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Ezine - January 2006
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Buy Clothes that Suit
Your Shape
By Fiona Gordon
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Lay out your clothes before putting them on and check the
proportions. Juggle jackets, scarves & belts to
re-arrange the clothes to get the look you want.
• Thinner fabrics are more slimming.
• Tops and bottoms of one colour will make you look thinner.
• Wear clothes that fit.
• Wearing too large clothes will exaggerate your figure not
hide it.
• Avoid belts unless you have a slim waist.
• Use accessories carefully.
You can make your wardrobe impressive with mix and match
jewellery. Shoes depend less on you body shape than you
height. Do not buy clothes on impulse. Plan before you buy a
blouse or pants. Be somewhat scientific about shopping;
consider your body type, and colours.
Ask your self some questions;
• Do you have anything you can mix and match with it? Does
it match your lifestyle?
• Will it be comfortable, nonchalant, and easy to wear?
• Is it machine wash or dry clean only?
• Will it fit your budget? Is it appropriate?
• Is it a fad, can it be worn more than one season?
• Is it of good quality? Quality counts, it is better to
have four or five mix and match out fits of quality, than 8
or 10 'steals.'
Think in terms of outfits when you shop, and be practical.
When you buy a new dress, be sure you have shoes and other
accessories to go with it. (Maybe a jacket or scarf to
wear over it to give it a different look).
Clothes Styles and Body Shapes
• High collars shorten necks.
• Tight tops with short sleeves and breast pockets detract
from your figure. Shoes with straps shorten your legs. The
torso can be shortened or narrowed with seam lines, belts,
bows, and collars.
• A short necklace can shorten your neck.
• A scarf or belt that hangs down toward the legs will make
the legs appear longer. Knitted texture, lace, floras,
prints, and plaids can assist in creating an illusion.
• Thicker vertical patterns in plaids lengthen and slim.
• Wear a larger print where you want people to look and
smaller print where you do not want them to look.
• An all over print can camouflage figure problems, but
prints here and there can create a fuller you.
• Prints around the neck and over the shoulder can make your
shoulders appear wider. Just wear prints near the parts of
your figure's assets, because they are usually more eye
catching than a solid colour.
• When buying pants be sure they fit well. Defects are
emphasized in a pair of pants that may go unnoticed in a
skirt.
Petite women.
Petite women need to keep clothes in line, slim narrow
belts. A slight contrast in colours and fitted lines will
flatter you endlessly. Also stay with fabrics that are soft
and flowing that fits well. Over powering prints should be
avoided.
Tall women.
Tall women can indulge in wide belts; avoid tight clothes
and skirts that are to short or to long. Beauty expert
Stephanie Faber recommends tall women play down their waist
by wearing their blouses over the pants and skirts and avoid
tight belts.
Hip heavy triangle woman.
A hip heavy triangle and round full figured women can use
clothes with vertical lines to make an up and down illusion.
V-necks and skirts with slits up the sides are also good.
Clothes with small padded shoulders should be chosen. Too
big of pads will make you look like a foot ball player. Wear
long tops that go passed your hips. Choose jackets, tailored
suits and shirtwaist dresses with straight, classic cuts.
Lighter colours on top can be worn, this brings eyes up.
Wear dark stockings and avoid patterns. Select vertical,
fluid patterns and avoid bulky fabrics. Adopt the just below
the knee look in dresses and skirts. Choose accessories
close to the same colour clothes you are wearing including
shoes. This gives your body an unbroken slimmer look. Avoid
very wide pinafore skirts. Stay with straight or line
skirts.
Top heavy woman.
The top heavy body types need to choose long jackets without
shoulder pads. Do not wear blouses with fancy details and
ruffles. Do not wear clingy fabrics on top, choose darker
colours on top. Do not wear tops that are to light. Tops
with dolman or raglan sleeves and ones that fit loose
and slim down to hug the hips and waist are good. Wear pants
or skirts that are pleated to bring the eye down. Choose
thin materials like cotton, or cotton jersey. One colour
dressing will also be thinning. Flat shoes are best unless
you are short, and then wear heels. If your legs are in
good shape shorter hem lengths will draw attention away from
your top. Rectangular type woman.
The rectangular type can accentuate curves by wearing
jackets or tops that hug the waist, feminine thick sweaters
over skirts or pants. Use patterns in your tops or bottoms
to add dimension. Round out the neckline with necklaces,
scarves and other accessories, and use shoulder pads.
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| Fiona Gordon is a Business Manager and
National Educator for Vincent Davianny in Australia and New
Zealand. Fiona has many years experience in the beauty
industry, as an owner of salons, and with international
training and experience. She brings to our industry a wealth
of resources on health and wellbeing, and also on salon
management. Fiona can be contacted at
www.vincentdavianny.com.au |
