There is nothing more beautiful than a full-figured woman who is proud of her curves! The best story I ever heard was of a teen girl that proudly declared herself "reverse anorexic." What a refreshing thought—a young girl not obsessed with being a waif—especially when that isn’t a natural state of being! This girl’s healthy state of mind was partly due to the fact that she (and her mother) knew how to properly dress their enviable curvaceous figures. Knowing your body shape, and choosing appropriate clothing, can do wonders for your look and style, and increase your own sense of self-worth by letting you love what you see in the mirror. Which body shape are you?

Pear-Shaped Body

A pear-shaped body is defined as one that is heavier on the bottom than the top. Often, there can be as much as a 2 size disparity between the top and bottom. Usually, while a pear-shaped woman’s waist is well-defined; 4 of 5 pounds gained will migrate to the hips and thighs.

The best designer dresses and designer styles for a pear-shaped body:

Shoulder pads—These help to balance a smaller top with a wider bottom; making one look more slender.

Straight skirts, A-line skirts & Dresses—These all help to balance a larger bottom; an elastic waist can offer a more flexible fit.

Long jackets or Long shirts—These should fall below the widest part of the hips, to smooth the line between the upper and lower body, and make the two halves appear more uniform in size.

Avoid the following:

Belting—By accentuating a small waist, attention is also drawn to wider hips.

Gathered or full skirts—These accentuate the largeness of the bottom-half and will draw attention to the upper and lower body size disparity.

Apple-Shaped Body

An apple-shaped body is defined as one that is heavier on the top than the bottom by as much as 2 sizes. Generally, a pear shape will have large bust and waist, with a flat bottom and thin legs.

The most flattering designer dresses and styles for an apple-shaped body:

Straight tops—These elongate the trunk and balance the silhouette.

Belts—These should be placed at the hips, which tend to be the smallest part of an apple-shaped body.

V-neck & scoop necklines—To de-emphasize a larger top.

Short skirts—A length just above the knee will show off thin legs.

Long cardigans or jackets—When worn opened, these items balance the silhouette by streamlining the top and bottom halves.

Avoid:

Shoulder pads—These will only accentuate a larger top.

Fitted shirts—Anything that is fitted in the torso can distort the silhouette and emphasize a larger stomach.

Vertical stripes—If worn around the torso, these will accentuate the largeness of the top half.

Rectangular-Shaped Body

A rectangular-shaped body has little definition at the waist; with longer arms and legs, this shape enjoys a wide range of designer dresses from which to choose.

Shop for the following to flatter a rectangular shape:

Bias cut & Empire lines—These elongate the silhouette by creating the illusion of a narrow line above the waist.

Shaped shift dresses—Worn with a contrasting belt to give a curvy look.

Halter neck & slash neck lines—These are very flattering, especially when paired with voluminous skirts and waist-cinching belts.

Frills—These, along with other embellishments, add the appearance of curves.