This started out as a perfectly innocent video topic. I was scouring Nordstrom for spring trends when I started seeing them everywhere. Dated, saggy-baggy, out-of-date clothes that make us look and feel matronly and out of style. And they’re available EVERYWHERE and at every price point.
These clothes are solely designed to help us hide parts of our bodies (most notably arms and midsections) that we may not love, but they do so in the most obvious and the least flattering ways, and frankly, I’m over it.
So if you’ve felt like something is “off” about some of your outfits, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Many women are struggling to find beautiful flattering clothes in sizes that fit and still look modern. It’s not you. It’s the clothes. And today I’m going to show you how to fix it. From hiding our arms to layering mishaps and shoe blunders, here are 9 ways we are wearing our clothes wrong, and what we can do about it.
1. We’re hiding our arms wrong
A lot of women after a certain age don’t love showing their arms, and brands know this! That’s why they make what I call CYA (Cover Your Arms) jackets. These are flimsy and sheer and shapeless and don’t do anything to an outfit, because they are solely designed to cover our arms. Instead of these unflattering, dated, and matronly styles, choose a simple structured jacket or coat that will cover your arms and add style, or simply wear a dress with sleeves.
JUST SAY NO!!!
Much better
2. We’re layering wrong
The next thing we are doing wrong is that we are layering wrong. Loose over loose or long over loose is one of the hardest looks to pull off. Not only is it unflattering, but it is also not modern. If you want to add a long layer to an outfit, make sure the waist on the outfit is well-defined. The easiest layers to wear are structured layers that hit at the waist.
Just say no!
Much better!
3. We’re wearing our shoes wrong.
The next thing we are doing is we are wearing our shoes wrong. We are going for comfortforward shoes as opposed to style-forward shoes that are also comfortable. We deserve both. We need shoes that are comfortable and also stylish. We need to to look for style first and then determine if the shoes are going to be comfortable for you not the other way around, because otherwise there’s a slippery slope and we’re going to end up wearing shoes that just make our feet look like we’re in like black cement blocks.
Just say no!
Much better!
4. We’re wearing our pants wrong
One thing that I see over and over especially on women who have strong upper bodies, i.e. a really full bust, broad shoulders, or a full tummy, is that they tend to reach for the tunic and leggings on repeat. It’s not flattering because it creates a stronger shape at the top, where you already have shape, and makes your proportions look off balance. That silhouette is unflattering as well as out of style. Instead of skinny pants and leggings, which were not flattering on most women anyway, try the new flared leggings, bootcut, wide leg, or straight leg pants and jeans. Anything is going to be easier to pull off than the skinny.
Just say no!
Much Better!
5. We’re wearing uneven hemlines
Drapey, assymmetric, ruffled, waterfall, and other interesting hemlines are not your friend. Not only are they unflattering, but they are also out of style and not even an effective way to minimize a tummy. Choose a structured top with a straight hem instead.
Just say no!
Much better!
6. We’re buying the wrong statement jackets
We’re buying statement jackets that literally style us into a corner. They are so hard to wear and hard to style, that usually there is only one item that we can wear them with. Worse, they are often matronly and dated. If you want to choose a statement jacket, make sure it reflects your personality and vision, not that of the store, and make it modern.
Just say no!
Much Better!
7. We’re wearing sets wrong
Two-piece sets can be a fashion trap if you’re not careful. Avoid the pitfalls of flowy, outdated ensembles and opt for modern, structured sets that showcase your style without sacrificing sophistication.
Just say no!
Much better!
8. We’re wearing sweaters wrong
Is your sweater swallowing your figure? Rather than wearing your sweater pulled down to your hips, and erasing your waistline, fold the hem under or do a slight tuck to show off that waist and make it more flattering. This is especially true of fitted sweaters.
Just say no!
Much better!
9. We’re covering our arms wrong
This is a cheat, because it’s sort of an extension of the first one, but don’t let lace jackets and sheer sleeves cramp your style. Learn how to cover your arms elegantly with structured jackets and chic layers that make your outfit look chicer and more modern.
Just say no!
Much better!
Iff you have been doing any of these things wrong, I want to know about it. We’re in this together. This is not this is not about judgment. This is really about avoiding the wrong clothes and I’m here to to be the voice of reason in the darkness and to tell you not to buy them because they’re not cute and they’re not going to do you any favors. You’re going to end up feeling like: “I don’t know why this isn’t working. I don’t know why I don’t like my wardrobe. I don’t know why none of this is coming together.
It’s not you, it’s the clothes. Avoiding the wrong clothes is is a step in the right direction. It’s going to help us get that modern style that we love.
Now I want to hear from you! Which of these mistakes have you made? And which jumped out at you? Let me know in the comments!
Nada Manley says
Hi Rhoda! Thanks for the comment! I would skip the slides and do the ballet flats then! These from Vionic offer support and style! https://rstyle.me/+HNR9yL5_Ey8L2p6hrFWuYw Sneakers are also a great option. Keep them simple and white and they will go with a lot of outfits!
Rhoda Stein says
I love your suggestions. However, I am too old to wear slides without breaking a leg. Suggestions, please!