Today I’m writing about Body Types, but be sure and check out all the other fashion advice at Musings of a Housewife.
I probably see more references to body type than any other topic when I weed through magazines, fashion blogs and books. Frankly, it is a starting reference point that is necessary to help you find styles that flatter. What I hate to hear is when women get stuck on their body type and dwell on it. As I’ve mentioned many times, only 1% of women are completely happy with their bodies. Calling yourself an apple or pear is one of the reasons that statistic is accurate. Some blogs and companies have created more flattering names. Even when I did my stylist training, the body types were referred to as gemstones.
However, it doesn’t matter if the name SOUNDS nicer, fixating on your body type keeps women from embracing who they are. I’m ready to kick these terms to the curb! Let me explain.
First and foremost, the most important fact to know about finding the right styles for you is BALANCE. Ideally you want the shoulders and hips to be balanced and bring in the waist. This of course represents the typical hourglass shape we all strive to be. What surprises many women is how close they really are to being balanced. In this series on body types, I’m going to teach you how to look at yourself in a little different way.
First, I encourage you to take TWO measurements. 1. circumference of your shoulders 2. circumference of your hips. If they are fairly balanced (just a couple inches apart) consider yourself fortunate.
Next, I also recommend you do a visual analysis. For example, my shoulders and hips are fairly balanced in measurement. HOWEVER, visually my shoulders appear larger. Part of this is because I have a larger chest and overall carry my weight from the waist up. If this visual analysis sounds like I’m bringing more negative aspects to the picture, keep in mind that so much can be done visually with clothing which will work to your advantage! Keep reading.
If your hips and shoulders are several inches apart, all is not lost! I’m going to give you some great ways to balance. And what about expanding middles? I have suggestions for that too. Are you short waisted? Long waisted? There are ways to work with all of these attributes.
Rather than dwell on the name of your shape, have you noticed that I often say, “I carry most of my weight in my torso.”
Recently I spoke to a church women’s group. When speaking, I often use models from the audience, which is pre-arranged ahead of time. One of the volunteers I met and worked with described herself as the “former hourglass with more of the sand on the bottom than the top.” I LOVE this analogy. It told me she had accepted the changes in her body instead of saying,”I’m a pear!”
Women who carry most of their weight below the waist are actually quite hard on themselves. In some ways, I find them the easiest to balance. All the ruffles and embellishments on tops visually balance the hips because they add volume to the shoulders and bust. Fortunately those styles are everywhere. Styles like this create interest and bring the eye away from the hips.
All tops from Macy’s
I also love a 3/4 length jacket or cardigan which takes the emphasis away from the hips. Look at what a difference it can make with this client.
While shopping with another client last night, she saw first hand at what a STRAIGHT LEG pair of jeans and a long cardigan that draped over the hips perfectly can do to flatter her “pear” figure. It was amazing.
CABI has some great lightweight choices that are perfect for those who carry their weight below the waist. The first view, the “Got you Covered Jacket” is a favorite of mine. It is not a jacket, but more like a heavier blouse with a great fit. I’ve seen these clothes on this body type and others and they were flattering.
Also shown: Pintuck Vest, Dream Jacket, Shakespeare Tunic
Coming Next: What if you are a combination of body types?
