The shift dress is a classic shape that has a timeless appeal with understated elegance yet with a playful approach to fashion. The shift dress doesn’t have any waist definition and therefore are worn best by lean columns, rectangles, apples and neat hourglass body shapes.
Michaela
Drawstring bags are back in in our fashion focus. They are a covetable everyday accessory and ideal for an understated off-duty look.
But they are not flattering every body shape. They are best for lean column, rectangle, inverted triangle and neat hourglass body shapes, because they are adding volume and roundness to these body shapes where they can take it and/ or need in order to create harmony and visual balance in their body shape.
It is not ideal for apple and full hourglass body shapes. These shapes have already enough curves and roundness and adding more can make them look to full. It is better for the body shapes to go opposite when choosing their shoulder bags. As cute and popular they are pears should avoid this style of bag since it is adding simply volume and attention to the part where we are the fullest. It simply doesn’t do us any any favours. Keep the attention with bags higher up.
Michaela
Cold weather and the festive season coming closer we turn to our coats for making a fashion statement either in colour or style. Every coat has its own characteristics and needs to be matched to the right body shape in order to guarantee the right match and look visually balanced. So, when choosing your coat make sure that the colour, style and shape works for you and not against you. A coat is a coverup and it should fit and complement your silhouette like a glove. So, before you follow fashion trends know your body shape first and then go shop hunting. Don’t get sidetracked by falling in love with a coat style and look that doesn’t match your body shape or because your friends and colleagues love and wear them. Stay true to yourself ” dare to be different”.
Fashion comes and goes but Style is eternal! Yves Saint Laurent
1. Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Coats that are “simple in style ” on top and get more dramatic from the waist line downwards. Hip details and and asymmetric hemlines or colour blocks are are ideal.
2. Lean Column Body shape
Clutter and details on top and lower part are best here. Oversized,double breasted and down coats are good for giving you a shaped waist and curves.
3. Rectangle Body shape
Create the illusion of a waist and roundness. Single breasted and asymmetric styles are great choices.
4. Apple Body Shape
Choose coats that have shoulder details and hang loosely fitted from the shoulders downwards.
5. Pear Body Shape
Choose styles that keep details and attention to the top and go quieter downwards. Hooded styles, wide lapels and colours are ideal.
6. Neat Hourglass Body Shape
Choose what you like best since you can wear any style.
7. Full Hourglass Body shape
Opt for fitted styles that follow your body shape . Avoid any clutter – you don’t need it.
Make the most out of your body shape by dressing to your advantage. There is a dress for every body shape or size. It is important that the dress follows the body shape and not visa versa. Choose a colour that complements you and make sure that your overall look is current and appropriate to the occasion and your age. Buy and wear only a dress that you love and feel comfortable of wearing, so you feel happy and confident rather anxious and insecure. We are all different from each other, so feel good about dressing towards your style personality.
Add signature pieces to your outfit.
1. Full Hourglass: ” Show off your curves”!
2. Pear: Body shape ” Keep the attention on your upper body”!
3. Inverted Triangle:” Your playground is the lower part of your body”!
4. Rectangle: ” Choose styles that create the illusion of a waist”!
5. Apple Body shape:” Create attention on your shoulders and as well in your hemline”!
6. Lean Column Body shape: ” Clutter and volume are key for your party outfit”!
7. Neat Hourglass: ” Anything goes – but best that shows off your perfect proportions”!
Michaela
Everyone speaks about the ” the little black dress”. But what about the ” black skirt”? Wearing a black skirt that works for your body shape is and will be always an investment buy, because it is so versatile creating various outfits for different occasions and as well it is feminine, comfortable and chic! Simplicity and elegance will never go out of style so the little black skirt is definitely a keeper. But which is the best style for you, and what do you need to look out for when you’re shopping for that perfect fit?
When it comes to looking good, it’s not your size or shape that matters, it’s the fit of your skirt on your body shape. Wearing the right black skirt shouldn’t be about following the latest fashion trends; it should be about choosing what actually suits you best and what makes you feel comfortable and confident. When choosing you best black skirt t he choices are great since they come in different styles, lengths and patterns.
Here are some tips on how to find your perfect black dress- once you have found the one that works best for your body shape it is such an all rounder since you can wear it with everything. It is so much easier to dress it up and down than a little black dress, so you can make it work for any occasion.
Inverted triangle
Lean Column
Rectangle
Apple
Pear
Neat Hourglass
Full Hourglass
Michaela
From runway to street style, there is no questioning the popularity of the maxi skirt. The maxi skirt is surprisingly versatile- even more than the maxi dress, and with the right styling pieces, you can wear it anywhere from the office to a weekend brunch or to a chic party. You can pair them with almost any top , shirt, t-shirt blouse, camisole ,jacket , blazer, jeans ,leather jacket ,cardigan, shrug or shawl- in your closet. Another advantage of wearing maxi skirts is that you get to hide your legs effortlessly while also allowing you to showcase other features you like best about your body.They are simply perfect for layering, but remember the challenge is wearing them without looking overdressed as well the proportions are key to making this item work on your body shape.
General tips how to wear your “Maxi Skirt:
Neat Hourglass: Any style goes
Full Hourglass: Don’t hide your curves behind high volume and clutter. Show off your curves by following your body shape. You have already got the attention because of your curves, so don’t out do them with patterns through out the skirt. Less is more.
Apple: You need to choose designs which take attention away from the tummy. So no to high waisted or belted skirts. Also you need to visually balance your fullness in your tummy area. Avoid narrowing and voluminous styles.
Pear: Skirts even if maxi skirts are not easiest and best fashion items. In order to avoid attention on the thighs opt for high waisted skirts versa low waisted, accenutate your waist with belted styles. Avoid details, volume and patterns or any other attention seeking styles since they will add volume to your fullest part. Choose clean, clutter free styles such as an A- line style.
Inverted Triangle: has exactly the opposite rule to a pear. That means skirts are great for this body shape. The louder, busier, attention seeking- the better will they balance out the broader shoulder frame. Full skirts, flared skirts, fish tail, tired skirts, dropped waist skirts, colour blocks, sequin, strong floral pattern anything goes as long as the style and cut is not subtle or has a narrowing shape. Play up to your strength with maxi skirts.
Rectangle: You need to create the illustion of a waist. So stay clear as well of belted or high waisted styles since they will only accentuate your straightness and make you look boxi. Better styles are low waisted or dropped skirt styles as well asymmetric styles are great. Be careful with horizontal stripes since they easily highlight your straightness in the waist. Rounder patterns like floral or animal print are always better than abstract print. It will just make you more angular. Remember you don’t need edges but curves at the right places.
Lean Column: Need to add roundness and volume to their shape. So, any clutter and volume in the maxi skirt works well. This is the only body shape that can wear the fashionable ballerina skirt. Straight and clean lines need another thought, because they can make them quickly look like a tooth pick if they don’t balance it out with rounder patterns as floral print or polka dots.
Michaela
Scarves are the perfect accessory to spring up your outfit. .Scarves will pull the whole outfit together with style, design and colour. Plus they are very versatile since they can be turned into any number of shapes and designs to accompany your clothes for any occasion.
Important here is who can wear which style, type and length of a scarf. Scarves attract focus and attention to you, so you want to make sure it is complementing your body shape.
Best practice who can wear which type of scarf
Experiment with scarf lengths to find the right size appropriate for your body shape. Scarf lengths can be determined by the amount of folds there are, knots made, how many times it goes into self-made loops, and so on. For example, you can make one side shorter than the other, or have crisscross patterns for special lengths.
Michaela
Jeans might be great multi taskers, but even they aren’t miracle workers. Don’t expect to buy one pair that will cover every occasion, from glitzy dinner to lazy Sunday morning. Work out which wardrobe job you want your jeans to do and buy accordingly – no single pair will do it all!
Firstly, keep your jeans current and sharp looking! They might have been in fashion for decades, but that doesn’t mean you can buy one pair and wear them for ever and ever. Jeans (like most clothes) do have a sell by date! Nothing will date your look faster than an outmoded style of jeans.
When buying jeans, you are not only selecting a specific cut with which you feel comfortable, you are choosing a “style” with which you should identify.
Make this decision with knowledge of the styling options and an understanding of the best fit for your body type. The aim of choosing the right jeans is to balance your silhouette.
Lean Column: You need to create the illusion of curves around hips and bust and of a waist.
Good Styles are:
Any leg type works from skinny to wide leg. Washes, colour or embellishments work well to add volume to your petite frame. The only leg line that is not as great are a pair of blue pair straight jeans. Also avoid high rise jeans since they won’t give you the needed curves in the waistline.
Neat Hourglass: Best to wear fitted styles.
Good styles are:
The choice is yours, but watch it when choosing a baggy or distressed jeans style. All in moderation otherwise it will back fire.
Full Hourglass: You need to wear shaped styles in order to follow your body line, but avoid bulk and volume around your feminine curves.
Good styles are:
Simple and clean styles such as a classic straight leg are best. A narrowing, baggy or wide leg are tricky options. Say also say no to embellishments, washes or baggy styles.
Apple: Follow your body line – avoid details around bust, tummy and hips. Keep detail in top and lower thirds.
Good styles are:
A straight leg line is your winner. Forget the rest. Stick to clean lines without any extras.
Pear: You need to balance your top half with your lower half by wearing clothes that make your shoulders look broader. Completely the opposite to an inverted triangle.
Good styles are:
Boot cut denim is best and stick to darker colours as well no fuzz and buss in washes, pocket styles or embellishments. You don’t want any attention here.
Inverted Triangle: On your bottom half you need to wear jeans that make your hips look broader, so they balance with your broader shoulders.
Good Jeans styles are:
Add volume to your jeans with elaborate treatments,washes and rinses. The more eye catching and volume they got the better for you. Simple and classic style don’t cut it here. So, look out for boyfriend style, distressed look, baggy or coloured jeans, details in hip and thigh area e.g. various washes, ripped, embellishments, flared, boot cut, wide leg, turn ups, big back pockets.
Rectangle: You need to create the illusion of a waist
Good styles are:
Lines that will give you curves in your leg work well such as skinny legs, boot cut or flares. Avoid straight leg lines at all cost and be careful with wide leg styles. The can work but not always. Also a big no no to high rise jeans- they will make you look like a brick and highlight the lack of a waist. Choose rounder or slanted pockets on your bum, front or hips.
Michaela
P.S.:
No matter what your figure, a woman really needs at least two lengths of jeans, one to be worn with flats and the other with high-heels. Unless, you want to wearing boots with the jeans tucked inside, or you always roll up the legs and wear flats.
Last preparations are at work to get everything ready and in place for Christmas Day- including your outfit! Obviously you wants to look at your best, but as well effortless chic, festive and capturing current’s fashion moment as much as wrapping it all up with your own style personality.
Here are your celebrity body shape buddies and what their best outfits are for Christmas Day and the Festive Season.
Neat Hourglass: Nicole Scherzinger
Full Hourglass: Dannii Minogue
Apple: America Ferrera
Pear: Rebecca Ferguson
Inverted Triangle: Cheryl Cole
Rectangle: Deborah Messing
Lean Column: Kate Middleton
Michaela
Michaela has a unique range of experiences from the fashion , media and design industry in London , New York , Milan and Prague . She was the MD of Cosmopolitan in Prague where she deepened her passion for colour and style. In 2005 she founded one of the leading colour and style consultancies Joy of Colour www.joyofcolour.com . Joy of Clothes aims to share her experience with a wider audience.
Michaela believes that everyone is different and they should build on their own unique DNA rather than try to be a bad copy of someone elses. Nowadays there are so many fashion trends co-existing that there is something suitable for everyone. Michaela advises against following every single fashion trend . Dressing with style needs strategy and an understanding of your colouring and body shape . Joy of Clothes aims to make it easy for you to identify the fashion that works for you and your life style.
