Abu Dhabi Week learns how to dress to impress
Inverted triangle, rectangle, diamond… don’t worry this isn’t a geometry lesson – this is fashion 101. As obvious as it sounds, women come in a range of shapes and sizes. So even though every style, cut or colour may not necessarily work for you, there are still plenty of ways to play up your best assets based on your body type.
Whether you’re trying to accentuate your best assets or camouflaging problem areas, there’s a solution to it all. So pull out those notebooks because we’ve got your cheat sheet on how to look your very best with fashions that flatter.
Pear
Another fruit for another fabulous figure. The pear or bell-shaped silhouette sees women who have a greater hip measurement in comparison to their bust. Tending to carry their weight in their bottom halves, this shape has smaller shoulders and a well-defined waist.
Flaunt it! Focus attention upwards, on the slimmest part of your body, with blouses that feature embellishments along the neckline, loud, funky prints or rock a fabulous statement necklace. For bottoms, wear flat-fronted trousers that flare at the hemline for a long and lean silhouette.
Apple
You’re the apple of my eye! Wholesome, sweet and oh so juicy, an apple shape will see people carry most of their weight in their top halves. Apples tend to have broader shoulders and narrower hips. Also called the inverted triangle, the abdomen area will be larger than the rest of the body.
Flaunt it! If you fall under this category, look to play up your lengthy legs and de-emphasise your mid-section. Think empire waist blouses and v-neck tops to lengthen your top half, while skirts and bootleg jeans will help you flaunt those enviable gams.
Rectangle
Straight-laced? The rectangle or athletic body shape sees women with similar sized chests, waists and bottoms. These figures tend to have little waist definition and carry their weight equally from top to bottom.
Flaunt it! Fake some curves by cinching in your middle and defining your waist with nipped in tops and statement belts. Luckily, you can pull off most styles of bottoms –wide leg, skinny to low rise – so start exploring! Fitted jeans or a flared leg will help you appear curvier.
Hourglass
Looking for the X-factor? Well if you fall under the hourglass or X shape, you’ll find it
here! Considered an ideal shape, hourglass figures have almost equal sized hips and chests, with a narrow waist.
Flaunt it! Highlight the size of your teeny, tiny waist with fitted blouses, tailored tops and skinny accent belts placed at your smallest portion. To play up your curves look for styles of skirts with flattering A-line and pencil cuts.
Extra Credit
Looking to conceal pesky problem areas? Check out some of our favourite fashion advice to keep you looking long and lean.
Gut-busters
Hide your stomach with strategically placed ruffles. Peplum tops and dresses easily flatter your midsection by simply camouflaging it under a fancy flourish of fabric.
Another fantastic option is to look for patterns that will do the work for you when it comes to whittling in that waist. We’re huge fans of colour blocking, which use optical illusions to trick your eyes – because seeing really is believing!
Colour crossing
Monochromatic looks are not only stress-free; these will keep you looking slim and trim. By pairing up your top and bottom in the same colour, you’ll create a visually flattering silhouette. And it doesn’t have to be just boring black – inject a pop of colour with chic accessories for added glamour.
Toe the line
No pain, no gain. Heels (especially pumps in a shade that match your skin tone) always make you look thinner. The farther you are from the ground, the skinnier you look. If you can’t manage a stiletto opt for a more supportive (and more comfortable) wedge.
Sawaiba Khan
