Clothes Women Should Never Wear
From Turtlenecks to Tapered Pants, Styles That Don't Suit Your Shape
Two universal crimes of fashion are wearing the ever popular turtleneck sweater, or sporting a pair of tapered pants. These garments should never grace a woman's closet!
Once we women learn to stop hankering after the body we wish we had, and start dressing to make the most of the body we’ve got, there are a number of fashion tips and guidelines which help us choose the right styles and cuts, making us feel good about what we wear.
No matter whether you are size 6 or a 16, it is possible for any age and shape of woman to look good. It is all about shopping smart and dressing in clothes that actually flatter your figure, whether you are big or small, short or tall.
We are all guilty of fashion faux pas, from dressing too young, to showing off too much flesh, to covering up too much of our bodies in shapeless tent-like sacks. However, there are a number of garments, quite possibly lurking in your wardrobe that should not see the light of day, if you want to show off your figure in the best light.
The first of those is the dreaded turtleneck!
The Tragedy of Turtleneck Sweaters
One thing that the majority of stylists agree on is that a turtleneck jumper can be a tragedy when it comes to a flattering silhouette. The main reason for this is that it covers up one of the most attractive parts of a woman’s figure, her décolletage. Stylist Emily Neill in her book Wardrobe Secrets, (Apple press 2006), maintains that if there is one universal truth when it comes to women’s bodies, “that something is good and something is most likely bad for everyone, then V-necks are good and turtlenecks are bad.”
In her chapter, "a women’s neck is a thing of beauty, or the tragedy of the turtleneck," Neill points out that whereas a V-neck sweater opens up the neck and exposes one of the slimmest part of a woman’s body, (her décolletage – between the neck and the bust), the turtleneck, on the other hand, creates one universal blob of material, dong nothing to break up the lines of a woman’s upper half. Not only that, but a turtleneck sweater is one of the worst garments big-busted women can wear, as it creates a “uniboob” look, making breasts look bigger and more balloon-like than they are.
TV fashion gurus, Trinny and Susannah are also critical of the turtleneck. According to this duo, (in their somewhat colorful style,) “high necks make tits look like balloons semi-filled with water….and they take on the roll of a third chin.” It is useful to remember that any garment which has a high neck, will always distort breasts. That applies to turtle or polo-neck sweaters, and similarly styled coats and dresses.
In addition to this, most turtlenecks are shapeless and therefore tend to wear their owners, rather than the other way round. Turtlenecks in a thick, chunky wool equals and even thicker torso, and do nothing for your waistline or your curves. Whilst some women may argue that a high-neck sweater will cover-up unsightly bulges, in contrast to the flattering V-neck, it doesn’t enhance any part of their body either.
According to Neill, the turtleneck is best avoided at all costs unless you want an undefined uni-torso look. However, should you be fortunate enough to have the figure of the majority of runway models (i.e. a flat-chested, boyish shape), then a fitted turtle-neck, (ribbed with lycra) will add a few curves where you haven’t much to show; and a uniboob effect may be preferable to a no-boob one!
Why You Shouldn't Wear Tapered Pants
Moving the lower half of a woman’s silhouette, then when it comes to styles and cuts, the tapered leg on pants does no-one any favors. Whilst most women know that a boot cut or flared jean can slim the legs and create the illusion of length, tapered pants serve to accentuate your hips and butt, and also draw attention to your ankles. Yet, like the turtleneck, it is popular (and unflattering) style for many women. Only women with no hips can get away with tapered pants!
“Trousers with tapered legs do nothing for anyone but emphasize hips disproportionately,” says Neill. In fact, tapered cuts emphasize hips rather than integrate them. When choosing a trouser shape, straight or wide-legged pants are a more flattering alternative, as they draw attention away from the hips. Boot cut and flares serve to even out the curve of the hips with their lengthening leg properties.
In her article, "Never Wear Tapered Pants: Ever," Sylvia Rubin, Chronicle Fashion Editor, quotes stylists Trinny and Susannah as saying, "We despise tapered trousers beyond all other garments. They should be outlawed from all corners of the globe and a maximum penalty should be given to those who wear them with saddlebags. If you have a pair, burn them, for the narrowness of the ankle only magnifies your hips by earth-shattering proportions." Harsh words, but to the point none-the-less!
