Profile your assets for the perfect look
The full length mirror never lies when it comes to dressing for your body shape. So here is a great strategy, turn to the side and check your profile.
When you stand side on, it takes in to account partial views of both the back and front of your body. This makes it easier to identify features to be accentuated or disguised as well as vertical style lines.
These lines are the distance and spacing between specific points on the body and/or clothing, and crucial for creating a balanced shape.
When trying to find that perfect fitted dress, it is helpful to know if a short or long waist garment is required.
Checking your profile is a simple time- saving rule providing an instant overview of all your key assets and challenges in one hit. Get this right and you are well on your way to creating the perfect look every time.
Starting with your hair, it highlights the occipital bone, the ear level indent of the skull at the back of your head.
Create the perfect shape with some volume in the crown area and the whole natural fall of your hairstyle will be more flattering.
Next comes the jaw line, hair sweeping slightly forward will disguise a strong accentuated chin as well as a prominent nose.
This approach can also be helpful with makeup. Remember a sweeping upward blend of blusher or eye shadow will create a more youthful effect. Foundation blended away with a damp sponge into jaw and hair lines will provide a natural, flawless finish.
Adopting this angle to determine the length of your neck is a much easier way of selecting suitable accessories in the form of scarves and/or jewellery. Longer necklines can accommodate a more ostentatious look.
The three areas of focus for most women, however, are usually the bust, tummy and bottom. Depending on whether you see these areas as assets or challenges will influence your approach.
The tummy in particular can be a major focus, so sometimes using a low slung wide belt can provide a little magic in becoming a feature. An alternative is selecting clothing with a cummerbund effect. This is a wide inset panel of material running horizontal around the waistline area. The wide band creates distraction, breaking up the flow of the vertical styling line, ensuring a shapely figure.
Paula Birnie is a hair and wardrobe stylist who lives in Titahi Bay. For more information about hair, makeup and wardrobe styling go to completeenvy.com.