What Shape Are You?

What shape are you?

An hour glass shape can just as easily be a size 8 OR a size 14. Larger pears suit the same styles as skinny pears, and women with large boobs fall under the same category, "vase", as someone with a big bum. See where I'm going with this? Size is just a number, it shouldn't define how you shop or where you shop. Everyone should find shopping a rewarding experience, but the majority of retailers do not take into account that someone may be a size 16 because of her bum, boobs or thighs. Which is why, more often than not, clothes tend not to fit in all the right places, and fall in all the wrong ones.

Dress for your shape, NOT your size. So, what shape are you?

Hour Glass- You tend to feel that your body is not made for clothes. You are slightly smaller than the rest, and to make it harder you have big boobs and a waist that comes up short. But you forget that you have the body that all women envy. Curves in all the right places, so put down the smock dresses that tend to make you look pregnant. The key is to show off your body. Find tops that create the illusion of a longer torso. The majority of your wardrobe should be V necks and fitted skirts.

Vase- You're not as curvy as an hourglass, and you don't have as much junk in the trunk. You don't particularly like your arms, and prefer to cover them up. You are slightly taller than the rest, and you have great big boobs and a tummy that makes fashion your worst enemy. However, just like the hourglass, people see sexy curves and you just don't know why! Your best friends are defined lines and tailored jackets. Wide scooped or square necklines will balance out the rest of your proportions to match with your chest, and buttoned jackets with a wide collar, or belts, will accentuate your narrow waist.

Pear- You have a beautifully defined neck and shoulders, arms that people will envy. And you wish that your bottom half would resemble the top! You have been born with child baring hips, and calves that you wish would have more definition. Stick to detailing your top half, and no one will notice the bottom. Find pants that fall from your hips down, no flare and no cinching. You can wear just about any type of neckline, especially because you don't have the biggest boobs. For dresses, chose a gorgeous A line with a scoop neck, preferably with thin straps, because you can!

Petite- You have legs that people would die for, and love to show off your arms and calves. However, you envy the women that have boobs and a waist, because sometimes you feel more like a boy than a woman. Find tops that cinch in at the waist and have a certain type of "flow" about them. You can get away with the volume and look great, because of your petite shape you won't look bigger than you are. You will just be creating the curves you are looking for. Choosing dresses, go for a low scoop neck with frills or detailing. Stay away from V necks as they can tend to make you look flatter.

Of course we are all different, and obviously not everyone is going to fall under the 4 categories I have labelled here. These are just guidelines and you may find that you have attributes from 1, or all 4. Find the specifics from each, and you will be able to come up with your very own "shape".

*TIP-Dresses can be a hard one. But like always, I'm pulling out my rule book. Just remember this. If you are stuck for what style to go for, always remember that dresses and skirts should sit just below the knee. It is the most flattering position that a hem can sit at to suit EVERY type of body shape. So many women choose dresses or skirts that sit in the middle of their calf, and this length is exactly how you create the frumpy look. So remember "just below the knee", stick to the correct neckline and this will be your tool for creating the right look.