Please leave your questions for Dear Cougar in the comment section below, or feel free to email me at cougar@leftcoastfashion.com

DEAR COUGAR: Can a short, curvy woman wear a pantsuit without looking frumpy? I feel like I can only get away with skirts and heels. – CURVACEOUS CONUNDRUM

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Dear Curvaceous Conundrum:

Remember, this is purely opinion, but can you wear a pantsuit without looking frumpy? Let me ask you a question:

Are you A. Hillary Clinton, or B. Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order SVU?

If the answer to either A. or B. was no, then you cannot pass go on wearing a pantsuit, no matter what shape you are. Pantsuits for women are the epitome of frumpy. They will add too much masculinity to you’re, from what it sounds like, very feminine frame. You should be happy not to wear such boring attire!

While you’re not just limited to skirts and heels, those two staple items really serve you best to accentuate what you have in a flattering way. You can always dress up a skirt or dress with a business jacket for presentations or meetings, but again, embrace your figure and don’t hide what you’ve been given…let alone hide it under a pantsuit.

What about in the winter? Well in California I don’t really consider things like winter, but I have seen many women pull of great skirt/dress/legging combos that still look very professional. I also think that wear slacks with a jacket and blouse doesn’t have to come in the form of a pantsuit. Wearing separates will break up the curves in your body (or create visual interest for those without curves), and will create a wide variety of options for you.

At any rate, don’t go to the office looking like this:

Go to the office looking like this:

- Cougar