Dressing Your Body Type

Every woman has something about her body she'd like to hide, whether it's heavy thighs, a podgy tummy or a too-round bottom. With just a few visual tricks, your problem areas will disappear and let your true beauty shine through!

Body basics for every figure
1. Wear colours that look great on you. Not sure what those are? Grab a trusted friend and head to the mall. Hold up tons of colours next to your face and get feedback from your friend. Hues that compliment most complexions: pink, blue, white (you'll just need to change the intensity of these colours to suit your colouring, i.e. hot pink for darker skins, carnation for fairer, ivory for olive tones, etc.)

2. Nobody looks good in high-wasted, pleated pants with narrow ankle openings, but manufacturers still turn these out in droves. Avoid!

3. Don't worry about being trendy when you look at what suits your figure: concentrate on what flatters, and add up-to-date shoes, handbags and accessories later.


PLUS SIZE
Just because your figure has curves doesn't mean you can't enjoy a pretty fitted, sleeveless dress. Show some skin and enjoy the slimming capabilities of a sleek sheath.

UNATTRACTIVE LEGS
Don't want to show off your legs? You can still look gorgeous in a dress, instead of hiding your legs in pants. Try wearing a longer skirt (mid-calf or longer). A surplice-top dress gives you extra coverage but plenty of sensual appeal with a sexy wrap bodice, plus there are always the pants.

WIDE SHOULDERS
You don't need to hide your upper body if you have wide shoulders. Instead, look for body-balancing details on bottom, like a wide colour-block hem. A soft, rounded neckline further breaks up the line of wide shoulders. Avoid puffy sleeves or voluminous tops paired with slim bottoms that will exaggerate your shoulder width.

THICK WAIST
Disguise a thick waist by raising, lowering or eliminating the waistline. Dresses that feature a raised waist with full sleeves work to draw the eye up and away from a thick middle. A drop-waist dress that hits somewhere around the hipbones, or no-waist shifts are other good alternative for disguising a thick waist.

SMALL BUST
Most clothing actually hangs better on women with smaller busts, but if you want to add more volume up top look for embellishment or fullness on the bust. A high-wasted, mock two-piece dress is a trendy look made for smaller busted women. The combination of a white shirt with a tuxedo bodice adds visual fullness without any extra bulk.

TOO THIN
If you're body lacks natural curves, add feminine presence pattern and texture like a zigzag sweater dress. You can also pump up the volume with extra details like full sleeves, ruche waist, layers, ruffles and big prints. Horizontal prints will work wonders for you.

FLABBY ARMS
Don't worry: you don't have to look matronly to cover up flabby arms. The trick is to keep the sexy element with one of the pretty sleeves that are popular right now like lantern sleeves, puff sleeves, kimono or bishop sleeves. This 3/4 sleeve dress from Old Navy features a slight puff.

BUSTY GALS
Are you a busty gal? Do you love your curvy shape but don't know how to show it off right? Consider these tips to balance your plus-size figure and put everything in proportion!

Identify the characteristics of your busty ‘bod’
Busty women may have:
- A wider back
- Full arms
- Softer shoulders
- A defined waistline
- Busty women always have full breasts, regardless of their weight.

· Find a shirt that flatters your womanly bust line: Shirts with a v-neck or u-neckline make your bust look a little higher and more proportional. Look for tank tops with wider straps for warmer weather.
· Avoid very stretchy fabrics in a clingy cut: You may feel self-conscious, and every inch of your torso will be on display. If you love clingy fabrics, try layering a stretchy top under a blazer or light wrap. Steer clear of spaghetti straps, which can make your chest and shoulders look sizes larger.
· Layer with a jacket or sweater: Wrap tops are the perfect solution for layering and flattering! The v-neckline of your wrap shirt will flatter your bust and make your waist look more defined. Wear your outer layer slightly shorter, with the longer tee underneath. If the under layer is figure-hugging, you'll have shape and coverage without feeling too exposed. Wear your jackets buttoned to nip in your waist.
· Get a skirt that balances the bust: A-line styles will match your full bust line and keep you looking proportional. If you like your shirts tucked in, try wearing a skirt with a slightly lower waistline to elongate your torso. Wear a pencil skirt to show off your curves. If you have average or larger hips and a smaller waist, go glam and flaunt it! Avoid miniskirts, which may look slutty in combination with your enviable bust.
· Grab the perfect pair of trousers: Go for a slightly wide-legged look if you would like your trousers to skim over the hips. Try wearing a shirt with darts or ties near the waist to add shape to your form. Avoid skinny styles, which can make your bust look even more substantial.
· Try a dress for the evening out: Invoke your inner vintage diva with a romantic dress. Wear a dress with a structured bodice and an a-line skirt to add balance to your natural shape. Don't forget about black. It's slimming, classic, and universally appealing. Wear a black cotton jersey dress with long sleeves and a low neckline to emphasize what you've got. Supportive undergarments are key with this look, so try an underwear bra with a front closure and padded straps. Stay away from strapless models. No matter how supportive they claim to be, they aren't.
· Accessorize, accessorize, and accessorize: Choose layered slim chains for an exotic feel. Don't wear necklaces that are too long. They won't lie flat against your bust. Stay away from chokers. They can super-size your bust area.