Dressing for Your Body Shape- Women

When defining and updating your image and style, several factors need to be considered such as your Lifestyle, Personality, Colouring, Dress Size, Height, Budget and, probably most importantly, your Body Shape.

You if get everything else right but you are not wearing the right clothes for your body shape, the whole effect will be ruined.  Get this right, however, and you will look and feel fantastic – just be prepared for all the compliments you are sure to receive!

Aims:

• To balance proportions
• To draw attention to good features
• To play down less positive features
• To improve body confidence
• To define and develop your unique style
• To boost self confidence, raise self esteem and help you look and feel your best

Focus Your Assets

No matter how many flaws you have, or think you have, you also have assets. The best way to look great is to downplay your perceived flaws and accentuate your assets. For example, if you have great legs, but are a little heavy in the hips, opt for a flared skirt, in a darker colour, to minimize your hips and still show off your nice legs. Likewise, if you have a good chest and a not so great stomach, a lower neckline, empire line dress, will flatter your shape and distract from your little bulge. Find ways to draw attention to the parts you love and you’ll find that you look. and feel, great about yourself.

Now, let’s look at –

THE FIVE BASIC FEMALE BODY SHAPES

Here’s how to determine your own..

The Hourglass:

You know you are an Hourglass if:

• You have a clearly defined waist and bust
• Your shoulders are about the same width as hips
• You wear almost the same size on your top and bottom
• You are generally quite well balanced!
• You tend to gain weight fairly evenly
• Your waist is 7 to 12 inches smaller than your bust and hips

Look for clothes that…

• Make the most of your feminine curves
• Keep the figure balanced

Avoid..

• Very baggy clothes as they seem to add extra pounds
• Skirts that are too full as they bring imbalance – unless you can even out the top half!
• Masculine or “boxy” styles with no shape

The Triangle:

You know you are a Triangle if:

• Your shoulders are narrower than your hips
• You take a larger size on your bottom half than your top
• You much fuller hips, bottom and thighs with a smaller top half
• You have a defined waist (at least 7 inches smaller than your hips)
• Tend to gain weight on tummy, hips and thighs

Look for clothes that…

• Draw attention upwards to balance out the larger bottom half
• Minimise the bottom half (darker colours are better)

Avoid…

• Clothes that add bulk to the larger bottom half
• High-waisted trousers or skirts, as they make the bottom look double the size!

The Inverted Triangle:

You know you are an Inverted triangle if:

• You have broader shoulders than her hips
• You have little definition between your  waist and hips
• You have a much smaller bottom half than top half!
• Your body can quite angular without very obvious curves
• Your bust is usually much larger than your hips
• You tend to gain weight, particularly, on tummy and upper arms

Look for clothes that..

• Draw the eye down, away from the heavier top half e.g. wearing lighter colours on your bottom half
• Minimise the top half by adding balance to the bottom half e.g. flared dresses

Avoid..

• Clothes that add width to your top half e.g. Double breasted jackets or polo neck jumpers
• Very low waisted jeans or trousers

The Rectangle:

You know you are a rectangle if:

• Your bust, waist and hips are of a similar measurement
• You have a straighter shoulder line
• You have quite a straight rib cage and a flat bottom
• You have very little waist definition
• You have a smallish bust
• You put on weight fairly evenly

Look for clothes that…

• Create the illusion of curves
• Give a softer edge to your shape

Avoid…

• Clothes that are “boxy” or masculine in style
• Clothes that accentuate the straight lines of your body

The Round Figure:

This could be a plus size version of any of the above.

You know you have a rounded body shape if:

• You have a generous bust and waist
• You tend to put on weight around the tummy and upper body
• You have rounded shoulders and shapely legs
• You used to take a smaller dress size but have since gained a substantial amount of weight
• You are a size 16 + if you were an Inverted Triangle or Rectangle before gaining weight or an 18+ if you were an Hourglass or Triangle before gaining weight

Look for clothes that…

• Enhance and define the waist
• Will add height and elongate the figure

Avoid…

• Clothes that add width and unnecessary bulk
• Cropped trousers
• High-neck tops or polo-necks as these make the bust area look massive!
• Pleated, or gathered, skirts

In this video, you can see how these rules apply. We will look at the right and the wrong clothes for each body shape, using real women as models:

Thanks for reading my post- I hope you found it useful. Please feel free to comment below.

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