The 9 Basics of Dressing For Your Body Shape

Author: Lisa Ruthland

One of the key elements of dressing with style is to dress to suit your body shape. For the most part how you go about doing that is dependent on your particular body shape. But there some basics to keep in mind that are common to everyone.

1. Work With How You Are Right Now

To successfully dress with style you have to like yourself. And not how you'll be when you've lost those last few pounds, or transformed your body, but right now. Some of you will be thinking, "well then, that's me out", but don't give up so easily. Self acceptance is an integral part of living your best life and it can start with simple things like the way you dress. That means buy clothes that fit and flatter you right now, not at some mythical date in the future when you've changed. This is a way to actually get that change happening by nurturing yourself now.

2. Dress The Best That You Can

If you're expecting to put on a certain shaped skirt or pants and instantly look like Drew Barrymore then you're going to be very disappointed. Well, unless you already look like Drew Barrymore, or are in fact Drew Barrymore, which is unlikely. Your goal should be to dress in a way that flatters you, expresses you and makes you feel good. Again this is about accepting you the way you are, not making you over into someone else. Dressing in flattering clothes won't instantly make everything better but you will feel more comfortable, both physically and emotionally.

3. The Aim Is A Proportioned Silhouette

The expected body shape for women is an hourglass. This is not meant as a comment on what is or is not acceptable but a summation of how we traditionally view the world. We see the ideal shape for women as proportionately balanced through breasts and hips with a small waist in between and long legs. The ideal shape for a man is an inverted triangle - broad shoulders tapering to narrow hips and long legs. This is what we expect to see. It's tremendously unfair but it is what it is.

4. It's All An Optical Illusion

The good news is that regardless of what size you are if you can create the illusion of a proportioned silhouette you will instantly look slimmer and more stylish. The even better news is that it's not that hard to do. The idea is to create interest where you want to draw the eye and take it away everywhere else. That doesn't mean bulk up you top if you're a pear shape - in fact wearing clothes that fit is much more important - rather use cut, color, fabric and detailing to achieve the illusion you want.

5. The Eye Is Drawn Where The Material Ends

When we look at people our eyes are drawn to their skin, particularly where the clothing ends. For instance a three quarter sleeve (finishes below the elbow) will draw the eye to your wrist, the narrowest part of your arm, but also to your waist where the arm lies against your body. A cap sleeve, which finishes on the tip of your shoulder will draw the eye to the width of your shoulders. This all has application in creating your illusion of proportion. For instance if you have a little extra padding in the middle and you're directing eyes away from your waist then it's not a good idea to wear three quarter sleeves which will draw the eyes back again.

6. Use Accessories And Detailing To Help Rather Than Hinder The Cause

Would Jackie O have been quite so stylish without her signature over-sized sunnies? Or Grace Kelly without her pearls? There's no doubt accessories have this incredible power to transform outfits from mundane to awesome in the blink of an eye. When dressing for your body shape they also have the power to draw the eye exactly where you want it to be, or as important, away from where you don't want it. Detailing by contrast will transform a particular area. Detailing is decoration on the outfit such as princess seams or ribbing or pink seams on your pants or even patterns in the material itself. The trick is to make sure the detailing works to alter in a way that flatters.

7. Every Outfit Should Have A Focus

You throw on jeans and a tee; this is a great understated look, but what is the focus? If there isn't something for people to focus on then the eye is going to be caught on anything that looks out of place, like maybe that little something extra in the middle, or the width of your thighs or your butt or whatever stands out the most. The idea here is for you to decide in advance what you want people to look at. The simple addition of a eye-catching tee on top, or a fabulous necklace or earrings will give the outfit some focus. Having said that there should only be one focus per outfit. So if you wear a mini skirt the focus is your legs and it should be paired with a demure top; otherwise you just look undressed. And vice versa; if you wear a long skirt wear a short sleeve top.

8. You Are More Than Just A Body Type

Everyone fits into one of the four typical body shapes in much the same way as all plant life can be categorized into tree, shrub or whatever you call the lower-to-the-ground stuff. Plants possibly. The point being categories are arbitrary and there's more to the complex subject of your body than four sketchy outlines. Get to know your body and more importantly how you feel about it. Just because you're a pear shape and everything is geared toward minimizing your bootie doesn't mean to say you personally want to hide your bootie. Get a feel for what you want to reveal and conceal, independent of what's suggested for your body shape.

9. Size is Variable, Shape Is Consistent

If you're a pear shape and loose twenty pounds you will still be a pear shape, just a smaller and possibly much hungrier one. This is good news for those looking for outfit examples. An outfit which flatters a size 6 pear will flatter a size 16 pear and the same do's and don't's will apply. Again however it's always just a suggestion and at the end of the day what makes you feel good is what is right for you.

About The Author:
Lisa Rutland is a writer and researcher with a passion for clothes and style. Check out her blog at http://www.bodyshapestyle.com