How to Wear Ruffles

Co-authored by Kalee Hewlett and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: October 8, 2021 References

If you want to look sweet and romantic, there’s nothing better than a well-placed ruffle. However, ruffles can be a little tricky to style. Too many ruffles can be overwhelming, so choose a garment with ruffles that will enhance your figure, then keep the rest of your outfit simple. Luckily, with a few simple tips, anyone can turn this fashion trend into a cute look that’s perfect for everything from a day at the office to a night out on the town!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Flattering Your Figure

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Wear horizontal ruffles across your chest to make your bust seem larger. If you have a small bust, wearing a horizontal ruffle that runs along your chest will help add volume. This will make you look curvier, helping to balance out your frame.^{[1]
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- For instance, you might wear a button-down blouse with a small ruffle about halfway between your bust and your collarbone. Then, pair that with slim-fitting trousers and heels. By making the bottom half of your body look more slender, you’ll help your enhance your bust even more.
- Ruffles along your collar may also make your bust look larger, especially if the ruffles are wide.
2
Opt for vertical ruffles on your chest if you have a large bust. If you have a large chest, horizontal ruffles can make it look bigger. If you’d like to minimize the area, look for a top that has a ruffle running down the center. This will create a lengthening illusion, making your top half look leaner.^{[2]
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- Try pairing this look with a pair of flare-legged jeans and chunky sandals or heels. This will help balance your frame.
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3
Wear a ruffled skirt to make your hips look wider. If you have narrow hips and you’d like them to look bigger, ruffles are a great way to add volume. One of the simplest ways is to find a skirt or a dress with ruffles along the hips. You can also look for a shirt with ruffles along the bottom hem.^{[3]
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- For instance, you might wear a tank dress with a fitted bodice and a ruffled skirt. Pair that with strappy sandals for a playful weekend look, or opt for heels and a cute necklace for a glam night out!
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Choose ruffles on the bottom of a skirt or dress to balance wider hips. If your hips are the widest part of your body, avoid wearing a dress or a skirt with ruffles along that area. Instead, opt for garments with ruffles along the hem. By adding volume where your legs start to narrow, you’ll create a flattering silhouette for your bottom half.^{[4]
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- For instance, you might wear a figure-skimming sheath dress with a ruffled hem and a pair of neutral pumps for a pretty, work-friendly look.
- If you have wide hips and a small bust, you can choose whether to add volume at the bottom of your look or across your chest.
5
Look for subtle ruffle details if you don’t want to add any volume. There are ways to wear ruffles without changing the shape of your figure at all, if you don’t want to. For instance, you might choose garments with ruffles on your shirt sleeves, along your collar, or on the back of a T-back tank top.^{[5]
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- You can also opt for ruffles on your shoes or purse, rather than wearing them on your outfit.
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Keep the rest of your outfit and your accessories simple. Ruffles are basically the equivalent of having an accessory on your clothing, and they can overwhelm your frame if you don’t pay attention to your styling. Stick to a sleek silhouette in the rest of your outfit, and try to keep your jewelry and other accessories minimal, just as you would when you’re wearing an eye-catching statement necklace.^{[6]
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- If you’re wearing a ruffled skirt, for instance, you might opt for a sleek tank top and a pair of flats.
- For instance, if you’re wearing a ruffled blouse, you might wear a pendant necklace and a pair of stud earrings, or a cuff bracelet and a sleek handbag.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling a Casual Outfit

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Create a carefree look by wearing a ruffled blouse with boyfriend jeans. Boyfriend jeans are baggy and comfortable, making them perfect for a weekend running errands. However, they’ll look sloppy if you just pair them with a slouchy T-shirt. Try wearing your favorite pair of boyfriend jeans with a ruffled top, instead, for an instant dose of off-duty style! You can dress the look up or down by wearing sneakers, flats, loafers, or even heels.^{[7]
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- Make this look your own! Try wearing a ruffled T-shirt under a pair of overalls, then toss on comfy canvas sneakers, for instance.
2
Opt for skinny jeans if your top has a lot of ruffles. If the ruffles on your blouse create a lot of volume, you can help create a sleek silhouette by opting for slim-fitting pants on the bottom. If your top is long enough, or if you’re wearing a dress, you may even be able to wear leggings as bottoms in place of pants.
- For instance, if you’re wearing a long tunic top, you might add a pair of leggings and knee-high boots for a pretty cool-weather look.
3
Wear a ruffled top with wide-legged pants for a romantic look. If you love a breezy, feminine outfit, try wearing a flowy, ruffled peasant top with a pair of silky wide-legged pants and sandals. This look is perfect if you’ll be outdoors in warm weather, since you’ll stay cool while still looking put-together.^{[8]
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- Opt for wide-legged trousers, a structured blouse with a ruffle detail, and loafers or pumps if you want to make this outfit more appropriate for work.
- Make this look a little more daring by opting for an off-the-shoulder ruffle.
4
Wear a swimsuit with ruffles for a feminine poolside look. You can wear ruffles anywhere! Ruffled swimsuits are a great way to show off your style, and you can follow the tips for flattering your figure to find a swimsuit that’s perfect for your body! ^{[9]
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- For instance, a swimsuit with a diagonal ruffle across your chest can help make your bust look larger.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Dressing up with Ruffles

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Pair ruffles with structured pieces to add an edge. If you love a ruffled detail but you don’t want to go all-out, consider matching your ruffles with tailored pieces to help balance out the look. Look for pieces that will hold their shape, like blazers, structured jackets, and other pieces made from sturdy fabric like leather, wool, corduroy, or even denim.^{[10]
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- For instance, you might wear a sheer, ruffled blouse with a blazer, tailored trousers, and flats if you’re heading to the office.
- Wear a sheer ruffled blouse under a leather jacket for a cool mix of tough and sweet.
2
Dress up a simple outfit with a ruffled jacket or cardigan. Ruffles add a sweet, flirty detail to outerwear. If the weather is a little cool, consider wearing a basic outfit, like trousers and a fitted T-shirt. Then, top them with a jacket with a pretty ruffle to create a look that’s instantly chic.
- The ruffle can be along the buttons or zipper, on the bottom hem, around the collar, or on the sleeves.
3
Toss on a ruffled dress and ankle boots for an easy look. A ruffled dress can look sweet and innocent, so a pair of ankle boots are the perfect way to toughen up the look a little. The pairings are endless, so play around with this style and see what you come up with!^{[11]
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- Channel the 90s by pairing a babydoll-style ruffled dress with tough ankle-length hiking boots.
- Pair a minidress with a ruffle detail on the shoulder with a pair of stiletto-heeled ankle boots for a glam look that’s perfect for a night dancing with your besties!
4
Create an elegant black-tie look with a long ruffled gown and edgy makeup. A ruffled gown is beautiful and romantic, making it a great option if you have a formal event to attend. However, ruffles can tend to look overly sweet, especially on a head-to-toe look like a long gown. To balance that, go for a little bit of an edgier look in your hair and makeup, like a messy up-do and smokey eye makeup.
- If it’s appropriate for the occasion, you may be able to add on a leather jacket or a structured blazer to help balance out the feminine gown.
- Strappy stiletto heels and sleek pumps are popular shoe options for formal occasions.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I use ruffles to enhance my figure?

Kalee Hewlett
Image Consultant
Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and ‘dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out’ by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee’s work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that ‘identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network’s 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.’

Kalee Hewlett

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

Understand how ruffles affect your body shape. Ruffles add a romantic touch to an outfit and they can be very flattering, but you have to know your body proportion. If you're more rounded, you might avoid ruffles, because it's going to add volume to your shape. But if you're more of a rectangular shape, ruffles can add curves in the right places. For example, if you're smaller on top, you can use ruffles and a V-neckline to make you look bigger.
Question

How do I pick a ruffled top?

Kalee Hewlett
Image Consultant
Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and ‘dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out’ by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee’s work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that ‘identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network’s 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.’

Kalee Hewlett

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

I like ruffles in soft colors like pastels because they're less dramatic and easier to wear.
Question

Can I wear colored jeans with ruffles?

Community Answer

Yes, if you would like to. It is all about your own personal style and preferences.