Dear Empress,

“…Can I still wear colorful skirts even though my bust/waist/hip measurements designate me as a lower figure?…”

Perfectly Pear (aka Edith of See the Songers)
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Response Sponsored by:

Lady Edith,

Even the juiciest of pears can tastefully wear a colorful skirt. Color is but the final consideration in the garment evaluation quartet. Thus, lower figures are certainly not destined to a life of black below the belt. Color can help to compensate for violations of higher rules, but it’s not cardinal cannon unto itself.

one. Cut
The shape of the garment trumps every other determinant. Does it taper against your flare, ruffle along your round? The shape should highlight your narrowest features and balance your fullest. Imagine the garment as a minimalist ink outline, then evaluate whether the shape complements your own figure.

two. Cloth
For your area of concern, look for flat, structured fabrics that drape rather than cling. While you don’t want bulky wool sweater kilts adding inches to your hipline, you also want to avoid the dimple prone vulnerabilities of a cotton jersey pull-on skirt. Look for fabrics that will hold a clean line without excessive volume or transparencies. And opt for matte over shine, our strongest curves need only to be outlined not amplified.

three. Composition
Properly applied patterns, textures, and prints are camouflage to body insecurities. In fact a bright pattern is often more effective than a neutral solid since it has a little something to offer distraction.

four. Color
Lastly we consider color. Certainly some colors are less flamboyant than others. But if the garment excels in cut, cloth, and composition you don’t have to follow color minimizing rules fanatically.

Take for example the Still Life Skirt from Downeast Baics.

Cut – A-line
Ne’er hugging a single curve of the thigh
Cloth – Cotton broadcloth
Flat smooth, and able to hold its own starch
Composition – Playful
The wood block inspired floral will keep all eyes moving
Color – Light & Bright
While the color isn’t a textbook ideal, it certainly follows enough more important rules to get a complimentary ruling.

Pair it with this equally bright and playful Frosted Flowers Cardigan and you’ll achieve a stunning balance.

Care for your own DownEast Basics Skirt?

The winner of the Colorful Skirt Giveaway will be selected on Monday, February 22nd.