Very few of us have a perfectly proportioned body that can wear anything.
Instead we have to learn how to make the most of the body we have by disguising its faults, tricking the eye, and highlighting our best features to create balance and harmony. Much of this is common sense. A long thin face is not going to be improved with long lank hair and a deep neckline, or wide shoulders won’t look their best in a boat neckline.
Whilst trying on different styles of neckline, cut of top or dress, length of jacket, pants, colour, print and every other possible style type will eventually teach us what looks best, this could take a long time and be very discouraging.
A few quick hints can help to short cut the process, and have you feeling happier about your look right now.
The main objective is where you have a feature you wish to minimise – you soften it, and then draw attention to other areas of your body.
Let’s start at the top.
If you have narrow shoulders which are out of proportion to your wide hips, you can easily balance out your look, by adding embellishments to your upper body.
Try lapels, set in sleeves with tucks, epaulettes and other shoulder details. Wide necklines, large collars and ruffles will also add impact to this area.
A small bust can be enhanced by tucks, pleats, and gathers to add fullness.
Show off your lovely shoulders and arms with strappy tops and cap sleeves.
If your arms are heavy, wear sleeves – short but not capped, long or ¾ if you are not a very tall woman. Make sure they are not clingy though, as this will make your arms look bigger.
A busty woman needs open necklines and sleeves that don’t finish in line with the bust. Try button up shirts, with the top buttons undone, v and scoop necks are flattering too. Keep jewellery vertical – a scarf worn long and knotted down low, or long beads, you don’t want a choker or chunky necklace close under your chin. This also applies if you have a short wide neck.
Waist – you either have one or you don’t, but it doesn’t matter.
If you do, show it off with belts, fitted dresses and separates. If you are short and busty tho’ you will need to keep the tailoring softer so you aren’t making your bust and hips look heavy.
Straight up and down? Well you can either rock the look especially if you are tall or use wrap tops and coats, diagonal details and belts under an open jacket to create the illusion of a small waist.
If you are biggest around your middle then tops that fall from just under the bust will be most flattering – this is probably your narrowest point.
Hips – a source of great concern for many women.
Again the objective is to create balance. Wide hips and heavy thighs don’t need side pockets, flaps, and gathers which will make them look larger. A simple A line skirt or dress that skims your hips and straight cut pants will smooth and slim them. Darker colours on the bottom will also hide any bumps and width. You don’t have to live in dark solids from top to toe though, use colour and print in your tops.
If your hips are narrow in proportion to your shoulders, then use the details mentioned above to create more fullness on your bottom half.
You may also want to soften your look if you feel your body is a bit masculine. Use draping styles with soft gentle lines. Styles that flare out at the hips will make them look wider.
Is that all?
Now this may seem an over simplification, because you may have more than 1 challenge, for instance hippy and short. Or broad shoulders and very tall.
Create the illusion of height with vertical stripes, seams, pleats, long jewellery and scarves.
Use a tone on tone colour scheme with simple tailoring, so you aren’t breaking up your body. Match your shoes to your hemline and avoid ankle straps and short boots which cut you off at the ankle. Pants worn long over your shoes (preferably heels) will also help to create a longer leaner silhouette.
If you are very tall, and are uncomfortable with it, you can cut your body by wearing separates in contrasting colours, belts and horizontal stripes and details. You are great in cut off pants, and layered looks.
Whatever your body type make sure prints are right for your size. Petite people need to wear small prints, and a tall or larger woman can wear medium to large prints; be careful not to make yourself look bigger tho’ with too big bold prints.
If you are carrying more weight than you would like, use the lengthening tips. Don’t automatically dress in black because it is “slimming”. If black doesn’t suit you it won’t help you to feel any better about your look. Dark colours are slimming because they make you recede into the background, but pick a dark colour that is flattering on you – soft navy or grey, or dark brown, green, burgundy or tan? Accessories can also be great to lift your look while you are slimming. A colourful scarf that looks pretty against your face will liven up that dark silhouette. No need to avoid colour and prints completely- find a jacket or cardigan to go over a simple dark colour dress, or pants and top. There is no reason to sacrifice style because of your imperfect body.
To sum up
Looking gorgeous all the time regardless of the challenges your body shape presents you with is absolutely possible. You can look your best when you better understand how to dress your body, and to choose clothing that is flattering and which corrects the imperfections and imbalance you see.
There are other benefits too. When you know what shapes and styles to look for you can save a lot of time and money trying on outfits and making purchases that aren’t right for you.
Your body is your greatest asset and you will have it for life. Don’t let the flaws over shadow the beautiful. Make the most of your look with smart choices and get out and conquer any doubts you may have had.