Flattering Your Body Type

Ladies we are beautiful ...  say it out loud and believe it !!!  The heck with the picture-perfect babes, actresses and singers who grace the pages of every female magazine we skim through.  We are the face of the all-American woman.  We all come in different shapes and sizes and not one of us is exactly alike.  We are unique in our own right. 

Most of us, however, don't know how to look our best based on the body type we were born with.  The way to do that is in simply knowing some of the tricks of the trade.  We would all love to have an Hour Glass shape (considered the perfect of all).  Many of us are either Apple or Pear.  Here are some guidelines to help you flatter the body you have. 

Apple Shaped

 Typically apples have:

• A fuller face and neck
• Broader shoulders
• Fuller Breast
• A fuller, undefined waist
• Narrow hips
• A flat rear end
• Shapely legs

Balance is always the goal. Our main goal will be to lengthen or elongate your torso. We want to give the appearance of slimmer shoulders and waist. We need to draw attention away from the tummy, and draw attention to your best attributes which include your much envied breast and legs.  Focusing on your assets and emphasizing your positives will make you look much slimmer, and make for a more confident you.

Wrap around tops look best on you, fitted tops also look great, but nothing to tight. Look for tops with v necklines; this will pull the eye away from your shoulders, while accentuating one of your best features!  Because apples tend to have larger breast always make sure your bra provides the support you need! The right bra can make a big difference when it comes to enhancing your figure. An empire, or raised waist also brings the eye up and away from problem areas. A cami, or tank top, with a matching jacket is always a good way to go! Look for blouses that have a cinched waist, or belted jackets, this will give the illusion of a smaller waist, and slim down your tummy.  Jackets should fall right below the waist to mid-thigh, never at the widest part of your hips. Wear jackets and blazers open for the best vertical lines. Darker solid colors work best for your tops.  If you want a top with some pattern, choose tops that are darker around the midsection, and with the pattern at the top to bring the eye up toward your chest and face, while diverting attention away from your middle.

Play up those nice legs with shorter skirts, by shorter I mean 1 to 5 inches above the knee. Skirts should be fitted at the waist and flare toward the hem line. This will balance out your top and bottom. A-line skirts work really well because they will give you the look of a waist and more of an hourglass figure. Tulip skirts will also look great with your shape. Dresses should have strategic gathers under the breast to direct all eyes to your waist.  Textures like chiffon and silk are great options for your skirts, and you can go crazy with bolder colors and patterns but keep them on your lower half.

You want to look for jeans that have a flat front, and a rise that is lower than your natural waist. Look for jeans that have back pockets with flaps, this will help give some curve to a flatter rear.  Lighter washes and/or jeans with fading will add shape to your thighs.  Boot-cut and flared legs will give you a longer leaner look.

This shape looks best when wearing simple designs, rather than excessive flounces and gathers.  When looking for items to add to your wardrobe, always think simple style. 

Have fun with your shoes!  You can wear a chunkier heel as it will help balance your upper body.  Wedges are perfect too and avoid stiletto heels as they will make you look out of proportion.  However, sleek shoes with a thicker heel will work better visually.

Pear Shaped

Typically pears have:

• A long or slender neck
• Sloping or narrow shoulders
• Narrow back
• Small to medium bust
• Defined waist
• Curvy hips and backside
• Full thighs and calves

We have to think about balance. We want to give the appearance of wider shoulders and bigger bust this will help take the attention off the widest part of the body by bringing the eyes up to your face, neck, bust and waist. So in other words what you need to do is to over play your upper body and give your lower body a slimmer sleeker look.  Do this by using color on top, wide neck lines, accentuate your waste and wear dark colors on the bottom.

Because your bottom half is slightly larger than your top, you can wear slightly looser fitting cloths on top with out any problem. However, fitted tops look great on you as well. Blouses with a lot of detailing, tops in all sorts of prints with lighter and brighter colors, or textured fabrics are what you want to look for in your tops. This will help balance your lower half. 

Puffy sleeves and tops that hug the shoulders or ones with wide-set straps will help to visually widen the chest and shoulders.  Look for necklines that are scooped, draped, v'd, rounded or squared.  Any neckline that has a lower and wider neckline will look great. These will emphasize your bust and draw attention to your face.  Also look for an under-wire or molded bras to help with balance. A halter top that ties at the neck will give the shoulders the appearance of width they need, and this will help balance out your hips and thighs. 

A-line and flared skirts look best on pears. When choosing a dress, choose a dress with an empire waste or a wrap dress which will flow over your hips. Keep the print on top and darker solid colors on the bottom. Don't forget, your dresses will want to have the same features mentioned above on the top. 

You want to look for jeans or pants that are flared or have a wide leg, this will help hide your thicker thighs. Straight legged jeans are also a good for a sleek slimmer look. Go for mid-rise dark jeans (the darker the better) and dark pants. This gives the illusion of a slimmer hips and bottom. 

Shoes with a pointed toe will help give the illusion of an elongated figure. A rounded toe shoe will make you look chunkier as will chunky footwear.  Keep in mind that shoes with a generous cut that show the start of your toes are much more flattering than a closed to shoe . Avoid stiletto heels as they will make you look out of proportion, however, sleek shoes with a thinner heel will work better visually.

If you're a petite (5'4" and under) there is an awesome new blog that caters specifically just to you and has some awesome articles that addresses everything you could possibly think of.  Go to http://cinderellaofboston.blogspot.com