The Struggle for Great Style

If you’re under 5’4”, you probably know the struggle of finding clothes that actually fit. When you’re younger, the main challenge is usually dealing with bottoms that are way too long. Sure, you can hem them, but that adds an annoying extra cost. As you get older, though, things can get a bit more tricky—especially if you’ve gained some weight. Suddenly, it’s not just about the length anymore; it’s about finding bottoms that fit comfortably around an oversized belly while at the same time camouflaging it.

If you love fashion as much as I do but feel like your wardrobe isn’t helping you achieve the well-styled looks you’re after, you’re not alone. It can be frustrating to have a closet packed with clothes that just don’t feel right when you put them on. When nothing seems to work, it’s easy to fall back on the comfort of yoga pants, t-shirts, and hoodies—even when you’d much rather be rocking a more polished and put-together look.

The Solution: Where to Start Your Journey to a Better Wardrobe

If you’ve ever wondered if you could learn to style your body type properly, you’re on the right track. Like me, you might already own some styling books—so why not pick one and dive in? I started with The Science of Sexy by Bradley Bayou, and it completely changed how I approached dressing my body.

One of the first things I learned was the importance of understanding my overall body shape before trying to style it. For me, being both petite and plus-sized was already challenging, but discovering my body shape—rectangular, according to Bradley’s book—helped me figure out how to balance it out.

The great thing about his book is that he breaks everything down in an easy-to-follow way. I trusted the process, followed his rules, and finally started making progress toward a wardrobe that works for me. You can do the same—it all starts with knowing your unique shape.

If you’re not familiar with Bradley Bayou, he’s a renowned fashion designer who has dressed celebrities with all kinds of body types. In his book, The Science of Sexy, he takes a practical approach to styling by using your silhouette, measurements, and weight to determine your unique body type. From there, he teaches you how to create a balanced look by choosing clothing styles that hide flaws and highlight your best features. The book features 48 distinct body types, each with a 4-page guide on what to wear.

Style Class is in Session

When I calculated my measurements, I discovered I fall into the “short, plus, rectangle” category—my shoulders and hips are about the same width, and my waist is undefined. For years, I tried dressing like an hourglass or relied on tips I’d picked up to appear taller or thinner, like wearing pointed shoes that match my pants or sticking to black outfits. But now, I’m excited to see how my looks transform when I dress for my actual body type as a rectangle.

If you’re curious about your own body type and want to try Bradley’s recommendations, you can check out his book. Here’s the edition I use.

One recommendation I discovered for my body type is to wear high-stance blazers—but I had no idea what that meant. If you’re in the same boat, here’s what I discovered: it’s all about the button placement. A high-stance blazer has its top button above the waist, usually at the bust. On the other hand, low-stance blazers have their top or only button sitting below the natural waistline.

Learning this was an “aha” moment for me—I’d never thought about how something as small as button placement could make such a big difference in styling! But what is it about high- or low-stance jackets that make them work for different body types? It all comes down to balance. If your waist isn’t naturally defined, a high-stance blazer can create the illusion of a waist by drawing attention to the smallest part of your torso. Meanwhile, a low-stance blazer can help minimize a belly or balance out proportions if you have a short torso and longer legs.

This small detail makes such a big impact, and I’m excited to apply it to my outfits. If you’ve never thought about button placement before, give it a try—you might be surprised at how much it changes the way your clothes fit and flatter your body!

Resources

While searching what high-stance blazers were, I came across a link to Oprah.com and discovered that Bradley Bayou has several articles there sharing his insights on style. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check them out here.

In the back of The Science of Sexy, Bradley Bayou includes a list of wardrobe essentials that everyone should have. It’s clearly meant as a starter or basic wardrobe since it only includes two pairs of shoes—which is nowhere near enough for a shoe lover like me! Still, it’s a great starting point. My plan is to go through my closet, see what I already have, and put together some outfits to share with you.

If you’re thinking about doing this too, it’s a fun way to assess your closet and start building a wardrobe that works for your style and body type.