Less than 10% of all women have “perfect shapes.”  That makes the rest of us normal. What is considered “perfect” here in the United States is very different than what is considered “normal”, here and in the rest of the world  If we can understand our own body shape and accept what we have to work with,  it will be a big step toward making the right decision about which clothes will flatter us most. Putting some thought into the problem ahead of time helps you avoid expensive mistakes and bad choices. Purchasing the right garment will pay dividends every time you wear it.

Let’s forget the measurements for now and just consider basic body shapes.  You can starve yourself or pack on the pounds, but your basic shape will always stay the same. Look at these four basic shapes to the left, compare them to the perfect shape in the center, and see if you can pick out your own imperfections. Once you begin to think about what your basic shape is, only then can you see where your problem areas are.

In terms of measurements, if you find that your hips are more than an inch wider than your shoulders, you fall into the “A” or “T” category.  If your shoulders are more than an inch wider than your hips, you are a “V”.  You also may have a full waistline which fills out the “V” and presents another challenge.  If  your shoulders and hips are about the same and waist is small, you are an “X”.

Now that you know what you are working with, don’t be discouraged.  This is the beginning of learning how you can best enhance your basic figure proportions.  The key lies in understanding that the eye sees lines in a certain way and we can use this concept to advantage.  It is an optical illusion that the eye follows lines until they are broken or turned in another direction.

Here are some examples we are all familiar with:

Which lady looks the slimmest?

Which VEST is the most slimming?

So, if you have extra weight, vertical stripes may help to shift the eye in a flattering direction!