How To Dress For Your Body Type

By Alexia Gonzalez on November 22, 2014

Being fashionable involves not only an inherent sense of style and the ability to instinctively coordinate your garments, but also the knowledge of how to highlight your best physical features while conveying a look consistent with your personality.

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With the start of every fashion season, we are tempted to run to the mall and shop for the latest fads like those cutout leather tights or that fabulously crazy looking top that Cara Delvingne debuted on the Versace runway. In reality, we are not all created physically equal and that top may work well on Cara but it may not be as flattering for your equally beautiful body type.

Let’s face it ladies, regardless of how trendy an item may be, nothing looks as stylish on a gal than a perfectly fitting ensemble. When an outfit comes together to highlight your best features, you appear that much more chic and put together.

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When it comes to styling your body type it has nothing to do with picking apart your imperfections or comparing yourself to another kind of figure. Every girl is distinct and you simply have to decide which garments work best to highlight what feels most comfortable for your own physique.

Do you love exposing your shoulders? Were you blessed with long and toned legs? Are you curvy? Petite? Do you have a teeny waist and full chest? The key is becoming familiarized with your best assets in order to achieve a timeless look that works for your individual shape.

Ruler Body Shape

The ruler body shape or rectangular shape is usually an athletic body type in which the waist, hips and shoulder widths are slim and quite parallel to one another. This kind of gal doesn’t have to work to minimize any feature but rather attempt to create more curves and womanly definition.

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To transform your slender physique into a more curvy shape, accentuate your middle area to create the illusion of fuller bust and hips. Always define the waist with something like a belted dress, a drop waist blouse, or a gown with an empire line.

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Garments with adornment, pleats, ruffles, or peplums add ladylike definition and boost your figure. Aim for bold patterns such as florals, stripes, or graphics, which will add depth and character to your silhouette.

Pear Body Shape

If you have a pear body shape, then typically your lower body is a bit wider than your upper torso, with your hips widening more than your shoulders.

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This kind of figure should focus on emphasizing the waist, arms and shoulders in order to minimize focus from the hips. If this is the case for you, avoid flashy bottoms with loud prints and instead opt for sleek a-line skirts, wide hemmed pants, cropped jackets, and flowy dresses to balance out your sexy hips.

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Strapless blouses show off your arms and upper torso, as well as square and cowl necklines. Try color blocking, with light hued tops and darker bottoms to create a balancing contrast. Finish your look off with some pointy shoes to elongate your legs.

Inverted Triangle Body Shape

The inverted triangle figure features wide shoulders and a broader upper torso, which are typically wider than the waist and hips.

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This kind of body type should work to accentuate the legs while feminizing the shoulders and upper body. In this case, you want to bring the focus downward to the narrow areas.

If you identify with the inverted triangle figure, then take advantage of your stems! Choose short to mid-thigh shorts and skirts while making sure to cover up your upper half with billowy blouses.

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Wide leg pants and full skirts also help to balance out your wider upper torso. Do wear bright colors on your lower body, as well as items that call attention to your waistline, such as cinched dresses or high waist bottoms. Avoid spaghetti straps and elect more asymmetrical tops.

Hourglass Body Shape

Hourglass body shapes are characterized by similar bust and hip measurements, and a smaller waistline. The key to dressing well for an hourglass is to avoid going too baggy or too tight. You want to tastefully show off your fabulous curves without overdoing it.

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In this case, you want to showcase your bust with a scoop or v-neckline that will draw attention upward toward your bust and face. A wrap-style skirt or dress or belt at the waist will showcase your hourglass shape.

Make sure to wear skinny or straight leg pants, as baggy jeans do nothing to flaunt your figure. Look for slightly flared bottoms that balance out your hips. Mid-rise pants will help hide any extra tummy, and low-rise jeans also work great (as long as you don’t go too low). Avoid empire waists; they appear dowdy and can create the illusion of pregnancy.

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Although this list obviously does not cover EVERY body type out there, take these as guidelines to learn how to highlight your preferred features.

One general rule of thumb that every gal should follow is to keep it subtle by only exposing one favored feature at a time. For instance, if you are flaunting a bare back, keep your cleavage at a minimum.

Even if you have a flawless figure, exposing all of your goods at once can be conveyed as a lack of taste and can potentially ruin the entirety of your ensemble.

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