How to dress your body shape

No matter what you read in fashion magazines, there is no cookie-cutter approach to style. The fun thing about fashion (and the reason we're so obsessed with clothes and shoes) is that literally anything goes — if it makes you look and feel good too.



How to dress for your body size

 

Beauty & Style Divas

Image: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images Entertainment
Print
The dos and don'ts of dressing every body shape
ShareTweetPin




No matter what you've read in the fashion magazines, there is no cookie-cutter approach to style. The fun thing about fashion (and the reason we're so obsessed with clothes and shoes) is that literally anything goes — if it makes you look and feel good too.


More: How to tell which body shape you are once and for all

The first step to finding the right clothes to bring out your inner goddess, or rock star or CEO is to figure out your specific body type so that you can play up your best features:

Determine and embrace your body type
Image: J'Amy Tarr



Body shape is all about proportion, and fashion is all about dressing those proportions to look their very best. When you think about body types, don't focus on height and weight... focus on shape. A slender gal can have the same body shape as a curvy gal, just as a short woman can have the same body shape as her taller friend. And it's not about trying to look thin; it's about accentuating your shape and enhancing what you have so you feel your best in every outfit you own.

Each of us is unique — and our bodies are, too! Nevertheless, our body shapes are generally narrowed down to five general categories: pear, wedge, rectangle, apple and hourglass. You might fall into one category, or you might be a blend of two or more categories.

Once you've determined your body shape, you can begin to consider which fashion trends to embrace and which to avoid. Spend some time in front of the mirror and do a fair and honest assessment of your body. Then put these fashion tips to work.
1. Pear body shape

Image: FilmMagic/Getty Images



Pear-shaped celebrities: Kim Kardashian, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Katherine Heigl
Pear body traits: Your lower body is wider than your upper body — in other words, your hips are wider than your shoulders. Your bottom is rounded and your waist is well-defined.
Your best assets: Shoulders and torso
Your fashion goals: Emphasize your waist and arms, add volume to your shoulders and upper body.
"As a rule of thumb, necklines for dresses should accentuate the shoulders and waist — play around with sweetheart, scoop-neck or plunging. Opt for visually interesting hemlines on dresses that slim the hips and thighs, like the hi-lo trend or a tulip skirt," advises J'Amy Tarr, the fashion designer and fashion illustrator behind the women's luxury outerwear brand J'Amy Tarr Outerwear.


Dos and don'ts
DO try A-line skirts
DO keep hems of pants, skirts and dresses wide to balance the hips.
DO experiment with light-colored tops and dark-colored bottoms for contrast.
DO look for boat neck tops, square and cowl necklines.
DO wear strapless dresses to show off arms and even out proportions.
DO try styles with ruffles on top.
DO wear jackets that hit right above the waist.
DO opt for pointy-toed shoes to elongate your legs.

2. Wedge body typeImage: Getty Images Entertainment

Wedge-shaped celebs: Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Renee Zellweger, Audrina Patridge, Teri Hatcher
Wedge body traits: Also known as the inverted triangle, this body shape features a broad chest and wide shoulders with narrow waist and hips.
Your best asset: Your legs
Your fashion goals: Accentuate your lower body while softening your shoulders and upper body.


To flatter all body types and especially the distinct wedge shape, Colleen Bayus, personal stylist at StylingbyBayus, advises, "Accentuate and drawn attention to what you like. Do you have great shoulders and arms? Go strapless and wear a statement necklace to draw attention up. Tiny waist? Use a fabulous belt to really show it off. If you've got great legs, opt for something shorter but that has sleeves to give you some balance -- so you're not showing toomuch at any one time. Also, shapewear is a must regardless of your size. It smooths you out and gives you a great silhouette."

Dos and don'ts
DO wear bright colors on bottom.
DO wear wide-leg pants.
DO wear full skirts.
DON'T wear spaghetti-strap tops.
DON'T wear boat neckline tops.
DO experiment with high-waisted styles.
DO look for clothes that create the illusion of a waist.

3. Rectangle body shapeImage: Getty Images Entertainment

Rectangle-shaped celebs: Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Hilary Swank
Rectangle body traits: The waist, hip and shoulder widths are similar.
Your best assets: Your arms and legs
Your fashion goals: Create curves and show off slender legs and arms.
For rectangle or ruler body types, Bayus recommends, "A sweetheart neckline adds some curves, or a pencil skirt with a side-slit shows off your legs and adds visual interest." Tarr adds, "Building dimension on a straight body type can consist of wearing belts to define the waist and layering items like accessories or tops. A great alternative to a dress for a rectangle-shaped body would be the crop top and skirt sets that are currently on trend."


Dos and don'ts
DO wear scoop neck and sweetheart tops to create curves.
DO wear long jackets to create a lean look.
DO wear tops with collars, ruffles and details to flatter your chest.
DO wear a good bra that will make the most of what you have.
DON'T wear overwhelming styles.
DO layer to add more dimensions.
DO wear dresses with ruching. Cinches on sides are ideal.
DO have fun with colorful bottoms... feel free to experiment