Style Articles
| DRESSING TO YOUR BODY’S NATURAL SHAPE |
Are you small on top and round out at the bottom? Or is your body long and lean like a
column? Whatever your shape may be there are proven techniques used by professional stylists to
create the most flawless look for your specific body type. Fashion experts have invented numerous
ways to describe our body’s silhouettes. Some use geometric shapes, while others use descriptive
words likening our bodies to fruit, or that of women portrayed by famous artists, and some simply
classify our bodies alphabetically. Which ever terms you subscribe to is up to you. Knowing the
tricks to dress according to the guidelines for your body type is the key to looking your best.
There is one central goal to looking your absolute best and that is to create the appearance of
balance. When your outfit is balanced, you become the focal point wearing your clothes, rather than
your clothes wearing you. There are many ways to create the illusion of balance depending on your
body-type.
Kendall Farr, celebrity fashion stylist and author of the “The Pocket Stylist,” tells us there are four
fashion fundamentals that clothing designers use to construct clothing:
A common misconception about a body's shape or frame is that it can change over time, possibly
through pregnancy, puberty or weight lost. However, the body’s frame is something that people are
born with. Weight may be gained or lost in different body areas throughout life, but the body’s shape
(or frame) will never change.
The easiest way to figure out your body shape or silhouette is to tape together newspaper and have
a friend draw your body outline wearing only a swimsuit or underclothing. You can also enlist the
help of a professional -- an expert style coach will analyze and identify your body shape, while also
helping you create a balanced wardrobe containing outfits which flatter your figure and your
lifestyle. After you know your body’s shape and learn how to shop for clothes that best fit you,
shopping will be an exciting event.
Television is packed with beauty and fashion make-over shows -- whether it’s an episode on how to
find the right pair of jeans on Oprah or “What Not to Wear,” on TLC, a show designed to identify
clothing outfits that fit individual body shapes. You can find more information about dressing for
your body shape or hire a style coach online at: www.inspirestylecoaching.com.
column? Whatever your shape may be there are proven techniques used by professional stylists to
create the most flawless look for your specific body type. Fashion experts have invented numerous
ways to describe our body’s silhouettes. Some use geometric shapes, while others use descriptive
words likening our bodies to fruit, or that of women portrayed by famous artists, and some simply
classify our bodies alphabetically. Which ever terms you subscribe to is up to you. Knowing the
tricks to dress according to the guidelines for your body type is the key to looking your best.
There is one central goal to looking your absolute best and that is to create the appearance of
balance. When your outfit is balanced, you become the focal point wearing your clothes, rather than
your clothes wearing you. There are many ways to create the illusion of balance depending on your
body-type.
Kendall Farr, celebrity fashion stylist and author of the “The Pocket Stylist,” tells us there are four
fashion fundamentals that clothing designers use to construct clothing:
A common misconception about a body's shape or frame is that it can change over time, possibly
through pregnancy, puberty or weight lost. However, the body’s frame is something that people are
born with. Weight may be gained or lost in different body areas throughout life, but the body’s shape
(or frame) will never change.
The easiest way to figure out your body shape or silhouette is to tape together newspaper and have
a friend draw your body outline wearing only a swimsuit or underclothing. You can also enlist the
help of a professional -- an expert style coach will analyze and identify your body shape, while also
helping you create a balanced wardrobe containing outfits which flatter your figure and your
lifestyle. After you know your body’s shape and learn how to shop for clothes that best fit you,
shopping will be an exciting event.
- TIP: If your shape is smaller at the shoulders and bust and wider in the hips and bottom,
you are in the majority of female body-shapes. Your clothing goal is to shop for clothes
which draw attention upwards away from the fuller hips and thighs and add volume and
visual interest to your upper half. This is one of several tricks for achieving a balanced look.
Television is packed with beauty and fashion make-over shows -- whether it’s an episode on how to
find the right pair of jeans on Oprah or “What Not to Wear,” on TLC, a show designed to identify
clothing outfits that fit individual body shapes. You can find more information about dressing for
your body shape or hire a style coach online at: www.inspirestylecoaching.com.
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Improve your look
with the help of these
services:
with the help of these
services:
- Style Coaching
- Body Analysis
- Closet Sweep
- Partner
Shopping
| styleCOACHING 503.758.3839 www.inspirestylecoaching.com |
Knowing these basic principles will allow you to buy the best option for you and
your body-type. The silhouette is the shape, outline or cut of an outfit. The
proportion is how each piece of the outfit relates to one another. The composition
of fabric complements and supports the silhouette. The last principle is the optical
illusion of an unbroken body-line and how to keep it looking its longest. Farr
suggests that understanding clothing is designed first for silhouette and second for
measurement, shoppers will be better equipped to find clothes that fit correctly.
your body-type. The silhouette is the shape, outline or cut of an outfit. The
proportion is how each piece of the outfit relates to one another. The composition
of fabric complements and supports the silhouette. The last principle is the optical
illusion of an unbroken body-line and how to keep it looking its longest. Farr
suggests that understanding clothing is designed first for silhouette and second for
measurement, shoppers will be better equipped to find clothes that fit correctly.