“Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions” – Coco Chanel
Dressing for your body type is all about proportion and balance. If you’re heavy on top – you want to draw attention to the bottom and vice versa. It’s really pretty simple, but here are some style tips to help get you going in the right direction. Something to always remember is if you want to draw attention AWAY from a body part, wear a solid, darker color and keep accessories away from that area. Always choose patterns that go up and down to slenderize and lengthen your body.
Apple Shape: This means your upper body is significantly wider than your hips (usually at least 3 inches wider) & you tend to carry weight around your stomach.
Do:
-Get the perfect fitting bra for your larger bust
-Wear tops that gently hang over your body (hide the love handles & belly). DO NOT wear tops that cinch or tie at the waist.
-If you are comfortable accentuating your chest, wear V-neck tops & dresses. (Just make sure it’s not too deep of a V and make sure you are wearing the proper bra to keep your girls looking perky!)
-If you aren’t comfortable accentuating your chest, wear a solid color over your bust & stay away from necklaces.
-Wear shirts with sleeves to draw attention away from your shoulders.
-Wear bootcut or wide leg jeans – it will help balance out your proportions better than a skinny jean.
-Wear dark, solid colored tops and brighter colored bottoms to draw the attention down to your legs.
-Invest in a tailored jacket that will cover the bust without pulling and curve in at the waist. This will create the look of an hour glass shape.
Pear Shape: This means your lower body is significantly wider than your upper body.
Do:
-Wear tops that accentuate your waist or add a belt to any top you already own to accentuate your curves.
-Wear bootleg or wide leg jeans
-Wear darker solid colored pants and brighter colored, or patterned tops
-Wear necklaces and/or scarves to draw the eye up
-Wear flared skirts to help hide bulges and create balance
-Wear a high heel to help lengthen and slim the lower half of your body
Straight Shape: This means your hips, waist, and bust are all about the same width.
Do:
-Wear tops that create the illusion of a waist with ties, belts, or cinching.
-Wear skinny jeans to show off your slender legs. Skinny jeans will also hug your hips and butt to show more of a shape.
-Wear items with embellishment such as gathering, pleating, ruffling, etc to help create a more feminine look.
Hourglass Shape: (Lucky you!) This means your bust and hips are about the same width, but you have a narrow waist.
You can pretty much rock anything you want – so go for it! Own your curves and make ‘em drool, girl!
Hopefully these basic tips will get you in the right direction. Just remember, proportion, proportion, proportion. If you’re heavier on the bottom, draw attention to the top and vice versa. Use patterns, colors, and embellishments to draw the eye in. Most importantly, love your body and own it.
-Heather
