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Contrary to what many clothing manufacturers seem to believe, not all women are the same shape. Knowing your shape and dressing for it is one of the keys to looking and feeling great. Anyone can look good, no matter what their shape, if they know how to dress for it. Fortunately, some manufacturers have begun to recognize this fact and are making clothes to suit more than one shape. Here are the four basic shapes, and how to tell which group you belong to.
The Straight or Banana Shaped Body
Women with little difference between the measurements of their bust, waist and hips are what is known as straight or banana shaped. They more often than not discover that clothing is too large on one area of their body whilst it fits perfectly on another area and selecting well fitting clothes overall proves to be difficult. Empire gowns can be flattering and draw attention to the upper part of the body. Patterns and detailing can sometimes prevent a boxy or rectangular look by breaking up the body shape.
Pear (also called the spoon or bell shapes)
Women with pear shaped bodies are larger in the hips and thighs, and generally have smaller busts than waists giving an appearance of a larger bottom half to the body. Items of clothing such as fitted jeans or slim skirts are not best suited to this shape. Garments which hug the hip and thigh areas should be avoided at all costs. When selecting dresses a fitted bodice with a fuller skirt looks good. Detailing on tops will help to give emphasis to the upper part of the body.
Apple
Women with apple shaped bodies tend to have large rib cages and thicker waists. Their bust measurements can be large or small but their hips are usually narrower and they regularly accumulate weight in the areas of the chest, arms, abdomen and shoulder first. Compared to the rest of their bodies their legs are usually slender. Apple shaped women should avoid garments drawing attention to the neckline and shoulder areas, as these only highlight their broad upper body. A fuller styled skirt will help to provide an overall balanced appearance.
The Hourglass Shaped Body
Although admired by many, women with hourglass shaped bodies can sometimes have just as many problems selecting off the peg clothing as any other shaped woman. This is due to their broad hips and chests. When clothes are found which fit perfectly in the bust and hip regions, the waist measurement of the clothing is usually too large. By the same token, if the clothing fits perfectly on the waist, it is likely to be too tight over the bust and hips. Clothes accentuating your waist are your best bet here, but you may need to be prepared to have alterations carried out in other areas. Even something as simple as having a button moved can make an item fit so much better. Heavy decoration should be avoided for this particular body shape as it will make you look bigger.
Dressing to suit your body shape is an important part of looking good. It'll also help you feel better, and give you more confidence. If shopping has been a nightmare so far, it doesn't have to be.
To discover local, national and worldwide retailers who are offering clothes for all shapes, simply carry out an on line search. This could be your way of saying goodbye to badly fitting clothes from now on.
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