Why Does Body Shape Matter?
Once upon a time only fruit defined our body shapes.
Today, body shape goes much further detail than the fruit bowl and understanding how to dress for your shape can truly transform the way you look and feel.
So this blog post will be a little more theory based than the usual visuals but I hope you will find it informative. It will also lean towards dressing in the cooler months ahead where clothing fabric gets thicker, heavier and can really alter your shape (in a not so stylish way) if not worn correctly.
Now…let’s talk:
How many of you have clothes you know you absolutely rock in?
You know, those outfits that you wear and people say; “woah – have you lost weight?
Or, “wow, your figure looks amazing!”
And then there are those outfits, which don’t draw any comments at all, and you yourself know that they’re not quite rock-worthy. We all know the ones 🙂
The same applies if you’ve ever seen a makeover show.
Pre photos are always make-up free, hair looking very average with the woman generally dressed in a saggy, loose sack-like piece. However post-photo will always have that person gleaming, hair blowaved, make-up in check and wearing a nicely fitted outfit that enhances her newly found body shape.
Might sound cheesy but when you look good, you feel good so those smiles are generally real!
Women are often afraid of fitted clothing as they are worried that it will enhance the bits they don’t like! Fitted does not mean tight!!!!!! Fitted means shape……this equals you looking AMAZING.
So let’s get started with some body shape guidelines:
- Avoid boxy jackets if it means you might lose your waist. Unless you’re taking it off and you are wearing a more fitted look underneath.
- A loose baggy dress (although it might be comfortable) could it be pulled in with a belt to create shape?
- A heavy bulky jumper could add weight, so instead, try wearing a thin jumper or thinner layers that will lighten you and still keep your shape.
- If you are wanting to add layers under or over a dress, think about the bulk of the dress without any layers, then imagine more!
- Winter is cold…..BUT…..there is heating so, if layering with the intent to peel off, make sure whats underneath is what you love, above all else, does it create shape?
- If you are bottom heavy, keep the thick fabrics up top
Now I’m not saying that you can’t wear bulky items if you want to, but it’s important to understand they can alter your shape making you appear wider and heavier.
In the cooler weather, comfort comes in the form of fashion and food……….. Mmmm… waffles and golden syrup, dumplings……..oh, pardon me, I’m totally digressing from the body shape conversation!
But I think you all get my point!
In Winter, we all need to be a little bit more strategic with how we wear or layer some of the bulkier fashion pieces and how we accessorise them.
As a personal stylist, my job is all about guiding my clients to make better choices with the clothes they wear.
This also means that what they wear will look amazing and never blah or ordinary because they’re dressing for their shape, size and lifestyle.
You’ll find people will comment on how great you look when they can see your shape! But, this is about you! I want YOU to look in the mirror and love what YOU see.
And isn’t everyone worthy of that?
Would love to hear your thoughts on body shape and it’s importance in the comments below.
Tracy says
Completely agree! I’m a plus size, pear /hourglass shape, and despite being big I find the clothes that look great on me are quite fitted and show off my smaller waist compared to my hips and shoulders. But sadly I really struggle to find clothes like this that I love as the plus sized clothes that are quite fitted are often aimed at quite young women (I’m mid 40’s) and make me feel like mutton. And most plus sized clothes seem to be about loose and baggy tops which are great for apple shapes when they wear fitted pants to show off their slimmer legs, but just make me look waaaay bigger than I am! Tops that finish at the widest part of the hip look better too (not sure if that’s because they just look more fitted or whether it elongates the lower half of my body) but all plus sized tops seem to be loooong, so I’m forever getting tops taken up. And despite living somewhere that sees us getting light snow in winter every other year, I usually prefer a tailored jacket or coat to a knit (even tho a knit would be warmer) because they skim the body and don’t make my soft squishy bits look as soft and squishy 🙂
Cindy Newstead says
Thanks Tracy! I know how hard it is to find plus sizes that are actually flattering!!! You have no choice but to keep your waist and shape, avoiding bulk on the lower half! Thanks Tracy 🙂 xo
l Camille says
Simple long tops under light dresses allow me to use summer dresses in winter and keep the same shape and extra wear plus stay warm.
Cindy Newstead says
Perfect Camille! so much of our summer wardrobe can actually be worn in winter with clever, thin layering!! C xo
Gabby Howlett says
Hi Cindy
I love your idea of wearing more fitted clothes which make your shape look better than using larger loose fitting.
I’m an inverted triangle size 12 – 14 would you recommend layers of fitted long tops such as cotton ones rather than a jumper? I find jumpers can be heavy on me. I’m interested in your thoughts?
Thanks also for your blog it’s really well done 🙂
Cindy Newstead says
Thanks so much Gabby! Thin layers every day of the week over bulky knits!!!! Glad you are enjoying our blogs……,.,,sorry for my late response 🙂 xo
Lisa says
I’m with Camille. I wear exactly the same dresses and skirts in summer as I do in winter. The difference is that in winter I layer with long sleeved light merino or metallicus tops, scarves, jackets stockings and long boots. Cindy – you revolutionised what I wear when you taught me about layering 🙂
Cindy Newstead says
Ha, ha…….Thanks Lisa……so pleased!!!! ALSO GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 🙂 XO