Hi there,

I'm an hourglass (maybe not quite as curvy as you, I haven't actually measured).

I wear:

T shirty/ blousy tops to work (not shirts, they tend to gape across the bust).
Dresses made of knit fabric (wrap dresses or cut so they fit well, not stiff tailoured dresses that don't go in enough at the waist)
Pants with belts to hold them up (but still have problems finding jeans that fit my thighs but aren't way too big at the waist)

My arms and legs aren't my best bit so it's always kneelength skirts. I'm a bit more flexible on the arms, but tend to buy tops with flattering sleeves i.e. not gathered cap sleeves or short, tight sleeves.)

And there's always your local tailor. Buy the bigger size and have it taken in at the waist.

I'm a stylist/image consultant and dress people with curvy figures all the time....my favs!!!. You have to get used to the shape your body is, it's not fat that's making you that shape, it's your natural body shape. Some of us are curvy, some of us are straight and not always one or the other. I for example am curvy on top, straight on the bottom.

You must learn to love what you have and dress for your own shape, not someone else's. Simple rules to remember for curvy figures, because your shape is fluid, curvy, has roundness rather than straight lines, think of that when looking for clothes. Rigid materials such as cotton, silk etc will not sit on you well because it does not give movement. You need to look for jersey material, jeans with stretch and for curvy bottom halves, anything that stretches and moves with your curves will love you, fight it and it will make you feel uncomfortable. I cannot wear cotton shirts for example, I look like a sack of potatoes, bursting in some areas and baggy in others. When you look at trying something on, pull the material and see if it stretches, if it doesn't, put it back!

Not sure where you live but Marks and Spencer in UK and abroad do clothes for curvy women, their jeans give more in the hips and narrower in the waist, shirts have more give in them and come in at the waist. You need to find stores that cater for your curvy figure. Someone mentioned earlier about wearing belts....this is a great way to accentuate your waist!

You have a curvy figure, which is what most of us want, enjoy it!!

Find it in your budget to find good tailor. Particularly for your work type clothes.