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How to dress your body type

Do you have a friend who always seems to look stylish, pulled together and effortlessly chic? What’s her secret? Dressing for your body type!

Are you an apple or a pear? No, this is not a psychological test, but a body type test! Determining your body type allows you to camouflage those trouble zones while highlighting your best features.

Pear body shape

If you have a pear body shape, your upper body is smaller than your lower body like the shape of a pear. Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez are sexy celebrities that have pear-shaped bodies.

The secret to dressing for this body type is to accentuate your small waist and arms while downplaying your hips and thighs. Wear a padded bra to balance out your figure and give your upper body more shape. Flowing, belted dresses or a colorful wrap dress will flatter your shape. Wear tops with an embellished neckline or ruffles and opt for bootcut jeans over tapered leg jeans.

More tips on dressing a pear body shape:

 


 

    Apple body shape

    If you have a short waist, tend to gain weight in your stomach, and have a flat rear end, then you have an apple body shape. You join fellow celebrity apples that include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Reese Witherspoon and Angelina Jolie.

    To best dress your body type, your goal is to highlight your legs while elongating your waist. Wear empire waist dresses or a short A-line dress with platform heels to show off your legs. If you have a slim midsection, belted or wrap dresses will help define your waist. Avoid tapered leg pants or jeans and look for flattering bootcut styles.

    More tips on dressing an apple body shape:

     


     

      Athletic or rectangle body shape

      If you have a lean body with your waist, hips, and shoulders pretty much all in a straight line, then you have a rectangle or athletic body type. You join fellow celebrity rectangles that include Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman.

      This body type is easy to dress as many clothes look good on you! Tapered leg or skinny jeans look great on your shape as do cropped pants or jeans. Wear a padded bra and look for ruffled tops to add curves to your top. Ruffled dresses or a belted mini dress are flattering on your athletic frame.

      More tips on dressing a rectangle body shape:

      • How to dress a rectangle-shaped body
      • Best skirts for atlethic body types
      • Best coats and jackets for rectangle body shapes

       


       

        Curvy or hourglass shape

        If your waist is small, and your hip and bust measurements are about the same, then you have a curvy or hourglass shape. This sexy shape is seen on Sofia Vergara, Salma Hayek and Christina Hendricks.

        Look for clothes that accentuate your waist and avoid baggy clothes. Avoid empire waist or A-line dresses that will only make you look bigger than you are, and tops that are too loose or hang straight down. Define your waist with belted dresses, wrap dresses and wrap tops. Low-rise bootcut jeans paired with a belted v-neck top will flatter your figure.

        More tips on dressing an hourglass shape:

        • How to dress an hourglass body shape
        • Best jeans for hourglass figures
        • Best skirts for hourglass shaped bodies

        If you are still unsure of your body type, get an in-depth description and pictures of each body type at How to determine your body type >>

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