GOAL

• Balance out shoulders and hips

• Elongate the body

BASIC “RULES”

• Dark, plain bottoms with light or bright tops

• Patterned, textured or tops with detail

• Tops and jackets must not end at your widest point

• Layering on your top half creates interest and draws the eye upwards

• Boat necks, sweethearts, wide V, show some skin around the neck

• Shoulder details, epaulettes, colour bands, wide collars, shoulder pads, puffed or ruched sleeves

• Empire waist, wrap styles

• Flat front trousers with room in the thighs (tailor to fit waist)

• You can balance out your hips with wider hems of trousers & skirts

WHAT TO AVOID

• Bottoms or dresses made of clingy or shiny fabrics

• Bottoms with any horizontal lines (e.g. tiered skirts)

• Anything too boxy

• Pleats or tapering on your bottom half

• Halterneck, kimono, raglan sleeves and dolman sleeves

THE DETAIL…

JACKETS

• Chanel-type jackets, peplum or double-breasted styles with shoulder pads

• Peaked lapels that draw the eye upwards or wide collars that broaden your shoulders

• AVOID dropped sleeves and deep armholes

TROUSERS

• A slight flare can help balance your silhouette

• AVOID back pockets or any detailing, diagonal pockets, tapered or low waisted

JEANS

• Mid to high-rise jeans, trouser legs, straight legs, wide leg or slight boot cut

• AVOID skinnies and small or widely spaced back pockets or pockets with flaps

SKIRTS

• A-line, easy wrap or softly draped style with vertical details. Pleated skirts can sometimes work but in at matt fabrics darker than the top you pair it with

• AVOID flap or patch pockets, bias cuts or trims, drastic flare and horizontal details like seams

DRESSES

• Empire waist, wrap dresses, A-lines and matching jacket and dress

• AVOID dresses that cinch the waist or bundles of fabric gathered at the waistline

SHIRTS/TOPS

• Semi-fitted tops that float over your hips and bottom or end just above the hips

• Detailing at the shirt hem, length that stops at the waist

• AVOID tops that end at the widest part of your hips

COATS

• Fitted shapes with waist detail or belted

• Wide collars and peaked lapels

• AVOID patch pockets on your hips