Dressing for your body shape
Regardless of your weight or size, most adult women will know their body shape and what suits them.
We often hear our friends make comments “I couldn’t wear that because my legs are too short…” or “my boobs are too big to wear a top like that.”
There are many ways to describe the female shape, such as circle, spoon, rectangle and diamond. But we’re going with the classic fruit shapes and hourglass to keep it simple.
Banana
This shape means that you are pretty evenly proportioned from shoulders to hips and when you put on or lose weight, it’s generally pretty evenly distributed across the body with a small bust. Red carpet Banana body shapes include the elegant Nicole Kidman and Keira Knightley.
Minimise: Waist
Maximise: Legs and shoulders
Suggestions:
- Upper top detailing
- Peplum style tops and shirts
- Empire waist dresses
- Suits and camisoles
- Wide skirts
- Low backed tops
Wool Overs recommends:
This vest or the Asymmetric Grandad Shirt is great over jeans as it will show off your slim top frame, nip you in at the waist and then fit casually over jeans to bring out your curves.
Apple
Apple bodies tend to put on weight around their middle first and bust, so should dress to minimize their waist and highlight their slim arms and legs. Famous apple shaped women include the powerhouse that is Mariah Carey and the beautiful Catherine Zeta Jones.
Minimise: Waist
Maximise: Legs and shoulders
Suggestions:
- Short shift dresses
- Showing a bit of cleavage
- Bold patterned dress and detailed frocks
- Shirts and skirts with wide belts
- Shorts
Wool Overs recommends:
This flattering shape is great for wearing with shorts and vests, with the wide boxy shape making your waistline seem slimmer.
Pear
A typical pear shape has fairly narrow shoulders and chest with a larger hip. Pear shaped figures in the public eye would be the stunning Jennifer Lopez and our very own Kate Winslet.
Minimise: Hips to balance your shape, avoid pocket trousers for example
Maximise: Bare shoulders and slim waist
Have you tried?
- Patterned and embellished tops with simple bottoms
- Layering on top to even out proportions
- Cropped tops, cardigans and boleros
- Fancy necklaces and light scarves
- High-waisted trousers to accentuate your slim waist
Wool Overs recommends:
This cardigan is wonderfully flattering, it brings the eye down the body, as the cardigan falls below your hips, which can be very flattering for the pear shape.
Hourglass
Typically the hourglass figure is a balanced frame with the shoulders and hips measuring a similar width with a narrow waist. Famous hourglass figures would be the gorgeous Christina Hendricks and Nigella Lawson.
Minimise: Hips, to keep your natural balanced shape
Maximise: Waist, to maximise your curves
Have you tried?
- Structured tailored jackets with pencil skirts
- Wrap dresses that tie around the waist
- Low necklines, such as v necks and shirts
- Solid colours, rather than patterns or frills
Wool Overs suggests:
This wrap cardigan can pull in around your waist, highlighting your top lines and accentuating your waist.
