Knowing your body shape can have a huge impact on the clothes you wear. Different shapes will look better in different styles, so it is important to figure out what yours is. Understanding your own body type will also help you choose more flattering clothing, which can go a long way towards boosting self-confidence and feeling good about yourself!
A pear shape body is widest around the hips, with a narrow waist and surprisingly full bust. If you are shaped like this, it’s best to wear clothing that emphasizes the hips in form-fitting styles or opulent fabrics.
A rectangular body is tall and thin, with a somewhat flat chest. You may have wide hips or be short in the legs. Fabrics that drape well are best for you because they will disguise your shape without adding bulk to the top of any area where it’s not wanted.
An hourglass figure has a curvy lower body and narrow waistline at the top. This type tends to wear clothing that accentuates curves through the use of gathers or cinching in certain areas as opposed to hiding them completely under the loose fabric.
Steps to determine the body shape:
Look at the width of your torso
Determine if you have a wide hip bone or narrow hips. Your lower body shape will be different depending on what type this is.
Note how full your breasts are and whether they’re more towards the front, side, top or bottom. This can also affect which style may work best for you as well as help with determining cup size.
Take note of any other features such as short legs relative to the rest of your build – clothing that fits loosely around these areas would need to cinch in somewhere else to compensate for their difference in length (i.e., skirts should hit above the knee).
Evaluate clothes before you buy them:
Determine what kind of fit works best for you: determine what kind of fit works best for you: evaluate clothes before buying them. Clothing should not be too tight or loose and leave enough room (either at the waistline or through the bust) but still have a slight formfitting appearance without being skimpy looking. Loose-fitting items can sometimes give an illusion that they will flatter when they don’t
Never wear anything that’s too tight. Tight clothes will show every lump and bump on your body, so they’ll never look flattering for any of the shapes above. Wearing something too loose can also make you feel frumpy and unattractive (plus it looks shapeless).
Clothing should be snug but not constricting or uncomfortable, it should fit your shape without giving an obvious outline from behind- wearing clothing that doesn’t hug your curves just makes them seem larger than they are. The best way to test whether a garment is right for you is to try it on in front of a full-length mirror with as few clothes underneath as possible.
Dress for the shape you have, not for what you think it should be! A dress that is slinky and clingy on one body might look like a sack of potatoes on another—keep this in mind when looking at clothing online or trying things out in person.
