Elle_croft says:
I don’t know about you, but for me, I can’t just look to a magazine or a designer’s advertising to decide what I’m going to wear. Sure, they still inspire me and they’re always fun to peruse but the clothes draped over the models in those pictures just would not look good on me.
Unless you’re 6 feet tall and a size zero (and if you naturally are, that’s alright), you probably can’t point at an outfit in a magazine, go out and buy it and know that the clothes will look fabulous on you. The trick, instead, is to dress for your body shape and ignore fashions that just won’t suit you. Rather than rushing out to buy the latest looks from the catwalk, we all look our best when we are dressing to suit each of our unique shapes (whilst still being fashionable, of course).
The best way to work to your strengths is to firstly identify your best asset/s. There has to be at least one thing about your body that you really like; perhaps you have shapely legs, a well-defined waist, or toned arms – whatever it is, you can accentuate that feature and at the same time downplay the things you aren’t so fond of, simply by selecting the right clothes. There are countless ways to achieve your best look, but here are just a few tips you might find useful:
1. Work with what you’ve got. For example, if you have short legs, don’t spend your whole life wishing they were longer! There are things you can wear that can help your legs look less short, but why obsess over what you don’t have? Focus instead on making your best assets shine – if everyone’s eyes are drawn to your tiny waist or big blue eyes, no one will even notice your legs!
2. Be willing to let go of some of the clothes you have always worn that just might not be flattering. If you’re unsure, upload a photo of yourself wearing the garment onto Fashism and let the helpful Fashists give you an objective opinion.
3. Give some of these ideas a try:
- Define a small waist. Belts or high-waisted shorts, skirts and pants that sit at the smallest part of your waist will draw the eye to your defined waistline. Note: if you have a short torso, wide belts will visually shorten your mid-section, so choose a thinner style of belt.
- Play up those pins. If you have lovely legs, heels will always look great. Skirts are the obvious choice (but be aware that short skirts will look even shorter on long-legged ladies) and skinny jeans will emphasise your length. If you want to give the illusion of longer legs, heels will help (but try to avoid ankle straps, as these will break up the line of your leg); also, vertical stripes and high-waisted shorts/skirts/pants all create the effect of a longer leg-line.
- Working with your bust. Full-busted women: modesty is the key! Wearing a very low cut shirt isn’t going to accentuate your features in the best way. To maximize your shape without showing too much, opt for discreet necklines (not too high as that can be unflattering too, but soft V-necks or boat-necks are pretty) and tailored fits. A nice blazer over a round-neck top will accentuate your fuller chest without being immodest (think Katherine Heigl for inspiration). Smaller breasted women can pull off less structure in their shirts and can wear longer and more extravagant necklaces and tops with detailing around the bust. Strappy tops and draping fabric sit well and you can take advantage of the fact you don’t need to wear a bra by trying backless or low-back dresses (a la Kate Hudson).
- Highlighting facial features. First, make sure your haircut suits your face shape. You can ask your hairdresser for advice, and there is a wealth of knowledge online (there are tools available where you can upload a picture of yourself and virtually ‘try on’ various hairstyles). A great haircut will highlight your face and draw attention to your lovely features. Try to emphasize just one thing: if you have luscious lips, wear a bold lipstick or shiny gloss. If you have pretty eyes, use a complimentary shadow, possibly some eyeliner and at very least a sweep of mascara.
After all’s said and done though, your style needs to be suited to you. If you have short legs but adore ankle-strap shoes, who’s to say you shouldn’t wear them? Fashion and style are about having fun, playing with your look and feeling confident about yourself so if you achieve this, you don’t need to worry about the ‘rules’.
And, as always, if you’re unsure about how something looks – take it to the lovely Fashism users and see what they have to say! Have fun, Fashists!
