Lovely Lady Lumps

Have you ever done one of those quizzes in girl teen mags that claim to educate you on how to "Dress for your Shape"? Usually, your answers result in one of these four possibilities:

Once you know your "basic shape", the magazine goes on to educate you on the perfect date outfit for your body type, or a prom dress that will highlight your "positive attributes". Equipped with this knowledge, you can go on to be your most fabulous self!

But what about those of us who don't quite fit into these four standard types? Are we doomed to never find out which outfit will look best on us?

Out of these basic shapes, my results often tell me that I am an hourglass. I have a lot of the features of the hourglass: I have a very defined waistline, and the measurements of my ribcage are identical to those of my hips. There is one thing that differentiates me from the hourglass, however. The part of my body that I am most sensitive about: My shoulders.

I have very broad shoulders. Perhaps not football player broad, but I have often been mistaken for a competitive swimmer. Buying jackets is the bane of my existence, as I often have to buy jackets 4-6 sizes bigger than I normally wear because they either don't fit in the shoulders, or the sleeves are too short (I also have monkey-long arms). Thus, the tips that are often given to the hour glass, don't always apply to me.

In reality, there are 6 standard female body shapes:

Unfortunately, those tests in Cosmo often disregard my inverted triangle body shape, and those ladies with the diamond shape are also often ignored. Thank goodness for the Internet! After doing some research, I found some tips for other upside down triangle ladies out there.

If, like me, you are an inverted triangle:

Your main style aims are to create the illusion of the perfect hourglass body shape by balancing your lower body to your upper body and to draw attention away from your upper body.

Do wear...

• Flowing fabrics
• Low to medium-low necklines
• Set-in sleeves
• Three-quarter length sleeves
• A good fitting, well adjusted bra
• Tops and dresses that flow through the waist
• A-line skirts
• Flared pants
  

Don't wear...

• Stiff, bulky, fabrics
• Styles that emphasize your shoulders
• High necklines
• Big collars
• Tapered skirts and pants

For more tips on how to dress for your shape, particularly if you are an inverted triangle or diamond, visit this website:

http://www.style-makeover-hq.com/body-shape.html#horizontal%20body%20shape