How to dress to your shape - Tips / Tricks & Ideas - By Nat Martin

How to Dress Your Body Shape Every woman in every size has the right to look amazing EDITH DOHMEN

By Nathalie Martin

What’s Your Shape?

We all have that one favourite item (or outfit) in our wardrobe that makes us feel flawless singing ‘I woke up like this…’ but sometimes a helping hand might be needed to make sure that we’re buying the right clothes for our body type.

This guide is dedicated to helping beautiful curvaceous women of all shapes and sizes, learn what best suits their body and what should be taken into consideration when purchasing clothes for curvy women.

What’s Your Shape?

Female body shape types Women come in a variety of gorgeous shapes and sizes and the 5 main body types that this guide will be looking at are the following: • Apple • Pear (AKA triangle) • Strawberry (AKA inverted triangle) • Banana • Hourglass

Apple If you find that you tend to carry most of your weight around your middle but have a less defined waist then it is likely you have a delicious apple shaped body. You might also have rather shapely and slim legs along with a larger bust.

The main traits of an Apple shaped body are: • Average to Large Bust

• Broader Shoulders • Narrower Hips • Less Defined Waist

Apple How to Style Your Wardrobe as an Apple When picking out your wardrobe you should concentrate on pieces that help to minimise your waist but highlight your gorgeous legs and upper half. Showing off your beautiful neckline with cowl, scoop and V-necks will help to elongate your shape by drawing attention upwards.

Empire waistlines are great for your body shape and faux wrap dresses will look gorgeous on you.

What to Avoid As an Apple you should avoid wearing tiered skirts or skirts that sit above the knee.

Pear If the widest part of your body is around your hips and you have a small top half and bust then you fall into the beautiful Pear category.

It might be that your waist is more defined and your shoulders are narrower than your hips as well.

The main traits of a Pear shaped body are:

• Wide Hips • Narrower Shoulders • Defined Waist

• Small Top Half and Small Bust

Pear How to Style Your Wardrobe as a Pear It’s all about balancing for those who fall into this category and you should wear pieces that elongate your figure to balance out your wide hips and thighs.

Off the shoulder dresses and tops look great on pears and the more fitted they are the better! Anything that accentuates the waist and emphasises the bust creates the perfect balance for your shape.

What to Avoid Steer clear from any tight-fitting skirts like pencil or fishtail, as these can overemphasise your gorgeous hips. You should also avoid tops that come beyond your hips as these draw the eye to the hip area.

Banana Banana shaped bodies are the most straight proportioned out of all the body shapes. If you find that you have little waist definition but have straight shoulders and hips with a small bust, then you are a ravishing banana.

The main traits of a banana shaped body are: • Straight Shoulders

• Little Waist Definition • Small Bust

Banana How to Style Your Wardrobe as a banana While you are the easiest body shape to dress, wearing styles that show of your curves can sometimes be an issue. Illusion is your best plan of action for curing any curve envy and you should opt for clothes that help accentuate your waist.

Dresses or tops that have an Empire seam will help to create definition and curves. When thinking about your lower half, wearing narrow or slightly flared trousers will harmonise your silhouette.

What to Avoid Square toed shoes do nothing to help your silhouette and you should avoid paring straight jackets with straight trousers or pencil skirts.

Strawberry If you happen to have broader shoulders and a fuller bust in comparison to your waist and hips you are most likely a Strawberry!

Also known as inverted triangles, you may find that your waist is fuller than your narrower hips.

The main traits of a Strawberry shaped body are: • Broader Shoulders

• Large Bust • Narrower Hips • Less Defined Waist

Strawberry How to Style Your Wardrobe as a Strawberry As you are broad on top, pairing V-neck and scoop necklines with a beautiful A-line skirt will help balance out your body shape. A-line or full circle skirts and dresses look gorgeous on you and will highlight your fabulous curves.

What to Avoid

Styles that can accentuate your shoulders such as puff sleeves or boat necklines as these do not help in balancing your shape.

Hourglass Those who have ample curves and a smaller waist in comparison fall into the Hourglass body shape category. You may find that your bust and hips are similar in terms of measurement and a smaller waist to match.

The main traits of an Hourglass shaped body are: • Full Bust • Defined Waist • Wider Hips

Hourglass How to Style Your Wardrobe as an Hourglass Any clothing that cinches at the waistline looks fantastic on you so wrap dresses are a definite wardrobe must have. Sheath dresses and anything that has a V-neck, scoop or boat neckline also work wonders for you curvaceous Hourglasses.

In terms of trousers and jeans opting for boot-cut or A-line styles will help to balance out your proportions.

What to Avoid Straight lined or baggy clothes will only hide your gorgeous curves so it’s best to avoid these.

Happy Shopping!

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