We’ve all seen it and maybe even experienced it a time or two: the “muffin top,” which seems to have taken over college campuses across the country. Do you ever feel sorry for the girls who walk around with their pants on so tightly that they look like they can barely breathe?
In addition to this unfortunate tragedy, there is also the button up shirt. Girls are busting through the seams and turning heads left and right, but for all the wrong reasons. Listen up ladies, it’s time to understand that just because it zips, doesn’t mean it fits!
“I don’t understand the concept of trying to fit your body into clothes that are several sizes too small for you,” says Sarah Elder, a sophomore at Juniata. “Yes, we all have that one pair of jeans that are a little too tight, but if you’re spilling out of all your clothes then it’s time for a wardrobe makeover.”
The famous muffin top does not mean that we are overweight; it simply means that we are not buying clothes that are the proper size for our bodies. In my experience, I have found that I was buying a size four in jeans when in reality I wear between a six and an eight. Maybe I thought that, by some miracle, my waist would magically shrink and alas, the jeans would fit! Unsurprisingly, I was sorely disappointed. So, I adopted a new approach when shopping for my seasonal wardrobes.
I often look for jeans that stretch, so if I gain a pound or two during the holiday season I know that I will still be able to fit into them. When I started trying on jeans that were more true to my size, I found that they were much more flattering on my figure. If you’re finding that your pants are fitting uncomfortably, then try a pair that is just one size up. Sometimes it’s that extra wiggle room that can completely transform the way we look in our clothes.
Most people would think that tops are the easiest item to pick out. It’s just a shirt, right? Well, it’s actually a little more complex than we may think. The key to shopping for the perfect fitting shirt is a good bra.
Having the right bra is vital because it transforms the look of your bust in a way that benefits how shirts fall on your body. Some women tend to suffer from those dreadful indentation marks that result from having too tight of a bra. Several lingerie stores, such as Victoria’s Secret, will measure you in order to help you find the right bra for your body type.
When you feel comfortable in the bras you are wearing, then you feel much more confident in the shirts you pick out. The average size of a shirt is generally a medium. This is the go-to size for many women. I like to wear clothes that are comfortable and cozy, so when I can’t decide between one size and the other I always go for the larger of the two just to be on the safe side. This tactic can be applied when shopping for any articles of clothing such as dresses, skirts, button-ups, and jackets.
It is not uncommon for many women to wish they were just a few sizes smaller, but we have to be realistic about the clothes we select. We may think that buying a pair of pants in a smaller size will make us appear thinner, but in actuality small clothes make us appear heavier than we really are.
When people look at you they do not see the specific size of your clothes, but how they compliment your body type. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and no two people are the same. Let’s celebrate our bodies by giving them a properly fitting wardrobe.