ImageForYourBusinessSuccess Issue 04
Understanding types of
body shapes
Are you : an hourglass. ruler. inverted triangle. apple. triangle
8
Measure Yourself
To dress your body right, you have to know your body. Don't just guess. (Believe me, mirrors can be deceiving!) So, grab a measuring tape and a friend to help you, because it's very difficult to measure some parts of yourself and get it right. The more accurate you are now, the better you'll look later.
Your Shoulders: This is the hardest measurement to do by yourself, so you really should ask someone to help. Place the measuring tape at the tip of one shoulder and wrap it all the way around you like a shawl until it meets back at the same shoulder. The tape should skim the top of your shoulders so closely, it almost slips off. This is the widest circumference of your shoulders.
Your Bust: Stand up straight and wrap the measuring tape around your back and across the fullest part of your breasts, usually the middle of them. Pull the measuring tape as taut as you can without changing the shape of your breasts. If things start to squish, you've gone too far.
Your Waist: Wrap the measuring tape around your torso, at the smallest part of your natural waist. It should wrap flat around your back without buckling and meet just above your belly button.
Your Hips: Hold the measuring tape at one hip, below your hip bone, at the fullest part of your hip. Then, keeping the tape flat, wrap it around the largest part of your butt (no cheating!), your other hip, and bring it back to the meeting point.
Now that you've measured yourself (shoulders, bust, waist and hips), use those numbers to help determine your silhouette shape.
The clothes which will flatter you best will depend on your body shape. Today the choice of clothes is so varied that there's something for everyone no matter what colouring, scale, height, proportion or body shape you are.
When it comes to looking good, it's not your size or shape that matters, it's the fit of your clothes. Wearing the right clothes shouldn't be about following the latest fashion trends; it should be about choosing what actually suits you and what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Knowing your basic body shape and understanding the types of clothes that will accentuate your good features (and minimise your less than perfect bits!), means you'll be able to dress in a way that really suits you. Today there are so many options to choose from so you'll always be able to find something that will complement your body shape, scale, proportions, colouring, personality and life style. Before you know what clothes to buy and which styles look best on you, you'll need to know which body shape you are. When choosing clothes, your aim is to create the illusion of having a balanced body.