3 Slimming Ways to Wear Your Favorite Plaid (Check out video at the end)

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Don't you just LOVE plaid? It's one of those classic patterns that will always be around, especially this time of year.  Because of the often larger, bolder horizontal and vertical lines, the effect can enlarge the figure...looking like bricks on a house.  The right colors for the holidays? Yes.  And who doesn’t want that “homey” feeling this time of year?  I’ll never forget that December when I found myself wearing red and green plaid flannel pjs. I felt so warm and cozy, and oh so….plump.  It wasn’t completely holiday weight, it was holiday pattern arrangement and placement.  The wide horizontal and vertical lines on the top and bottom made my silhouette appear about a foot broader than it really was…truly like a brick house.  (Cue the Commodores...video below.)   If you're interested in rocking the plaid without looking like a brick house, check out these smart, slimming ways to wear your favorite plaid.
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1.    Wear the plaid diagonally.  Diagonal lines tend to be more slimming than vertical/horizontal lines.  Look for clothing pieces with diagonally placed plaids and watch visual weight disappear.  You'll find this strategy applied to tops, bottoms, dresses, breast pockets on shirts, and even scarves.   If you have a plaid scarf, twist it so that the plaid is turned diagonally.
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Narrows

widens

2.    ​Wear a smaller scale pattern.  Plaids and checks are similar with their vertical/horizontal design.  In general, expect smaller check patterns to minimize the figure and larger checks to maximize or enlarge the figure.  
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minimizes

maximizes

3.    Wear plaid on your slimmer area to balance the fullness elsewhere.

Is the bottom half of your body larger than the top? Or do you want your shoulders to appear more broad? Try wearing the pattern on your top to balance bottom-heavy weight, creating the illusion of a more balanced, ideal figure.  
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Top Half Appears to Be Bigger/Broader

Is the top half of your body larger than the bottom? Try wearing the pattern on your bottom half to balance top-heavy weight, creating the illusion of a more balanced, ideal figure.  
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Bottom Half Appears Fuller

For more on figure balancing techniques, check out my post The Beauty of Balance. 
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Looking for more slimming ways to wear your favorite patterns?  You'll LOVE a Fabulous Fit session.  Appear taller, slimmer, and leaner with techniques customized for your figure type.
Call/text 385.229.6297 or message Dani@StyleByDani.com

Get Started Here

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The one, the only, Commodores doing She's a Brick House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBx6mAWYPU

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Hunter's Plaid with Big Budah on Fox 13's The Place

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