SEPTEMBER 04, 2011
4:10 PM
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| PHOTO FROM APARTMENTTHERAPY.COM |
“Prints” are a very dicey subject for us curvies as there
are many conflicting notions as whether or not we should be NAY OR YAY about
it. There are notions that prints make curvies look bigger or smaller depending
on the size of it (big prints=bulk, small prints=reduction) but then there are
beliefs that curvies should ditch the print all together.
I think that the reason for conflicting views about the
print is that there are so much dimensions about it to the point that you cannot
make a general judgment. Like a print can be big, bold, subdued, contrasting
all at the same time. So how do you identify if a print is great for you or
not?
This can cleared through analyzing your body type and
finding prints that can work well with it. Prints are generally visual aids of
the dress. It contours (there is that word again!), reduces and magnifies parts
of our bodies. Thus, our main goal is to find the one that would balance out
our body and create a look that compliments us.
Let’s get to it!
WHERE THE BIG PRINTS
GO…
Big prints obviously magnify. We can use this to create visual
magnifications on areas of our body that needs to catch up.
Let us put this to the test.
I am a curvy that is blessed in the general northbound area
(breasts and arms), long waist, narrow hips and semi-curvy thighs (but not
enough to be same width as my shoulders. As such, I need to balance my lower
end with my upper end. Check out this bazaar photo of me (the one on the left) from the last Next Big
Thing Bazaar.
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| COPYRIGHT ERZULLIE 2011 |
When you look at the photo, your attention goes immediately
to my thighs because of the big, eye catching slash prints. Because of the prints, it sees like my hips down looks the same as the width of my shoulders. To create a
balanced look, I have minimized my north bound area with a general black, mini
tube dress.
So for girls like me, big prints will work best on our southbound.
Just make sure you tone it down with plains.
Such prints can also be applied on curvies that has small
boobs, no waist, big tummy and hips (my opposite). Check out Erzullie Icon (EI)
Khriselda Guarin’s look below.
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| COPYRIGHT ERZULLIE 2011 |
Of course, the application of the print is different.
Instead of wearing it at the bottom, we have applied it on the top part of
Khris. When you look at the top, it seems like she has bigger boobs that is at
par with the rest of her body parts. Thus, for girls with Khris’ body type, wear big prints on
top, concentrating on the chest area.
For curvies that has the balanced northbound and south bound
areas and enjoying a small narrow waist, (hour glass) it is okay as long
as they are consistent all over and the cut of the dress is a little slick and
not flowy.
That is why this jumpsuit, with big gold noticeable print lines, works great with Erzullie owner
and designer, Bernalyn Cuevas. The print is consistent, making
her look coherent in both north and south areas.
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| ERZULLIE COPYRIGHT 2011 |
WHERE
THE SMALL PRINTS ARE…
Small prints definitely reduce, therefore, if we cannot find
big prints that cannot magnify our smaller parts, find small prints that would reduce
your bigger parts. Remember the aim is to create balance!
Check out this photo of EI Katrina Catapia from the last
Holiday 2010 collection. She is actually just like me. We are concentrated more
on the upper parts of our body. That is why, using this print, at the top part,
we are able to balance it out with her lower areas.
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| COPYRIGHT ERZULLIE 2011 |
In reverse example, EI Jaye Querubin Summer 2011 is actually
small waist up. Therefore she needs some toning down from the hips down to her
legs. In the photo below, we have placed on her a small printed sleeveless maxi
dress. Since most of the prints of the dress is from the mid-riff down, the
print reduces her general south area completely, balancing it visually with the width of her shoulders.
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| COPYRIGHT ERZULLIE 2011 |
COMBINING THE LESSONS
So in conclusion, prints are actually our best friend! It
can actually magnify and reduce specific areas that we need in order to balance
our bodies. However, make sure that if you do wear prints, tame them a little
by wearing plains all around. You, yourself, are eye catching already with your
fabulous curves, so wearing a print is just an extra oomph!
Viva Erzullie!
Aries De Guzman
