Part 2: Shape Up Your Knowledge!
Style is not about fitting into the size that you deem as being attractive. It is about picking clothes that fit your body well and creating balance in your silhouette. Perfect balance is perfect style. Note that not every trend will be flattering for every body type, and that’s perfectly okay.
Dress for the shape you are, not the shape you wish you were.
Embrace your silhouette, never work against it.
Don't be worried if your measurements reveal that your figure encompasses more than one category. For example, you may find you’re a pear shape, when using your hip measurement and an hourglass when using your shoulder measurement. If this is the case for you, you should consider both body types when shopping.
- Your Shoulders- Have someone help you measure from the tip of one shoulder all the way around you. The measuring tape should be high up around your shoulders so it almost slips off.
- Your Bust- Pull the measuring tape taut across the fullest part of your bust and around your back. Don’t pull the tape so taut that your breasts start to squish!
- Your Waist- Measure the smallest part of your natural waist, just above the belly button.
- Your Hips- Start at one hip (below the hip bone) and wrap the tape measure around the largest part of your butt.
Use these measurements to review the shapes below:
If you're still feeling unsure about your shape, feel free to use the Body Shape Calculator. In addition to revealing your shape, it also includes inspirational tips in dressing your shape.
It should also be noted that a Rectangle shape can turn into an Apple shape. The apple shape is distinctive, in that body fat tends to accumulate in the torso, around the abdominal area. This shape often develops after 40, when you start to experience symptoms of menopause and may gain weight around your waist. It's simply the Rectangle Shape, with additional weight. The Body Shape Calculator does not factor this in.
A HUGE misconception, in the world of clothing sizes, is that clothing lines use the same measurements, to define their Small, Medium, etc. False!!!
Now armed with your measurements, it's time to hit up all the major name-brands stores, online. Once you're on a name-brand website, click on any article of clothing, and the store's sizing chart should be located at the bottom of the page.
Find what size you are in all the brand names. Keep a record of what size you are, in each name brand, either on paper or on your computer. THEN, print off a copy when you go shopping.
This handy trick cuts down on your trying-on time by 50%. Time is money, SO SAVE YOUR MONEY.
Love who you are
After all this measuring, it's worth talking about the fact that size can be a sensitive subject, for a number of traumatic reasons. Whatever your scars are, on this topic; I challenge you today, to be truly confident in the shape you are now.
This Style Journey is about accentuating the beautiful person you are, not to try and change you altogether. Be confident in who you are!
Additional Help: Websites with tips on dressing your body type...
- Basic body type styling tips...SheKnows-How to dress for your body shape
- For iPhone/iPad users... My Shape Stylist-A free app that gives styling tips for your body type
- For your Fashion-Forward Men... How to find your shape and dress it well!
- For the Pregnant Mammas..Styling your pregnancy belly
- For the Mature Gals...Dressing for your body type after 40+
- For the working gals...Flattering styles for the office
by I Wish I Could Wear campaign
