How to Find Clothes That Fit Your Body (Without the Frustration)
If you’ve ever stood in a change room surrounded by rejected piles of clothes, you are not alone. Most women over 40 tell me they feel frustrated trying to find garments that fit well and flatter their shape. The good news? It’s not your body that’s the problem—it’s the way clothing is manufactured.
Here’s a practical framework you can use to make shopping easier and more successful.
Step 1: Know Your Best Silhouette
Before you even step into a store, be clear on which shapes work best for your body. Are you balanced in a column? Do you shine in a fit-and-flare? Or do you need to highlight your waist to create definition?
Tip: Take a look at your favourite outfits and notice their cut. Chances are, they already reveal your best silhouettes. Use these as a guide when you shop so you don’t waste time on pieces that were never going to suit you.
Garment Suggestions for Each Body Shape
Here’s a quick guide to help you identify silhouettes and clothing pieces that generally work best for different body shapes.
Dresses: Shift, sheath, straight, wrap styles with ruching
Tops: Ruffles, pleats, or belts to create waist definition
Bottoms: Straight leg, slim, or flared trousers; pencil skirts with detail
Jackets: Belted, cropped to highlight the waist
Dresses: A-line, fit-and-flare, wrap with upper-body detail
Tops: Boat necks, puff sleeves, embellishment to balance shoulders
Bottoms: Straight or bootcut trousers, darker tones on the lower half
Jackets: Cropped styles ending above or below the widest point of the hips, structured shoulders
Dresses: Shift, empire, straight shaped, drop-waist
Tops: Boxy, tunics, faux wrap, layered looks
Bottoms: Straight trousers, slim jeans, skirts with flare or hem detail
Jackets: Unwaisted cuts, collarless, open waterfall styles, no belts
Dresses: Fit-and-flare, wrap, belted sheath
Tops: Wrap tops, fitted V-necks that follow curves
Bottoms: Bootcut trousers, pencil skirts, high-waisted options
Jackets: Tailored blazers, cropped jackets that emphasise the waist
Dresses: Empire line, trapeze, shift, wrap with ruching
Tops: V-necks, longer tops that skim hips, tunics with vertical detail
Bottoms: Straight trousers, slim jeans, skirts that fall straight from hip
Jackets: Single-breasted, longline, waterfall or softly structured
Dresses: A-line, fit-and-flare to emphasise the lower body
Tops: V-necks, sleeveless, soft fabrics; avoid shoulder-heavy detail
Bottoms: Wide-leg trousers, pleated skirts, prints or lighter colours on the bottom
Jackets: Waist-length, peplum, single-breasted to add curve at hips
8 Shape (Hourglass with High Hip)
Dresses: Sheath, wrap, peplum to highlight the waist
Tops: Fitted styles with waist shaping, fabrics that skim hips
Bottoms: Straight skirts, pencil skirts, high-waisted trousers with flat fronts
Jackets: Tailored to the waist, peplums are ideal; avoid boxy shapes
Not sure of your shape? Do my body shape calculator quiz then get more body shape tips with my body shape bibles (which you can download).
Step 2: Buy for Your Widest Point
This is one of the biggest mindset shifts you can make. Clothes must fit at your widest measurement, whether that’s your waist, bust, hips, or shoulders. Everything else can be altered.
Tip: If you’re between sizes, choose the one that feels comfortable on your widest area, then plan to have the other sections taken in. This is far better than squeezing yourself into a smaller size that cuts in and makes you feel uncomfortable.
Step 3: Choose Fabrics That Work With You
Not all fabrics behave the same way. Stretch fabrics give you more flexibility and ease, while woven garments require a much more precise fit.
Tip: If you want clothing that feels forgiving, look for styles with elastane, jersey, or ponte. Reserve woven pieces with no stretch fibre added for when you’re prepared to invest in tailoring.
Step 4: Find Your Brands
Every brand cuts differently. Some are straighter through the hips, others are curvier, and some prioritise a defined waist.
Tip: Make a note of which labels tend to work for you and which don’t. Keep a running list in your phone so you can shop smarter, not harder. Every brand cuts slightly differently; some will fit you better, and others will be made for a different shape than yours, so learn which to avoid.
Step 5: Expect Alterations
Even women with what’s considered a “standard” figure often need tailoring. Professional actors, newsreaders, and models all wear altered garments—nothing comes straight off the rack and fits perfectly.
Tip: Find a good tailor in your area and factor small alteration costs into your clothing budget. A $100 dress with a $30 alteration will look far better (and last longer in your wardrobe) than six $50 dresses that don’t quite fit.
Step 6: Explore Made-to-Measure
If you’re tired of constant disappointment, made-to-measure clothing might be worth exploring. While it requires a higher investment, having pieces created for your exact proportions can transform both your wardrobe and your confidence.
Tip: Start with one or two staple items, such as trousers or a jacket, that you struggle with the most to fit. You’ll feel the difference immediately.
The Mindset Shift
The biggest key to dressing well is understanding this: your body is not wrong. Manufacturing standards are. When you stop blaming yourself and instead work with your shape, fabrics, and brands, style becomes easier, less emotional, and much more enjoyable.
Discover your best colours, shapes, styles and how your personality is expressed through your style with my 7 Steps to Style program which will give you the essential education in style that you never got growing up.
