Women come in all shapes and sizes contrary to the belief of quite a few of today's clothing manufacturers. Regardless of your body shape you can look stylish and the main key to looking and feeling great is knowing your body shape and how to dress appropriately. The good news is there are some clothing manufacturers who have come to appreciate this fact and they are now producing clothes suitable for more than just one shape. Detailed below are the four basic body shapes and information about how to tell which one you are.



The Straight Body (also known as the banana shape)

Women with a straight figure have little difference between their bust, hip, and waist measurements. They often find that garments are too large in the bust, hips, and thighs, and have trouble finding clothes that flatter without being too tight in one area or too loose in another. Empire gowns are often flattering, and can help draw attention to the upper body. Detailing and patterns can help break up your shape, preventing a "rectangle" or boxy look.

Pear (also called the spoon or bell shapes)

Women with pear shaped bodies are larger in the hips and thighs, and generally have smaller busts than waists giving an appearance of a larger bottom half to the body. Items of clothing such as fitted jeans or slim skirts are not best suited to this shape. Garments which hug the hip and thigh areas should be avoided at all costs. When selecting dresses a fitted bodice with a fuller skirt looks good. Detailing on tops will help to give emphasis to the upper part of the body.

Apple

Thicker waists and larger rib cases are often a characteristic of the apple shaped body. Hips are usually narrow whilst busts can be either large or small and more weight is usually carried in the areas of the arms, shoulders, abdomen and chest. Legs are usually slender compared to the rest of the body. Attention to the neckline and shoulder areas should be avoided as this will accentuate an already ample top half. Full skirts will give a balanced appearance overall.

The Hourglass Shaped Body

Although admired by many, women with hourglass shaped bodies can sometimes have just as many problems selecting off the peg clothing as any other shaped woman. This is due to their broad hips and chests. When clothes are found which fit perfectly in the bust and hip regions, the waist measurement of the clothing is usually too large. By the same token, if the clothing fits perfectly on the waist, it is likely to be too tight over the bust and hips. Clothes accentuating your waist are your best bet here, but you may need to be prepared to have alterations carried out in other areas. Even something as simple as having a button moved can make an item fit so much better. Heavy decoration should be avoided for this particular body shape as it will make you look bigger.

It is important to look good and dressing to suit your body shape can help you to do this. When you know you look good, you will feel good too and your confidence will soar. So, by taking heed of the above tips your clothes shopping need no longer be a nightmare.

A quick search online will turn up many retailers offering clothes that are made to fit different shapes, both locally and abroad. See what you can find and say goodbye to badly fitting fashions.