike. They are best in class in three different jean-shape categories.
The Adi Regenerative Cotton Mid-Rise Frayed Relaxed Flare Jeans by Pilcro
These jeans are so forgiving and feel like sweatpants, yet somehow they make your entire body look smaller.
Price: $148
Frame Le Sleek Straight
This pair is a cross between mid and high rise but there is NEVER a waist gap, which makes your entire lower half look incredible
Use the code THECANDIDLY15 for 15% off.
Price: $258
Frame The Bubble Crop
Barrel is a shape that makes it look like we know exactly what we’re doing where fashion is concerned while feeling like we’re in joggers. It’s weird because they look like they’re going to be wide and huge but then you put them on (only certain ones) and they’re immensely flattering and slimming.
Gifted
Note: It’s often on preorder but is very, very worth it, because it sells out almost immediately.
Use the code THECANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $298
5. PATTERN
We get scared off by prints, worrying they’ll be too loud, too cheesy, or too … un-classic. But so many are chic and give life to what we wear. When you find one you love on a fit you love … pounce! Here are three of our favorites at this moment.
Maeve Drawstring A-Line Cotton Midi Skirt
The magic length of this skirt makes everyone’s legs look thin and long. It’s short enough to be cute without feeling like we’re gonna flash the parking lot if we drop our keys.
Price: $148
Farm Rio Flowers Arch Sleeveless Linen Blend Midi Dress
Farm Rio prints are unique and striking. The brand makes all the statement dresses you could want for summer. However, this exact shape is so flattering on curves and sooooo hard to find.
Price: $260
Gap × DÔEN 100% Linen Gingham Midi Dress
We sincerely hope you’re not counting the number of times we’ve said flattering in this article, because this dress is amazzzzzzingly flattering. It’s part of a dreamy collab between Doën and Gap, which we warn you, does tend to sell out very quickly.
Price: $138
6. Bodycon
Hiding under looser layers is an instinct for so many of us, but very often this just creates a tented or mumu effect. Many bodycon dresses are designed for curves. It’s really just a matter of finding the right ones.
The Soleil Slim Strapless Ruched Dress: Magic Fabric Edition
If you’ve always had a fantasy of slipping on a little black, Audrey Hepburn dress, but have never felt Audrey Hepburn enough to pull it off, this is your big chance. The magic fabric smooths like nothing we’ve ever worn. The ruching is incredible on bellies. It sizes in plus and petite. It is, in short, the Audrey Hepburn dress for curvy ladies.
Price: $168
Quince Tencel Rib Knit Maxi Slip Dress
Ribbing is another way we feel secure in something fitted. This amazingly priced dress is so sleek and lengthening. It comes in many, many colors, sizes in plus, and looks unbelievable under that cropped jean jacket we mentioned before.
Price: $50
7. SHORTS
Shorts are understandably easy to hate. They’re often too tight in weird places, so short we’re scared to sit or so long, we feel like we’re on safari. But there are shorts out there that make us look good. Chic even. We’ll explain.
Gap 365 High Rise Linen-Blend Shorts
These shorts button at the smallest part of the waist. The pleating is subtle but covering, and the A-line means flattered hips and spacious leg holes that make our legs look like sticks.
Price: $50
Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Mid-Length Jean Short
Finally, a pair of mid-length jean shorts. This pair flattens tummies and every stitch is made to accomodate curves.
Price: $78
Free People Menorca Slouchy Capris
We shouldn’t hate our knees, but we just do sometimes. And on those days, these shorts are sheer bliss. Comes in lots of colors, 3 of which are in our carts.
Price: $50
8. White on the bottom
We must let go of our terror around white pants. They can be wildly luxe-looking, especially with black on top. All you need is the right fit and one good pair of nude underwear ( ahem … these), and you will not look back.
ética Arden Wide Leg In Vintage White
These jeans are unreal on curves. They may as well be the training wheels for wearing white pants, because the fit is roomy but so, so chic.
Also, if you haven’t heard of this denim brand yet, we’re very excited to introduce you. Their styles are both stunning and sustainable.
Price: $198
Gap × DÔEN Eyelet Midi Dress
If you’ve wanted that 10 out of 10 romantic summer dress that instantly gives you an hourglass, we can’t recommend this one more.
Price: $158
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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