Find Your Fit: How To Dress For Your Body Shape
If you find yourself staring into your wardrobe in the mornings, not knowing what to wear, it might be time to rethink your clothing collection. Trends come and go over time and it can be easy to jump on the bandwagon with the latest styles, without thinking about what will work best for your body shape. Whether you are tall, curvy, have a big chest, or have a more petite frame, we all have different body shapes. What looks good on one person might look completely wrong on someone else.
Instead of following the latest trends and buying the newest fashion, it’s worth taking a minute to consider what items will fit you best and will be most flattering for your body shape.
Before diving into tips to help you dress for your body shape, it’s worth mentioning that regardless of your body shape, there are a few essentials that everyone should have in their wardrobe. A good belt, or two, should always be included in your wardrobe. Having a selection of flats, heels and sandals will help you to dress up or down almost any outfit and having a few handbags to choose from will help you to tie your outfits together. Finally, your underwear selection can have a huge impact on how your clothes look when you wear them. Investing in a good bra will help to give you the support you need, there are countless types of underwear on the market nowadays that make the dreaded knicker-lines a thing of the past and shapewear can be a wonderful addition to your clothing collection that can help to create a smooth silhouette and sculpt your figure to highlight your natural curves. With these basics in your wardrobe, you can be more confident that your clothes will fit and look better moving forward.
Let’s take a look at some useful tips to help you dress for your body shape.
Know Your Body Shape
To dress for your body shape, first, you need to know what your body shape is. There are many different body shapes out there and you might even fall between two different types. However, generally speaking, there are five main body shapes; rectangular, pear, apple, athletic and hourglass. These can be determined by measuring your shoulders, bust, waist and hips. Alternatively, you can use an online calculator to figure out what your body shape is.
Rectangular Body Shape
If your waist, bust and hip measurements are similar, then you have what is known as a rectangular body shape. In this situation, most women want to create the illusion that they have more of a waist than they really have. Waist-defining pieces such as a cinched jacket, colour-blocking pieces that will break up the rectangular shape or a simple waist belt are all great choices for this body shape.
Pear Body Shape
Ladies with hips that are wider than their upper body falls into the category of a pear body shape. If this sounds like your body, you will want to take the attention off your hips. A statement top or dress with a drop neckline will help to draw attention to your upper body while full skirt dresses can be a great way to balance out your proportions.
Apple Body Shape
Fabrics that don’t stick to you but sit close to your body are ideal for those with an apple-shaped body. Soft cotton or silk fabrics work brilliantly in this situation. A-line silhouettes, relaxed button-up shirts and wrap dresses are all brilliant choices for the apple shape. Work on accentuating your legs with a short skirt or heels and make sure that you avoid chunky belts that will draw attention to your waist.
Athletic Body Shape
The athletic body shape is also known as the inverted triangle or wedge body shape and generally means that your shoulders and hips are almost the same. If this sounds like you, the goal should be to try and balance your broader upper half by keeping the volume on either your top or bottom half. Off-the-shoulder, strapless or halter neck tops are all great choices. Compliment these with fitted pants or a mini-length skirt to complete the look.
Hourglass Body Shape
If your shoulders and waistline are the same but you have a thin midsection, then you have an hourglass body shape. The key here is to embrace your natural curves! Pencil skirts and high-waisted pants should always feature in your wardrobe. For a more glammed up look, mermaid dresses are always a fantastic choice. Whatever you do, avoid baggy clothes and anything that causes ruffles around your bust or midsection.
Dress For Your Body Shape So You Always Feel Comfortable And Confident
At the end of the day, it’s up to you what you feel comfortable in. The tips outlined above should be used as a guideline to help you to dress for your body shape so you feel comfortable and confident every time you step out of your home. The key to looking and feeling great in whatever you wear is to choose a look that you enjoy and to own it! With the right attitude, you can ensure that you are always dressed for success no matter where it is that you might be going.
