Have you ever seen those girls, whether it be scrolling through Instagram or in real life, who just seem to look good in everything they wear? What’s their secret?? Blessed with the perfect body shape? Maybe they’re just God’s favorite? Well, let me let you in on a little secret: they’re not. It’s not that they can wear whatever they want–they simply know what they can wear. 😉 The ultimate secret to looking good in anything? It’s knowing how to dress for your body type.
The truth about your body
Let me first address that little lie you’re believing about yourself: there’s nothing wrong with you! You’re not ugly. You don’t have the “wrong” body. You and your body are absolutely perfect.
The truth is that there really isn’t one body type that looks good in absolutely everything. Certain pieces flatter certain shapes more than others. And that’s okay! You just need to learn how to dress for your body type, not for someone else’s!
Change Your Clothes / Transform Your Self-Image
Ever seen the show What Not to Wear? Or any show/video where someone gets a “makeover”? Notice how the simple changes in their style and haircut/hair color can profoundly impact their self-esteem? And as a result, all of a sudden, they often see themselves in a new light.
See, fashion can be an incredible tool that can significantly transform your self-image, boost confidence, and empower you to be who you want to be. For me, it helped improve my mental and emotional state when battling depression and anxiety! However, our clothing can also be a primary factor in our low self-esteem.
Of course, you are beautiful just the way you are. But, sometimes, ill-fitting clothes and unflattering pieces can only magnify what we believe to be our “flaws” and reaffirm what we believe about ourselves. When you learn how to dress for your body type alone, you unlock a door to a newfound self-perception. You begin to see your own beauty rather than comparing your body to another. Confidence and empowerment become natural feelings. And every outfit becomes a canvas that showcases the unquestionable beauty of your unique figure!
So let’s talk about the simple changes you can make to your wardrobe to elevate your style and appearance. From fit, to cut, to color, we’ll uncover the best secrets on how to wear anything and look good.
1. Identify your body type
Identifying your body type is an essential prerequisite to most of the following tips below. It’s a pivotal step when it comes to learning to dress for your body type alone. Every individual has a unique body structure, and understanding your body shape is like having a tailor-made guide to selecting clothes that flatter your figure and enhance your natural beauty.
Let’s talk about the different body shapes and how to identify them:
Hourglass Shape
The hourglass figure is characterized by balanced proportions between the bust and hips, with a well-defined waist. If your bust and hips measurements are relatively close, and your waist is significantly smaller, you likely have an hourglass body shape. The typical goal is to emphasize your curves while maintaining a balanced look!
Recognizable figures with the hourglass figure include: Marilyn Monroe,
Kim Kardashian,
And Ashley Graham.
To learn the best styling secrets and tips for the hourglass body type, check out our guide, here!
Apple Shape
The apple body shape features a broader upper body, including the bust and shoulders, with a less defined waist. Those with an apple shape often have slender legs and hips. To accentuate the beauty of this shape, create a balanced appearance by highlighting your lower body.
We dive deeper into the apple shape and its best style secrets, here!
Recognizable figures with the apple shape include: Kate Upton,
And Amy Schumer.
Pear Shape
Pear-shaped bodies can be pretty similar to hourglass bodies. However, they tend to have narrower shoulders and a smaller bust, with more pronounced hips and thighs. Many with this shape like to use their clothing to draw attention upward, balancing out the proportions.
Examples of the pear shape body type include: Christina Hendricks,
And Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Check out the best styling tips for the pear shape, here!
Rectangle Shape
The rectangle body shape is characterized by a fairly even distribution of weight along the bust, waist, and hips. The common goal is to create curves and define the waistline with clothing.
Examples of the rectangle body shape include: Kate Hudson,
And Kate Middleton.
Remember, body shapes are not rigid categories, and you might find that you’re a mix of two shapes or fall somewhere in between. The goal is not to fit into a specific mold. It’s to understand your proportions so you can leverage fashion to accentuate beauty of your shape!
2. Learn your best colors
Aside from body shape, there are additional praiseworthy techniques that will ensure you look good in anything you wear. Whether it be a ball gown, or a pair of sweatpants with your brother’s old sweatshirt.
One of the best secrets to implement when learning how to dress for your body type, is color analysis! Understanding the hues that harmonize with your complexion can drastically transform how you appear in clothing. Knowing your best colors will not only result in a radiating complexion, but also elevated confidence and a magnetic aura.
Here is an example of the difference that the right colors can have on your complexion and appearance:
In the left image, Selena Gomez dons a vibrant pink jumpsuit paired with silver heels. On the right, she wears a warm rust-orange suit with a brown tank top and brown boots. While the pink jumpsuit isn’t horrible, it seems to overshadow her complexion, leaving it dull and a bit washed out. Contrastingly, the rust orange suit brightens her complexion. Notice how her skin seems to glow and shine brighter in the right image. That’s the power of color analysis!
Learn how to easily identify the colors that complement you the best in our step-by-step guide!
3. Don’t underestimate tailoring
Tailoring is a popular craft that involves reshaping and refining clothing to match your body’s specific measurements and proportions. It is crucial when learning to dress for your body type. And it’s definitely one of the top secrets to looking good in anything you wear. Off-the-rack clothing may not always fit perfectly, but a few alterations can make a world of difference.
The way clothing fits can significantly impact how we perceive our bodies and how others perceive us. It’s not just about the clothes themselves, but the way they lay and fall on our bodies. These two elements, when harmoniously combined, possess the remarkable ability to sculpt and highlight our bodies in ways that only amplify our confidence!
Here’s an example of the power of tailoring and the subtle but impactful difference it makes:
The pants on the left aren’t terrible. However, they’re a bit more frumpy, too big, and too long for the model. As a result, the pants end up concealing her figure and create a somewhat disheveled appearance.
On the right, the pants have been taken in at the waist, narrowed, and shortened. This results in an ensemble that exudes a sense of effortless luxury and thoughtful design.
4. Pay attention to proportions
Balancing your proportions is key to creating a visually appealing silhouette. If you have a longer torso, high-waisted bottoms can help elongate your legs. If you have broader shoulders, v-neck tops or dresses are extremely flattering and help to balance your shape.
Additionally, some figures might look good in baggy shirts and baggy bottoms, while this pairing might make others appear unusually short and disproportionate. Experiment with different cuts and styles to find the right proportions for your body!
Here are some examples of the difference it can make when dressing with proportions in mind:
Chi Li, founder of Petite Dressing, shows how to dress when you have a long torso and shorter legs.
Above, Anastasia Gerrans shows her followers on Tiktok “the power of flattering clothes” and choosing the right pieces for your proportions.
5. Know your style & wear it with confidence
Of course, none of this is to discourage you from wearing certain styles or colors that you like. In the end, what matters most is how you feel about what you wear. No matter what you wear, wear it with pride and confidence! When you feel good about yourself, it becomes contagious, and others can’t help but take notice too.
Remember, fashion is a form of self-expression and a tool to boost your confidence. This article isn’t about conforming or trying to make all bodies look the same. It’s simply about learning to love and embrace your body, elevate your fashion, and increase your confidence. When you feel good about what you wear and how you look, it significantly impacts your self-esteem! Image inspires confidence; confidence breeds success!
So love your body! Give yourself the freedom to explore and embrace your personal style. And dress in a way that makes you feel good and speaks the most to who you are. And watch–as it begins to transform the way you see yourself, and consequently, the way the world sees you!
