HIDE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS (WOMEN)

Big bottom, big hips, small breasts. If you want to handle at least one of these, and need a dress that not only accentuates the good but, also hides the bad; then there are plenty of styles to choose from that will not only sort out your problem bits, but make you look gorgeous and cool.

Big Hips:

A line dresses are perfect for larger hipped ladies. Go for knee length to draw attention away from the problem area.

Things to avoid are dresses cut on the bias. The cross cut of the material makes them cling to big hips like nobody's business. Also avoid severely tapered skirts and styles with patch pockets, all around pleating and horizontal details.

Show off your top half with strapless or halter styles, empire waist styles or anything that is tight around the bust or waist and flares slightly.

Small Breasts:

Shift dresses are great if you want to draw attention away from your breasts. Pencil skirted dresses work well as they'll draw attention to the rest of your physique.

To be fair, small breasts can get away with most styles. Low cut dresses don't look awkward on girls with less cleavage, instead they look trendy more over you are the only one who can enjoy the clothes to full extent. so don't be embarrassed of your small breasts. Backless dresses are also great to draw attention away and are extraordinarily ideal for you.

ATTENTION: It's obvious that you prefer, wearing a Padded bra but, for God sake, never think of one which have padding (wiring in case of "under wired bra") at the UPPER portion (cup) of the bust. It leads to a lot of health problems including Breast Cancer. Ask the sales girl if you have doubts. Remember that it should always have padding at the LOWER portion(cup) for you to be safe. (also look in the article "Selecting the right bra" for detail information.)

Big Breasts:

Your best bets are wrap dresses, which hide the tummy area and separate the bust, or sweetheart and open necklines, which elongate the neckline and draw the eye up.

Look for dresses with a slight flare to balance the lower and upper body. Avoid high necklines (like shift dresses) which unify the breasts, and halter styles. Other shapes to avoid are boxy or baggy styles.Playing down this area is fairly easy to achieve by enhancing those parts of the body that really do look good like the lower area. Skirts with flare can take the eye away from the breasts, and playing down the breast area with darker color, balancing it off with brighter color in areas of strength can really look classic and nice.

Often the large breasted woman makes the mistake of wearing bras that are too small, leaving fatty areas around the bra under the arms and on the back....Never do such a mistake (at least from now onwards). By buying a correctly fitted bra, you will present yourself in a better way because the bulges will be less dominant and garments will look better. There are also weak areas around the shoulders and tops of arms that mean that a lady who is big on top would look better with garments that have sleeves. It's not a weakness and in fact can prove a great strength. Just by accepting the shape that they are and enhancing the areas that really do look good, attention is taken away from those areas of weakness.

Large Tummy (stomach or upper abdomen area) :

Don’t wear skirts or dresses in flimsy fabrics that offer no support, drawstring waist trousers or
low-cut hipsters, elastic waist tops, big prints or tiny floral prints.
Don’t wear undergarments that are too tight or tops that contain lycra.
Don’t tuck the tops in to the bottoms.
Wear denim skirts with a zip or buttons at the front - the fabric really holds your stomach in.
Go for shirts or jackets with buttons, leaving the last three or four unbuttoned to skim over tummy.
Wear longer length jackets, trousers that zip at the side and flat-fronted skirts.
Wear big chunky belts slung around the lower stomach.
Try long and lean stretch jeans and slightly low-slung waistbands to elongate your body.

plump (fatty) Legs/Ankles:

Don’t wear mid-length skirts that end at your calves, short mini skirts, calf-length or ankle
boots, light colored or shiny tights.
Don’t let your hem fall at the fattest part of your leg.
Don’t wear shoes with very delicate straps , ankle straps or ankle chains.
Wear wedges (platform heels), low-cut shoes, black knee-length boots in suede or stretch fabric.
Skirts that end just below the knee make lower legs look longer.
Do wear sandals with broader straps across the foot to disguise puffy ankles.
Wear dark colored plain tights.

WEAR ACCORDING TO THE BODY (WOMEN)

As it's not possible to specify the every kind of the body, I make an attempt to discuss the most common types.

Petite (short) :

Well, the definition for 'PETITE" varies with the origin of living ( country). Here, I consider the height of "4.4 to5.4" feet or "134 to164" Centimeters as petite. So, if you are nearer to this height, consider yourself as petite. Mind you, you may also come under some other body type (because of shape of the body). In that case, follow the avoidable (not to wear) things of both types of bodies.

What to do :

Dress all in one color from your top to your shoes. Don’t forget to match your hose (socks) to your outfit.
Dark colors make you look slim. Try Black, Navy, Charcoal, Burgundy, deep Green, or Purple.
Wear garments that fit you well. Fitted or semi-fitted clothing looks better on Petites.
Select clothes with vertical lines. They don’t need to be striped (the design on the garment may start from the top and end at the bottom).
Vertical seam lines, such as Princess seams will do the trick.
Choose Tops and Jackets with V-shaped or U-shaped necklines.
Wear high heels. It’s the easiest way to add height. Pumps and Sling-backs are terrific.
Wear Jeans and pants with straight legs, flat fronts or even the boot cuts if u like.
Keep belts slim and match them to your outfit if you want to wear a belt.
Select Purses or Bags of medium size so that, your Bag will be in proportion to your smaller frame.

What not to do :

Wide or contrasting Belts cut the figure in half and break up the vertical illusion that we want to achieve. So, never wear them even they are your favorite.
Never wear Pants with Cuffs, bulky Pockets, or Pleats.
Stay away from garments that have a lot of Design and the loose-fitting apparel. Avoid shoes with Ankle straps.
Avoid bulky or highly textured fabrics. There’s no need to avoid texture completely, but stay away from fabrics with a lot of loft and fuzziness.
For Sweaters, Thin fabric works better than thick.
Skip the Mini-skirts and Mini dresses. (Although Minis look great on women with long, slender legs, they don’t have the same effect for shorter women.)
Stay away from huge Handbags. (Oversize bags are so big that they can seem to overwhelm short women.)

Tall :

Here is a strange situation in the sense, a lot of women feel themselves lucky to have great height at the same time, there are also people who face difficulty because of the over height (I mean more than what they want to be). I try to discuss the both.

1.Making the most of your height :

If you are fortunate enough to have those extra few inches of height, then you are lucky that most styles suit you. This is not to say there aren't things you should avoid, but generally there are lots of fabulous ways in which you can allow your clothes to enhance your Height.

What to do :

Long Dresses will always create a better impression of length, as there will be a continual flow from the shoulders area to the floor.
If you do choose trousers for that more casual look, then try Cuff- less trousers, as these will appear longer.
Long and lean effect can be obtained by sticking to one color throughout the outfit.
The Top and Trousers should be of same (or nearer) color with no belt worn or a belt of the same color (introducing different colors will break up the length and the belt will act as a dividing line).
Choose thin vertical Stripes, detailing such as visible Seams, and well-tailored Darts and sharp Creases, again to create length.
Wear long Scarves or heavy Necklaces depending on the occasion.
Hats always accentuate height, go for swept-back Ponytails for those of you with longer hair. Shoes should be high and elegant. search for Shoes with interesting detail on the heel, or eye-catching chrome look heels.

What not to do :

Stay away from Capri trousers and anything that is three-quarter length as these cut off at a mid-limb point and will not create that impression of length you are aiming for.
Avoid tight clothes and skirts that are too short or too long.
If wearing a long dress, complex Patterns should be avoided as much as possible.

2. Playing down your height :

If you are one of those women who get fed up of being so tall, and always think... "I wish i could be a bit shorter." There are things you can do to create the impression that you look the way you want.

What to do :

You should choose Separates and in particular, pick Tops that are long (below the waist) and cover the upper portion of your legs. These will give the appearance that you legs are shorter than they actually are.
Select Trousers (pants) that have a Cuffed appearance round the bottom. This will make the actual length seem much shorter.
Capri and three-quarter length trousers can be worn but, make sure that they are not too short for you.
You have more scope in terms of the colors you should be wearing to truncate your height. Choose mixtures of dark and light colors while combining Tops and Bottoms, and mix patterns and detail that run across the width of tops.
Wear belts to provide that dividing line between your top and bottom areas, and divert the eye from left to right even more by introducing horizontal stripes to the outfit.
It may seem obvious but shoes play a big part in creating height ( Choose flat heels or mules depending on the occasion.
Look for shoes that have detail on the flatter part of the shoe at the front but not on the heel.

What not to do:

Long Dresses that create a continual flow from head to toe are to be avoided.
Don't wear clothes of same color. also avoid belts that are too broad in width.
V necks, diagonal and vertical Stripes are a Big No No.

The triangle shaped :

Person Having.................... narrow Shoulders, too small Bust Line extend to wider Hips.

What to do :

Wear clothes with vertical Lines to make an up and down illusion. Tops with V-necks and Skirts with Slits up the sides are also good (only if u prefer). choose Clothes having Design or Detail at the Neck and Shoulders. wearing Scarves will be a good choice too.
Boat Neck will look good(ignore if u are not comfortable with).
Wear wide collared Tops and clothes with small Padded shoulders .
Wear long Tops that go passed your Hips.
Choose Jackets, Tailored Suits and Shirtwaist dresses with Straight, Classic cuts.
Shirts that hit above or below the Hip region are good to choose. Skirts should be a bit longer and stay around the Knee.
Lighter colors on top can be worn, this brings eyes up.
Wear dark Stockings. Select vertical, fluid patterns and avoid bulky fabrics.
Adopt the "just below the knee" look in Dresses and Skirts.
Choose Accessories of the same or nearer color to the clothes you are wearing including shoes. This gives your body an unbroken slimmer look.
Stay with straight or A line skirts.

What not to do :

Avoid Shirts or Tops ending at the Hip region. Garments with diagonal Sleeves (Raglans or Halters). Don't wear Skirts or Pants with Patch or Inseam Pockets, bulky Side seams and Pleats.
Avoid short Skirts that end above the Knee and very wide Pinafore Skirts.

The Inverted Triangle :

Have broad shoulders, full bust line, or heavy upper arms extending to narrow hips.

What to do :

Choose long Jackets without shoulder Pads. Go for darker colors on top and lights as bottoms. . Tops with V neck; Dolman or Raglan sleeves and ones that fit loose and slims down to hug the hips and waist are good.
Wear Pants or Skirts that are Pleated to bring the eye down. Choose thin materials like Cotton, or Poly-cotton or Rayon. One color dressing will also be thinning.
Wear large Belts or belts with large Buckles. Flat shoes are best unless you are short, then wear Heels. If your legs are in good shape, shorter Hem lengths will draw attention away from your top.
Let the hair be free or tie it a bit loosely to cover some portion of your shoulders.

What not to do :

Do not wear tops with fancy details and ruffles at the neck shoulder or bust region. Do not wear clingy fabrics on top.
Do not wear tops that are too light in color. avoid Capri or Tapered (narrow fitted) pants.
Never wear Tops with wide necklines (like Boat neck). Avoid heavy jewelry in the neck. Never bunch your hair into Bun or tie it too tightly to form a thin Plait.

The Hourglass shaped :

Narrow Waist with, wider Bust and Hips that are in proportion are the features.

Note : The best Fashions for your shape are those that are fitted to show off your curves.. Even if you are larger, it is much better to choose tops that don't hide much of your curves, because trying to hide your shape will not work and more over, it might cause a weird look. so be positive and proud about what you are.

What to do :

Choose a dark Bottom and a lighter Top, with a Belt that matches the pant or skirt. Jackets and tops will look especially good on you if they have a Belt, Consider a loose shirt with an open collar or a loose-fitting v-neck on top that are cropped or ended at the waist.
Think about Flat-Front, side-Zippper and Pocket Less pants as they minimize your full Hips and Bottom.
The best Skirt for you is the Pencil skirt . Straight styles and certain A-line skirts could also be right for you, as long as they are fitted around the waist and Hips.
The best style is a Wrap Dress that can be pulled in at your middle.
Dresses that are fitted on upper portion of the body and have an A-line skirt can also look great.
Most styles of trousers will suit you, high or low waist, as long as they are not too baggy.
The only style to avoid would be tapered trousers (Narrow fit) that get narrower towards your ankles, especially if you are a very curvy Hourglass.
Go for a comfortable and safe pair of shoes or sandals.

What not to do:

Stay away from Dresses that are completely straight up and down. Also avoid dresses cut on the bias ( diagonal, longer on one side than the other) .
Avoid ruffles and pleats as these will add bulk
Never Wear anything too tight or clingy whatsoever.
Boxy styles and Empire lines though fashionable and fun will not suit you as they will hit your Chest and then flare out missing your waist.

The Pear shaped :

Usually have: A bottom heavy shape, Thin and slender neck, Narrow or sloping shoulders, Larger and more generous lower hips and thighs. I know it's difficult to understand what pear shaped body really means. ( Infact a lot of Indian women come under this category) which is why I provide the image here. Please note that, the diagrams I placed here, are to make you understand the things easily. And please let me know if you feel embarrassed or weird.

NOTE: Remember that you are the judge of what you wear and that, taking friends to help you decide is often a mistaken decision, since friends get impatient and often answer in the positive way even if the outfit is a disaster. Only "You" can be the judge. Wear those things that you are happy with, and create your own Unique style.

What to do :

Choose a shirt that draws the eye to the shoulders. ( with a Design or a patch)
Select tops with the following elements:
Wide Necklines such as Boat neck or Scoop neck style that can widen the shoulders and balance your bottom half.
Look for waist-defining details in your Tops, such as Belted or Clinched styles that show off your defined waist.
Look for buttons or ties at the neck that will draw eyes upwards.
Wear lighter colors for Tops and darker colors for skirts and stick to just below the Knee lengths.
Wear Jacket or Blazer without fastening it (leaving the buttons off).
Try to find one with puffed sleeves to balance out your shoulders in proportion to your hips. Wear brooches to draw the eye away from defects in the neck area.
Look for a waistline on your skirt or trousers that hits slightly below the natural waistline Without extra layers close to your waist. Get skirts with a slight A line cut. They will skim over problem areas and make the Hip and Thigh areas slim.
Scarves are a great invention, and long scarves can be worn flamboyantly covering larger breasts and enhancing a darker Top.
Lengthen and slim your legs with a pair of heeled shoes. Heavier style heels which are not stilettos (pointed heels) will balance out your calves.

What not to do :

Stay away from tight skirts and trousers. Avoid wearing a Blazer that ends at the widest point of your hips.
Try to avoid shirts that are too tight.
Stay away from baggy shirts. Don't hide your shape with loose tees! You'll look bigger all over.
Avoid shoes with ankle straps or T-strap styles, which can make your legs look larger.

The Apple shaped :

Apple shaped usually have: full breasts and a wide back. arms could be slim, while shoulders be wide. have slim hips and a trim backside and might have gain weight at the midsection. I know it's difficult to understand what pear shaped body relly means( a lot of indian women comes under this category). which is why I provide the image here. Please note that, the diagrams I placed here are to make you understand the things easily. And please let me know if YOU feel embarrassed or wierd.

What to do :

Try out a floaty tee such as a tunic style top. It will skim around the waist. Try an empire waist shirt that begins under the bust to draw attention away from the stomach.
Wear shirts that reach lower than your waist to reduce the chance of "muffin top"escaping from where your shirt meets your trousers. If you like your hips to look a little more in balance with your bust, try a shirt that meets the largest point of the hips.
Choose a shirt with a slightly lower neckline to keep the eyes moving upwards. Pair that with a statement necklace for maximum effect.
Try light (made of thin fabric) layers to move the eye over trouble spots.Wear a waistcoat over a sleeveless tank to draw attention to your arms and camouflaging your tummy.
Choose a layered chiffon blouse over a lightweight tank top. With a well-fitting lightweight top, you can skim over the midsection with ease.
Look for wide-legged trousers that will create a more even look between your upper and lower halves.Try wide-legged Capris to flaunt your slim ankles.The best jeans for your body type are ones with front and back pockets.
Choose a skirt with a full silhouette. Your slightly top-heavy appearance can be reduced significantly, and when paired with a slim-fitting tunic, you'll look positively slim.
Skirts with a higher waistline, such as one that reaches the natural waist, will disguise a larger stomach and hide any strain or tightness across the midsection.
Find a pair of shoes that continue the long lines of your legs. You may want to try a strapped sandal with brief straps and a sexy heel.
Wear kitten heels for comfort if you have smaller calves. These heels are easier on your feet,
Embrace chunkier style shoes like wedges. Wearing a slightly heavier shoe can help to anchor and balance your top half.

What not to do :

Don't wear slim miniskirts with your body type. You will seem far more top-heavy than you really are.
Never wear skinny trousers, unless you wear a longer tunic over it. Avoid pants with pleats
Avoid tops with puffy sleeves or overly baggy clothing. Slim skirts and tight clothes should also be avoided since they will only emphasize a slimmer lower body half and create the illusion of imbalance.

The slim Rectangle :

The shoulders and hips are very similar in width but there is still a curve at the waist line (waist is a bit slim)

What to do:

Wear styles having details on the bust and the hips choose designs that have horizontal lines,
go for unstructured jackets and blazers (without padding) with wide shoulders or jackets with small lapels which taper at the waist.
pair up contrasting clothes (tops and bottoms of different colors)
wear full tops with flared skirts or pleated pants with full or flared pant legs
the waist bands need to be narrow and go for bulky sweaters and baggy pants.

what not to do :

Never wear clothes with wide waist bands. and don't use belts except if they are unavoidable for you. Don't wear clothes with large pockets, large plaids(checks) and patterns.with vertical stripes.

The Wide Rectangle :

....Have nearly a parallel body shape, the body will have equal width from top to bottom.

What to do :

wear clothes with contrast colours. go for layered tops at the shoulder and neck line.
wear clothes that hug the waist. Use round or curved neck lines.
go for round necklaces or wrap a scarf .

What not to do :

stay away from wide waist bands and belts.
Avoid V and square neck lines. don't wear padded shouldered jackets.
never wear clothes with large (plaids)checks, pockets or patterns.

HIDE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS (MEN)

Here are some Styling tips for men that will provide guidelines regarding the Right clothing for different body types.

• Short waisted men : Should avoid wearing trousers / jeans just at the waist. Low waist jeans are not the right type for you. Instead wear the pants above the waist level.Tucking your top would not be a very good option. Pullovers are apt for your personality. Short lengthy tank tops are a total no because they tend to highlight your short waist. Contrast concept won't look very good as it would interfere with the vertical flow. So a combo of pink shirt and black trouser should not be chosen. Always make sure that the top and bottom are of the same or nearer colors. Ask your tailor to keep an inch higher on waist while taking measurement.

• Long waisted men : Need to do things the other way round when compared to short waisted guys. Guys your perfect fashion style is low waist jeans with a contrasting shade T-shirt tucked inside. Double breast jacket is just ideal for you so as to prevent people's eyes from falling particularly on your legs. Choose belts with a big buckle. Instead of wearing pants with pleats and tucks, go for flat fronts. Stretch your hands wide apart while walking.
  

• Men with flat hips : Should firstly make sure that they wear proper fit pants. Straight leg trousers are just perfect for you because they divert the attention from back and camouflage your body feature. Select thick fabrics and light colors for trousers. On the contrary there are men with LARGE HIPS. For them, it's important to wear proper undergarments, which includes biking shorts & boxer briefs as they tightly hold your body. Attire low waist pleated flat front trousers, as they would go well with your personality.

• large belly?? : your wardrobe should have a combination of light weighted fabric and dark color. Light shades tend to accentuate your big belly and are a big NO NO. You should make it a point to wear a vest as it prevents loose skin flow from taking place. Long sleeve T-shirt is the right kind for you. Choose tops with Collar detail or design at the neck or chest portion. Avoid low waist jeans.

Even if you are dressed in Ethnic clothing, there are many options available with you but
again, as mentioned earlier all types are not meant for you. Shorter men and fleshy guys
should wear knee long Kurtas (lalchi). Tall guys can too opt for calf length Kurtas .

Hmmm.... So guys, by now, you must have got a clear idea as to what would suit you. so follow these tips and enhance your positive features. I hope that next time you go shopping you'll be focused as to what you need.

HOW TO MEASURE YOUR BODY

1. MEASURING THE BODY
Only basic body measurements are needed to determine your pattern type and size. Remember to wear proper undergarments and shoes when measuring. Also, make sure the tape measure is held snugly and firmly (not tightly) against your body and is always parallel to the floor for circumference measurements.

For Misses’ and Misses’ Petite:

Bust - Measure around the fullest part of bust and straight across back (1)
Chest - Around body above fullest part of bust (2)
Waist - Around body at natural waistline (3)
Hip - Around body at fullest part—usually 7-9" (18-23cm) below waist (4)
Back waist length - From the most prominent bone at base of the neck to the waistline (5)
Height - Measure (without shoes) standing against a wall


For Men and Boys:

Neck band - Around base of neck or buy shirt pattern by ready-made size (1)
Chest - Around fullest part of chest (2)
Waist - At natural waist over shirt (3)
Hip - At seat or fullest part of hip (4)
Shirt sleeve - From back base of neck across shoulder around bend of elbow to wrist (5)
Height - Measure (without shoes) standing against a wall

2. SELECT YOUR SIZE CATEGORY
Compare your height and body measurements to the measurement charts to select your size category.

3. SELECT YOUR GARMENT SIZE
Garment size is determined by your circumference (width) measurements. Again, refer to the Measurement Charts to select the size corresponding to the Bust, Waist and Hip measurements closest to your measurements. Here are some tips to help make your size selection easier:

• For Dresses, Blouses, Tops, Vests, Jackets, and Coats, select size to correspond with your Bust/Chest measurement. Adjust the Waist and/or Hip, if necessary. If there is more than 2"(5cm) difference between your Bust and Chest measurement, select pattern size by your chest measurement, because you will achieve a better fit through your shoulders, chest and upper back; adjust the Bust if necessary.

• For Skirts, Pants, Shorts, and Culottes, select size to correspond with your Waist measurement. Adjust the Hip, if necessary. If your Hips are much larger than your Waist, select the size closest to your Hip measurement and adjust the Waist.

• When purchasing a garment that includes a Top, Blouse, Jacket, Skirt and/or Pants, select size by your Bust/Chest measurement and adjust the Waist and/or Hips if necessary.

• If your measurements fall between two sizes, consider your bone structure. If you are thin and small-boned, choose the smaller of the two sizes. If you are larger boned, choose the larger size. Personal preference may also influence your size selection depending on whether you prefer a looser or a closer fit.

• For Maternity patterns, select according to the measurements before pregnancy.