Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about How to dress for your body type and drop a dress size (without dieting or exercise!)

It is not uncommon for women to struggle with body image issues. Whether it’s wanting to lose weight, having lost weight, or the inability to keep weight on /off – we’ve all got or had a struggle in that department. 
 Our life is constantly changing, and that is normal and OK, but as our life changes our body changes too, and sometimes we lose track of what flatters us and what doesn’t.

Many changes in a woman’s life impact her body and her self-esteem. For example;  having a new baby, bringing up a family, a career change, seeing our body shape change from illness, the menopause, or even divorce mean it is easy to lose our confidence and any self esteem we once had. 

dress for your body type

Now, you want to get that confidence back and see the person you always knew yourself to be when you look in the mirror……forever.

And a great way to start is by learning to dress for your body type. The ideal body type is considered to be the “hourglass” figure. It dates back to the caveman era; if a woman had a full bust, tiny waist, and hips – it meant she could bear and raise children. The issue is that only 8% of women naturally have that figure.

Enter the magic of styling, with the right tips and tricks you can create the illusion that you have that perfect hourglass figure.

And I’m thrilled to let you know that we have just launched a new virtual coaching program “Dress for your body type” to help you master the art of dressing for your body shape. And, we have a really special launch offer for you. 

But first, here are a few tips to start you off:

dress-for-your-body-type

Dress for the body type you have NOW

By learning to love and enhance the figure you have right now, you can feel confident and stylish regardless of your body type and size.

Learn to appreciate and love the body you have now, rather than obsessing over the body you had when you were 18 or the body shape you hope to have when you lose 10lbs!

Make sure to buy clothes that are the exact right size

dress for your body type

Avoid clothes that are too tight (which will just showcase any lumps and bumps) and similarly avoid clothes that are too big (as shapeless baggy clothes will just make you look bigger!) 

Avoid slavishly following fashion trends but discover and stick to what flatters your shape. 

Learn to use ‘classics’ to your advantage and don’t underestimate the importance of the perfect fabric and the perfect cut.

Understand the effect of stripes, and how they can create an optical illusion to make you appear taller and slimmer.

Horizontal stripes make you look bigger as they attract the eye from left to right to follow the lines and thus give the impression that something is wider/larger. 

If you have a large bust and you want to wear horizontal stripes, add an open jacket or cardigan, a long necklace or a scarf to create a vertical line and ‘break the area up’.

Unlike horizontal stripes, vertical stripes lengthen the body and give the impression of being thinner, so make sure to include vertical striped shirts, skirts and pants in your closet.

You can also create vertical lines with the cut of your clothing as long, open jackets also draw the eye downward to create the impression of a taller, thinner you.

Choose colours which are slimming, (and which illuminate your face and make you sparkle.) 

If you want to give the impression of being thinner or leaner, choose dark colours, – such as black, navy blue, plum….. and avoid light colours.

Combining dark colours such as navy and black, or burgundy and black is also visually slimming, as well as very chic, as you can see in this example from French brand ‘Comptoir des Cotonniers’.  

dress for your body type

Outfits that stick to just one color palette (monochrome) are the most flattering for all body shapes. 

dress for your body type
Dress by Carrol

Choose tops and bottoms of the same color to create an uninterrupted vertical line, making you look thinner and taller.  The monochrome look is especially recommended for the Apple body shape and for ‘petite’ ladies. 

If you choose 2 colors of contrasting value, make sure to wear the darker color on the area you want to appear slimmer. For example, if you are a pear shape, you should wear the lighter color on the top half and the darker color on the bottom, whereas if you are an inverted triangle then favour the dark color for tops.

Similarly, you should be wary of your choice of material- some fabrics, such as heavy wool, tweed and padded fabrics will add inches to your body. Wear bulky materials such as corduroy, leather, suede, velvet, brocade, angora, taffeta, and tweed, as well as satin, metallics and shiny materials, only on areas of your body that you want to appear larger. 

Have a look at our other features about the best skirts for your body type and the best jeans for your body type for some more detailed tips.

So, now I want to introduce you to our new virtual coaching program “How to Dress for your Body Type “

dress for your body type

 This 4 week coaching program will help you address any limiting beliefs you have,  work on your body confidence and help you identify and learn the tips and tricks for your unique body type. 

Together, we will create your personalized “Body Shape Bible”, with all the tips and tricks adapted to your specific body shape, so you can always “Be your own Stylist”

We aren’t going to diet, and we aren’t going to exercise (although you can if you want to!), but we are going to explore how styling can change the way we feel about our bodies, and learn how to make the most of our assets. 

We will also identify your celebrity body doubles and I will show you how to use them for inspiration, and to  develop your ‘Body Type Style Vision Board’.

What’s included:

  • The 4 week coaching program with lifetime access to the videos and pdfs.
  • Membership to the private Facebook group.
  • 4 live coaching calls with me (on a one to one basis or as group coaching) and all the downloads/ videos that go with the program.  

If you choose one to one coaching, we can adapt the program to go at your pace.

By the end of this program you will:

  • be more confident in your new style, know how to dress for your body type and you will have increased body confidence,
  • start to appreciate the body you have instead of obsessing over the one you think you want.
  • learn the style tips and tricks that will enable you to be your own stylist … forever! 

And I KNOW that it isn’t easy, but I know you can do it! How do I know this? Because I have been EXACTLY where you are today, and I’ve faced the same struggles.

I’ve  learned ‘how to’ find my style and my confidence, I’ve shown other women how to do the same, and now I want to help you confidently step into your new style.

Loving the woman you see in the mirror is the greatest gift you can give yourself, and learning how to accentuate your assets and camouflage your concerns is the first step to your new found confidence. 

 You can find out more about this new coaching service here., and I have a special offer for you below! 

There is a special launch offer on the site, for “dressing for your body type”, and this is available as group or 1 to 1 coaching, and is already priced at just 26 cents per day over your first year for the group coaching and you have lifetime access. 

But, I am also offering you 25% off these launch prices until July 31st with the code LAUNCH25. 

This code is valid on EVERYTHING, except books, so you can use it on the one to one or group coaching. You can take the 1 to 1 coaching whenever it suits you but the group coaching dates are fixed (next program August 17th). So, if you would like to take advantage of the code for group coaching but the dates don’t fit then just drop me an e-mail or message me via Facebook or Instagram!

Here is the link to the site and the launch offer and don’t forget to use LAUNCH25 if you are interested! 

If this program is closed for enrolment, please drop me an email to be updated on the next dates, or to find our more about one to one coaching.

“Your perfect body is just an outfit away! “

I hope these few tips to help you dress for your body type are helpful, and don’t forget to check this post about the 5 most common styling mistakes women make.

But, the key to any style is to wear what feels good on you and what makes you happy