In today’s day in age there is so much pressure on changing yourself. New products or trends are always being released into the market to alter who you are and your appearance. The clothing industry has unknowingly tailored its products to a very small audience. Many women find it hard to go shopping because many clothing stores do not appeal to different body types, thus making many clothes unflattering. This discourages many women, which leads them to give up fashion all together, deeming it impossible to look chic unless they have a certain body type.

To that I say bah humbug. Though it may not be easy, you just have to work with what you’ve got.

For pear body shapes:

It’s all about bringing the eyes upwards. Wear tops that call attention to your upper half/shoulder area. Tops with ruffles or fancy collars work great. Even just the neckline of your shirt can enhance the entire look. By going for a scoop neck or sweetheart neckline, you give the illusion of broader shoulders which balances out the lower half. You can even use accessories to do the trick. Big chunky necklaces keeps the focus upwards instead of downwards. For bottoms, keep the pant legs wide. This way, your curves will still be emphasized in the right places. A-line skirts are your best friends and will hug all of the right curves and smooth out the not so favorite curves.

For apple body shapes:

The illusion with this boy shape is distracting from the middle area. For tops, stay away from anything super tight, this will only enhance the middle area. If anything, keep the necklines lower as opposed to higher. Higher necklines broaden the shoulders and torso creating an even wider effect. V necklines are your best friend. Pair it with a great blazer for a great slimming effect. For bottoms, show off your legs! Go for higher waited pants to keep from creating the dreaded muffin top. Keep the shoes short so you can have that much more leg showing, thus elongating the legs.

For fuller bust body shapes:

This one hits me on a personal level. I can’t begin to explain how frustrating it is to go shopping for clothes I like and have them look cute on the mannequin but when I try it on it looks awful. The main goal here is to balance out the bust by enhancing the lower half and minimizing the top half. Aim for shirts with larger straps. This will give the illusion of a smaller top half. Keep the neckline low or a V. Any kind of ruffles or extra texture on top will only give the look of even larger chest. Another good trick is drawing the eye to the slimmest part, aka the waist. Dresses, such as wrap dresses, that cinch at the waist will create a smooth hourglass looking figure.

It’s not about changing yourself, it’s about dressing for what you were given. There’s no need to give up because certain clothes don’t look as flattering. Style your body appropriately and you can feel chic no matter what size.