Match your style with figure

Women no longer follow trends. They go for the clothes, hairstyles and glasses that suit them, says Banalata Bipani

OVER the years, women shopping around in Indian emporiums have become wiser in choosing their couture. The cognoscenti amongst them no longer follow trends, but, instead, go for the clothes, hairstyles and glasses that gel with their shapes and sizes. The buzzword now is that your selection should depend on your body type. Trends are not trendy, if followed blindly.

A study of over 6,000 women by fashion designers all over the world has revealed that there are nine body shapes, with the majority of women falling into the four categories of apple, pear, hourglass and rectangular. Again, your bulk — fat, medium or thin — matters. Another aspect is your skin tone — fair, medium, wheatish or dark. Further, the fact that whether you are basically a sari wearer, or are used to dressing in western clothes, is very important.

The pear-shaped figure is the most common female form. Your upper body is noticeably smaller than your lower body. If you were to gain five pounds, four of these would go to your hips and thighs.

Choosing the right clothes for your body type is not an easy task. A pear-shaped body is generally characterised by a thin and slender neck, narrow shoulders, small bust, and a larger lower body with a shapely waist, generous, rounded hips and tights. Your lines are very feminine and your small waistline is worth of envy. Therefore, you should embrace the opportunity to emphasise your assets and learn how to properly address your trouble spots. If you learn these small tricks, your confidence will increase, letting your beauty to shine through.

The apple-shaped figure is unique to the full-figured form. Your upper body is noticeably larger than your lower body. Not only that. If you were to gain five pounds, four of these would go to your waistline. Women with an apple-shaped body have a generous waist and usually prominent stomach. Large breasts, thin legs, slim arms and narrow hips are generally also characteristic to this body type. Choosing the right clothes can accentuate your advantageous parts and delicately camouflage those that embarrass you.

Look for strapless or sleeveless dresses to play up the arms and shoulders. Or look for empire waistlines and dresses that begin to flare at the hips. Choose flowing fabrics, especially when it comes to pants, and remember that straight skirts are ideal for your body shape.

The full hourglass figure is considered the ideal female form. You have an hourglass-shaped body if you possess a well-defined waistline with full hips, shapely legs, generous bust and bottom to contrast a smaller waist. As you can tell from its name, an hourglass figure delicately goes in at the middle area. Usually, this body shape is characterised by the equal width of the shoulders and the hips.

The rectangle-shaped figure is easy to identify. Your figure is straight up and down, without a lot of curves. If you were to gain five pounds, these would distribute evenly throughout your frame. — MF