Clothing Styles & Body Shapes

Layout your clothes before putting them on mix combinations and colour schemes before trying them on.

Tops and bottoms of one colour will make you look thinner.

Important wear clothes that fit.

Wearing too large clothes will exaggerate your figure not hide it.

Avoid belts unless you have a slim waist.

Choose appropriate accessories to your lifestyle; don’t be afraid to experiment with combination layout.

Shoes makes and completes an outfit, don’t forget quality counts. Buying clothes on impulse is a bad idea; you need to plan more in advance, what exactly you want!!

Ask yourself Do you have anything you can mix and match with it? Does it match your lifestyle?

· Will it be comfortable, easy to wear?

· Can it be machine washed 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? It is better to have four or five mix and match outfits of good quality, than 8 or 10 cheap one-offs??

Don’t get swept away by quick bargains outfits when you shop, be practical. When you buy a new dress, be sure you have shoes and other accessories to go with it or maybe a jacket or scarf to wear over it to give it a different look.

Clothes Styles and Body Shapes

· V-neck line collar makes your neck look longer. Flat ballet style shoes don’t compliment your body as they make you look shorter.

· A short necklace can shorten your neck.

· A scarf 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.

· Vertical lines in clothing, makes you look taller and slimmer.

· Large print will make you look bigger, whereas smaller print all over can camouflage.

· 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 colour 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 wear any width style of belts, try to wear knee length and just below the knee skirts, and try to avoid skirts that are too short.

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 A-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 raglan sleeves that fit loose are good. Wear trousers 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.

Rectangular type woman
The rectangular type can accentuate curves by wearing jackets or tops that hug the waist, feminine thick sweaters over skirts or trousers. Use patterns in your tops or bottoms to add dimension. Round out the neckline with necklaces, scarves and other accessories, and use shoulder pads.