Welcome Allison McGevna, 31, of Inside Allie’s World, who is joining us as our resident curvy-girl style blogger. She was featured in the December/January issue of PEOPLE StyleWatch and contributes her thoughts on finding the perfect outfit to the site each week. This week, she gives us a little background on her shape, and talks about tackling a truly festive holiday style — the tutu! (And if her items are sold out, we’ve linked to similar styles below — happy shopping!)
Courtesy Allison McGevna
Hi, everyone! I’m so excited to be sharing my thoughts on curvy and plus-size fashion with you each week. First, a little about me and my shape: I’m the definition of an hourglass. I have wide hips, a big bust and a smaller waist. This has its pros and cons. It’s really nice to always be able to play up my waist. I can wear fuller skirts or more fitted skirts — a lot of silhouettes work on me. The challenge for me is that I’m a fuller-figured hourglass. Pants that fit my hips, butt and waist can be really tricky for me to find. I’m 5-ft-7 but I usually have to buy pants cut for women even taller than that to accommodate my wider hips. Regular pants end up looking like high waters! Another fashion hurdle, and I know you curvy girls out there can relate, is finding pieces that don’t look too tight and sexy. The struggle is real, especially around this time of year when you’re shopping for cute, feminine holiday party dresses that also need to feel appropriate. Something that might look great on someone with a slimmer figure might end up looking too racy on me. If I do end up going for a more fitted dress, I’ll choose something in a sturdy fabric (nothing flimsy or sheer) with a below-the-knee hemline. I stay away from anything that’s tight and shows a lot of skin. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I also stay away from any pieces that are too flowy — they hang on me like a tent. Basically, I’m honest with myself about my body and I know what works and what doesn’t!
RELATED: See even more wardrobe tips from Allison here!
For my first look, I wanted to conquer the tutu — it’s so fun for the holidays! As I mentioned, fuller skirts work on my hourglass shape, but a tutu-style skirt can feel like a LOT of volume. I went for one that is actually part of a dress by MaisonJules. The shape felt slightly less voluminous than some of the other tutu skirts I’d seen, so it seemed more doable to me. It also felt less over-the-top-girlie, and more mature, which is also something I was going for. Plus, you can go Spanx-free in a shape like this! Something I always look for in fuller skirts is a defined waist. This skirt had one, which I loved. I decided to play up that definition even more with a White House/Black Market belt (similar style). I’m obsessed with belts — I think belting a look is one of the easiest, quickest ways to show off your shape. I prefer wider belts that are at least an inch thick. Skinny belts don’t tend to do much in the way of defining a curvier frame. Plus, thicker belts have a better chance of staying put. As a busty girl, there’s nothing I hate more than a belt riding up until it’s sitting right underneath my bust. Make sure it’s sitting at your natural waist.
The top of this dress is a thin knit material — great on curvy frames. I tend to avoid any knits that are really thick and bulky and will just add volume to my bust. I always like to pair a fuller skirt with something more fitted on top, so this silhouette was perfect. The faux leather Forever 21+ jacket (similar style) added some unexpected edge to the look, and it was a great length for my shape. Cropped jackets tend to call attention to my hips — one of my widest points — so I go for jackets that hit just below that point. This one nipped in at the waist, so I didn’t lose my shape, and it created nice long lines when worn open.
I’m totally a heels girl, so I finished this look off with one of my favorite pairs of Louboutins. I like to save on clothes, but shoes are one thing in which I really invest. Heels do something amazing for your posture — and your attitude. Great style at any size isn’t just about fit, it’s also about confidence!
Have you ever tried a tutu skirt? Or something with a similarly-feminine feel? How did you style it? Sound off below!
