Dress to Suit your Shape

So you want to emphasise those curves? Or perhaps you'd like to make the most of a petite frame? Or maybe you would rather disguise a top heavy frame? Whatever shape you are, you can dress to flatter your figure by following our fashion tips on knowing what to buy and what to avoid.

Curvy
You are curvaceous around the bust, waist and behind. Your arms and legs tend to be quite thin. Curvy women include Kelly Brook, Liv Tyler, Catherine Zeta Jones, Nigella Lawson, Kate Winslet.

What to wear:
* Show off your assets. Nipped in waists will emphasise your curves. Draw attention to this area by wearing a corset top, a waist-defining belt, or try pants with a contoured waistband, belts, or wrap tops that sit just at your waist.
* Opt for fitted tailoring styles and stretch fabrics to sculpt your body.
* Choose belted jackets and pencil skirts to show off your shape.
* Long fitted coats will help to streamline your figure and will draw the eye long and low.
* Flared or boot-legged jeans and pants, because the extra width down low balances things out up top.

What to avoid:
* Baggy tops. Don't try to hide your body in these as you'll look big and shapeless.
* Anything too tight or clingy.

Boyish Figure
You're quite tall, straight and pretty narrow - an enviable clothes horse. You don't have much of a bottom or bust, and you also tend to lack a waistline. Tall and slim figures include Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley, Tara Palmer Tompkinson.

What to wear:
* Opt for layers, ruching or details at the bust and hips.
* Try jackets, tops and dresses that are shaped in at the waist.
* Wear volume, full or pleated skirts help create the illusion of a fuller figure and look great with a fitted top.
* Enhance your figure with an elegant wrap dress, tied at the waist to add shape.
* Show off slim legs in pair of skinny jeans or skinny trousers.
* Wear a Belted trench - a classic cover-up.

What to avoid:
* Plunging necklines that will just emphasise a small chest.
* Cropped trousers which can have shortened effect.

Petite
You're short and compact. You tend to have narrow hips and toned shoulders. Petite stars include Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston and Natalie Portman.

What to wear:
* Enhance your curves and create length where you can. Choose fitted styles. A stylish shift dress, or cropped jacket and pair of Capri pants will always look good
* One colour top-to-toe helps to streamline your silhouette.
* Strapless numbers accentuate toned arms and shoulders.

What to avoid:
* Anything out of proportion (eg. ultrahigh heels, long skirts).
* Flat, round-toes shoes and ankle straps will chop off, not elongate, your calves.
* Big prints swamp a small frame.
Wear loose fitting layers, long skirts or wide trousers, these swamp a tiny figure

Pear Shaped
You're bottom heavy, you can have a very defined waistline, and your shoulders and bust tend to be slight. Pear shaped celebs include Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and J-Lo.

What to wear:
* Broad V-neck tops add width to your shoulders, which will balance out any width below.
* Fancy necklines, sweetheart, scooped, ruched, whatever - anything to draw attention upwards.
* Low-cut pants and jeans also try styles that feature prominent vertical seams down the front.
* Handkerchief-hemmed or flared skirts accentuate slim calves, distracting attention from your hips.

What not to wear:
[color:0ac0=green:0ac0]* Lurex and tight satin should be avoided by those not wanting to draw attention to a well-endowed butt.
* Strapless numbers as they'll only exaggerate the difference between what's on the bottom and what's not on top.
* Trousers with side pockets.
* Tapered skirts.