The Golden Rule of Fashion

Once the weather gets warmer, women start to break out the various-length pants. Which means that instead of jeans or full-length pants — which are fairly easy for most women to pull off — there's a wider margin of error between the bermudas, capris and crops.

So let me make pant lengths simple, by sharing the golden rule of fashion:  Never wear anything that hits you at your widest point.

Garments that "end" at your widest body part cause that body part to visually widen. In short: you look fatter. And we don't want that.

Here's the rundown of the golden rule of fashion in action:

• Capri pants (pants that have a hem that ends mid-calf) Capri pants stop in exactly the widest part of the lower leg. To make it worse, many capris have a relaxed or loose fit: it all makes you look frumpier and wider.
  A better choice: A crop or ankle pant ends around the ankle (a slimmer part of the leg) and is flattering on just about any woman.
• Cap sleeves. Cap sleeves are often touted as a viable option to sleeveless; but because they end at precisely the widest part of the upper arm it's a very unflattering look on women who are concerned about their upper arms.
  A better choice: An elbow-length sleeve (which has a hem at the slimmest part of the arm.)
• Hip-length jacket. If you think suits make you look boxy, it may just be the type of jacket you are wearing. If you have wider hips, as many women do, and choose a jacket hem that stops right at the widest point, you'll create a strong visual horizontal line at your heftiest point.
  A better choice: You can actually correct this problem by creating a waist for the jacket if it's softer construction by adding a belt (the eye then travels to the small waist instead of the hem.) You can also opt for jackets that are either cropped to end at a small waist or slightly longer than you widest part of the hip.
• Longer skirts. The mid-calf skirt is still a favorite of mature women everywhere, but unfortunately it also adds to a frumpier appearance because the hemline stops at exactly the widest point of the calf leaving your legs look stumpier.
  A better option: A hemline that ends at or right below the knee.
• Hair. Did you know that even your hair length can make you look frumpier if it stops at an unflattering length? If you have things you'd like to conceal – like a double chin or neck wrinkles – consider hair styles that are either longer or shorter than the problem area.

More How to Wear Its for grownups:

• How to Wear Long Skirts
• How to Wear a Belt
• How to Wear a Hat
• How to Wear Sunglasses
• How to Wear Stripes