Dressing for your Body Shape

Everyday your peers, co-workers, boss, everyone, make an assumption within 5 seconds of meeting you – regarding:

~ Your social status
~ Your personality
~ Your educational level
~ Your desirability

So why then have we all been brought up with the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” when that is exactly what everyone does everyday? In my first article for this wonderful women’s club I would like to elaborate on one’s image and how important it is has become to present it effectively.

More women are climbing that elusive corporate ladder - moving into more corporate and executive positions as well as starting their own businesses. It has become such a huge movement (although it has been in operation for the last ± 15 years in the US and UK) that more magazines are publishing articles on this topic and its effectiveness. In the October 2007 issue of True Love magazine – in their Life Coach section they featured an article on “How to make your image work for you”. Areas or careers that were highlighted were interviews, the corporate sector, the beauty industry, hotel and restaurant hostesses as well as the fitness industry.

The September issue of the Women & Home magazine also featured an article of the well know image consultant Chata Romano in which she talked about how her passion and business blossomed and how important it is to find the right balance but also projecting your image in a way that suits your personality and lifestyle.

Surprisingly I recently did a survey in 3 Cape Town malls, namely Tygervalley Mall, Canal Walk and Cavendish Square and 50% of the people did not know what image consulting is. So let me break it down and explain, that image consulting refers to using clothing, colours, hair styles, hair colours, make-up, accessories, etc to improve your image but that it also incorporates your personality, style, age and most importantly your budget.

The various body shapes are listed below. Now I know that most people don’t actually fit into one category but usually a combination. Even face shapes like oval, round, square, rectangle and triangle are analyzed for the correct shape and once again most people are combo’s, like myself I have a round-oval face shape. [But hey the upside is that now my range of hairstyles and accessories have doubled.] Other factors to consider; if you are tall, short, petit, large busted, small busted, etc.

One thing I always tell my clients is that black is not the only slimming colour and it also makes you come across as unapproachable and cold (in the corporate world). So next time you have an important meeting to attend (and you have to if you want to be noticed – hard work alone won’t get you there) and you are wearing your favorite killer black suit team it up with approachable colours like a bright yellow shirt/blouse (olive skins) or a sorbet green (for fair skins) or fuchsia/bright pink (for darker skins). Bright colours are so in-season right now.

One of the biggest problems women face is that they do not know how to properly dress for their body types. There is always something that we, as women, do not like about our bodies, but if you know how to correctly address your “trouble” areas, then your confidence will increase and your inner beauty and personality will come shining through.

There are six different body types:
Pear Shape
Round
Inverted Triangle
Straight
Hourglass
Diamond

While many in fashion industry today have replaced the six different categories with two terms, “bottom-” or “top” heavy, as a woman it is important to know how to solve all problems, as everything is interchangeable. If you are bottom-heavy, it simply means that your hips are wider than your shoulders and that your thighs are round (this is also known as the pear shape). If you are top-heavy then you have larger breasts, with narrower hips, and slimmer legs (this is also known as the round shape). There are many different ways to address these problems, but by knowing which one of the six body types you are, you can employ a few visual tricks to hide what you do not like.


PEAR SHAPE
Pear-shaped women have small upper bodies, characterized by a slender neck, narrow shoulders, small bust, refined rib cage, shapely waist, and larger lower bodies - full hips and generous thighs. You've got a fabulous waistline that is feminine and perfect for all those waist accentuating styles! If you're not sure what a pear-shaped body looks like, then think of celebs like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez! Goldie Hawn is a good example of a slender pear shape.

Dressing Tips
Accessories like earrings and necklaces will draw eyes upwards away from your widest part
Avoid anything too tight
Draw attention away from your lower half by and wearing colorful or patterned tops
Your upper body should be the focus, so have fun with tops
Look for fitted -- not skintight – tops or your hips will look out of proportion to your upper body
Avoid too-baggy tops, they will make you look large all over
Wear Boat-neck and off the shoulder tops to balance the wideness of your hips
Cowl necks and square necklines help broaden the shoulder area
Enhance your upper body with semi-fitted or tailored tops
Blouses and jackets should be either long or short, avoiding the hip
Jackets and blazers should hit anywhere but the widest point of your hips
That could mean right below the waist to mid-thigh, depending on your height
Wear jackets and blazers open for the best vertical lines
Make sure jackets are loose enough that they don't pull across the hips/bottom area
Softly gathered waistlines for skirts and trousers keep lines smooth and comfortable
When it comes to bottoms, avoid patterned or light-colored pants, stick to dark colors
Pants should be made of flowing fabrics and drape loosely around the hips
Stay away from drawstring pants
Stay away from side pockets and pleats on pants
Stay away from pants that are "bottom" heavy because they will weigh you down and visually shorten your legs
Avoid short skirts
An a-line skirt should be a staple in your wardrobe
Straight skirts should be tapered toward the hemline to avoid a square look
Look for dresses that nip in at the waist and slightly flare out over hips and thighs
An empire, or raised waist dress brings the eye up away from problem areas. Careful, though. Sometimes this gets mistaken for a maternity look with fuller figures
Heels can make your legs look longer and leaner, and knee-high boots will cover up your legs if that's what you want
Mix and Match separates are a must
Handbags should be worn above the hip area to avoid drawing attention to the hips


ROUND SHAPE
Characterized by a generous bust, wider rib cage, round or fuller back, generous middle, narrow lower hips, often shapely slender legs. You've got great legs and narrower hips, which means you can show off lots of leg and those styles that accentuate hips! Kate Winslet is a good example of a slender round shape.

Dressing Tips
V-Necklines or necklines that are elongated will help slenderize your neck
Keep collars and lapels narrow and small so as not to accentuate a full top
Avoid fitted tops which will accentuate a larger middle
Longer tunics will help hide a generous middle and, again, draw attention down to those lovely legs
Wrap tops and halter dresses are perfect for an ample bust line
Try a v-neck with an empire waistline
When feeling adventurous, go for a slightly larger pattern on tops and dresses, where the colors are low-contrast and the pattern is constant
Consider narrow vertical stripes, which create a slimming line
Stay away from cargo pants, pockets on the side, or embellished pants
Don't wear tapered pants
Choose flat-front, never pleated, pants that have a lower rise than the natural waist
Five-pocket jeans are your friend
Front pockets on jeans help disguise a tummy problem, while back pockets can help define a flatter rear common to top-heavy women
Avoid anything too tight -- from pencil skirts to skintight jeans -- because it will only accentuate top heaviness
Play up nice legs with shorter (an inch above the knee) skirts
Steer away from bulky or gathered skirts, a more tailored fit will flatter your assets (legs)
Avoid wide belts that divide your body, look for a narrow belt that blends with the colors you are wearing
Wear handbags at hip level and lower


INVERTED TRIANGLE SHAPE
Characterized by broad shoulders, a medium to full bust, average waist, narrow hips and shapely long legs. You've got great legs, and hips that allow you to wear those hip "enhancing" styles. You've also been blessed with breasts so you can show off the curves! Jamie Lee Curtis and Bo Derek are good examples of a inverted triangle shape.

Dressing Tips
Tops can be oversized, but make sure your skirts and pant fit close to the body through the hip/thigh/derriere.
Avoid clothes with too much flow
Avoid broad-shouldered and double-breasted jackets
High set in sleeves, such as raglan or dolman sleeves, visually narrow wide shoulders
Patch pockets balance wider shoulders
Try flared skirts to balance the wide shoulders or pants flared at the hemline
A low slung belt will help attract attention to the hips, balancing your figure


STRAIGHT SHAPE
Characterized by an upper and lower torso that are equal in width, an average bust, a large rib cage, undefined waist, flat bottom, and slender legs. Your legs are a great asset so show them off! Think – Jennifer Garner.

Dressing Tips
Choose sleeveless tops to accentuate your gorgeous shoulders
Corset tops are a must; they cinch the middle creating the illusion of a curvier figure
Try v-necklines which are slenderizing and elongate the neck
Any neckline that falls below the collarbone will help to elongate your neck
Always go straight for the dresses that gather or tie at your waist
Don't wear extremely low-rise pants, you want a slightly higher waist, which will give you the illusion of the waist
Asymmetrical hemlines are the best look for you
Try straight tailored skirts, they will slenderize your look
Avoid gathered or pleated fabric at the waist, as they will accentuate your thicker waist
Avoid belts which will accentuate your thicker waist
Dresses that are looser in the mid-section are a great option. Try a sheath dress or shirtdress type style
Try longer jackets with a shorter skirt to help visually lengthen the upper torso
Dropped waist skirts elongate the upper torso and will help slenderize
Try straight long tailored skirts paired with a longer tunic top
Try semifitted pants/jeans with a longer top
When looking for a suit jacket, try a longer jacket, as it will help lengthen your upper torso


HOUR GLASS SHAPE
Characterized by a pronounced bust, small bone structure, a defined waist, curved hips, shapely legs, and sometimes a protruding bottom. You've got curves, so show them off! Halle Berry is a good example of an hour-glass shape.

Dressing Tips
Invest in a pencil skirt with a slightly tapered bottom, which will accentuate your behind
Team this up with a contrasting belt that will define your tiny little waist
Look for fitted tops that nip at the waist
Avoid full or billowy tops that hide your body
A wrap dress is one of the most flattering styles an hourglass can wear
The wrap will highlight your waist and display your legs
Wear low-rise pants with a flared bottom that will minimize your hip area and balance hourglass curves
To avoid looking like a double wide, make sure your top doesn't stop at a point where your hips are the fullest
Your best style friends are fitted tops and dresses with a bias cut with stretchy fabrics
Less is really more when it comes to prints and patterns instead, wear solid colors
Draw attention to your waist by wearing pants with a contoured waistband, belts, or wrap tops that sit just at your waist
Stick with clothing that is semi-fitted as opposed to too fitted or tight, this is the most slimming and tasteful for your figure
Stay away from oversized or baggy styles since they will overpower your bone structure


DIAMOND
Women with a diamond shape have narrow shoulders, a small bust, broad hips, and generous thighs. Your narrow build on top allows you the luxury of wearing tops that accentuate your shoulders and your face. While the pear and diamond shape are similar in their characteristics, diamond shaped women tends to be very curvy. As well, they are much narrower on top and fuller on the bottom, whereas the pear shape tends to be more proportional in their curves. Think - Salma Hayek.

Dressing Tips
Avoid pants that have a cuff or any detail on the bottom, as they will make you look bigger on the bottom and shorter
Stick with pants that are slightly tapered below the hemline
When looking for suit jackets, choose a jacket that is loose on the bottom so that it does not pull across your hips or bottom
Choose tops that are fitted but flare out over your hips or thighs
Go for the vivid colors and prints for your top half
Avoid pleated and tiered skirts as they add fullness
Choose a dropped waist, a classic flapper style
Loose fitting dress hides full upper body and puts legs front and center

Part source of article ~