BODY SHAPES/TYPES

There are eight (8) different body types

1. Straight (Rectangle or ruler)

• Your hips and bust are balanced.• Your waist is not very defined.• Your bottom is more flat than round.• Your lower legs are shapely.• You gain weight first in your upper

body then your upper thighs and arms.

How to dress a Straight Body ShapeThe key is to proportionally dress the top and bottom of your body while enhancing your waist.

Wear tops that will add curves to your upper half and create a more defined waist:

• Tops with nipped or belted waists.

• Off the shoulder, boat-neck tops, wide V or U necks.

• Structured shoulders, princess or flutter sleeves.

• Embellishments around the bust and shoulders.

• Tops that are full, rushed or flowing around the bust.

Wear bottoms that add curves to your lower half while creating an hourglass effect:

• Pants with full or moderately flared legs.

• Go for details such as whickering, embellished pockets & flap pockets.

Mid to low-rise waists with wide waistbands.

Full, tiered or bubble skirts.

2.Pear Shaped (triangle)• Your hips are larger than

your bust.

• Waist is defined

• Slim arms and shoulders.

• You gain weight first in your bottom and legs then your tummy and upper body.

How to dress a Pear Shape• The key tis to enhance and add volume (or the illusion of

volume) to your upper body while emphasizing your waist and de-emphasizing your lower body to create a balanced, hourglass appearance.

Wear tops that will help balance your lower half while highlighting your defined waist:

• Bright colours and bold patterns.

• Tops with nipped or fitted waists.

• Off the shoulder, boat-neck tops, wide V or U necks.

• Structured shoulders, princess or flutter sleeves.

• Embellishments around the bust and shoulders.

Wear bottoms that will minimize your lower half:

• Pants that fall straight from the widest part of your hip.

• Avoid details such as whiskering and embellished pockets.

• A-Line skirts.

• Lightly gathered skirts that skim your body without adding volume.

• Darker colours, clean lines and simple stitching.

3.Spoon Shape ( Figure 8)• your hips are larger than

your bust • you have a defined waist

• your lower legs and arms are shapely

• You gain weight first in your tummy

How to Dress a Spoon Body Shape

The key is to draw attention to your upper body while deemphasizing your tummy and hips to create a more balanced appearance and create the illusion of an hourglass figure.

• tops that will help balance your lower half while accentuating your defined waist and camouflaging any tummy bulges:

• Tops with empire waists.

• Strapless tops that show off your shoulders.

• Off the shoulder, boat-neck tops, wide V or U necks.

• Tops that skim your midsection without adding volume.

Tops with rouching or embellishments around the bust.

Wear bottoms that will minimize your lower half:

• Pants with straight legs (stay away from flares).

• Avoid details such as whiskering, embellished pockets & flap pockets.

• Mini skirts were made for you - show off your shapely legs.

• Choose solid colours in darker washes.

• Choose wide waist-bands to camouflage tummy-bulges.

4. Hourglass• Your bust and hips are balanced • You have a beautifully defined • waist.• You have gently rounded shoulders• Your waist is obvious and gracefully• curves out to your hips.• You have a rounded bottom

How to Dress an Hourglass Body Shape

• The key is to proportionally dress the top and bottom of your body while highlighting your waist.

Wear tops that will accentuate your waist and maintain the balanced look of your figure.

• Belted tops.

• Tops with banding or nipping at the waist.

• Form-fitting tops.

• Wrap-style tops.

• Tailored shirts and jackets.

• High-waisted pants and pencil skirts.• Boot cut & straight leg pants.• Skinny jeans and pants paired with a balanced top.• Cargos or flap pocket jeans paired with a balanced

top.

• Skirts that will show off your great legs.

5 .Top Hourglass• Your bust that is larger than

your hips.

• You have gently rounded shoulders

• Your waist gracefully curves out to your hips.

• You have a rounded bottom

How to Dress a Top Hourglass Body Shape

The key is to balance your lower body with your ample bust while accentuating your enviable waist.

Wear tops that will accentuate your waist and help balance your bust with your hips.

• Narrow v-necks.

• Tops with banding or nipping at the waist.

• Wrap-style tops.

• Tailored shirts and jackets.• Dark colored tops.

Wear bottoms that will enhance your lower body and help balance your ample bust.

• Pants with embellished or flap-style pockets.• Cargo pants.

• Jeans with whiskering at the hips.• Boot cut or slightly flared legs.

• Full or A-line skirts.

6. Inverted Triangle

• You have a proportionally larger upper body. • You have broad shoulders• You have ample bust and

a wide back. • Your hips are slim and your bottom may have a

tendency towards the flat side.• You gain weight in your belly and upper body first.

How to Dress an Inverted Triangle Body Shape

The key to dressing an Inverted Triangle body type is to balance your broader shoulders, chest and back with your narrower lower body to create more of an hourglass effect.

Wear tops that will accentuate your waist and help balance your bust with your hips.

• Narrow v-necks.

• Tops with banding or nipping at the waist.

• Wrap-style tops.

• Tailored shirts and jackets.• Dark colored tops.

Choose bottoms that will enhance your lower body and help balance your upper body.

• Pants with embellished or flap-style pockets.• Boot cut or wide legs.

• Cargo pants.• Jeans with whiskering at the hips.

• Full or A-line skirts.

7. Oval• You have a large bust, narrow

hips, and a full midsection. • Your waist is undefined and

the widest part of your body• You have a full, short neck and

full face.• Your buttocks are somewhat flat and your legs are

slender.• You gain weight in your stomach first then your back

and upper body.

How to Dress an Oval Body Shape

The key is to de-emphasize your midsection and create a more defined waist.

Wear tops that will taper your upper body while creating a more defined waist:

• Tops with nipped or belted waists.

• Square, wide V or U necks.

• Wrap style tops and jackets.

• Tops with vertical details.

• Tops that flare at the hip.

Wear bottoms that will minimize your lower half:

• Pants with full or wide legs.• Go for details such as whiskering, embellished pockets

& flap pockets.

• Cargo or safari pants with pronounced hip and rear pockets.

• Mid-rise waists with wide waistbands.

• Full, tiered, flared or bubble skirts.

8. Diamond

• Your hips are broader than you bust and shoulders.• You have a full midsection.• Your waist is undefined and

the widest part of your body.• You gain weight in you stomach, back, hips and

buttocks

How to Dress a Diamond Body Shape

The key is to balance your shoulders and bust with your hips while creating a waist.

Wear tops that will help create a more defined waist and accentuate your shoulders and bust.

• Tops with nipped or belted waists.

• Off the shoulder, boat-neck tops, wide V or U necks.

• Structured shoulders, princess or flutter sleeves.• Embellishments around the bust and shoulders.

• Tops that are full, rushed or flowing around the bust.

Wear bottoms that lean and lengthen your lower half:• Pants with legs that fall straight from the widest part

of your hip.• Choose dark colored bottoms.• Choose pants with simple back and hip pockets.

• Lightly gathered or A-line skirts that skim your figure.

• Straight skirts that fall from the widest part of your hip.

Source

http://www.shopyourshape.com/body-shapes.html