. . Your hips and shoulders are pretty much the same width (you can measure them if you’d like to check), but your waist measurement is less than 9″ smaller than your hip/shoulder measurements. So you don’t have a waist, and no matter how much dieting you do, you’re never going to have one.…
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Defining the X (Hourglass) Shape The X shape body has shoulders and hips relatively the same size, and a defined waist. The widest part of the body is the thighs, not the bottom, when viewed from the front. This is a defining point in distinguishing between the two hourglass body shapes (8 and X) you can…
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People seem to be obsessed with understanding what their body shape is, they feel that if they just knew that then they’d know exactly how to dress, unfortunately, body shape is only 1 element of dressing your body, there are also other considerations, such as body proportions, body variations (ie. big bust, petite, luscious bottom…
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If you’re an A shape, 8 Shape or X shape and want to broaden your shoulders to make your hips look slimmer, here are a few styles to consider. What we’re using here is the rules of horizontal lines (that you can read about here.) If you want to make your hips look smaller,…
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I’m scared, very very scared, when I see women wearing “mom jeans” down at the supermarket, I’ve always just assumed that they’re old, they’ve been in their closet for years and years, and that the poor old mom just hasn’t had time to go out and treat herself to a nice new pair of flattering…
DetailsIf you have a great set of pins and gorgeous calves, you can wear patterned tights like these, but if they’re on the more curvaceous side, avoid these kinds of tights as they’ll bulk up your calves and draw unnecessary attention. (Outfit from http://www.anntaylor.com/) Alternatively, if you’d like to create the…
DetailsIf you want to broaden your shoulders to balance your hips, why not look for epaulette detail, such as in this cardigan from Gap. This detail helps to add width and fullness to the shoulders and draws attention up the body and away from the booty. This military inspired cardigan also from Gap will…
DetailsWhile on the subject of shoes, I was reminded whilst reading Karen’s blog about a tip with shoes to make a wider foot look narrower. It’s down to the old line and design rules that work for both clothes and shoes, one of my golden rules of horizontal lines. The rule is: Never put…
DetailsThere seems to be a range of names given to these kind of shoe/boots, but no matter what you call them, what do you wear them with? For example, these shooties end at the ankle (all pics from DUO boots which are available in foot sizes 2-10 and in 21 calf size options (30-50cm),…
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I was in the shops yesterday and noticed that suddenly racks of swimwear has appeared – so for all of us in the Southern Hemisphere who are heading toward summer or around the equator where it’s always warm, I thought I’d put in some tips on choosing a new swimming costume (bathers or togs as…
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I’ve been asked to give the busty, voluptuous petite woman some tips on what to wear. Keep it simple, the shorter you are the more simple your clothes need to be, avoid lots of frills and flounces, details and pockets, they will all overwhelm your smaller frame. Keep your outfits as free of…
DetailsIf you like the look of a straight or pencil skirt, which shape should you choose for your body? This Premise skirt from Nordstrom with pleat details at the waistband is only suitable for women who are and I shape, straight up and down and very slim, with no hips as it will give you…
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Ombre (or shaded dyeing) is a fashion trend that’s been around in both hair and clothing, but how to wear it so it’s flattering and what to be wary of so you don’t buy an unflattering garment. The thing to remember is the rule of advancing and receding colours Dark colours recede and make things…
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How to Choose a Garment with Detail Have you ever thought about where a garment is making you look? Garments can have focal points, particularly with pattern and detail (or colour changes) so it’s good to be aware of where these are and what is ideal for you. Design details can draw attention…
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Rebecca from The Space Between My Peers had this Reader Question which she was having difficulty answering and asked if I could help, so here goes: I was wondering whether you’d do a post of layering length of jackets/cardigans over tops. I was thinking about how to combine short/regular/long cover-ups over short/regular/tunic length tops. This…
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If you’re one of those women who would describe their shape as ‘boyish’ or ‘beanpole’ these tips are for you. I use the term I Shape for this body shape, it can also be called a slim rectangle, banana, celery, beanpole and all other assorted vegetables! But, if you would describe yourself as curvy…
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An A shape or Pear shape body has narrower shoulders than hips. If you’re not sure if this is your body shape, why not do my body shape calculator quiz here and then download your free Body Shape Bible which is full of tips on how to dress your shape. If you’re…
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You weren’t blessed in the leg department with those “legs that go on forever”? No need to fret, I’ve got the optical illusion tips to help you fake longer looking legs. Which Shoes to Wear with a Skirt If you’re wearing a skirt, then choose a shoe in a colour that relates to your skin…
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What are the Rules of Belting? Belting is common on dresses and some coats, so when styles of dress that include belts are in fashion the question is should you follow this trend or ignore it completely and if you don’t want to ignore it, how do you make it look as good as possible…
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How to Choose Jeans Whether it’s pocket placement or shape, there are a few things you need to think about when choosing a flattering pair of jeans. These 7 for All Mankind jeans (right) will flatter someone with a boyish shape and make their hips look curiver. They are murder on someone who is already…
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The fabric a garment is made in, can completely alter the way it sits and whether it is flattering or not for your body. If you’re a more cushioned type of person, be very aware of the fabrics you choose as they can make you appear to add or lose weight. For example, this…
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