Identifying Body Shapes
I came across this great article on how to identify your body shape by super stylists Trinny and Susannah, Its simple, straight forward, informative and easy to follow.
It’s a fundamental fashion truth that no one has the perfect body. The key is to be realistic about what you’ve got and then follow some simple rules to get the best out of your body shape.
Hourglass
Hourglass
Large around the breasts, small short waist, large hips and generous thighs.
Do's – Look for fitted dresses that elongate the waist. Deep V or open neckline tops, drape-y trousers, pencil skirts, simple necklaces and two button jackets all work.
Don’ts - blouses with too much detailing, no frills, definitely no bows, no shoes that pull attention to your ankle as this will make you look shorter, therefore no ankle straps, no boots that stop at your shin or ankles. No smocks, batwing sleeves, flap side pockets on trousers or big belts.
Style Inspirations – Nigella Lawson, Salma Hayek & Charlotte Church
Do's – Look for fitted dresses that elongate the waist. Deep V or open neckline tops, drape-y trousers, pencil skirts, simple necklaces and two button jackets all work.
Don’ts - blouses with too much detailing, no frills, definitely no bows, no shoes that pull attention to your ankle as this will make you look shorter, therefore no ankle straps, no boots that stop at your shin or ankles. No smocks, batwing sleeves, flap side pockets on trousers or big belts.
Style Inspirations – Nigella Lawson, Salma Hayek & Charlotte Church
Pear
Pear
A long torso, small breasts, flat tummy, saddlebags and heavy legs.
Do's – Try wide-leg trousers, long A-line skirts, strapless dresses with full skirts and shoulder enhancing shrugs will even out your body shape and proportions. Straight boots or chunky, platform heels.
Don’ts - bias-cut and pencil skirts, skinny jeans, jodhpurs, stilettos or shoes with ankle straps.
Style Inspiration - Sandra Bullock and Katie Holmes
Do's – Try wide-leg trousers, long A-line skirts, strapless dresses with full skirts and shoulder enhancing shrugs will even out your body shape and proportions. Straight boots or chunky, platform heels.
Don’ts - bias-cut and pencil skirts, skinny jeans, jodhpurs, stilettos or shoes with ankle straps.
Style Inspiration - Sandra Bullock and Katie Holmes
Apple
Apple
A tummy larger than her medium sized breasts, flat bum and good legs.
Do's – To hide that tummy keep it tight under the boobs and look to tummy-skimming tops and ruched in the middle t-shirts. Side fastening long sleeve shirts, tie waisted jackets, flat-fronted trousers, tailored denim and skirts with pleats starting below the tummy also flatter. Go for a wedge style heel.
Don'ts - Tight or fitted t-shirts. Big, square over sized t-shirts. High waisted trousers, pleated waists, puffy jackets and boyfriend style jeans.
Style Inspirations: Beth Ditto and Kathy Bates
Do's – To hide that tummy keep it tight under the boobs and look to tummy-skimming tops and ruched in the middle t-shirts. Side fastening long sleeve shirts, tie waisted jackets, flat-fronted trousers, tailored denim and skirts with pleats starting below the tummy also flatter. Go for a wedge style heel.
Don'ts - Tight or fitted t-shirts. Big, square over sized t-shirts. High waisted trousers, pleated waists, puffy jackets and boyfriend style jeans.
Style Inspirations: Beth Ditto and Kathy Bates
Brick
Brick
A combination of broad shoulders, no waist and average stomach, flat bottom, big thighs, calves, and shins.
Do's – Key here is to create shape. Go for fitted tank tops, draping jerseys, round necklines with graphic decoration, tie belted jackets and empire line coats. Dresses should be high wrap style and stick to asymmetric or paneled skirts and floppy troupes.
Don'ts - Boxy or double-breasted jackets, short mini skirts and box pleats, trousers in heavy or stiff fabrics, and heavy solid or wedge shoes.
Style Inspirations: Jennifer Hudson, Dame Judi Dench, Kim Cattrall and Queen Latifah
Do's – Key here is to create shape. Go for fitted tank tops, draping jerseys, round necklines with graphic decoration, tie belted jackets and empire line coats. Dresses should be high wrap style and stick to asymmetric or paneled skirts and floppy troupes.
Don'ts - Boxy or double-breasted jackets, short mini skirts and box pleats, trousers in heavy or stiff fabrics, and heavy solid or wedge shoes.
Style Inspirations: Jennifer Hudson, Dame Judi Dench, Kim Cattrall and Queen Latifah
Column
Column
Shoulder width the same as the hips, slight waist and long legs.
Do's - Go for long chunky necklaces over round-neck tops and shaped and gathered shirts to create shape and curves. Jackets should be angular, single button or belted three quarter length with hip pockets. Chiffon dress with fluted long sleeves and A-line shirts are best, Trousers should either be cropped or slightly flared if longer. Stick to elegantly balanced shoes
Don’ts - Formless mid length jackets, straight dresses, dropped waist or crop tops.
Style Inspirations: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda and Nicole Kidman
Do's - Go for long chunky necklaces over round-neck tops and shaped and gathered shirts to create shape and curves. Jackets should be angular, single button or belted three quarter length with hip pockets. Chiffon dress with fluted long sleeves and A-line shirts are best, Trousers should either be cropped or slightly flared if longer. Stick to elegantly balanced shoes
Don’ts - Formless mid length jackets, straight dresses, dropped waist or crop tops.
Style Inspirations: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda and Nicole Kidman
Vase
Vase
Large breasts, gently curving long waist, breast and hips in equal size with slim thighs and legs.
Do's - A fitted shirt with puffed sleeves, tops with square necklines and cropped sleeves or single buttoned jackets with rounded lapel work best. Scooped-neck knit dresses that are fitted under the boob, hold it-all-in glamorous dresses, high-waisted pencil skirts or trousers with slanted pockets and big belt loops and straight leg leans. And curvy peep-toe shoes will sex things up and keep you from feeling frumpy.
Don’ts - Things that call attention to your neckline such as ruffles. No sleeveless round neck tops, dresses or skirts with tired frills, no wedge shoes.
Style Inspirations: Kate Winslet, Kelly Brook and Geena Davis
Do's - A fitted shirt with puffed sleeves, tops with square necklines and cropped sleeves or single buttoned jackets with rounded lapel work best. Scooped-neck knit dresses that are fitted under the boob, hold it-all-in glamorous dresses, high-waisted pencil skirts or trousers with slanted pockets and big belt loops and straight leg leans. And curvy peep-toe shoes will sex things up and keep you from feeling frumpy.
Don’ts - Things that call attention to your neckline such as ruffles. No sleeveless round neck tops, dresses or skirts with tired frills, no wedge shoes.
Style Inspirations: Kate Winslet, Kelly Brook and Geena Davis
Skittle
Skittle
Medium size bust, slim waist, good tummy, big thighs and chunky calves.
Do's - Big bow blouses, body hugging sparkly tops, fitted knits, broad lapel cropped jackets or fitted coats will keep your top half looking neat. Clingy dresses with a flared skirt or vertically paneled skirts are best. Trousers with a wide-leg and pockets on an angle work best for the larger bottom half. Keep heels high and chunky.
Don’ts - Spaghetti strap singlets, jackets that cut across the bum, three quarter length trousers and stretch trousers of any kind, pencil calf-length straight skirts, shoes with ankle straps.
Style Inspirations: Halle Berry, Sharon Osborne and Meryl Streep
Do's - Big bow blouses, body hugging sparkly tops, fitted knits, broad lapel cropped jackets or fitted coats will keep your top half looking neat. Clingy dresses with a flared skirt or vertically paneled skirts are best. Trousers with a wide-leg and pockets on an angle work best for the larger bottom half. Keep heels high and chunky.
Don’ts - Spaghetti strap singlets, jackets that cut across the bum, three quarter length trousers and stretch trousers of any kind, pencil calf-length straight skirts, shoes with ankle straps.
Style Inspirations: Halle Berry, Sharon Osborne and Meryl Streep
Lollipop
Lollipop
Large breasts, slight waist, slim hips and long legs.
Do's - The best way to dress when you have large breasts are scoop necked tank tops or tops with a wide sweetheart neckline. Printed jackets with double buttons or coats with buttons under the boobs and a full skirt are also great. Dresses should be knotted and gathered and fluted style skirts or with hip details work. Also bell-bottom trousers and slim, straight-heeled shoes.
Don’ts - Polo necks, chunky sweaters, elaborate necklaces or anything that pulls too much attention to your top half. High waisted trousers, shift dresses that hang from your bust and bolero jackets.
Style Inspirations: Uma Thurman, Susan Sarandon and Angelina Jolie.
Do's - The best way to dress when you have large breasts are scoop necked tank tops or tops with a wide sweetheart neckline. Printed jackets with double buttons or coats with buttons under the boobs and a full skirt are also great. Dresses should be knotted and gathered and fluted style skirts or with hip details work. Also bell-bottom trousers and slim, straight-heeled shoes.
Don’ts - Polo necks, chunky sweaters, elaborate necklaces or anything that pulls too much attention to your top half. High waisted trousers, shift dresses that hang from your bust and bolero jackets.
Style Inspirations: Uma Thurman, Susan Sarandon and Angelina Jolie.
Goblet
Goblet
Broad shoulders, large breasts, no waist, narrow hips and long legs.
Do's - When you’re really big up top, tops should have a deep wide neck or have an empire line and be fitted. Single-breasted coats with big pockets or fitted short jackets. Dresses should also have scooped necks and be balloon-sleeved with tight skirts, fluted at the hemline or paneled in heavy fabric. Low-waisted slim line jeans to show off your legs and curvy, yet sturdy heels.
Don’ts - Wide-legged sweat pants, shift dresses, skinny belts, chunky knit sweaters and double breasted jackets
Style Inspirations: Renee Zellwegger, Catherine Zeta Jones and Jessica Lange
Do's - When you’re really big up top, tops should have a deep wide neck or have an empire line and be fitted. Single-breasted coats with big pockets or fitted short jackets. Dresses should also have scooped necks and be balloon-sleeved with tight skirts, fluted at the hemline or paneled in heavy fabric. Low-waisted slim line jeans to show off your legs and curvy, yet sturdy heels.
Don’ts - Wide-legged sweat pants, shift dresses, skinny belts, chunky knit sweaters and double breasted jackets
Style Inspirations: Renee Zellwegger, Catherine Zeta Jones and Jessica Lange
Cornet
Cornet
Broad shoulders, small breasts, no waist, slim hips and long, slim legs.
Do's - Asymmetric wrap cardigan, wide lapel, fitted shirts with a double cuff. Angular or asymmetric draping jersey dresses, flared or fluted skirts. Cigarette pants or skinny jeans work best. Go for slim-heeled shoes as this will keep you looking feminine.
Don’ts - Shapeless float-y dresses, platform shoes, three quarter length sleeves, scooped necklines, cut-away shoulders and shoulder pads.
Style Inspirations: Elle Macpherson, Cameron Diaz and Naomi Campbell
Do's - Asymmetric wrap cardigan, wide lapel, fitted shirts with a double cuff. Angular or asymmetric draping jersey dresses, flared or fluted skirts. Cigarette pants or skinny jeans work best. Go for slim-heeled shoes as this will keep you looking feminine.
Don’ts - Shapeless float-y dresses, platform shoes, three quarter length sleeves, scooped necklines, cut-away shoulders and shoulder pads.
Style Inspirations: Elle Macpherson, Cameron Diaz and Naomi Campbell
Cello
Cello
Big breasts, short waist, big hips, large bottom, large thighs and slim lower legs.
Do's – The goal here is to make you feel fitted not fat! Wide v-neckline or scooped neck tops and shirts with no lapels. Coats with flared wide sleeves and deep lapels or long lapel single button jackets. Dresses are to be wide-waisted with halternecks No fuss wide-legged trousers with turn up and paneled/pleated skirts. Large fabulous earrings and wedge with platform.
Don’ts - Pencil and mini skirts, tight jeans and leather or satin trousers and ankle boots.
Style Inspirations: Oprah Winfrey, Kirstie Alley and Serena Williams
Do's – The goal here is to make you feel fitted not fat! Wide v-neckline or scooped neck tops and shirts with no lapels. Coats with flared wide sleeves and deep lapels or long lapel single button jackets. Dresses are to be wide-waisted with halternecks No fuss wide-legged trousers with turn up and paneled/pleated skirts. Large fabulous earrings and wedge with platform.
Don’ts - Pencil and mini skirts, tight jeans and leather or satin trousers and ankle boots.
Style Inspirations: Oprah Winfrey, Kirstie Alley and Serena Williams
Bell
Bell
Small shoulders, small breasts, small and short waist, large thighs and bottom.
Do's - Go for cowl neck tops, ruffed shirts with narrow necklines or thigh-length kaftans. A-line shirt dresses and kick pleat skirts or flowing, side-fastening trousers are best and will give you shape. Elaborate necklaces and cone heeled shoes
Don’ts - Balloon sleeves, tapered trousers, skimpy vests, tiny neck chains, wide V necklines, bias-cut dresses or anything fussy on your bottom half.
Style Inspiration: Hilary Clinton
Do's - Go for cowl neck tops, ruffed shirts with narrow necklines or thigh-length kaftans. A-line shirt dresses and kick pleat skirts or flowing, side-fastening trousers are best and will give you shape. Elaborate necklaces and cone heeled shoes
Don’ts - Balloon sleeves, tapered trousers, skimpy vests, tiny neck chains, wide V necklines, bias-cut dresses or anything fussy on your bottom half.
Style Inspiration: Hilary Clinton
