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Body Shapes: Golden Rules to Dressing Your Body Shape

"How to Look Aesthetically Beautiful No Matter What Your Body Shape Is"

Kate Winslet via BULLS

I truly believe that all body shapes, each and one of them, are beautiful in their own unique way.

But whether you like your body or not, if you understand what your current shape and proportions are and know a few style guidelines for your figure you are well on your way to looking your best.

An although an Hourglass body shape is considered the ideal body shape we have to face the fact that not everyone is born with a symmetric figure. We just have to work with what we've already got!

Now, identifying your own cookie-cutter body shape (like hourglass, inverted triangle, pear, apple or rectangle) can help you steer in the right direction, however, you might want to look at your outfit and shape as a whole.

Which is exactly what we're going to learn here. You and I are going to take a closer look at the 4 vital factors on how to flatter your frame no matter what body shape you've got:

Proportions
Vertical Body Line
Fit
Confidence

It's All About Proportions

Looking good is all about proportions. Ever wonder why an outfit just looks great on someone, even though you don’t particularly like the clothes?

It’s because of the proportions of that look. When an outfit is balanced, it looks symmetrical, and we're attracted to symmetry. That's why some face and body shapes are considered more attractive than others. Let's take someone's face as an example.

If the eyes, mouth and nose have a size that are in harmony with the width and length of the face shape, it will be considered as proportionate and appealing. However, like if you have a very tall nose on a narrow/small face shape, it will look out of balance. Basically, your nose draws a lot of attention to other parts of your face.

Studies and research have shown that we're automatically attracted to symmetry -- it's visually pleasing to the eye.

So your main goal when it comes to dressing for your body shape is to create balance on your frame.

Hourglass: The Ideal Body Shape

The Hourglass Shape fulfills the symmetry-critera and is considered an ideal body shape.

That's because it's proportional -- lower and upper body parts are balanced with each other. There's no "heavy" point of your silhouette that attract too much attention.

We all have different preferences

Everyone has different perceptions of what's attractive or not. Some like it curvy, others prefer it slim. There really aren't an ultimate ideal shape. Sure, we're automatically attracted to a proportional shape, but that doesn't mean you *have* to have that to look good.

But no matter what shape your body is, a good rule of thumb in fashion is:

Pair clothes that are in proportion to each other.

So you might want to enhance and minimize areas (your upper and lower part) that are needed to create a balanced look -- creating an illusion of a symmetric hourglass shape.

Here are two examples:

Mini notebook icon 2. If you have wide shoulders and want to highlight your killer shoulder, then you can wear a tube top but make sure you balance out the look by wearing slightly flared pants or skirt.

This styling strategy applies to anyone no matter body shape. Like if you're wearing a baggy balloon skirt, always balance it in conjunction with the rest of your body shape. So if you have curves add a detail-rich or light-colored top with the skirt. If you have a full bust, wear something more solid and simple on top because the skirt will already balance out your heavy upper body.

You can practically wear almost anything you like as long as you have the proportions in mind!

Vertical Body Line: Proportions Between Upper and Bottom Half

Our eyes are attracted to the longest-looking body line. Period. Looking stubby (as in wide and short, frumpish-looking) isn't a good look and you know that. So choose clothes that will help streamline your silhouette from top to toe. Examples are picking the right pants and skirt length.

Also avoid clothes that give you bunches of little horizontal folds. These little folds are making the eye go across, so you can look shorter than you really are. You need to make the eye go up and down.

Your vertical proportions also play a role here. This is the proportion of the bottom half of your body compared to your top half.

The best and most accurate way to determine your vertical proportions is to measure the height (shoulders, bust and waist) to your hip-line (your hip-line is the area around your hips where your bottom is fullest) and determine where your hip-line comes in relation to your overall height from shoulders to your toes).

Short legs, long torso

Your legs are short compared to your upper body. You probably have a bottom that appears low and heavy, long torso, low waist that will be lower than your bent elbow.

Fix that with:

Accessories and clothing that draw the eye up towards your face and shoulders
Tucked in tops to shorten your waist
Medium to wide belts
Pants and shoes of the same color
Straight or bootcut pants
High waist pants and skirts
Heels
Jackets and tops that end a little higher on your torso
Short skirts and shorts to elongate your leg
Bags that end at mid-section length
Short to medium-long tops and sweaters
Light colored top and dark bottom to elongate your legs

Long legs, short torso

Your legs are longer compared to your upper body. You probably have a high waist that will be higher than your bent elbow.

Fix that with:

Accessories and details that draw the eye down like for example print skirt, sash belt. If you're short go for vertical prints.
Medium long to long tops. If you are short, avoid going below knuckle length
Jackets and sweater that end at hip-level
Untucked tops
Low rise pants and skirts
Bags that end around hip-level
Dark colored top to elongate your torso and light colored bottom
Flats or shoes with low heel

The Perfect Fit for All Body Shapes

Another important fashion tip is the fit.

Ever worn something tight and noticed how you seem to fiddle with the clothing to make it sit right on you? I have. And it made me uncomfortable and people autimatically notice that.

Basically, no matter how fab a skirt is, if you're uncomfortable in it you won’t look or feel good.

If your clothes are too tight, it can also highlight areas you don't like. The same thing applies if they're too loose.

So what is classified as "good fit"?

It skim the contours of your shape. Nothing clings or pulls. It won't make you look like your hiding shape or trying to look sexy.

So if a clothing looks visibly tight, loose with obvious creasing or gapping on you, then you know that the fit isn't good.

If a garment is a bit loose then you'll notice that it makes you look a little bigger. However this is easier to fix with a tailor.

Want to know if a clothing will be the perfect fit for your body? Then learn how to take body measurements.

Confidence

Kim Kardashian via Splash News

Confidence in the clothes you wear can make or break your look. Showing that you 'can work it' draws attention away from asymmetry and all the imperfections you're insecure about.

But confidence doesn't necessarily equal GREAT STYLE.

I believe it's a combination of wearing 3 things that make people look so darn good:

1. The right clothes -- in proportion, vertical line and fit
2. The right colors for your skintone

and

3. Self-confidence (meaning letting your personal style and sel-fworth glow)

So I disagree with most women who say that what matters most is wearing whatever you like and whatever that strikes your mood as long as you feel comfortable in it.

Because you see, I've seen many women (as well as men) who strut their stuff and show confidence. Sure, it's mesmerizing to watch their confidence. But still, when that 'admiring' stage wanes, you'll notice the other things that don't look good.

Don't get me wrong, a person with confidence always looks great, but if she wears the wrong pants for her height -- let's say she has short legs and wear capri pants that fall down to her mid-calves -- confident or not, she won't look her ultimate best. The hem will draw attention to the widest part of her legs and make her look shorter. I've talked about with most of my girlfriends and boyfriends and they all agree with me on that.

I'm talking about that little extra. The little extras like colors, fit and proportions.

Anyway, back to confidence.

So how do you wear clothes to feel confident?

Don't overdo it

I'm sure you've noticed Beyoncé's spectacular trademark pear shape -- she's got bootylicious curves. Ever wondered why she looks so great even though she doesn't have the "ideal" shape? Because she knows how to work it -- she accentuates her curves with self-confidence and at the same time, wears the perfect fit and her personal colors.

However.. Don't overdo it. Like say, if you wear a fitted pencil skirt to highlight your curves, balance it with a more loose-fitted top. There are major perverts in this world, and over-defining your womanly parts can result into unwanted attention.

The trick is to focus on what you like about yourself and avoid pinholing yourself into a standard body shape.

So instead of hiding yourself behind clothes, draw attention to your best body parts. Your confidence will sky-rocket!

That means, if you're confident on and love some parts of your body, like your butt, shoulder, legs, breasts, etc., then make it your personal trademark by simply wearing something that will accentuate exactly that area.

Here are more detailed tips on how to bring attention to your best assets and get everything else camouflaged.

Enhance & Minimize-tips for All Body Shapes

Dark colors minimize & light colors maximize.

If you want to draw attention to a certain part of your body - like your firm breasts or toned legs, wear white or another light color on that part.

Generally, light colors create a focal point, while dark colors take the attention away. Stick to light colors for areas that you want to enhance and be seen!
Like for example, if you want to draw attention away from your arms and to your toned chest, wear a white V-neck top and layer it with a dark colored cardigan.

Patterns draw attention

Just like with light colors, you can use patterns to accentuate your better half (upper or lower half).

So if you want to draw attention to your upper body, wear a patterned top with a plain pair of pants or a skirt. Or if you like your legs, how about wearing glossy tights? The options are endless.

Sparkles & embellishment draw attention.

Strappy shoes and large earrings are two great ways to enhance your best body parts.

Do you have great legs? Why not slip on a strappy or bright colored pair of shoes?

If you love your cleavage, try a ruffle blouse.

Or what about your defined waist? Accentuate it with a detailed wide belt over a simple dress.

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