It used to be that a formal dinner meant that you had to wear a long dress. Now of course all the rules have changed and one of the problems with that is that people wear just about anything, very short, short, knee length, midi and down to the ground making it easy to just pull something out of the closet and think ‘that’ll do’.
Clothes for curvy girls can be harder to get right, to find a dress that fits an hourglass figure, is formal enough for black tie and looks good when you’re sitting down, which presumably you will be doing if it’s a dinner. Remember that by curvy I am not referring to size but the traditional hourglass which goes in at the waist, and you can be curvy whatever your dress size.
The perfect black tie dinner dress can be long or more akin to a cocktail dress. The most important attributes it has to have are that it does go in at the waist, that it fits you everywhere, that it flatters your shape and is the right length for you. It helps (always) if a dress has an element of stretch which will make it more comfortable when you’re sitting and although you want it to be fitted, it shouldn’t be too tight. Alternatively you could just not eat……………….
With the autumn 2011 collections arriving in the stores and that time when you’re bound to need something a bit more formal just around the corner I’ve picked ten of the best new Little Black Dresses out there, all of which could be worn to a very smart or black tie dinner and all of which will suit a curvy girl. Why black? Because you can wear every colour under the sun, but add something gorgeous, glamorous, black and sexy to your little black dress collection and you’ll be making an investment for the future as well.
A word of advice. If you’re buying in a store, or if you buy online, as soon as you get your dress home try it on with the right shoes and take some pictures of yourself front and back. Sit down in it as well to make sure that it looks great whether standing or sitting and that if it has a wrap front it doesn’t gape when you sit. You may love what you’re wearing underneath but you may not want everyone else to know and once you’re there and in situ you definitely don’t want to be eating with a fork in one hand and holding your dress together with the other, now do you?
Also if the length isn’t right, because of the shape of your legs, or where it falls to, have it altered. Length can make such a difference.
If you are very curvy be careful about halter necks and skirts that are too full. Look for v necks, which will give you a longer line, and straighter or gently falling skirts. And if you’re worried about showing bare arms, as I’ve said before, get out the weights and/or carry a wrap at all times. My suggestion? Do both………………………………………….
