Dresses
Best:
- Add volume at the hips to balance your shoulders. Look for dresses that flare from the waist or hips. Simple, straight lines, shift dresses, A-line dresses are great
- Details on the lower part of the dress such as patterns and pleats, as well as lighter colours will draw the eye downwards and away from the shoulders
- If you opt for nipped or belted dresses, you can also add some definition to your waist
- Strapless dresses are a great way of showing off your shoulders. But make sure that you balance them out by adding volume to the hips
- Flare skirt embellishments (balanced, draws the eyes downwards)
- Flattering dresses: shift, A-line, panelled waist, nipped waist, pleated
- Sheath (are constructed to fall straight down your body, creating long lines).
Avoid:
- Dresses that emphasise the shoulder area and upper body, whether that's through the wrong neckline or details on the upper body
- Also steer clear of dresses that are fitted at the bottom and don't add any volume to the hips
- Wear tight-fitted shoulder embellishments.
Skirts
Best:
- Should add volume to the hips and balance out the shoulders. Any style that flares from the hips and adds visual width to the hips
- Straight, full, A-line, ballerina, bias cut, tulip skirts
- Tiered, volume or dropped waistlines also work well
- Details such as panels, box pleats or vertical lines at the top and ending in a full skirt work well to add both dimension and interest to the hip area
- Another way to draw attention to lower body is by choosing skirts in bright colours, horizontal stripes and patterns. They should be lighter or brighter than your top half
- Skirt lengths can vary from very short and flared to long and flowing
- Flattering styles: tulip, box pleated, A-line, bias and layered
- Midi (a pleated midi skirt in a midi length is ideal on this body shape).
Avoid:
- Tight-fitted skirts that hug the hips and visually pull them in.
Accessories
Best:
- Waist belt (waist emphasis)
- Statement sunglasses, large cocktail rings, long pendant necklaces, larger balls are all great accessories for this body shape
- Killer red nail polish which draws the attention downwards when you have your arms down by your sides
- Belt bags (a functional and trendy accessory that calls attention to your hips)
- Bracelets (a stylish and glitzy way to draw the eye downward).
Avoid:
- Chunky and bold necklaces that draws attention to the wider shoulders and bust, making you "top heavy".
Shoes
Best:
- Most shoes look great on this body shape. In order to bring the attention down your body and to the lower half, it's best advised to select bold and noticeable shoes
- Flattering styles: hinge sandals, leopard print flats, pink heels, black mules
- Statement shoes
- Boots (chunky heels anchor a narrower bottom half).
Avoid:
- Plain shoes, you want to draw the attention downwards.
Shirts
Best:
- Neckline that plays down the wide shoulders and/or bust
- The necklines should be slim and long to visually reduce the width of the upper body
- Deep and narrow scoop
- U and V necklines are great
- Asymmetrical styles help to break up the chest vertically
- If you have a small bust, halter necks can help to elongate your silhouette
- Asymmetric, V-neck, scoop, U-neck, halter (flattering styles)
- The shirts should emphasise the waist and play down the upper body and broad shoulders
- Tops should extend past the hip line (to take the attention away from the shoulders)
- To add volume to the hip area, look for shirts that flare from the waist to the hips to give the illusion of the shape
- Opt for shirts with darker colours than your bottoms (to draw attention away from the problem area which is your top half)
- Keep shirts collar-less or with very small collars to take attention away from the area
- Trapeze, peplum, fitted tee, wrap, fitted.
