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Dressing for your body shape can make clothes look and fit better. The first thing you need to do if you wish to know what clothes you should be buying, and which you shouldn’t, is to discover which body shape you have. It will most likely be one of the following options.
Pear: which is slender in the upper body with full hips, thighs and bum.
Apple: which has broad shoulders and full breasts and tummy, with smaller hips and bum and slender legs.
Hourglass: which is curvy with full breasts, hips and bottom, with a smaller waistline and slender legs.
Slender/straight: which is generally slim all around, with small breasts, hips, bum and waist, and long slim legs.
Below is a collection of tips relating to each body shape.
Pear
Colour has the ability to draw the eye to wherever it is placed. It can also be a helpful tool in playing up or down certain parts of your body. So use colour with the knowledge that a dark colour minimises and narrows that part of the body, for your body shape this can be done by wearing dresses dark at the bottom and light at the top.
Clingy dresses and skimpy mini’s are a bad idea as they will enhance your thighs instead of balancing against your upper half.
Cowl and square neckline dresses are fab for combating your narrow shoulders. Wear empire style dresses for best use of style for your shape.
To bring the focus of your admirers’ eyes to your upper body you can wear brightly coloured or patterned tops, and consider accessories around the neckline. But avoid gathers in material around the waist.
Dress For Your Body Shape – Apple
Unfortunately this is the most difficult of shapes to clothe, buying dresses is a nightmare due to usually needing different sizes for your top and bottom. So sticking to dresses that are flowing are your best bet.
Use colour with the knowledge that a dark colour minimises and narrows that part of the body, for your body shape this can be achieved by wearing a dress with darker colour at top and lighter at the bottom, as this will divert the attention from your chest. You can also create a good effect by wearing an entire outfit of the same colour as this will soften the shoulders and make the body appear longer and leaner.
Make the most of your legs, they’re your best feature, and unlike the pear shape you can wear shorter skirts with ease. his will draw attention to where you’d prefer it to be. choose a dress with a V-neck as this draws the eye-line down the centre of your body.
Avoid wearing large belts or buckles, choose the thin belt if you decide you want one, but try to avoid any detail that could draw attention to the waistband. Cinching in your waist with a wide belt will only draw more attention to your broad shoulders.
Dressing For Your Body Shape – Hourglass
Wear empire dresses for evenings out. Avoid Clingy Bias-cut styles,as they are unflattering to your body shape.
A V-neck top will be good for you as this draws the eye-line down the centre of your body.Leave chunky knit styles off your list and go for a close knit item, chunky knits just end up making you look larger than you are.
Monochrome looks fab on you, teamed with a belt to finish off the look. You have the waist….show it off. Resist the temptation for buying long dresses that will make you look dumpy. A strapless dress would look great on your hourglass figure with curves in all the right places.
Slender Body Shape
Layered or ruffle tops dresses are great to boost your cleavage and thin straps set wide apart will make the bust area seem bigger.
Your shape is perfect for horizontal stripe dresses because they combat the length of your legs to make you look more balanced.
Avoid sheath or clingy dresses that contribute nothing to creating the illusion of curves, instead choose dresses that are fitted at the waist, also wide belts which cinch in will really accentuate your waist which will create instant curves.
Avoid tunic style dresses as these float over your chest and will swamp you out. Slender body types can wear high neckline dresses this includes polo neck dresses. Belted shirt dresses or wrap dresses are a great style for you.
