Buying a new wardrobe for your fitter, leaner body is one of the most satisfying aspects of losing weight. And, if you're not quite at your goal weight, getting dressed up could be just what you need to boost your motivation.
Whatever your size and body shape, there are some tricks that will flatter your figure. This week, in celebration of Australian Fashion Week, top stylist Thuy Buy shares her secrets on how to choose the right clothes for your shape.
If you’re pear shaped...
Do you hold most of your weight on your hips and thighs? Then you’re a pear shape, along with most pre-menopausal women.
The key for you is to draw attention to your top half, Thuy Buy said. “Go for the latest bright digital prints. Seek out hip-skimming tops in a soft fabric with cap sleeves and work them with dark coloured bottoms. Opt for A-line skirts, wide-legged pants or dark wash bootleg jeans. Embrace the new power shoulder jackets, too, as they’lll help balance out your hips”.
Dresses that have a lightly gathered waist work well for pear shapes. If the weather allows, go for bare shoulders to help balance the hips. Detail around the bust or the hemline will take the focus off your hips, bottom and stomach – this season’s sequinned bolero will work wonders, Buy said.
Finish off the look by throwing on a tote shoulder bag that stops at your waist. The key is to keep the focus on your top half, so also experiment with statement earrings.
Apple shaped
If you carry most of your weight around your middle, you’re apple shaped. As women get older and their hormones change, fat tends to accumulate around the middle of the body rather than the hips and thighs, so over time your shape could evolve from a pear into an apple shape.
For apples, choose clothes that balance out your proportions, draw in your waist and accentuate your curves, Buy said.
Getting the foundation right is key. “Get professionally fitted for the best possible bra for your size and your shape. It’ll not only offer the right support for your top half, it will help to define your waist too,” she said.
Combine a plain colour with a print or texture to help re-shape your silhouette. “A print V-neck empire jersey top will flatter your bust and disguise your tummy, whilst a cropped cardigan or jacket – one that grazes the hips to visually lengthen your legs – will break up your body.
“Choose a flat, front-pleated skirt that starts below the stomach and hangs straight so that it doesn’t make you look wide. At the same time, the box pleats will add some fluidity and a feminine touch. Flat-fronted pants with a deep waist band are flattering for you too.”
Chilli pepper
If your body shape is straight up and down – you have broad shoulders without much waist, a flat bottom and big thighs – you’re a chilli pepper.
For you, the key is to create a feminine shape and wear clothes that create curves. Choose shirts and blouses in soft fabrics with feminine touches, such as ruffles and floaty sleeves, to soften your shoulders.
“Experiment with bold prints to create shape,” said Buy. “Try teaming a lively print and beautiful 40s-inspired sleeves with the newest man-style, wide-legged trousers and sexy platforms.”
Hourglass figure
Lucky you – you have the most desirable body shape! So, flaunt your feminine curves and embrace this season’s ladylike body-contouring 40s-style dresses – the trend is narrow, modern and chic.
A wrap-around dress is a fabulous way to show off your curves, accentuating a relatively small waist and helping to make you look taller in the body.
“Invest in a statement belt to define your waist and go for a curved lapel to echo your own curves,” Buy recommended. “Plus sleeves that show off your elegant wrists and which suggest a more delicate frame.
“Opt for a V-neck, thick-band, empire top as this style is most flattering for a full bust and accentuates a slim waist whilst being loose enough to skim your stomach. The open neck is also a sure-fire way to keep the focus away from your stomach region.”