Dress for your body shape
22 April 2010
Flatter your figure with the right clothes for your shape.
One of the most exciting and satisfying aspects of losing weight is watching your old clothes fall off you and a new outfit can be a great motivator during your weight-loss journey.
“Making a conscious effort with the way you dress not only does wonders for your self esteem, but it also boosts your overall confidence,” Singaporean stylist and owner of the To-A-Tee boutique on Orchard Road, Luke Elijah, told The Biggest Loser Club Asia.
“Dressing well can highlight your assets and do wonders to cover up any physical flaws,” he said.
Whatever your size and body shape, there are wardrobe secrets to flatter your figure. This week, top stylist Thuy Buy shares her advice on choosing the right clothes for your body shape.
If you’re pear shaped
Do you hold most of your excess baggage on your hips and thighs? Then you’re a pear shape, along with most pre-menopausal women.
The key for you is to draw attention to your top half, Thuy Buy said. “Go for the latest bright digital prints, hip-skimming tops in a soft fabric with cap sleeves, worked with dark coloured bottoms. Opt for A-line skirts, wide-legged pants or dark wash bootleg jeans. Embrace the new power shoulder jackets, too, as they’re not only bang on trend, but they’ll help to balance your hips”.
Dresses that have a lightly cinched in waist work well for pear shapes. If the weather allows, go for bare shoulders to help balance the hips. Detail around the bust or the hemline will take the focus off your hips, butt and stomach - this season’s sequinned bolero will work wonders, Buy said.
Finish off the look by throwing on a tote shoulder bag that stops at your waist. The key is to keep the focus on your top half, so also experiment with statement earrings.
Apple shape
If you carry most of your weight around your middle, you’re apple shaped. As women get older and their hormones change, fat tends to accumulate around the middle of the body rather than the hips and thighs, so over time your shape could evolve from a pear to an apple shape.
For apples, choose clothes that balance out your proportions, draw in your waist and accentuate your curves in all the right places, Buy said.
Getting the foundations right is key. “Get professionally fitted for the best possible bra for your size and your shape. It’ll not only offer the right support for your top half, it will help to define your waist too,” she said.
Combine a plain colour with a print or texture to help re-shape your silhouette. “A print V-neck empire jersey top will flatter your bust and disguise your tummy, whilst a cropped cardigan or jacket - one that grazes the hips to visually lengthen your legs - will break up your body.
“Choose a flat, front pleated skirt, one that starts below the stomach, so it hangs straight and doesn’t widen you. At the same time, the box pleats will add some fluidity and a feminine touch. Flat-front pants with a deep waist band are flattering for you too.”
Chilli pepper
If your body shape is straight up and down – you have broad shoulders without much waist, a flat bottom and big thighs, calves, and shins – you’re a chilli pepper.
For you, the key is to create a feminine shape and wear clothes that create curves. Choose shirts and blouses in soft fabrics with feminine touches such as ruffles and floaty sleeves to soften your shoulders.
“Experiment with bold prints to create shape,” said Buy. “Try teaming a lively print with beautiful 40s-inspired sleeves and the newest man-style, wide-legged trousers teamed with sexy platforms.”
Hourglass figure
Lucky you – you have the most desirable body shape! So, flaunt your feminine curves and embrace this season’s ladylike body-contouring 40s-style dresses – the trend is narrow, modern and chic.
A wrap-around dress is a fabulous way to show off your curves, accentuating a relatively small waist and helping to make you look taller in the body.
“Invest in a statement belt to define your waist and go for a curved lapel to echo your own curves,” Buy recommended. “Plus sleeves that show off your elegant wrists and which suggest a more delicate frame.
“Opt for a V-neck, thick-band, empire top as this style is most flattering for a full bust and accentuates a slim waist whilst being loose enough to skim your stomach. The open neck is also a sure-fire way to keep the focus away from your stomach region.”
Now that you know what to wear for your body shape, take this week’s challenge to review and overhaul your wardrobe.