SHAPE OF YOU
Dressing for your body type is key when it comes to wearing a power ensemble or something comfortable yet stylish. It is a most forgotten aspect of matching clothes with one’s body type. There is an obsession of wanting to look slim when, in fact, looking good can also mean having curves and a few more pounds
Experimenting on what type of clothes fits me best is one of my many frustrations. When I was just starting to familiarize myself with different styles, my first move was to get the exact same outfit on a mannequin. Most of the time, I ended up looking flabby as I tried it on, which wasn’t good for my self-esteem (see my past column titled “It’s all just angles”). Over time, I’ve come to realize that it wasn’t about my figure, but rather the silhouette of the outfit I chose. Dressing for your body type is key when it comes to wearing a power ensemble or something comfortable yet stylish. It is a most forgotten aspect of matching clothes with one’s body type. There is an obsession of wanting to look slim when, in fact, looking good can also mean having curves and a few more pounds.
To know your body type, the body parts that should be measured include the shoulders, bust, waist and hips. After doing so, you’ll find out if you are apple-, pear-, hourglass-, inverted triangle- or rectangle-shaped. The apple-shaped body type (a.k.a circle- or round-shaped) is someone who is curvy and has a less defined waist. Opt for tops that accentuate the shoulders, neckline or bust; don a jacket or blazer for structure; and for the bottoms, go for something that will make your legs look more elongated. As for dresses, go for something that would define your waistline.
For the pear-shaped body type or for those who have a triangular frame (think Rihanna or Jennifer Lopez), choose tops that have light colors or prints that will accentuate the top-half of your body. Afterwards, look for curve-skimming cuts for pants and flatter your frame with a jacket or blazer that are either cropped, patterned, textured or wrapped.
Hourglass body types can get away with wearing tight or flowy clothes as they have the perfect measurements for almost all clothing in the market.
The inverted triangle doesn’t only apply to news writing but also to body shapes. The broadness of the shoulders, ample-sized bust and narrow waist can be best seen by highlighting the neckline, balanced with volume in the form of jackets or blazers as well as to the narrow bottom half of the body with pants that give attention.
Last but not the least is for the rectangle-shaped girls (think Kate Middleton and Anne Hathaway). Those with uniformed measurements have the luxury of choosing which part of their body to accentuate. Similar to learning a new skill, knowing which clothing best fits you also takes a lot of practice. But taking note of these three tips leads to a successful styling journey: balancing out your body through the outfit; drawing the eyes to the part you want to give emphasis; and choosing the right color not just for your skin tone but also for the whole look.