|
Getting help finding the dress that flatters your figure
I don't know about you guys, but I'm a sucker for those magazine articles that go something like, "Find the right jeans for YOUR figure!" and "Buy for your body type!"
I can't help it. Every girl wants to find things that actually WORK on her body, right?
And even though I think it's kind of strange that we walk around comparing our body shape to food -- Pear! Apple! -- I get it. Maybe whoever came up with those metaphors was hungry at the time. I won't judge.
Which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon a website called Shabby Apple last week. Well, I didn't exactly stumble. Google kept shoving the ad in my face, then I started seeing it pop up on a bunch of other websites. I caved. I clicked.
The best part is the folks at Shabby Apple, an online retailer of mostly dresses that claims to donate a portion of its proceeds to charities that serve women and children, have created a fun feature on their website that lets you shop by body type.
Not sure of your "type"? Answer three questions and they'll tell you (they have it broken down into eight categories, including the fruit ones and tall and short.) Then it'll take you to a display of dresses that would probably flatter your figure. Sometimes one dress will show up in multiple categories, which is comforting and, I think, more realistic.
The prices are a little steep (most things seem to be in the $80-$100 range) but maybe worth a splurge for the right occasion. If nothing else, it's a good place to look for ideas about the basic structure and shape of dresses that might look good on you.
Here are some of my favorites, along with the body type Shabby Apple recommends it for.
I like to think of the dress you see to your right as "The Giraffe Dress," but Shabby Apple calls it Fifth Ave. It's $82 and was in the Hourglass category.
This teal dress, $88, is called North Shore, in the Apple category.
This plum-colored dress, $92, was in the Pencil category. It's called Consultant.
I love the ruffles on this one, called the Chickaree. It's $88 and was in the Pear category
Deal Diva Kameel
(Photos: Shabbyapple.com)
Loading...Most Recent Blog Posts
About the bloggers
Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Sign up for weekly Deal Diva Alerts by e-mail. by e-mail. And check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Because shopping should be all about the Washingtons!
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising.
Meet the authors
E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.
Follow us on Twitter!
Advertisement
Advertisement
Video
Most Popular Categories
THE AUTHORS
Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.
|
Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child,
tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally
rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and
she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes
classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of
patterned ballet flats. She can
be reached at 850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..
|
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her
mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost,
but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan,
she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never
needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her
closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can
be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.
|
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.
|
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling
backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom
prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find
fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the
class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for
affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or
down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only
hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727)
445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.
|
Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.
|
Comment Policy
| Please be sure your comments are appropriate before submitting them. Inappropriate comments include content that: |
| Is libelous |
| Is abusive, harassing, or threatening |
| Is obscene, vulgar, or profane |
| Is racially, ethnically or religiously offensive |
| Is illegal or encourages criminal acts |
| Is known to be inaccurate or contains a false attribution |
| Infringes copyrights, trademarks, publicity or any other rights of others |
| Impersonates anyone (actual or fictitious) |
| Solicits funds, goods or services, or advertises |
| The Tampa Bay Times does not edit posts but reserves the right to delete comments that violate our policy. |
Registration FAQ
| Read our Frequently Asked Questions on how to register to comment on the site. |
