The 9 Style Essentials I Can’t Live Without As A Curvy(ish), 40(ish) Gal
by Audie Metcalf
Whether you’re a size 2 or a size 20, it feels like the fashion industry doesn’t quite know what to do with us curvy ladies. The waist gaps. The tight arms. The thigh holes that look like they’re made for deer legs.
I’m not sure why it’s so complicated for Big Fashion, but with my 15-inch waist-to-hip ratio, I try on a lotttttt of clothes before finding things that fit and flatter my body.
So today, I’m revealing my top 9 favorite pieces that have made the cut as my go-to essentials that pair with everything in my closet, make me feel like a zillion bucks, and are also incredibly comfortable. Because once I hit 40, sacrificing comfort for chicness suddenly felt insane to me.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
1. THE. ONLY. JEANS. WORTH. DISCUSSING.
Jeans are a “curvy girl’s” worst nightmare I don’t think I wore a pair of jeans until I was 35 years old. They just didn’t exist for me. But these jeans. Ooooohhhhh THESE jeans. They have incredible stretch so you can actually “sit down,” and there is truly no waist gap, even though they fully accommodate my considerable rump and thighs. Their size range is incredible.
And in case you should wonder, here’s everything I’m wearing with them in the above photo:
Price: $229
2. THE MOST INCREDIBLE FALL SWEATER
This sweater is all the things we covet about dressing for the fall. Thick and comfy, like a weighted blanked, oversized enough for you to feel completely cocooned and equipped to face the cold. But despite its cozy attributes, it’s just flat-out gorgeous. Worn out, it attracts compliments left and right. Worn at home, you feel like you’re draped in your favorite throw.
The brand Quince is doing astonishingly great things with knitwear, in general, and this piece (especially for the price) has become one of my most prized everyday pieces I turn to.
And once again, these are the other things I’m wearing with it in the photo:
Price: $70
3. THE SWIMSUIT WHERE YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR ACTUAL BOTTOM COVERAGE
There’s not a lot to say about THIS swimsuit because it’s perfect. The thin straps make your shoulders look perfect. The ribbing is perfectly flattering on every figure. There’s options for long torso. Each colorway is more beautiful than the last. And… You can CHOOSE YOUR OWN BOTTOM COVERAGE.
Here’s the back of the suit in white (yes I bought it in both black and white) with the “full” bottom coverage:
And here’s a close-up, side by side so you can see just how flattering it cuts on the hip, compared to this other brand on the right. Astonishing.
Price: $98 - $118
3. THE “MAGIC” PANTS
When I tell you the word “magic” is fitting in the case of these pants, I’m referring specifically to the fact that they fit over every curve you could throw at them in the most flattering way possible. The fabric is breathable, stretchy and sculpting all at the same time, but somehow they still look crisp, tailored, and very chic. You feel like you have space at the same time you feel smoothed. So as I said, “magic.”
The wide-leg crop also hits at the ideal lengthening length, and they come in petite, tall, and plus. They’re equally good for going out as they are for wearing to work - can be casj or formal at the whim of whatever you feel like wearing with them.
And here’s what I’m wearing with mine above:
Price: $120
5. THE BEST LEGGINGS
There’s lots of leggings out there that are good. Great, even. But nothing I have ever tried comes close to THESE leggings in terms of softness, comfort, flatteringness (not a word?), and most importantly, their ability to never, ever, ever slip down. For some reason, nearly every legging I’ve ever tried just sloooowly slips down throughout the day or while working out such that the crotch is at my knees come 2pm.
These are gloriously high waisted, and they’re just much, much more flattering than other leggings. Has anything been more convincing than this before and after taken 2 minutes apart?!
6. THE BEST WIDE LEG PANTS….EVER.
I talk a lot about THESE pants because they are truly spun from the heavens. While they’re very roomy in the leg, they still look so sleek and flattering on the hip.
I love wearing them with THIS cardigan, which I tuck. Why don’t we do this more? And this leopard belt, which sadly sells out all the time, but here’s a very similar one I love.
Here they are again but I “dressed them down” because I’m sick of saving all my “nice” clothes for fancy events. Because I don’t do anything fancy. But it feels good to waltz into Trader Joe’s or a school pickup looking casj, comfortable, and cool.
I love wearing them with THESE sneakers. I swear it’s like the best cute-to-comf ratio I’ve ever invented. They’re great with THIS denim jacket layered over and THIS belt, which has changed my sartorial life. And the white bag has been a chic little way to break things up, when I want less black on black.
PRICE: $148
7. THE PERFECT FITTED SKIRT
This skirt has amazing, amazing stretch, and the fit is so flattering. It’s the piece you’re always looking for but never find, because every skirt fits in weird, bulging ways that make you feel “meh.” But this one does just the opposite.
It can be styled 957 ways, and it comes in a jillion fabrics and colors, including the “magic” molding fabric I spoke of in what’s essentially the pants version of this skirt (#3 on this list).
Also pictured:
Price: $98 - $110
8. THE FAVORITE BUTTON-DOWN
This button-down stands out for one reason - the cut. It has high slits on each side, and the back is considerably longer than the front. All of this equates to it having a bit of extra coverage but also being incredibly easy to tie and tuck and wear open as a chic outer layer.
We all need one (or 3) perfect, light, crisp button-downs to make whatever else we’re wearing look more elevated and put together, and this one is just unequivocally the best. It also comes in solid colors and sizes in plus and petite.
Wearing it above with possibly my new favorite shoe and THESE jeans, which also happen to be glorious on curves.
Price: $98
9. MY NEW “TEMPLATE FOR FALL”
OK, It’s 4 things.
I’m particularly out of my mind for this extremely maxi denim skirt with blessedly NO SLITS (who wants to shave when they’re wearing a long skirt?) and bought it in 3 colors. That shirt is an insane splurge for “just” a denim shirt, but I tried no fewer than 14 denim shirts, and this one was the best. THESE UGGS are so comfy and they make me taller with zero pain, which is my primary goal in this life. And the purse is also an investment, but it goes with everything, is indestructible, makes me deeply happy, and will last forever.
PRICE: $118 for the skirt, $278 for the shirt, $160 for the UGGs, $385 for the bag
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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