Shaping Your Style: A Guide to Accentuating Your Best Asset

Have you ever struggled to find your style or the perfect clothing that fits your body? Have you ever wanted to create the wardrobe of your dreams but do not know where to start and what to get rid of? Do you want to know how to appreciate the body that you were blessed with?

The first few steps in answering these questions are to identify, be aware and know what your body type is. 

The most common body types are apple/round shape, hourglass, rectangle, pear/triangle and inverted triangle.

Body types are all about proportions, bone structure.  Fashion is all about dressing those proportions– not height, not weight but shape.

Apple or round shape, has body traits that are usually heavier above the hips and back and ribs and shoulders are broad.

Their best body trait is their legs. Theie fashion goal is to elongate the torso area and flaunt those legs. Choose dresses that have necklines such as V-necks or empire cut to elongate your figure. Wear belts at the tiniest part of your waist and wear midi/shorter skirts to show off the legs. 

 

Hourglass body shape has shoulder and hips similar in proportion and their best asset aside from all their curves is their tiny waist. Choose clothes that fit with your natural curves and not against them. Avoid shapeless/boxy styles like baby-doll or empire cut dresses.

 

Rectangle

This body shape usually has similar shoulder, hip and waist. People with rectangular shape bodies have as their best assets their arms and legs. Their fashion goal is to create curves, show off their legs and arms. An off shoulder top, a sweetheart neckline, a belt and an A-line skirt can add curves. Also a skirt with a slit is perfect to show off the legs.

 

The Pear

People with pear or triangle shape body type  are particularly wider in their lower body (hips and thighs) compared to their upper body. Their best assets are their shoulders and mid section area. Their fashion goals is to emphasize waist, arms and shoulders. Find clothes that slim the hips and thighs. Try A-line skirts and or curve hugging darker skirts to slim down the lower body so wear lighter color tops and darker color shades for bottoms. Boat neck tops and cut out tops can help draw attention to the upper body as well. Pointy toed shoes and nude shoes are best to elongate your legs. 

 

The inverted triangle shape is the opposite of those with the triangle body type. They usually have wider shoulders compared to their hips and waist. Their best asset is their legs and their fashion goal is to accentuate their lower body and soften their upper body. 

Try using prints and patterns such as horizontal stripes to draw attention to the lower part of your body. Try high waisted styles and find clothes that create an illusion of a waist. 

 

Colors as well as prints play a big role when it comes to accentuating your body traits and hiding what you like least about your body. For example horizontal stripes create width and vertical stripes are slimming. 

By finding your body type you can flaunt your best features and hide what you like least. 

Also, once you determine your body type it will be easier to know which fashion trends to embrace and which ones to avoid.