Looking good — and knowing you look good — is often more powerful than we give credit for. Think back to that time you felt so fabulous walking out the door. How confident did you feel? How did that affect your day? You probably felt poised, attractive and ready to take on whatever came your way. That, ladies, is what fashion is all about: feeling like a million bucks. This year, resolve to feeling fabulous every time you walk out the door. You can start by learning what looks good on your body shape.
By now you’ve probably heard of the four main body shapes: pencil, apple, hourglass and pear. As with most things in life, negatives and positives exist for each shape. Your goal is to learn what those are and to a) camouflage the unflattering aspects and b) highlight the desirable aspects.
Apple Shapes
A woman with an apple figure has a fuller middle section and tends to have a larger bust, broader shoulders and smaller legs/butt. She should accentuate her bust and draw attention upward with a sexy V or square neck. Because apple shapes often have killer legs, skirts that hit just above the knee are especially flattering.
Pear Shapes
Pear shapes have a love/hate relationship with their caboose. The goal is to make your derriere look attractive while also making the top half of your body proportionate to the bottom. To do this, buy clothing that fits well on the butt and thighs (alter the other parts, like the waist band, as necessary). To minimize your lower half, wear darker clothing on the bottom and lighter clothing on the top. Also draw attention to your top half with bold accessories.
Pencil Shapes
Narrow figures tend to have very few curves, so your goal is to accentuate your waist and create a more feminine silhouette. Do this with embellished tops (e.g. ruffles, tailored jackets, blouses) and belts. Stay away from really loose clothing, which can make you look scrawny, and wear very well-tailored jeans.
Hourglass Figures
Though hourglass figures are often considered the most desirable, they’re often one of the most difficult to dress. If you have a curvy figure — characterized by large hips and bust with a narrow waist — don’t let the dressing room blues discourage you. Shoot for fitted and semi-fitted apparel, soft and clingy fabrics, low to medium necklines and any garment with a heavily defined waist. Stay away from excessively baggy clothing, super high necklines and stiff or bulky fabrics that don’t conform to your body.
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