The Power of Knowing Your Body Shape!
Body Shape Masterclass
As a personal stylist you might assume that I’ve always known how to dress. Truth is - I haven’t! I’ve always loved fashion, fabrics, print and colour, but putting outfits together with ease that suit me and my shape perfectly, is a newly acquired skill!
The queen of flattering dresses, Diane Von Furstenberg, so accurately said,
“Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it.”
Figuring out your body shape is the first step in discovering what suits and flatters you, and in turn, that will allow your style to unfold. You can get my FREE body shape guide here and release your style potential.
Once you know your shape and can recognise all your best bits (we’re quite bad at that) and your ‘not-so’ good bits (we’re brilliant at that) you can start dressing for YOU! Dressing to and knowing your body shape is a secret, I wish I’d known years ago.
5 reasons why knowing your body shape is so powerful:
1. Tells you what to wear
It answers that question - that we all agonisingly ask ourselves, whilst staring helplessly into our wardrobes - ‘What to wear?’ Not only that, it will give you the clues as to how to style your clothes.
For example a PEAR will look great in a dark wash, high waist, boot cut jean or ankle kick flare. Because the dark tone will slim the lower half, the high waist will show off a tiny waist and gorgeous curves and the boot cut or ankle kick flare will balance out hips beautifully.
The styling clue? - If you prefer wearing a skinny jean, you will need to ensure they are long enough to allow for a little turn-up at the ankle. The turn-up will balance out a PEAR’s curvier hips and just that little ‘turn-up’ will provide the ‘style’ factor.
Additionally, knowing your shape tells you - what NOT to wear. Running with the same jeans/pear example, a PEAR should avoid jeans in light washes and cropped jeans that finish mid calf. The lighter wash will make the hips and bottom appear bigger and a cropped jean will draw attention to the widest part of the lower leg and breaks the flow to the ground that lengthens and slims the hips, thighs and bottom.
2. Streamlines shopping
Shopping becomes so much quicker and easier because you can focus in on the items that will fit and flatter YOU and ignore everything else.
For example, an APPLE, shopping in Zara this Winter might look out for: long line cardigans and coats, single breasted blazers that are long enough to skim the hips, V-neck blouses and knitwear, flat fronted trousers, statement pendant necklaces and earrings and perhaps a platform trainer or chunky boot. And ignore the skinny jeans, double breasted jackets and coats, belts, pleated trousers or skirts that flare from the waist, long tunic style tops and shapeless dresses.
Next time your favourite brands tempt you with their latest arrivals, forget how it looks on the model and use your body shape as your guide.
3. Saves money
You’ll save money as you’ll be channelled to only buying things for YOUR shape. Buying things that don’t flatter your shape is a bit like buying shoes a size too small - every time you put it on, you don’t make it out the front door, because it’s simply not comfortable and eventually you throw it away, wasting money each time. If something is expensive, think of the cost per wear - a buttery soft leather jacket that fits beautifully and goes with almost every outfit you have is a great buy. Whereas a bargain sale item, that in reality you’ll probably wear once (if that), is not!
Once you’ve scanned a store or brand online for the pieces you like (before taking your selection to the change room or checking out) edit your basket by considering the following:
Does it suit and flatter your body shape?
Can you quickly think of at least 3 existing items in your wardrobe that you can wear the new item with? (If you can use the new item to liven up some older unworn pieces - all the better!)
Will you/can you wear it within the next month? (you should want to put it on the next day/weekend, with the exception of a party dress)
Do you already own a piece that is similar and still in good wearable condition, that does the same job? (We have a habit of buying the same old thing because we don’t have the knowledge to try something else)
4. Makes you dress for YOU!
It allows you to find your own style, before being influenced by a friend, celebrity or style icon.
Once you know what suits YOU, you can then allow yourself to emulate someone else's style in a way that suits your shape and therefore making it your own.
For those of you that know me, it is no secret that I adore Sarah Jessica Parker’s style. However, I don’t sadly share her perfect, honed and toned hourglass body. So, as a PEAR with emerging APPLE tendencies, when she wore a nude coloured body con mini dress with a fur coat and gold broach, I ignored the dress, noted the coat and attached a gold broach to the lapel of my camel coat. The addition of the gold broach made my coat individual, vintage looking and added volume to the top half of my PEAR frame.
5. Gives confidence
Last but best! Knowing that you are wearing the right clothes, celebrating and showing off your ‘best bits’ and feeling comfortable in your clothes will make you feel more energised and self-assured.
When you look good, you feel great! And when you feel great, you ooze confidence!
Get my 3 step body shape guide and discover your body shape and unlock your style potential.