The 8 Most Flattering Pieces Of Clothing For Women Who Fluctuate (Ahem, All Women)
Size 8? Yes, but can I also try it in a 4, 10, and 14?
by The Candidly Team
We’re not talking about a number on a scale here. Although we’re not NOT talking about that either.
Doctor: Has your weight changed recently?
Us: Oh yes. Probably from the time I stepped off your hallway scale to the moment I entered this room.
Our hormonal, post-40 bodies are all over the place. Our waistlines change dramatically, not just as we get older but throughout a given day, to the point you wouldn’t be able to tell if we’re perimenopausal or pregnant.
Whatever peace we make mentally with our shifting bodies, we have to admit it makes getting dressed unbearably confusing.
You start quietly ignoring half the clothes in your closet, because you know even if they fit you in the morning, there’s a very good chance they’ll feel like an anaconda attacked you in the afternoon. And you notice that suddenly you’re only really reaching for that one single pair of pants/ jeans/ dress/ t-shirt over and over again because it’s the only thing you know will A) Be comfortable and B) Look good no matter what your body throws at you.
Now we’ve written articles about clothes that look best on belly pooches and templates that give us our most hourglassy silhouette, but we thought, why not do a round up of “THOSE” pieces? The ones we’d honestly rather wear than anything else. The ones we pluck and pluck and pluck from the closet any time they’re not in the hamper because even though they feel like loungewear and pajamas, they make our legs look longer, our waists more defined, our arms skimmed, our butts sculpted.
These are the 9 flattering pieces we’d rather not live without as over-40 women who fluctuate - women who are physically ready for our mumu era, but who still want to look tailored and marvelous to the end.
It’s possible, my friends. We just need choices. And here they are:
1. The Button Down For When You Want To Look Classic And Chic But Feel Like You're In PJs
WHAT: AYR The Tate*
Why we love it: Do you remember Sharon Stone wearing her husband’s Gap button-down to the Oscars and looking utterly iconic? Or how about Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wearing her own crisp, ivory button-down with a black skirt? These images linger in our minds because nothing equates to instant chicness like a white, poplin button-down with sleeves we can roll, buttons we can unbutton, bottoms we can tuck or half tuck or tie up or leave loose. And guess what? No matter how we wear it, we get gorgeous coverage while still looking tailored and like we have a waist.
It’s one piece every woman should own one perfect version of and keep for life. That said, AYR makes the most perfect version. Here it is in striped:
* Gifted
Unfortunately, often by the time we tell people about it, AYR inevitably sells out of every size. But this one is in stock right now. Fingers crossed the same is true for when you read this.
Price: $195
2. Two Trousers For When You Want Endless Stretch But Also For Your Waist To Look Whittled
WHAT: The Colette Magic Fabric Crop Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve*
Why we love it: Hi. We’re The Candidly. And we are unable to stop talking about these pants. Perhaps you’re a regular here and you’re annoyed by this condition. But just in case you’re new, we have to bring them up again, because no pants are more kind to fluctuating bodies than these. They melt over curves, with a stretchy “magic fabric” that smooths lumps and bumps and holds you in, but they don’t feel at all restrictive. Here they are next to another pair of black pants in a photo taken just seconds apart:
Left: Lumps and bumps Right: Smoothness and “magic”
And here they are straight on, being tried on and promptly purchased by another member of our Candidly team.
Sizes in plus, tall, and petite.
Price: $120
WHAT: The Avery Wide-Leg Pleated Trousers by Maeve*
Why we love it: These are the long pants that have actually changed our lives. No pants (none) are as slimming to your upper thighs/ hips/ butt. They then drape down with lots of flattering pleating. They hit high at the waist then sort of fall into an A-line that makes the most rectangular among us look like hourglasses. And for anyone with a belly, the bask is elastic, so they look dressed up in the front, but never feel tight even on the first day of your period after you’ve eaten the entire list of foods that make you bloat.
Also sizes in plus, tall, and petite.
Price: $148
3. The Polo For When You Want Something Loose But Chicer Than A Tee
WHAT: Nation Kimberley Polo Tee*
Why we love it: No one wants to wear anything tight on days we feel puffy and meh. But most baggy things have the natural side effect of making us look puffier and more meh. The trick is in the neckline. The dipped V and collar narrow the shoulders and draw the eye upward. Doesn’t matter if you tuck the tee into a high-waist, stretchy pair of jeans or an elastic-waist maxi skirt, you will look polished and classic, because that’s what a good polo tee does.
* Gifted
We love it in all three colors it comes in, but in a pinch, we’d start with heather gray.
Price: $135
4. The Wildly Stretchy Jeans For When You'd Rather Die Than Wear Jeans
WHAT: Risen Juliet Mid Rise Barrel-Double Roll Up Jeans*
Why we love it: We decided to stop being a baby about barrel jeans. And we’ve never looked back. They’re not just a trend and they’re not just for kids. First off, they’re wide leg (and in the case of this pair, wildly stretchy), which is obviously bliss on our bodies. However, the curved shape makes them more tapered and chic. Plus, it has this weird illusional effect of making legs look longer and leaner. You can wear them with a belt and a tucked white button-down. Maybe add a dark pair of glasses and your style will be exceedingly cool and chic and yes, age appropriate, although you yourself might look younger, because the right clothes can sometimes do that.
Price: $74
5. The Skimming Dress For When You Want Something Comfy That Doesn't Read Mumu
WHAT: Z Supply Linden Slub Rib Maxi Dress*
Why we love it: Dresses are very, very hard, but they can also be a godsend on days we don’t want to think about it or feel the digging horror of a waistband. There are two things that are very, very helpful in our pursuit of a flattering dress.
1) Make it a fit-and-flare maxi dress. This will give some room without reading mumu.
2) Look for stretchy, ribbed material. It holds you in without feeling revealing.
This dress is beautiful on its own or can be layered under a button-down (yet another use for a button down!) for extra coverage.
Price: $110
6. The Tee You Don't Have To Tuck For When You Want Something To Cover Your Belly
WHAT: Madewell The Boxy-Crop Tee in Soft Slub*
Why we love it: If you want a t-shirt to not look sloppy, get one that isn’t too long and has a slightly boxy shape. It actually makes you look narrower, and like your legs start higher. This one is amazing, because you don’t have to tuck it and it sits just right. Sizes up to XXL. We highly recommend getting it in black and white.
Price: $38
7. The Layering Piece For When You Want To Feel Covered Up But Still Styled
WHAT: Eileen Fisher Lightweight Boiled Wool Shawl Collar Vest in Regenerative Wool*
Why we love it: Not to get off topic, but we recently realized that Eileen Fisher is not just a brand for our moms. They make some incredible and cool (yes, we said cool) pieces for our erratic bodies, especially for those of us who gain weight round the middle. But this shawl/ vest thing is just a light, chic, layering piece that gives us jussssst that extra bit of coverage, while looking completely put together.
Price: $180
8. The Dress For When You're Bloated But Have To Get Fancy
WHAT: Heiress The Gathered Drape Gown*
Why we love it: The ruching and draping is genius on this dress. You don’t have to suck in or shimmy into shapewear, and you’ll look statuesque and captivating. There’s even ruching in the back to cover your entire lower waist and upper hips, making it look both wildly expensive and flattering on curves.
Sizes up to XXL.
Price: $368
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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