Jeans are such a great fall-back position when we’re stuck with what to wear. So I think it is time to remind you of important points to consider before slipping into your favorite pair.
At the top of the list is the most important point to consider: Do not wear what everybody else is wearing unless you have the body type that suits the current trend!
To make it easy for you, here are my pointers for specific body types:
1. Long waist: Super low-rise jeans are a no-no as they will hit the mid part of your hips and make your thighs look larger. And your legs will appear shorter! Better to choose a pair of jeans that either fit your waist or fall just below your navel. You can also wear high-waisted jeans as they will make your waist seem shorter and your legs longer. As a matter of fact, I fall under this body type and I find that jeans/pants in ‘Petite’ fit me better than a regular size. I am 5’7”.
2. Triangle shape: Wear jeans that sit just on your hipbones and select bootcut legs. Avoid tapered jeans, as they will draw unwanted attention to your hips!
3. Round ‘bubble’ derrière: Do not cinch your waist and do not wear jeans with faded areas on this part of your body! Wear low-waisted jeans, as they will make your derrière look more compact.
4. Flat derrière: Avoid high-waisted jeans, as this cut will make your derrière look totally flat. Low cut jeans + flap pockets or just enough detailed pockets will make your bottom look perky.
5. Long Legs: No, I am afraid you cannot wear cropped flared jeans, as you will look as if you grew out of them! Your best bet is to choose jeans with a long inseam, bootcut or straight-legged.
6. Plus sizes: No baggy pants please! They make you look bigger. You need to wear slim-fitting, slightly low-rise jeans that just hit the hipbones. Choose darkish colors, as they will minimize your curves.
7. Buffed full quads + small waist: Look for wide-leg styles. Fit your legs first, and then have the waist altered.
8. All body types: Choose jeans that have at least 2% spandex.
Finally, remember jeans should never touch the floor. There should be a slight break in the front and they should fall a fraction above the ground in the back. This will prevent unsightly frayed cuffs. A frayed hem is a definite NO-NO!
A native of Belgium, Michèle Benza was raised and educated in Brussels in both French and Dutch. In her late 20’s, she broke into the fashion world by opening a Parfumerie in Brussels that offered skin care and spa services as well as a small collection of carefully selected designer clothes and accessories.
After meeting and marrying an ‘American in Paris’, Michèle moved with her husband to New York in 1983. Based on her experience in European beauty products and services, she was recruited by a cosmetic company. Quickly thereafter, she was offered a great opportunity and forsook fashion and beauty to accept a managerial position with a real estate investment trust company.
After the birth of their second son, Michèle became Vice President of Marketing and Sales for an upscale Belgian chocolate company and could work from home. She excelled in this position for over a decade, and was able to move this west when the family relocated to San Francisco. She built out the company’s entire Western US high-end department store channel.
When midlife looked Michèle in the eye, she reassessed her professional life and decided to follow her passion and do what she knew best and loved the most: help people improve their appearance, self-esteem and confidence. A great idea was not all it took: before making the leap, she spent a long time researching the latest trends and developments in fashion and skin care.
Since Michèle was already a certified Pilates instructor she decided to combine her expertise in posture and alignment with image consulting. She elected to return to Europe to update her skills and renew her image consultant certification from one of the most prestigious organizations in Europe.
On her return to the USA, she created a unique business model by uniting her Image Consultant and Pilates certifications and launched Michèle Benza Image consulting and Posture in 2003. She has not looked back since and is happily coaching clients on how to dress appropriately for their age, life style and body type and attain their ideal posture. Michèle works face-to-face with local clients and remotely with her clients that live far away.
Michèle Benza is a member of AFIPP (Association Française pour l’Image Personelle and Professionnelle, Paris) AICI (Association Image Consultants International).
Michèle is a monthly columnist for www.50fabulous.com and for www.sfwj.com.
Michèle Benza - Completely Confidential Image Consulting Featuring European Style and Elegance.
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