Dress your shape

In any fashion season, knowing your body shape is the key to making your body look its best, when dressed! Stick to the rules and you’ll never be stuck for something to wear again. There are different types of body shapes that the fashion industry uses. I’m going to go through a few of them and I hope they will help you make the best choices for your outfits.

Apple shape-

If you are the Apple of someone’s eye then you’re pretty in proportion but tend to carry your weight around your mid-section without a well-defined waist. You may also have fabulous legs and/or boobs so dressing is all about showing off those best bits and avoiding adding volume round your middle.

Bring out your best:

Empire line and longer length tops will flatter your figure. Go for low-ish necklines to draw the eye upwards.

Best to avoid:

Short, boxy jackets and pleated or tiered skirts are not your friends. Cast them out now and feel forever better.

Famous Apples include:

Lorraine Kelly

Oprah Winfrey

Drew Barrymore

Pear shape:

If you are a bottom-heavy beauty and are bigger around the hips, bottom or thighs than you are up top then, like the majority of women, you are a Pear! You’ve probably also got a fairly flat stomach you lucky thing. Work that womanly figure by adding more shape and structure above the waist.

Bring out your best:

Balance out your curvy bottom half with bold bright tops or tops with large collars, lapels or sleeves.

Best to avoid:

Tube, pencil and fishtail skirts, especially tight-fitting ones will only emphasise your hips and behind.

Famous Pears include:

Kate Winslet

Jennifer Lopez

Beyonce Knowles

Strawberry shape:-

Sassy strawberry-shaped ladies have a figure that’s bigger up top than on their bottom half because of broad shoulders and/or big boobs in relation to their waist and hips. Broad shoulders or bigger boobs can make you look top heavy, but there are a few simple ways to soften your shape!

Bring out your best:

Fuller skirts and wide leg trousers will balance out your body shape beautifully. Don’t be afraid of bright colour on your bottom half. Choose fashion for a bigger bust like V-necks and wrap tops.

Best to avoid:

Shoulder pads and tapering trousers are an absolute no-no! Also steer clear of puff sleeves, epaulettes and halternecks.

Famous strawberry’s:

Jennifer Saunders

Charlize Theron

Hourglass shapes:-

Curvy hourglass girls go in at the middle, often with a fuller bust and bottom to contrast with the smaller waist. You’re blessed with a very sexy shape so you need to learn not to drown it in too-baggy clothes but also not go too overtly sexy either – unless that’s the look you’re going for!

Bring out your best:

Wrap dresses, waist-cinching belts and flared or wide leg jeans will work wonders. Not necessarily all at once.

Best to avoid:

Shapeless baggy jumpers will hide your wonderful waist. Unless you add that magic belt of course!

Famous hour glass:

Kelly Brook

Scarlett Johannson

Rectangle body shape:

Rectangle ladies are fairly straight up and down though don’t always have the boyish chest to match. Many women would kill for your shape; there’s no main area you want to minimise so you can get away with more things than most. However you may crave more curves – an illusion easily created with the right clothing.

Bring out your best:

A structured coat that cinches in with a belt will make you look more curvy. If you’ve a small bust you can get away with tricky to wear high-necked tops.

Best to avoid:

Low rise jeans and trousers can make your torso look too long. Stay away from sheath dresses and stick to styles with more shape instead.

Famous rectangle:

Mel C

Cat Deeley