“Young girls wear yuh size… ‘Cause if yuh don’t tek stichie advice, girls unnu would a get blind”.
These popular lyrics by Jamaican Singer Lt. Stitchie, tell the tale of far too many outfit choices gone wrong. Too often we see women wearing clothing which is obviously not their appropriate size nor style, leading us to conclude they have no idea how to properly dress their bodies.
There are 5 main body types and dressing correctly for each can be tricky, especially if you don’t know where you fall. Here are some helpful tips on how to flatter one’s shape.
Hour Glass
If you have a curvy body with wide hips, full rear and bust and a small waist, you are considered hourglass. This is one of the most desired body types and women go “leaps and bounds” to achieve this body type.
#Bodygoals:
Aim at emphasising waist and arms, and add volume to shoulders.
DO wear A-line skirts, known to emphasise the waist and cover hips.
DO keep hemlines wide to balance hips
DO NOT wear horizontal patterns as these make hips appear wider.
DO NOT go for baggy and boxy clothing
Triangle
Think of this as “bottom heavy” as the hips are significantly larger than the bust. Since the bottom half is wider, you can use layers to create the illusion of a proportioned body. When it comes to dressing, it’s all about balance.
#Bodygoals:
To make the top half appear proportioned to the bottom half.
DO wear tops and dresses with ruffles to enhance your bust.
DO wear a quality bra to help define the waist and create curves in all the right places.
DO NOT wear pants that go out at the bottom – like boot, wide leg, and trouser cuts. These will widen your hips.
DO NOT wear necklines that make you broader on top. BOAT NECKS and BARDOTS are great ideas for your shape.
Inverted Triangle
Women with this body type have wide shoulders, and narrow hips and waist. This body type can be tricky to dress but the key thing to remember is to “round out” the shoulders.
#Bodygoals:
To enhance your lower body and soften the shoulders.
DO wear styles to bring focus to the lower section of your body. Clothes with flares, pockets, wide legs and patterns on the lower half are ideal.
DO wear clothing that create the illusion of a waist and wider hips.
DO NOT wear spaghetti straps and strapless tops which make shoulders appear wider.
DO NOT wear shoulder Pads. You do not need to add more to your top half.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #10, 2017 Issue.