Romper Rules for Hip Urban Girls

Jumpers, playsuits, rompers...whatever you want to call them, are officially my latest obsession. If you told me 2 years ago that I'd own four one-pieces that are worn in heavy rotation, I would have felt like you insulted my personal sense of style. It's not that rompers weren't cute in 2009, it's just that I had such a hard time finding a style that was flattering. The frustration led me to write off the trend really quickly. This summer rompers and jumpsuits are back stronger than ever and apparently so are my shopping skills. I've found several styles that I love dearly but it did take a bit of hunting and a lot of a trial and error. Here are my rules for making the all-in-one work for you.

Rule no. 1:  Belt that bad boy. I've found that drawstring or elastic waisted styles can sometimes leave you looking a little frumpy. Sometimes that's because they've got too much blousson on top and therefore not enough definition to the smallest part of your waist but you can easily change that with a well placed belt. Don't be afraid to use a cincher to define and accentuate your curves and feel free to remove a draw string if that's in your way. 

Rule no. 2: Skip the short shorts. Though first let me say, these are super cute and I'm envious of any lovely who can pull them off. That's because if I still lived in my 22 year old body, I'd be all up in 'em. If you've been killing yourself at boot camp all spring to show off your gams then by all means, go for it, the shorter the better.  If, however, you're a little self-conscious of your thighs or want a romper you can wear to work or a more formal function, opt for a slightly longer pair.  

Rule no. 3: Pay attention to proportion. This especially rings true for full length jumpsuits. Really it's kind of like wearing a full length dress and we all know how tricky it can be to look fabulous when you're swathed in fabric from top to toe. I recommend petite girls go for more body conscious styles so you're not drowning in your jumpsuit and busty girls should beware of anything that's going to add too much volume up top. I personally love versions with a slight harem pant to counter the "girls". Really you just want to do your best to balance your body.

Rule no: 4 Pinch your pennies. The romper frenzy doesn't seem to be cooling down, but we all know how quickly fashion can change. The jumpers in my wardrobe range from a vintage find at $15 to a pricier style that came in just under $100 but all in all, none of my purchases were really huge investments and I prefer it that way. You just never know when you'll be tired of stripping down to your skivvies every time you go to the ladies room and honestly these styles I've pulled from forever21.com are kind of proof that you really don't have to spend a lot to embrace this trend. They're all under $30!

Rule no. 5: Splurge...if it's gorgeous. Forget what I said above, If you happen to come across something you can't live without, take it home. With a little creativity you'll find ways to wear it forever. I've thrown a blazer over top of my jumpsuits and layered tanks or tube tops underneath to come up with new outfits.  

I hope my romper rules have helped you slip into a jumpsuit of your own. If you have any tips of your own to add leave us a comment so we're all looking lovely this summer. 

- Tamika Auwai is a fashion junkie, splurge-a-holic and founder of Shop Socials. 

Image credits: Forever21.com