Since last Fall when the ruffle trend first became popular, I’ve heard many women tell me why the trend is just not for them. Most cite body types or certain ‘problem’ areas they feel ruffles draw attention to. But, most cite age. They feel ruffle make them look too young or, sometimes, too old. I understand these concerns and I agree that ruffles, when done incorrectly, can be unflattering for any body type. And, ruffles, when done incorrectly, can make a woman of any age look much younger (or older) than she is. I do, however, think that when worn well, ruffles can accentuate the beauty of every body type and make women of any age look sophisticated and classy. Here’s a lowdown of how to get ruffles to work for you. I think once you find the best way to wear them, you’ll want to wear them all the time!

Ruffles on the Runway

According to style.com, there were 542 looks that featured ruffles in the Spring 2009 runway shows. That should give you an idea of how prolific ruffles were with designers. And, while there were some Little Bo Peep styles, most of them were tasteful and classy.

Shown: Elie Saab, Zac Posen, Carolina Herrera, Lela Rose

How To Wear Ruffles

1. Maintain Balance

For those who worry that their body type or ‘problem area’ is not suited to wearing ruffles, the answer is balance. Ruffles add volume. So, if you have large breasts, don’t wear tiered ruffles over them. Instead, choose a ruffled skirt or a one shoulder top that has ruffles at the top of the shoulder. If you have wide hips, don’t wear a skirt that has a huge ruffle at the waist. Instead, wear a ruffled top or a skirt with a ruffle at the hem or down the center. If you have a full body type, wear dresses that have ruffles down the center, not all over.
The opposite is true as well. If you are small breasted, wear ruffled shirts to add volume. If you have a straight body type and want the illusion of curves, wear a dress or skirt that has ruffles at the hips.
Remember, it’s all about balance!

2. Moderation

Ruffles are an accent. Like an accessory, they add a little pizazz to your outfit. But, like accessories, you don’t want to overdo it. If you wear a ruffled top, that’s enough ruffles! Don’t pair with a ruffled skirt and ruffled shoes–you’ll run the risk of looking like a can-can girl. If you wear one piece and still feel like you need to tone down the ruffle-ness of it, top with a blazer or cardigan.

3. Muted Accessories

As I said above, ruffles act like accessories. So, there’s no need to wear a ton of accessories to dress up your look. Wear a cuff bracelet or bangles, a pair of dangling earrings and that’s it. Don’t wear statement necklaces that draw attention away from your ruffles.

4. Pair With Straight Lines

In working to maintain balance in your look, pair ruffled pieces with tailored, tight-fitting pieces. The Elie Saab photo shown above is a great example of what I mean by this. Notice how the full, ruffled top is paired with tailored, tight shorts. If the top was paired with a full skirt or pleated shorts, that model would look twice as big. Too many ruffles and too much fullness can look a little muu muu.

Ruffled Pieces

Ruffled Tops

Shown: Ruffle Ruched Top $18.99, Ruffle Top $17.99, Ruffled Blouse $99

Ruffled Dresses

Shown: Gotha Short Dress $69, Lauren Silk Dress $98.90, Tahari One Shoulder Dress $98.90

Ruffled Skirts

Shown: Gianni Skirt $88, Chiffon Skirt $14.99, Ruffle Pencil Skirt $29.50

Ruffled Shoes

Shown: Nina $89, Steve Madden $49.99, Steve Madden $80.85

I hope these tips give you new-found courage to try ruffles. Remember: BALANCE!
What do you think? Are ruffles for you?