Not everything in your closet has to be 100% flattering- personal style isn’t perfect. Some styles look great on certain body types or color profiles, others don’t; everyone’s different. But THIS top looks bad on almost everyone…

It’s a faux wrap blouse in a drapey crepe fabric, and the hem has a blouson effect. Its sold by virtually every mass-market brand, from Vince Camuto and Halogen to Rag and Bone and AllSaints.

WHY IS IT SO AWFUL?

The silhouette completely erases any evidence of a waist and loads on volume and visual interest in an area few of us want to draw attention to: the hips and lower abdomen.

What’s worse is that most women are shorter than the 5’7” fit model this blouse was cut for- so the silhouette ends up transforming the torso of most women into the shape of a Hershey’s Kiss.

WHY IS IT SO POPULAR?

A viscous cycle of two factors: insecurity and capitalism. No one likes their ‘belly’- so we buy this top to bury it under loads of fabric. Clothing brands keep making this top because we buy it (clothing brands base their production on best-sellers, called ‘updates’), not because it’s flattering or fashionable. Then we buy it again because it’s in new colors and prints… and the cycle continues.

TRICK THE EYE, DON’T HIDE

I’m not going to make you love your belly, but drowning it in georgette isn’t fixing anything. Creating a flattering silhouette is about balance and proportion- features that are smaller/larger than ‘ideal’ aren’t noticeable when everything is in balance. Use horizontal lines to draw the eye and make shapes wider, vertical lines to lengthen and streamline. Take the focus away from certain areas by highlighting others with print/color, volume, or details.

TRY THESE INSTEAD: