How to Choose Clothing to Flatter Body Shape
Everyone has at least one body part that she wishes were larger or smaller. Fortunately, you may not have to resort to plastic surgery to adjust your body part to your liking. Clothing can aid you in creating the optical illusion of a better-proportioned body.
Instructions
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Make a list of the following body parts: shoulders, chest, waist and hips. When finished, look closely at yourself in the mirror. If any of these parts look disproportionate on your body, place a check mark next to them on the list and write a short explanation of the problem. Some common examples include narrow shoulders, small bust and wide hips. When finished, look at yourself again and make note of any body parts you especially like.
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Determine which illusions you would like to create based on what you have written. For instance, if your bust is flat but you love your slender midriff, you can use clothing to disguise the former and call attention to the latter.
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Learn how color and pattern create the optical illusion of changing size. You may already know that black is slimming; but take the classic little black dress and draw a white horizontal stripe across the stomach, and what have you done? Put on a black garment, face the mirror and hold a white sheet of paper over your midriff. Press it against your body so that it lies the same as the dress. Chances are you have just made your tummy look bigger. Unless that's the effect you're going for, you may want to avoid clothes that feature light colors, intense colors or pronounced patterns in this area. On the flip side, what if you want to create the illusion of an enhanced bust? Save the darker, duller hue for another body part.
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Learn how texture affects a garment's illusory capabilities. For instance, a plain black Tshirt might not be preferable for a woman who wants to enhance the virtual width of her shoulders, but a black blazer might be, provided its collar is large and/or cut in an interesting pattern. She can always add shoulder pads.
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Apply your new knowledge next time you shop for clothes. Before you remove something from the rack to try it on, ask yourself, "Do the colors, patterns and textures in this garment draw attention to the right places?" Don't be afraid to be picky. For any given person, there are many more unflattering clothes out there than flattering ones; but this makes it all the more gratifying to find the right piece.
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Tips & Warnings
The list of body parts you've used is a basic one, so feel free to add to it. Perhaps you dislike your large calves, or love your perfectly proportioned arms. Almost any body part can be enhanced or reduced.
