Body Type & Clothing Connection

An hourglass woman looks best in styles that repeat, or at least allude to her curved shape and defined waist.

A Glamour magazine survey confirms what has long been suspected. Over 95% of American women are dissatisfied with some element of their body proportions. That often-unjustified dissatisfaction makes it hard for women to objectively evaluate their body type and choose garments that will flatter them. Most importantly, the biggest style mistakes are of women trying to hide some imagined figure flaws.

To Minimize Broad/Square Shoulders   DO: Create a vertical at the center of your torso with a V-neckline, placket detail, narrow lapels of a jacket worn open. DON’T: Choose puffed sleeves or wide ruffled collars To Broaden Narrow/Sloping Shoulders   DO: Make a good pair of shoulder pads your fashion “best friend” Select details like yokes, epaulets, bateau necklines, set-in-sleeves, or wide collars to maintain a horizontal shoulder emphasis DON’T: Choose raglan sleeve styles or halter tops Select tent or swing styles that flare out from the shoulder line To Enhance a Small Bust   DO: Invest in a maximizer…

The relative proportion of color or design elements can make or break a look. A balanced 50:50 ratio is usually dull and uninspiring. Unbalanced proportions are more pleasing to the eye. For example, pair a shorter jacket with a longer skirt or trousers. A longer jacket works best over a short skirt, not a mid-calf one. The ideal is to create a 3:5 ratio – the so-called Golden Mean. But a simpler 1:2 ratio is almost equally effective. In evaluating proportion in an ensemble be aware that components other than the actual garment may need to be considered. For example,…

To Lengthen a Short-Waisted Body… DO: Conceal the natural waist with dropped, raised or no waist line styles Choose jackets or blouses that cover or blouse over the waist Try skirt and pant styles with waist facings instead of bands Match a belt color to bodice rather than bottoms DON’T: Use horizontal bodice details (yokes, pockets) that visually shorten torso Select full skirts that balloon out form waist Create a strong color break at your waist by tucking shirts and sweaters into your waistband To Shorten a Long-Waisted Body… DO: Choose shorter jackets in bold, advancing colors, often with horizontal…

To look taller DO: If you are under 5’3” consider shopping in the petite department Create a longer line with vertical design features like front plackets, V necklines, narrow jacket lapels, jackets worn open, creased pant legs Wear similar color values head to toe to create an unbroken lengthwise flow Color-blend shoes and hosiery to avoid distracting color break at the ankle Choose narrow body-skimming silhouettes. Wear fuller styles only in soft fabrics that fall close to the body Choose shoes with at least one-inch heels DON’T: Create widening horizontal lines with color contrast between top and bottom garments To…