Dressing For Your Body

There are 5 main body types and it’s important to know how to dress for your type. Read this and you might just be surprised that you didn’t know what you thought you did.

Pear body shape

Features: Shapely legs and a trim waist and head turning hips.

Common Mistakes: Usually with this body type you end up trying to show off that you have a nice slender upper body, by wearing little and tight shirts, but in the end all you're really doing is just making your butt look that much bigger.

Tops: Layers, layers, layers. You're trying to create some volume on top to make up for your bottom half. Cardigans are great and so are cropped jackets that stop right about at the waist. Show some skin too! Scoop-neck tops and three quarter sleeve will look divine on you.

Bottoms: Boot cut baby! The slight flare balances out your curves and look marvelous with heels. The extra length gives your legs an extra oomph! Dark wash would be choice on you. And A-line dresses will highlight your slim waist while falling nicely on your curves in all the right places.

Circle or Plus Size body shape

Features: Basically, you got da booty. Which is ok! You just need to know how to make your clothes and curves get along.

Common Mistakes: Usually ladies with this body type try to cover up or layer up. This just makes you look bigger! You should be showing off a bit of skin. Showing off your neckline, forearms and a little leg (just a little!) looks elegantly classy—not to mention younger, longer and leaner.

Tops: Your body is soft and round so go for a bit of structure when you dress. Blazers for instance work wonders on you, but you have to make sure it fits properly. You don’t want to be swimming in it. Look for draped fabrics like cowl necks and flutter sleeves for a feminine touch. Wrap dresses look amazing in a lovely print or pattern on you.

Bottoms: Show off those legs ladies! A well fit strait leg or a pair of boot cut jean work wonders to slim you down. Throw in a pair of heels and it will slim you down instantly. The added height makes an illusion that you are filled out more evenly.

Hour glass body shape

Features: Big breasts, itty bitty waist and curvy hips make you the ideal female specimen. But that means nothing if you don’t dress right.

Common Mistakes: Most of the time women with this shape just put on anything and walk out the door assuming they look good.

Tops: Keep it simple. Clean and simple tops with a scoop neck or three quarter sleeves look nice on you. Avoid layering, and look for waist belts that help define that  itty bitty waist. You look best in princess seams—long, shapely seams that gather in at the waist and flare out again at the hips. Fitted jackets that nip the waist.

Bottoms: You look best in skirts that stop at or below the knee, not above it.  This is one of the biggest mistakes to be made. You’re a lady, dress like it. Pencil skirts look great on you, as do bootleg pants and skinny jeans. Choose pants or skirts that follow your natural curve.

Ruler body shape

Features: Slender all around, and usualy athletic.

Common Mistakes: You have a naturally sporty look and you usually go for the fitted simple outfits. WRONG! You should want to soften up that boxy silhouette and create some delicious curves.

Tops: Work with your natural lines by wearing asymmetrical or rounded hemlines, and ruffle details.  Halters look brilliant on you, as do boatnecks and off-the-shoulder shirts. You’ll look more feminine in tank tops with a thin, delicate strap. Jackets and blazers too.  Look for soft shoulders and throw out those boxy, cropped jackets.

Bottoms: I wish I could pull off the high-waist pants look. But lucky you, because these are a go to for you! Wide-leg trousers as well. Both give you a lovely silhouette that’s to die for. A nice lady like wrap dress would soften up your lines as well.

Inverted Triangle body shape

Features: Bigger bust tapering down into a slim waist with killer legs.

Common Mistakes: With those killer legs, your first instinct is to show them off in skinny jeans or leggings. Big no go right there. Your goal is to add some volume on your legs to complement your upper half.

Tops: Steer clear of ruffles Hun. All its going to do is make your top half more bulky. Aim for simple and fuss free. Cowl- necks and deep V-necks are a go to for you. You can go girly with nice draped dresses or tops with flutter sleeves.

Bottoms: Fill out your legs. Wide leg pants and flowy skirts are key here. And those eye catching shoes? Those are now your best friend. Light colors and prints look yummy on you.

And the most important tip of all is two accessories that go well with any outfit and on any body type for any occasion. A big honest smile and a crap ton of confidence. When you look good you feel good and don’t let anyone take that away from you. <3

Now don’t think you HAVE to dress according to this. You can wear whatever you want to. I break the rules too. =) if you thing you look good and if you feel comfortable and confidant that that is all that really matters.

Fashion can be painful and frustrating, but here are a few tricks to help you walk home

Hey fashionistas! Does this sound at all familiar? I like to be comfortable when I walk out the door. But if I have to wear that skirt that never stops hitching up as I walk or when I sit, that I always have to pull down but makes my butt look fantastic, I’ll take one for the team. Or wear those shoes that make me cry after an hour but make my legs look miles long. I see it as a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

As a woman and a human being, I can honestly say I think it’s ridiculous and logically unnecessary. Why should I be uncomfortable and put myself through the agony of ill-fitting clothes and too high heels? Why should I wear something that hurts just to impress others? Why should I care if they like how I look? I’m just going to school, or to work or to Wal-Mart. Why bother?

But as a Fashionista, I feel the need to do it anyway. I push past it all because I know I look fabulous. I’m willing to sacrifice my feet to those killer booties that look stellar with my little black dress because I live for all those heads that turn as I walk by. I’ll pull that skirt down in the club one hundred and one times in one night before I go home because I love the feeling I give myself, knowing I look like smexy on a stick in that glow in the dark paint splatter print. When I look good, I feel good. So in my head, it’s worth it. Even if that means I’m going home barefoot wearing yoga shorts I keep stashed in my car. But even if my shoes hurt or my clothes don’t listen to me I do my best to fix things here and there and plan ahead to make sure things run smoothly.

Tip #1  -  KEEP SPARE COMPLETE OUTFIT IN YOUR CAR/LOCKER/OFFICE

Can’t stress this enough. If you can’t take it anymore or you want to avoid confrontation from your boss or teacher, a spare outfit on hand can save you big time. That’s right an entire outfit. Give yourself options too if you can manage it. You never know what you are going to have to change out. You might need pants or leggings one day for if that hem just doesn’t want to stay down low. Or one day you might need a bra if Old Lucky starts to pinch too much. And shoes too. Flats are your safest bet here. And make sure that your spare outfit is black, it goes with anything you are already wearing. You don’t want to end up stuck in polka dots and paisley do you?

Also helpful for if your clothes get ruined or if good old aunt flow decides to visit early this month.

Tip #2  - LAYERS

If you are like me and have a weird relationship with temperature, layers are your friend. In high school you could always find me in a tank top, shirt, and jacket. BOOM! I’m prepared for the room to be freezing then change rooms and bring on the heat! So you going to that business meeting? Grab a cardigan. Its cute, light weight and easy on and off. Simple as that.

Tip #3  -  FASHION TAPE

We all have that top or dress that has a neckline that’s even more flirtatious then we are. Fashion tape can save you from giving off the wrong impression to coworkers with wandering eyes while allowing you to wear that dress that screams “yes I’m working but damn I’m still hot”.

Also great for button downs with gaps inbetween.

Tip #4  -  HAIRSPRAY

Yeah you read that right, hairspray. It’s a great, cheap and easy fix for those skirts that like to ride up on you. Give you luscious butt a good spray from about ten inches away and that skirt or dress will stay in place for a good few hours. Buy a travel size to keep in your bag for quick bathroom break fixes for those longer endeavors. I prefer TRESumme travel size from Walmart for just $1.00.

Tip #5  -  WASHER WEARING

I personally hate when a new shirt is stiff, especially with a screen print on the front. So I love to just salt wear it and then its soft as the vintage tee from the thrift shop. So just fill a bucket with 1 quart of water and 1/2 cup of salt. Soak the shirt in the water and just let it swim in the salt water for three days. Three days later just wash it as you normally would. When you're done, your stiff new shirt will magically be as soft as your favorite vintage tee.

Tip #6  -  STICK ON SHOE BUMPERS

I have this pair of flats that I love but they pinch like a mofo. So I always have a pack of gel stick on shoe bumpers. Just stick them where you need them and you’re out the door and down the street strutting your stuff. They come in different shapes for different parts of your shoe like a bar for the back and a spot for by the toe. Even comes in different colors. But for all the little spots, I prefer Dr. Scholl's^® For Her Rub Relief^® Strips. It comes in this little purple dispenser that lets you cut of the exact size you need and then the strip is perforated so you have two matching length strips for both shoes. It prevents rubbing in all the wrong places that causes blisters. Great for new shoes and for ladies like me with wide feet whose shoes fit a tad awkward.

I’ll probably expand this list one day. Hope it’s helpful. <3

Why I'm Here

My name is Jessie Gilmor and I love fashion. Everything from the style of your hair to the color of your toenails, I’ll have you covered. I plan to post not only for the high end fashionista but for the college kid on a budget. Who says you have to break the bank to look fabulous? 

I consider myself to be a rather eccentric person and same goes for my closet. My style isn't exactly run-of-the-mill either so I plan to report on all that intrigues, and excites me. That chiffon dress on the runway or that neon PVC vinyl skirt in the club. I plan to cover it all.

I believe anyone can be beautiful. And when you look good, you feel good. And everyone deserves to feel marvelous, and so I plan to do anything i can to make sure that happens.

Email me a topic, a collection, designer or a brand to cover and I shall deliver.