When it comes to fashion, choosing clothes that fit properly and accentuate your positive features is half the battle. Once you have learnt how to choose clothes that work for your body type, you can really get creative and feel free to choose the style that works for you. Rather than focusing on your height or weight, you should focus more on your shape. Slender and curvier girls can have the same body shape, just as tall and short girls can.
This article will just focus on how to choose the right ones for your overall body shape. We will split body shapes up into five general categories – you may think that you overlap on a couple of them, but this gives you a good overview to get started with.
Pear Body Shape
Kim Kardashian is probably the most famous woman to have a pear body shape, and it is characterised by your lower body being wider than your upper body, and your hips being wider than your shoulders. You want to be aiming to emphasise your waist and arms, while also adding volume to your upper body. Try out A-line skirts, as well as wide-hemmed trousers and dresses that balance out the hips. Also, try experimenting with light tops and dark bottoms to get some contrast going on here. Strapless dresses from the likes of Couture Candy help to show off your arms, while the jackets you choose should hit above the waist.
Wedge Body Shape
The wedge body type is shaped like an inverted triangle and features a broad chest and wide shoulders, with a narrow waist and hips. Your legs are one of your best features, so you will want to be trying to accentuate your lower half when you can. Try wearing bright colours on your bottom half to do this or alternatively, go for some full skirts. If you have a tiny waist, you can show this off with a bold belt, while great arms and shoulders can be highlighted with a big statement necklace.
Rectangle Body Shape
The rectangle body shape involves the waist, hip and shoulder widths being similar, while both your arms and legs could be features that you are looking to accentuate. This kind of straight body type can be divided up by wearing belts that define the waist, and layering up on accessories and tops. Try creating some curves with a sweetheart neckline or a scoop neck. And if you are looking to show off your legs, why not try a pencil skirt with a side split?
Apple Body Shape
The main traits of an apple body shape is that most of your weight is above your hips, which tend to be narrow. Your shoulders are broad and your legs are one of your key features that you will want to draw attention to. One of your other main goals will be to elongate your torso. Dresses which have necklines that elongate your figure like V-necks are a great starting point. A structured jacket with a dress is the perfect way to take attention away from your mid-section. Monochromatic looks tend to be good ones to experiment with if you have this particular body shape.
Hourglass Body Shape
The hourglass body shape tends to be one that is spoken about a lot, and Beyonce is one of the most famous women to have this particular type. Your shoulders and hips will be similar in proportion, and they will be set off by a small waist. Your curves are certainly what you will want to be showing off if you have an hourglass figure! Accessorizing with belts is a great way to achieve this. A-line cut or wrap dresses are the perfect match for this particular body shape. You will also want to showcase your bust with V-necks or sweetheart necklines.
Ultimately, once you have identified your body type from the list of five above, you will be in a much better position to choose clothing that accentuates your best features. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing clothes, but if you have a better idea of what works well for you, you will be able to naturally gravitate over to a certain type of clothes every time you set foot in a mall!
