Confused by Peplum? I am.

Peplum, a silly name and a growing trend from catwalk to high street and one that I am still on the fence about. It keeps reviving itself every couple of decades and its here again to stay for a while. If you get Peplum right it can look fantastic, and if you get it wrong it can look like you are wearing your grandmas Valance (If you know what that is!) around your waist. Men seem to dislike it, some people think it it unwearable, but whatever your opinion its popping up everywhere, so we (myself included) may as well try and get involved.

Charlize Theron does classic and simple Peplum well

The reason I am on the fence is because I have yet to try on a dress or a peplum top that  flatters me. I'm a regular size 10 with some curves thrown in and I've struggled to find anything that makes me look remotely passable. So how do people do it. I think from what I have found the simpler the better (See Miss Theron above). I think a smaller peplum seems to be more flattering for curvy girls, and a patterned top can take the eye away from the whole body and actually be quite fun. But still I think you have to try it on with a few styles before you can figure out what works for you.

Jess from tuula mixes in patterns and textures with a small simple Peplum top

You may remember Caroline from one of my blog posts last month, she bought this gorgeous little top from a boutique around the corner in trendy South Melbourne and is seriously rocking it! Caroline kept it nice and simple with a pencil skirt to ensure awesome curves. And Jess from Tuula never seems to get it wrong, I guess anything looks good on a size 6 sometimes!

Jess from tuula on the left in a leather peplum top, and Caroline from the Chevali community

So maybe I should take my own advice and get involved, some of these photos below actually make me think as long as you don't combine too many elements it can work. One bold or classic colour or pattern! And we all know Beyonce and Jennifer are curvy girls and they look good. Not great in my opinion, but good!

Curvy ladies work peplum

However no matter how slim or gorgeous the celeb sometimes it just doesn't work. Emma Stone looks positively frou frou in this Peplum mix, even though I love the colour, and this oddly shaped peplum on Blake Lively does nothing for her gorgeous figure either!

Not sure about this Blake?

Emma stone in oversized peplum.

The best article I have read on Peplum is this from Fabsugar, and it actually has some advice that makes sense and some real life photos, not just of models, that shows you that a regular human being can make it work. I must take note! How to wear Peplum by Fabsugar