The mirror doesn't lie to you. But who says you can't lie to the mirror?
Knowing how to tell a believable fashion fib -- with color, cut, pattern and accessories -- allows you to dress in a way that emphasizes what's good about your figure and minimizes what's not.
"The first thing you need to do is identify your problem area, and areas you like," said Cheryl Nicolaidis, a wardrobe consultant who sells the Etcetera line of women's clothing from her home.
"For any shape, properly fitting undergarments will make or break anything you wear," Heidi Frank, spokesman for the Elder-Beerman stores, said in a telephone interview from Milwaukee.
A flattering fit also means staying away from anything that's too tight or too baggy, she continued.
Here are their suggestions for making the most of each shape:
Pear: Narrow shoulders, full hips and thighs
PANTS: Boot-leg-cut pants that flare slightly to balance the hips; straight-leg trousers cut slightly full through the leg; flat front styles without pockets or other details that add volume.
SKIRTS: A-lines in a soft, draping fabric or straight in a crisp fabric with no waistband. "Any vertical detail such as stitching or a center pleat will lengthen the silhouette and have a slimming effect," Nicolaidis added.
Frank suggested sticking to darker tones and solid colors on the bottom, although a vertical pin stripe will help by elongating the legs.
TOPS: Bring attention to the face with V-necks, sweetheart necklines and embellishments such as ruffles at the neck and shoulder.
"Here's where you can wear lighter colors and bolder patterns ... that will increase the appearance of fullness on the top half of your body," Frank said.
Avoid tops that have horizontal detail around the hem, Nicolaidis cautioned.
For jackets, she suggested single-breasted and semi-fitted, hitting at the hipbone or below the widest part of the hip.
DRESSES: An A-line or empire silhouette in a soft fabric that flows over the body. Detail at the top draws the eye up.
Inverted triangle: Shoulders and chest are wider than the hips
PANTS: Just about any style works, except for a skinny pant that calls attention to the narrower lower body. Lighter colors, texture and pattern help visually balance the difference between shoulders and hips.
SKIRTS: Look for horizontal details, pleats, fullness to offset wide shoulders.
TOPS: Dark colors, deep V-necklines, cuffed sleeves, unstructured jackets and long, loose cardigans with flap or patch pockets at the hips. Avoid wide lapels and yokes.
DRESSES: Straight or semi-fitted shifts with a V- or U-neck, A-lines, shirtdresses and wrap dresses.
Apple: Full bust and round middle with narrow lower hips and often-slender legs
PANTS: Straight, slim-leg pants with a flat front that sits at or below the natural waist. Avoid wide waistbands or belts in contrasting colors. Light colors, prints and patterns help balance the narrow lower body with wider waist and bust.
SKIRTS: Straight, flat front, little or no waistband; A-lines or flared skirts that are not too full.
TOPS: Tunic tops, vertical stripes or detailing such as a center zipper, darker colors. Avoid horizontal stripes, double-breasted jackets, cropped and boxy shapes.
DRESSES: A straight shift dress or any other style that doesn't emphasize the waist.
Boyish: Upper and lower torso equal in width, undefined waist, slender legs
PANTS: Create an illusion of curve at the hips with a tapered-leg style. Pleats and hip-huggers also flatter, as will a belt that draws the figure in at the waistline.
SKIRTS: Styles with pleats, horizontal details such as slanted pockets, and contrasting belts.
TOPS: A belted cardigan, blouse or jacket creates a waist. Wide collars or lapels make the shoulder look broader. Shirring, gathers and breast pockets enhance the bust.
DRESSES: Belted, wrap and fit-and-flare styles, bias cuts and horizontal detailing.
Hourglass: Curvy top and bottom with a small waist
PANTS: Boot-cut or straight-leg with a flat front. Pants without pockets minimize hips. Avoid skinny or tapered pants that will make your hips look larger.
SKIRTS: A-line or straight shape that sits at or below your natural waist.
TOPS: A V- or scoop neck "as long as it's not cut too low," Frank said, adding that "a closed, tighter neck or turtleneck will emphasize a large bust."
Nicolaidis pointed out that tops that are softly fitted and smooth show off curves without over-accentuating them. Jackets should be semi-fitted and hit at the high hip to hip bone. Belted jackets are especially flattering.
DRESSES: Shifts, A-lines, wraps and belted shirtdresses in soft fabrics that drape well.
(Contact Ann Weber at aweber(at)theblade.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit the Toledo BladeWith sidebar: FIGURESIDE-FASH
Post new comment