Picking Out a Dress Part 2

PART 2: Shape of You

Look at the mirror! What do you look like? An apple? A pear? An hourglass? A rectangle? 

It sounds funny but actually this classification is very real. It has been a part of the fashion world for a very long time. It is so said that we must identify which shape out of the four we are, and that the dresses that we choose must be based on that. But in the real world, is a pear always a perfect pear? An apple a perfect apple? Every fruit is something different, though they all are sweet. People are also the same.  

Looking nice doesn't always have to be high maintenance. Working out hours in the gym to change the shape you own to the shape you want, surviving months on oats and salads, pearl facials with no pearl and gold facials with no gold, curling the straight hair and straightening the curly hair, these are often time taking and desperate measures. The easiest way to transform yourself  and be confident is by dressing for your shape.

Without being bothered about the fruits and vegetables which resemble you, there are some tips you can apply whenever you are shopping for a dress :-

1. You are tall.

Now, some of you are proud that you are tall. You walk tall, talk tall. You have a grin that says the world's beneath you.  And there are some who feel like their head sticks out in the crowd. They slouch to be in parallel with the world around them.

The first kind can wear any kind of dress. Your confidence will carry it off well. The latter can pick dresses that are knee-length or calf-length instead of full-length.Your long legs will not then catch so much attention. If you feel your torso is longer than your legs, go for short tops and crop tops, shirts that can be tied up and dresses that define your waist line. Formal wears can be high waist pants and skirts. Buttoning up your jacket or coat can also be one option.

2. You are short.

All beautiful things come in small packages. Lot of people think small people look cute and cuddly. So there is no need for you to feel jealous of the tall ones.

It is quite known that vertical stripes and designs elongate your look. You can also wear darker shades as bottom especially if you think your thighs make you look shorter. If your torso needs an illusion that it is long then choose shirts, t-shirts, tops etc. that have length a little below the hip line. Do not wear broader designs like horizontal stripes, big columns, etc. 

3. You are curvy.

Curvy is a confusing word. It could either mean that you have well-toned curves or the natural curves. The natural curvy ones may have some happy weight around their hips, stomach etc. As the well-toned curves have nothing to hide, let's talk about the natural ones.

When I gained weight, I tried so many different styles and finally realized that no dress can hide all. Still, there was a particular shape of dress which I found satisfying on me as well as many others who look like me. It's the A-line dress. Advantage of an A-line dress is that the dress itself has a defined shape which is like the letter A. It won't hug your body especially around hips and below.
Sometimes the dress may have a grip right below the bust and sometimes there might be a pattern either above that grip or below. That is totally your choice. For more slimming down effect, you can choose dark colors and small patterns. Bigger patterns will make you look large.

4. You are lean.

You are lean and you enjoy being lean. Try all styles of dress and if anyone can have a blast, it's you!

No, you think you look sick thin. You want to look a bit more healthy! I would recommend you wear dresses that are not body hugging. Look for a definite shape, never too loose. Wearing loose will look like your clothes are dangling on a hanger. Thicker materials will be more suitable than thin and flowy types.

Some people do not like to show their collar bones as it makes them look ill. In that case go for slightly closed collars like Mandarin (Chinese) collar or the Kimono style collar which has a cross over. There are plenty of options. If you like the closed-collar look, then there are variety of them like tie collar, Peter Pan collar, again, numerous options.

Some think their hands and legs are like twigs. Go for 3/4th sleeves, full sleeves, long flowy cape sleeves, bell sleeves and all sorts. Wearing full length straight cut pants and fuller skirts will be perfect for you than skinny jeans or pencil skirts.

5. Combination

You are basically lean with a little stomach pouch. You are tall at the same time top-heavy or bottom-heavy. You are short and curvy. The combination is countless. That's what makes us all unique by the way. So be happy that you are you! Who else can be The You?? :)

Now, for all combinations, I can shoot some arrows. You can stay in the way of what hits your target :-

i) Layering

Layering is a way of styling and hiding simultaneously. Adding a jacket (with or without sleeves) or coat can upgrade your look by a notch. Pick them wisely.

ii) Comfortable bottom

Your jeans, pants, skirts etc must work well for you throughout a long day. Whether you are travelling around the world or it is a daily job thing, if you are not in the right pants, you can never be in the right mind. It should not be too tight, it must be stretchable enough, it must have a breathing material, it must not drop down and show the smile of your butt cheeks :-) etc etc. 

Everyone, including me, has this tendency to say Yes to a pants which clearly says No to us, just because we fell in love with its look. At those tempting moments, just close your eyes, take a deep breath and remember all the dumped dusty pants at your home, which never saw the light of the day. That must do! :P

iii) Oblique designs ( Asymmetry & Draping ) and Shading

Oblique designs takes away the symmetry of the dress. It is a perfect way to divert attention. It could simply be an asymmetric dress or there could be smoothly falling drapes across the dress that enrich the look. The asymmetry creates shape whereas drapes accentuate the existing ones.
Also, you must have noticed that dresses with a darker shade fading into a lighter shade of same or different color, looks very fashionable on all body types. The shading can be vertical, horizontal or oblique.Whichever looks best on you, choose that one. The grey shades can look formal while the colorful ones can look funky. Jeans with shading is a balance between both. Be careful that it may look poor if shading is on a simple t-shirt or a top. So add layers for stylizing.

iv) Material

The material of the dress is something that we forget to look closely. According to the weather we categorize as Summer clothes, Winter clothes etc. But that's not it.

Thicker materials look rich and classy than very thin materials like polyester. It is because the cut and stitch looks perfect and the shape stays intact. Cotton, poly cotton, linen etc are best for those who emphasize on comfort. There are also mixed material fabrics, many which are better than single material fabric. Start taking a note of the material if you look and feel good in a dress.
If you are going for net-type or semi-transparent dress materials, remember that there is a thin line between looking sophisticated and looking distasteful. Definitely everyone can wear them. Choose them wisely.

v) Accessorizing

For any dress there will be a perfectly stylish accessory. Earring, neck piece, bracelet or bangle, hair accessories, belt, shoes.. the list is endless. The problem is that majority of us do not know what goes best with what.

If you are wearing a dress with glitters or embellishments, you need not over do the accessories. If your dress is monotonic, you can choose multiple ways accessorize it, each time giving it a different look.

Be playful with scarves. They come in all colors and patterns and are a less expensive way of adding style. Also there are many ways of wearing it. You can master a few, even invent your own.

Out of the metallic accessories, gold and silver must be carefully chosen and worn. It can make you look like a million dollars in both good way and bad way.

In general, long earrings and broad necklaces do not look that great together. Go for one of these two. If your neck is short, long earrings will make it look shorter. So look for interesting smaller ones. If your dress already has an attractive design or work around the neck, let that be the focus and do not hide it underneath a big necklace. If you feel that the neck of the dress is too wide or cut too deep that you neck looks bare, go for long chains optionally with layers or locket. 

Ethnic wears and lot of bangles is a perfect combination. Single-piece thin or broad bangle and bracelets go with almost all kinds of dress.

Belt is a powerful accessory that we rarely make use of. A few dresses, especially a monotone slightly long shirt or top which needs a waist definition or look enhancement calls for a belt. 

vi) Picturizing

While your imagination makes you feel like a princess as you keep staring at the mirror wearing the dress you adore, the ultimate way to find out is by taking a picture. Best option would be to ask somebody else to click a picture for you if you have company. Also, ask their honest opinion. Be ready to be heartened :D or heart-broken :( . But the important thing is you know what the future of you and your dress looks like.

Keep looking awesome! Keep feeling awesome!