Are there any universally flattering clothes?

[JimmyJabs]

I don't think there are, and yet every year I seem to see the latest trend in jean shape or skirt length being touted as suiting everyone. Then, a couple of years later, everyone suddenly notices that e.g. skinny jeans or midi skirts actually don't work on the majority of bodies, and on it goes with another trend.

I think the styles I most often see being described as universally flattering are:

White shirt (not if you have large boobs or a bit of a tummy)
Little black dress (black isn't very forgiving to some skin tones)
Skinny jeans (terrible on pear shapes like me)
Maxi skirts (I think they're best on tall people - I just look like a pepper pot)
Voluminous prairie style dresses like that spotty Zara one from last year (they might be comfortable but they make most people look about three sizes bigger than they are)

I would like to be proved wrong though!

Things that flatter everyone tend not to be considered stylish for very long. Like princess seams, for example. Tunics and dresses with princess seams tend to flatter every figure. But who'd be seen dead in them?!

Just another marketing gimmick to buy more stuff, that will end up being sent to the charity shop or landfill. I'm a bit more sceptical now I'm an old boot.

I wear princess seams regularly, not sure why I shouldn't?

Skinny jeans (terrible on pear shapes like me)

My friends a pear shape and she looks amazing in skinny jeans (she is very slim though!)

What are princess seams??

Oh I googled. Surprised they are a ‘thing’.

Depends what you mean by flattering?

OK, I suppose I meant fat pear shapes, like me! No idea what princess seams are - better go and look.

Good tailoring especially on smart suits is always flattering. Not cheap though.
Good quality materials, like silk tops and cashmere jumpers.
Cheap fashion is best on teenagers who can get away with anything.

No I don't think anything is universally flattering - we're all too different in shape and colouring. Even something like how high or low your waist is can change a look.
But on the other hand, I don't go along with the kind of view that says only the tall or thin people (or whatever) can wear certain styles. I think most things can be tweaked to suit if you like them enough.

Wrap dresses? They work for me as I have a decent waist but need to flat my hips!
Jean's are a nightmare once lightly chubby!

@SittingAround1

Good tailoring especially on smart suits is always flattering. Not cheap though. Good quality materials, like silk tops and cashmere jumpers. Cheap fashion is best on teenagers who can get away with anything.

Yes, I agree with good tailoring, but that's not going to be the same shapes and lines for every type of body.

On a general point, I know "flattering" is an old-fashioned concept really, and I know that we are trying to move away from the idea that thinness is necessary to be stylish, but... I'm sure we all know what flattering is generally taken to mean, and this is S&B so I think it's a legitimate discussion to have.

A line knee length skirt?

@cheezy

What are princess seams??

Yes, what are they?

I don't think it's wrong to unpick what we mean by flattering. You could say that it's whatever makes the wearer look slim/in proportion (Per Trinny & Susannah/Gok Wan). But if that's something very 'out of style' then it's probably not going to look 'good' to most people.

Princess seams are a way of fitting a dress or coat to the body with a seam over the bust. It's a building block for almost any fitted garment.

I meam, flattering a big butt used to mean playing it down, disguising it
Now it's all bigger better, wedgie look, disproportionately small waist to gutt through exaggerated high waist, cycling shorts... not very flattering 😁

Haha butt not gutt.. fashion is still for flat gutt.

Can't believe we're splitting feathers over what flattering means here in S&B

I looked at princess seams, and although I don't have big boobs myself, I can't imagine they're especially flattering on somebody who does? Do they not encourage monoboob?

OK, by "flattering" I mean in the traditional sense of slimming, in proportion, balancing one's figure, etc. I'm not saying this is how we "should" be dressing, but let's not pretend that the majority of us set out to actively look bigger or that we don't care about such things.

A couple of years ago I read about the "golden ratio" (breaking up your body into 1/3 vs 2/3 - it's supposed to make your legs look longer) - I tried it and it looked very good on me, and for a while I believed it was probably flattering on everybody. But I can think of at least one person it doesn't look that good on - Theresa May. I think she naturally has a rather short body and long legs and would do better to work against that, rather than accentuating it even more. So no, I'm not convinced there is anything that looks good on everybody.

@NotMeNoNo

Princess seams are a way of fitting a dress or coat to the body with a seam over the bust. It's a building block for almost any fitted garment.

Thanks.