Style Guide: Knowing your Body Shape
One of the first rules of fashion is that no two women look the same. Have you ever tried on a dress that looked fantastic in the catalogue but strangely just didn’t hang well on you? Of course, we all have. Finding out what works for you can be a matter of trial and error, but a good way to discover what kind of cuts and styles are going to be most flattering on you is to be aware of your own body shape.
Most women fall into one of four basic body shapes – apple, pear, rectangle and hourglass. You should be able to work out which you are with a simple look in the mirror and by remembering what parts of your body tend to look good, and which parts often need a little extra work.
If you’re an apple shape you’ll have a more rounded mid-section and be slimmer in the shoulders and hips. If this is the case, your best bet is usually to wear something that balances out your shape and draws the eye away from your stomach. A loose-fitting ladies dress that flows down from the bust – such as this Together Waterfall Dress – can really work for this figure.
Pear shaped women are – just like the fruits – slimmer on top and more rounded at the hips and bum. If this is you, a low-cut or shoulderless dress can help to accentuate your top half. Anything that creates height is also a big help for this look, such as a long-line pencil skirt or heels.
A woman with a rectangle shaped body will have her waist, hips and shoulders in fairly even proportion. A common complaint of women with this body type is that many struggle to find clothes that make them feel feminine. You can either embrace this with a more lean, chic look with long jackets and ladies trousers, or create curves with scoop necks and belted-dresses that pull in at the waist – like this dynamic Mosaic Print Sleeveless Shift Dress.
Finally, the classic hour glass figure will be more slender at the waist and wider at the bust and hips. Screen icon Marilyn Monroe is perhaps the world’s most famous hourglass, and it’s an easy shape with which to really emphasise your femininity with figure-hugging dresses and scooped or v-neck tops. Avoid high-necklines and anything too fussy or over-accessorised. Simplicity is the key when you’re an hourglass.