How to Dress to Suit Your Body

This article deals with things a person may or may not like about themselves. It involves ways to hide or accent your features. However, it does not use classifications for body shapes such as pear shaped, hourglass shaped, etc.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knowledge of yourself

1. First, determine what you don't like and do like about yourself. These are what you will either want to hide or show off.

2. Second, straighten up your posture, stand tall with shoulders back. Slouching is never a good idea and ruins any look.

3. Third, realize what you need out of your wardrobe. This will save you time and money by helping you to steer clear of items you will never wear.

4. Fourth and final step, follow tips and suggestions on how to hide or show off your features. Some tips are included below.
   
   If you think yourself too tall you should avoid hunching, textured fabrics, long flared skirts, horizontal patterns, cuffed pants, one color outfits, vertical stripes, and the "delicate" look. However, you should wear tops that are longer and looser.
   
   If you feel short then avoid busy prints, bulky garments, cuffed pants, oversized garments (like puffy jackets), ankle strap shoes, and contrasting bold colors. You can wear short skirts, Capri pants, narrow legged pants, vertical stripes, V-neck shirts, and heels. Also, tuck in your shirts and tops.
   
   If you feel you have a large stomach or waist avoid snug waistbands, tucking in tops, straight skirts, fabrics that cling to your stomach, and thin fabrics like silk. Wear empire waistlines, A-line skirts, darker colors for your shirts, lighter colors for your pants (if small hipped), one color outfits, tuxedo or single breasted jackets for men, wide leg pants, and thick sturdy fabric. If your waist is just slightly large you can wear a wide dark colored belt with a lighter top to give yourself the appearance of a thinner waist.
   
   If you feel you have a small waist, avoid empire waist styles. This is an overall good feature and should be accented with high-waist items, belted skirts, A-line skirts, and coats with belts at the waist line. You should see the large waist section for other ideas. You can do most things they are told to avoid.
   
   If you feel you have no waist, try skinny jeans to give hips more definition, heels to highlight ankles, and waist-defining belts to wear over tops.
   
   If you feel broad shouldered, avoid items that show the difference between your shoulders and waist like belted waists. Also avoid puffed sleeves, shoulder pads, shoulder length hair, boat necks, horizontal stripes, decoration on the neckline, and boxy sleeves. You can wear soft fabrics that sit easily on the shoulders, one color outfits or darker tops, bright accessories around your wrists, pinstripe, and V-necks.
   
   If you feel you have small shoulders you can wear puffed sleeves, big lapels, decoration and color around the neckline, and shoulder pads. Basically, do the advice given for broad shoulders backwards.
   
   If you feel you have large hips, avoid excessive pockets and details at the hipline, straight skirts, pleats, accessories at the hipline, prints or bright colors on your hip

Tips & Warnings

• Consider getting your clothes tailored for a personal fit. This can make an item of clothing look more expensive as well.

[mlmathes]

on 8/9/2009 Good article! Hopefully we'll see a few less "muffin tops" out there :) 5*

[igislandgirl]

on 8/9/2009 Very well written and detaile article on how to dress your body type.