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Yes, you can certainly pair a long top with your favorite flare jeans, but there is one catch: not all top-and-jean hookups are matches made in heaven. If you're short-waisted or have trouble locating your waist or are on the extreme end of the bust spectrum — you've either got fried eggs up there or boast a cleavage as deep as the Grand Canyon — you'll need to be especially careful with your choice of long top. A shirt that flatters your body type will work wonders with those flare jeans at making you look proportional and sexily curvaceous.
Short-waisted
Long tops are a short-waisted gal's BFF. By wearing tops that hit below your waistline, you'll magically create the illusion that your torso is balanced with those long, flare jean-clad legs. Don't go too long, though — if you're short-waisted as well as short in stature, the bottom hem of the top shouldn't fall lower than the knuckles of your hands when your arms are at your sides. Steer clear of pin-stripe shirts and anything else that puts too much attention on your upper half. Sleek and solid is the key here.
No Waist
No waist? No problem. To emphasize the appearance of hourglass-like feminine curves, top your flare jeans with a long top that is form-fitting — not tight — with long sleeves in a tunic, empire waist or wrap-top style that hides that troublesome tummy area from the inquisitive eye of onlookers. Deep V-necks and long corset tops are also good. Go with a solid-color shirt that's got ruffles on the sleeves or near your neck, because all that fabric up top will make your waist look wasp thin by comparison.
Large Bust
Got a decolletage to die for? Help the flares on your jeans create visual balance by toning all that bustiness down a touch with dark-colored long tops that feature wide, low necklines. For those of you who are devout when it comes to working out, a sleeveless V-neck top should be a staple in your closet. Big collars and turtlenecks are absolute no-nos for you, as are shirts that feature fussy pockets or frills up near your neck.
Small Bust
Small busted ladies should pair their flare jeans with long tops that give the eye some action up above the waist. High-necked, medium-necked or boatneck shirts with lots of embroidery, doo-dads, patterns and prints are good. And don't forget some discreet shoulder pads. Yes, really! A little bit of lift around the shoulders will pull attention to your upper half and help you avoid that awful pear shape comparison. On warmer days — and if you've got arms that'll stand the scrutiny — go with an empire-waisted camisole with a built-in, bust-enhancing bra or a sleeveless halter.
