Fit Tips
Dress for Your Body Shape
Dress for Your Body Shape
HOURGLASS
The hourglass figure is curvy with the hips and shoulders about the same width. The waist is well defined, about 9 inches smaller than you bust or hips.
The lower hips are usually wider than the high hips. Your rear is fairly round and full. The thighs are full but narrower than the lower hips. The lower legs
are relatively thin and shapely.
Do:
• Call attention to your well-defined waist.
• Deemphasize your ample bust line so as to not appear top-heavy.
• Wear soft, flowing, or “drape-able” fabrics and lines that acknowledge your shape without adding bulk.
• If you are very curvy, soften the line with long open over blouses, cardigans, and soft jackets that flow in a line from shoulder to thigh.
• Look for dresses cut in an a-line or sheath style. This style was made for an hourglass shape!
Don’t:
• Wear overtly sexy outfits with clingy, body-hugging shapes.
• Confine your curves into tailored, boxy clothes that broaden you.
• Wear very full skirts
RECTANGLE
The rectangular body type has an undefined waist, with similar bust, waist, and hip measurements. The waist is usually no more than 8 inches different
from your hips or bust measurement, which ever is smaller. You may not be large busted but may carry some weight through your upper back or neck.
Typically this body type has arms and legs that are slimmer than their body type. They usually don’t have thigh bulges.
Do:
• Wear clothing that falls smoothly and gently over the midriff
• Look for styles that lend an illusion of an indented waist or flow past it altogether. Jackets with seaming to create an hourglass silhouette are great
for you.
• Wear adjustable or hip-slung belts.
• Wear dropped waist styles – give a long line without losing definition.
• Keep your necklines and shoulder area interesting – v-neck tops with interesting jewelry
• Reinforce the vertical line in soft fabrics and flowing lines
• Look for feminine detailed clothing; many rectangles tend to dress in men-inspired styles.
• A sheath dress or halter style look great on this body shape. Also try strapless styles with embellishment at the neckline. Be sure that your dress
has a waist (or illusion of a waist) like a mermaid style.
Don’t:
• Wear boxy, stiff shapes that reinforce your straight lines.
• Leave shirts un-tucked
• Wear straight leg jeans or pants
APPLE
The apple shaped body is rounded in shape. It has a full bust, waist, and upper back and sometimes a prominent tummy. This body type appears top
heavy, usually with a pronounced midriff and flat rear. The high hip is wider than the lower hip. The bust and/or midriff is larger than the hips producing a
natural wedge shape. People with this body type tend to be short waisted and may have a rounded back. They may have slim arms and legs. The thighs
being the narrowest part of their bodies.
Do:
• Dress your body in shapes that work with, not against, your own natural wedge shape. Focus attention either at the should/neck/face area, or at
your hip and thigh/leg area. Emphasize what works and ignore what doesn’t.
• Wear wedge-shaped dresses with shoulder attention and a narrow hem.
• Wear long over lean outfits. (long blouson tops and leggings or a narrow skirt)
• Jackets with silhouette-enhancing seaming are good
• Wear monochromatic outfits.
• If you wear prints, wear them all over or on the bottom half with a long jacket to cover.
• Use necklines or scarves to create long, vertical lines, but be sure that they hang against the body and don’t cascade over the bosom into empty
space.
• Find jeans/pants that are boot cut – the subtle ‘bell’ or flare will balance your shoulders.
• Look for dresses that are simple on top, keeping any ornate embellishment on the bottom. A dress with a simple sleeve and a-line skirt or slim skirt
would be perfect. An Empire silhouette is flattering on all Apples!
Don’t:
• Wear set-in waists and belts
• Wear fitted jackets and tops.
• Wear halter style dresses.
• Wear strapless dresses
• Wear full puffy sleeves
PEAR
The pear-shaped body type has wider hips and thighs than shoulders and bust. The curvy lower hips and rear are the biggest part of the body. The
waist is at least 8 inches smaller than the hips and the bust and shoulders may be on the smaller side. The legs are average to large in size, and the face
and neck are slender in relation to the overall body size.
Do:
• Emphasize your midriff and Use belts to help define your waist.
• Tuck in tops
• Focus the attention above the waist with color, line, and detail
• Jackets should not be long, and should not cover your booty…this will put emphases your bottom 1/2
• Wear light, bright colors that attract the eye above the waist
• Wear separates
• If you’re pear-shaped, be sure to choose jeans that provide an easy fit. Loose-fitting styles won't be clingy. Tight low cut jeans are the last things
we pears need! Look for slightly flared hems or boot-cut styles. Both will detract attention away from pears’ problem areas -- the thighs, saddlebags and
derriere.
• Find a dress with a fuller skirt and embellishment on the top ½ of the dress. Strapless or halter styles would be great. The traditional Cinderella
style or ball gown is good for Pears.
Don’t:
• Wear light, bright colored or print skirts or slacks and dark tops.
• Wear skimpy tops.
• Wear stiff, thick fabric skirts or pants – all of our fabrics are soft and drape well.
• Wear short skirts - Note: Short skirts can work on the pear shaped body if the legs are not extra heavy
• Wear a dress with any horizontal embellishment
• Wear a dress that is column style
THICK MIDDLE
If a thick middle is your problem area, remember that jackets or shirts with hems at your midsection can make a boxy shape look chunkier. Choose jackets
that are hip length (or longer). Just say no to bulky shoulder pads and yes to drop shoulders. As for tops, a wrap-around style blouse also “nips in” the
waist where it meets, resulting in an hourglass look. If you hold up the top, and it has an hourglass shape on the hanger…that is what it will look like on
you – if it fits right!
- Look for a sash to tie at the middle; it will also cinch your waist area. A monotone suit with a nipped waist is ideal for a thick middle.
- An empire-style top will bring focus to the bust and away from a noticeable belly. Shift dresses slim your waistline; skirts and dresses cut on the
bias are great for taming the tummy area. Wearing a slender belt around your waist over a tunic or shift will visually cinch it in. Blouson style
dresses may seem like the perfect cover-up, but actually they can have the opposite effect on some shapes, so try before you buy! - Boat neck necklines, ¾ length sleeve tops, have a slimming effect on the upper body.
Quick Tip: Remember, extra-long necklaces create a leaner line on your entire top half, resulting in a slimmer look. Why not buy one long chain and lots of
pendants for variety?
Quick Tip: When jacket shopping, you can create the illusion of a waist with a curved shape or a belted back. Also look for seaming on jackets to give a
soft silhouette.
HIPS AND THIGHS
Swimsuit season strikes fear in the heart of many women, but it can be particularly daunting for those of us with generous hips and thighs -- these areas
seem to be “on display”. A plunging neckline such as a halter-style, one-piece suit will detract attention up and away from our problem area. A two-tone
suit with the lighter color up top will have a similar effect. Get a knee-length semi transparent sarong.
- If you have wide hips, choose a wide collar coat, as it will draw the eye up from the hip area. A coat that flares slightly will skim past the hips
and thighs, concealing bumps and bulges. If you’re skirt shopping, check out styles with ruffled hems or that flare slightly at the bottom (A-line
skirts are a “do”). Dresses with shirring at the bodice area can also slenderize hips. Be careful of tulip skirts and tiered skirts. You don’t want
the flare of the tulip or one of the tiers to be at your hip.
Quick Tip: Brave enough to bare more? Try a swimsuit with a high-cut brief or bottom will give the illusion of longer (and therefore slimmer) legs.
Quick Tip: A boat neck tee creates a horizontal line and broadens your shoulders, making yours hips look slimmer.
LARGE BUST
You can minimize your bust area with crossover style tees and tanks and wrap-style tops. Ponchos and poncho-style scarves and tops are popular, and
they’re perfect for detracting attention away from fuller breasts. An unzipped hoodie or open cardigan (think Sara Rhue on the first two seasons of
“Less Than Perfect”) creates a vertical line, lengthening the neckline and torso.
Quick Tip: Scoop neck tees with their deep, wide neckline work to “break up” an ample chest area.
GENERAL TIPS
• Ample Bust: stay away from strapless dresses; look for a halter style, off the shoulder or sweetheart neckline. Minimize embellishments on the top
of your dress. You may also want to give more balance through a dramatic or full skirt.
• Small Bust line: Jewel necklines, heavy embellishment on the top. Avoid dressed that are made to show off cleavage, i.e. v-neck or sweetheart.
• Heavy bottom: stay away from form fitting gowns, sometimes called ‘mermaid’ or tulip style. Look for something with a skirt cut on the bias or that
is a-line that descends from just under the bust line.
• Great legs: why not look for a handkerchief hemmed dress, or one that is shorter in the front with a long train? If you know your legs are your best
feature, show them off!
• Heavy arms: maybe add a cape or pashmina to your wedding day ensemble. This time of year, it would be very fashion forward to pair your
wedding dress with a faux fur wrap.
• Want to look taller? Look for a gown with uninterrupted lines, something that looks like a column, empire or sheath dress.
• Want to look shorter? Full skirted dresses will do the trick. A Cinderella or Ball Gown style is what you want to look for. Any horizontal detail will
also help you look shorter.
CHOOSING THE WRONG UNDERGARMENTS…will make or break your wedding dress!
Of course, with every rule there are exceptions: Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw on "Sex and the City" comes to mind as someone who breaks
most of the following rules. But for most of us, there are a few guidelines to remember when wanting to look our best.
Solution:
• Fit is everything in a bra. Go to a good boutique or store and have an expert "fit" you. It may feel uncomfortable for a stranger to do this, but it's the
best way to get a perfect fitting bra. An expert isn’t necessarily just someone that works in the department. If time permits, go into Chicago and make an
appointment at Intimacy on Michigan Avenue, (312) 337-8366
• For form-fitting, low-cut apparel, give Mother Nature a boost and use a push-up bra for the best cleavage.
• For larger-busted women, choose a full cup with underwire. Minimizers can help reduce the bustline, as well.
• For smaller busts, choose padded push-up bras.
• Don't forget the details. Make sure your straps don't show. Switch to strapless if they do.
• For fitted bottoms, choose thongs or super-smooth panties. Make sure your panty lines don't show. Choose one-piece or slip-type stretch slimmers
for the sleekest lines under fitted dresses. Try Spanx, www.Spanx.com or Assets from Target.
• For full coverage, there are even pant-liners that go practically to the ankle.
• The bare-legged look may seem chic, but there are varicose veins, uneven tans and razor stubble to contend with. And there's nary a control-top in
sight. Instead, opt for nude-colored, sheer pantyhose (sandalfoot, of course) to get the same look.
WHEN YOU GO WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING…
• Wear a good bra and leave the red undies at home. Dress underneath as you would for your wedding day…more or less. This will allow to you
see how the dress REALLY looks on you.
• Bring a pair of shoes with you in a heel height that you love.
• Call ahead to the Bridal Salons to make an appointment – this will insure that you get undivided attention from the sales person or bridal consultant
• Wear you hair up if you plan on wearing your hair up on your wedding day…if your plans are to wear it down – wear it down when you shop for a
dress.
• Easy on the make up when you shop for gowns! The dresses that you try on are samples, It will be easier for you if you don’t have to worry about
getting makeup on the dresses you are trying on.
• Wedding dresses are not sized according to the same scale as jeans. Ask for help when finding a sample to try on.
• Before you walk out of your door to go shopping, invest in a few bridal magazines. Tear out the pages showing dress styles you like. This will be
a good starting point for you when you venture to the boutiques!
• Consider color – wedding dresses are not all white! Of course, there are some that are chalk white, but some are also ivory, candle light, ivory,
eggshell and so on. Depending on your coloring, you might want to stay away from something too yellow or too white.
fit tips for brides...
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