GOAL

• Softening or balancing out your shoulders.

BASIC “RULES”

• Keep shoulders free of detail and padding

• Clothing line needs to be straight and clean

• Plain tops

• Raglan sleeves, drop sleeves, halter necks - a diagonal line at the shoulder to minimise

• Skirts/trousers with horizontal patterns or detail such as wide legs or A-line

WHAT TO AVOID

• Epaulettes and shoulder pads

• Horizontontal lines at the shoulders, including seams and colout-blocking

• Frills and flounces, gathered waists, floppy and fluffy fabrics

• Shiny tops

THE DETAIL…

JACKETS

• Longer styles with deep armholes and raglan, kimono or dropped sleeves to soften shoulders

• Choose V-necks, small lapels, small narrow collars and single-breasted styles, vertical seaming and notch or shawl collars

• If your hips are narrow, use flap or patch pockets to add weight to the hips and balance out shoulders

• AVOID large lapels, yokes, double-breasted styles, breast pockets, trims or piping, high closed necklines and shoulder pads

TROUSERS/JEANS

• Straight leg, wide-leg, flared, bootleg with pocket details if you have a flat bottom and narrow hips

• Lighter wash denim, straight, flared, bootleg or boyfriend jeans

• BE CAREFUL with skinny jeans and leggings as whilst these will highlight your slim hips, they may make your shoulders look broader

SKIRTS/DRESSES

• Flared skirts, hip flare, hip pleats, A-line, tulip shapes

• Dresses should be fit and flare shape if you have a defined waist or tunic styles if you don’t

• AVOID pencil skirts as they will make you shoulders look broader

SHIRTS/TOPS

• Raglan, halterneck, deep, narrow V-necks in darker plain fabrics

• Keep collars and lapels narrow

• Look for cuffed sleeves

• AVOID puffy sleeves, epaulettes, shoulder pads, patch pockets, horizontal lines, colour blocking at the shoulder, yokes, shiny fabrics

COATS

• V-necks, small lapels, single-breasted styles and narrow, vertical seams with deep armholes ad raglan sleeves to de-emphasise shoulders

• Mid-hip or longer

• AVOID double-breasted styles, breast pockets, trimming or piping on the top, epaulettes, shoulder padding or high closed round necks and horizontal lines created by large lapels or yokes.