While there are all kinds of charts, quizzes, and how to’s on dressing for your body type, I think the biggest favor you can do yourself is look in a full length mirror before walking out the door.  It amazes me how many people do not own a full length mirror.  Your hair and makeup can only do so much for you, how you dress can do wonders.

Regardless of individual body shapes, a few simple rules can be applied to how you dress.  For instance, the silhouette of the garment should flatter the natural shape and size of your body.  Nothing should cling, pull, pucker, gap or bag across the bust, armholes, sleeves, shoulders, tummy, hips, bottom, or crotch.  Even though oversized looking tops are in style, clothes that are just too big and baggy add pounds.  Keep proportion and scale in mind.

This combination of the cropped jacket with a mini skirt and wedged booties add length to my legs and the giraffe belt not only adds a fun factor but it accentuates my waist line and pulls the color of the skirt and top together.

So, before you walk out the door check and make sure the lines and lengths of what you have chosen to wear elongate your legs or torso, accentuate your best feature, and collaborate to pull together the total look you want.

 

  Top: Loft    Skirt: Marshalls   Belt: Anthropologie    Jacket: J. Crew

Shoes: Michael Kors    Sunglasses: Ray Ban     Handbag: Ross