In Our Modest Opinion...

Dressing for Your Body Type

While being unique is something to be thankful for, it sometimes feels more like a burden than a blessing. Especially when it comes to finding (and fitting) clothes! At Funky Frum, we understand the frustration of putting together that perfect look so we have compiled some great tips and outfits to help you out.

The key to a perfect look? A perfect fit. 

Just because you can button it, doesn’t mean it fits. For any article of clothing, fit the widest part of your body and then have a tailor make any necessary adjustments. The small extra cost and time is worth it, and it will keep you from tugging at things to keep them in place all day! And, having clothes that fit well makes you feel much better.

Also, dress for the body you have now - not the one with which you hope to kick off the New Year. If you do lose weight, having a tailor fix the pieces you love is much easier than buying a whole new wardrobe. To make finding pieces with a good fit easier, Funky Frum has added size charts to many of our product pages; so take a look, take your measurements, and find the best size for your body!

THE STRAIGHT FIGURE (aka Rectangular Shape)

Proportions: Bust-waist-hip measurements are fairly equal

Goal: Give this figure more shape.

How to Achieve: Sweat the small stuff - - it’s all in the details (such as gathering, belts, or seaming) actually matter. 

Technique:

1) Gathering in the bust or hip areas adds the slight volume you need to achieve balanced proportions.

2) Belts cinch in a top or dress to distinguish your waist.

3) Wearing a jacket with a nipped-waist will also achieve this look, especially when worn over a dress with princess seams.

4) A fitted, straight skirt will hug the hip and thigh giving you insta-curves and a draped A-line skirt will add good volume (but make sure to pair with a fitted top so that you aren’t overwhelmed with fabric).

The Funky Frum Look:

Tops ~ Cake Cone, Strawberry, Edible Flower, or Lemon Lime

Skirts ~ Lemon Ice, Butter Pecan, Banana, or Dreamsickle

Sets ~ Cookies and Cream

THE CURVY FIGURE (aka Hour-Glass Shape)

Proportions: Bust-hip measurements equal, waist smaller

Goal: Accent what you have, while maintaining your balanced figure 

How to achieve: Follow your natural curves

Technique:
1) The perfect garment for you is a wrap top or dress. Try a faux wrap with a built-in undershirt to give you the look you want without compromising coverage.

2) We don’t recommend super-low-rise items - they will accentuate your hips. 

3) Watch the proportions and details - too much on top or bottom will make you look unbalanced.

The Funky Frum Look:

Tops ~ Bubble Gum, Neapolitan, or Pineapple

Skirts ~ Red Velvet, Fiji, or Citrus Splash

Sets ~ Mango Chill

MORE ON TOP (aka Top-Heavy, Inverted Triangle)

Proportions: Bust measurement larger than waist-hip measurements

Goal: Create balance between your top and bottom

How to achieve: Keep the light, bright colors on the bottom

Technique:

1) A wrap (think shawl) is a great way reduce the appearance of heavy arms and disguise a busty bodice. 

2) Wear darker colors on your top half and lighter colors on the bottom to keep the focus away from your chest line. 

3) Wear skirts with more detail and a simple top. 

The Funky Frum Look:

Tops ~ Bubble Gum, Raspberry, or Tahiti Monarch

Skirt ~ Berry Blast, Fresno, or Cherry Jubilee

Sets ~ French Silk

MORE ON BOTTOM (aka Bottom-Heavy, Triangle Shape)

Proportions: Hip measurement larger than bust-waist measurements

Goal: Create balance between your top and bottom

How to Achieve: Incorporate details like ruffles into your tops and wear darker, slimming colors on bottom

Technique:

1) Look for tops with structure, ones that sit above the hip line and are looser on bottom so they don’t stretch across your hip. 

2) Tops with neckline details are wonderful for you - ties, bows, ruffles - as they draw the eye upwards. 

3) A long skirt with swing to it will help hide thick legs and make you look taller; and the movement will keep the skirt from sitting on, stretching across, and accenting your hips and thighs.

The Funky Frum Look:

Tops ~ Irish Cream, Marshmallow, or Dark Chocolate

Skirts ~ Drumstick or Peppermint

Sets ~ Cappuccino Chip

The Trend We're Dye-ing to Try

Call it Tie-Dye or Painterly, Dip-Dye or Ombre - whatever your fancy, our Red Velvet skirt is on par with one of this summer's hottest trends. Similar styles have been seen on the fall, summer, and resort runways from designers like Rodarte and ADAM to J. Mendel and Celine.

Ombre (sometimes called dip-dye) is a French term that means “shaded” and is usually a multicolor stripe with colors graduating from light to dark. Albertta Ferretta shows ombre throughout her fall 2008 collection; here is one of our favorites.

Tie-Dye is also being done in stylish new ways - unlike the shirts you made at camp as a kid! While being a close cousin to ombre, tie-dye is more fun and fresh. Veronique Branquinho uses tie-dye on skirts, dresses, and tops in her 10^th anniversary fall collection, and the results are incredibly soft and feminine.

Painterly prints are also very in style this season. Some designers, like Dolce & Gabbana, actually painted on their fabrics for a rich effect. Here, Matthew Williamson uses paint stroke effects on tops in his spring 2008 collection:

Even accessories are getting in on the dyeing fun! Shoes from Miss Coco show the ombre effect, and Yves Saint Laurent made the perfect handbag to match our skirt:

Our Red Velvet skirt comes in an easy to wear, lightweight cotton, and flattering A-line shape. The black to red shading makes finding a top match simple: go for one of our basic solid tees or, for a bolder look, pair it with a small patterned top. And, you can finish it off with one of our headwear pieces - the Cherry Cloche for a lady-like look or the Geometric Silk Scarf for a more modern mood. The Red Velvet skirt is a sure trend-winner at an unbeatable non-designer price!