Dress for your body shape

Step 1: Know your body shape

These are the 6 basic body shapes. Typically there is no perfect shape, it is simply a matter of opinion. No matter what your shape, though you can dress to impress both for special occasions and your everyday life. Let's see how you can do that, shall we?

Triangle:

If your shape is the triangle aka pear shape, then you most likely have a defined waist, narrow shoulders and wider hips. Your bust line is proportionally narrower than your hip line.

  

What is your aim: 

Balancing the top and bottom half of your body, making it look more proportional.

DOs & DON'Ts:

Wear:

• Designs/accessories that draw attention to the upper half of your body
• Clothes that emphasize your well-defined waist
• Straight skirts/dresses
• Straight/boot leg trousers

Don't wear:

• Baggy clothes
• Stiff fabrics 
• Design lines/hems at your hip-line
• Tapered skirts/trousers

How to:

Beyonce is a gorgeous pear-shaped lady. 

Casual:

See how she draws attention to her upper half?

Dressy:

Note how she defines her waist and broadens her shoulders with the ruffled short sleeves?

Inverted Triangle:

If this is your body shape, you most likely are top-heavy, with broad shoulders and maybe a big bust and narrow hips.

What is your aim:

Balancing the upper and lower half of your body creating the illusion of a proportional, hour-glass shape.

DOs & DON''Ts:

Wear:

• Flowing fabrics 
• A-line skirts 
• 3/4 length sleeves
• Tops/dresses that flow through the waist 

Don't wear:

• Bulky/stiff fabrics
• High necklines 
• Tapered skirts/trousers

How to:

Casual:

Dressy:

Demi Moore shows us the evening way.

Rectangle:

If this is your shape, you have a boyish body shape, with a straight torso, undefined waist and proportionally slim legs & arms.

What is your aim:

Defining your waist, especially if you are slender. If not you might want to define your shoulders.

DOs & DON'Ts:

Wear:

• Medium/high necklines
• A-line shirts
• Wrap dresses
• Straight/gently flared trousers
• Semi-fitted clothes

Don't wear:

• Fitted clothes
• Clingy fabrics 
• Baggy tops/pants
• Narrow skirts
• Low necklines

How to:

Casual/Dressy:

Α great, must have piece! The little black dress that can be both casual and dressy. Notice the defined waist?

Hourglass:


This body type is considered to be the best, though as I mentioned before it's a matter of preference. This is your shape if you have a balanced figure, your hips and shoulders are proportional and you have a defined waist

What is your aim:
Emphasizing your curves, especially your waist.


DOs & DON'Ts:


Wear:

• Soft, clingy or flowy fabrics
• Low/medium necklines
• Dresses/tops with defined waistline
• Straight/gently flared pants and shirts

Don't wear:

• Bulky/stiff fabrics
• Baggy clothes
• Highly tapered pants
• Skirts with open pleats

How to:

Casual/Dressy

This are all pieces you can wear if you have an hourglass figure.

Diamond/Oval:

If this is your shape your torso tends to look round, with an undefined waist. The difference between the diamond and the oval is weather your stomach is low (oval) or high (diamond).

What is your aim: 

To draw attention up to your shoulders and face, and create the illusion of a longer body.

DOs & DON'Ts:

Wear:

• Semi-fitted/loose-fitting garments
• Ear-rings, necklaces
• Low necklines
• Un-tucked tops
• Straight/slightly flared skirts 
• Tops and bottoms in the same colour
• Straight pants in soft flowy fabrics 

Don't Wear:

• Clingy fabrics
• Fitted clothes
• Fabrics with big patterns
• Narrow/tapered skirts/trousers
• Belts

How to:

Jennifer Hudson looking gorgeous. Note how she draws attention up to her shoulders and face with the shoulder pads and ear-rings.



These are all pieces to be worn if this is your body shape





Remember: This post's goal is to give you ideas about how you can look your best. It is not for you to copy the exact looks seen, but to get inspired and make the ideas presented yours by adjusting them to YOUR style. So, go get creative, and don't forget to love yourself no matter what your body shape!