13 Pieces of Clothing That Look Good on Everyone

1. Crop Tops

That's right, crop tops. They are flattering on absolutely everyone and you don't have to show even a hint of your stomach to pull them off. Crop tops draw attention to your waist without actually cinching you in and make your legs look super long, while tops that end around your hips often hide your waist and make your legs look shorter. Pair a crop top with a high-waisted bottom or layer it over a longer top, like a button-down or silk camisole, and you need never to feel exposed. 

Pink Crop Top, ASOS CURVE, $32; Pink Crop Top, NASTY GAL, $65

2. Collarless Blazers

A traditional blazer can be tricky if you have a larger chest; if it doesn't fit perfectly, the lapels can bend and gape in unflattering ways. Not so with a collarless blazer — the smooth lines allow the front of the jacket to flow over your chest without any awkward bulging.

Black Blazer, ELOQUII, $128; Black Blazer, FOREVER 21, $30

3. Bodycon Dresses

Even if you don't like the idea of wearing something bodycon, that doesn't mean it won't look good on you. The  trick is sticking to thicker fabrics that help shape your body, instead of just clinging to it. 

Gold Dress, ELOQUII, $198; Gold Dress, TFNC (Available at ASOS), $110

4. Jogger Pants

The way they skim over the body and taper at the ankles makes joggers super flattering no matter what size you are. Wear them a little low on your hips, and pair them with something loose and easy on top to help balance out the general looseness of the pants themselves. It's a casual look, to be sure, but it's not sloppy, like a pair of traditional straight-leg sweats so often are. Add a heel for a little extra height if you want, but it's not a must. As long as the pants are tapered nicely and end at or just above your ankles, your legs will look long in or out of heels. 

Marled Gray Knit Joggers, FOREVER 21, $18; Heather Gray Joggers, SUNDAY BEST (Available at Aritzia), $55

5. Skater Dresses

The way these dresses fly out from the waist creates a flattering and feminine shape whether you're curvy or not.

Off-the-Shoulder Animal-Print Dress, PINK CLOVE (Available at ASOS), $28; Leopard-Print Cutout Dress, BEC & BRIDGE (Available at Saks Fifth Avenue), $94

6. Pencil Skirts

To create the most flattering silhouette possible, consider having your pencil skirt tailored so it hugs your body above your hips and just skims your legs the rest of the way down as it tapers in. 

Embellished Pencil Skirt, ASOS CURVE, $95; Polak Dot Skirt, TORN BY RONY KOBO, $228

7. Shift Dresses

Shift dresses have a somewhat mixed reputation, but the truth is they work on absolutely everyone. The key is making sure they are big enough to skim over the largest part of your body — be it your chest, hips, or butt — without a lot of excess fabric ruining the smooth, clean lines of the overall silhouette. When shopping for a shift dress, make sure it fits your largest part and then take it to a tailor to have it taken in where necessary. Even if they end up having to take in a lot of fabric, it's a very simple procedure and shouldn't cost much. 

White Sequin Dress, ASOS CURVE, $112; White Mesh Dress, RIBBON (Available at Bank Fashion), $23

8. Flared Skirts

By hugging your body above your hips and then shooting out, flared skirts add minimal volume to the area directly below your waist while making it impossible to tell exactly where the skirt ends and your hips and legs begin. If you are on the shorter side, look for skirts that end right where your thigh muscle really starts to taper in toward your knee; it's different on everyone but it's usually about four to six inches above your knee.  

Grey Scuba Skirt, ASOS CURVE, $53; Floral Scuba Skirt, BLQ BASIQ (Available at Nasty Gal), $118

9. Boyfriend Jeans

Boyfriend jeans are actually much more universally flattering than skinny jeans or jeggings, because instead of clinging to your every curve, they merely outline the general shape of your legs. The perfect pair of boyfriend jeans should float evenly down to your legs all the way to your calves and only really start to loosen up where your calves taper down to your ankles. Make sure to cuff the bottoms so the narrowest part of your ankle is exposed for the most flattering look. 

Distressed Boyfriend Jean, FOREVER 21, $30;  Boyfriend Jean, REBECCA MINKOFF, $118

10. Jumpsuits

Choose tailored jumpsuits over loose ones with elasticated or gathered waist seams, since these can add bulk to your midsection (front and back) and make an otherwise flattering silhouette look dumpy. At the same time, keep in mind that the perfect jumpsuit, like the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans, should approximate the shape of your body without actually hugging every nook and cranny. 

Strapless Jumpsuit, ELOQUII, $118; Deep V Jumpsuit, LOVERS + FRIENDS (Available at Shop Bop, $180

11. Co-Ords

Dresses, in general, can be tough if your own waist doesn't line up exactly with the waist of your dress. That's what makes co-ords so great — they combine the style and ease of a dress with the fit versatility of separates.

White Lace Co-Ord Set, MONIF C, $140; White Textured Co-Ord, PIXIE MARKET, $106

12. Cropped Moto Jackets

I've probably said this a thousand times here on Cosmopolitan.com, but, as far as I'm concerned, it can't really be overstated: moto jackets make everyone and every outfit look cool. The perfect moto jacket should be cropped so that it ends somewhere around your natural waist. Longer moto jackets can be cool too, but cropped ones make your legs look longer and are ideal if you are trying to balance a large chest.

Faux Leather Sleeve Moto Jacket, FOREVER 21, $25; Black and White Faux Leather Moto Jacket, NASTY GAL, $128

13. Midi Skirts

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be tall to pull off a midi skirt. As long is it ends right below your knees, at the top of your calf muscles, it will actually elongate your legs. Really. I swear! 

Colorblock Midi Skirt, ELOQUII, $138; Floral Midi Skirt, MISSGUIDED, $47

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