Dress Right For Your Body Type

Knowing how to dress to flatter your body type as well as being aware of which styles to avoid are essential in establishing your individual style and personality in clothing. The key to buying and wearing good clothes is the fit of the clothes on your body shape. If the clothes are cut well, drape and fall correctly on you, that means that they fit you well and will make you stand out. If not, then even the most expensive article of clothing will be a waste.

To look good and feel good, determine your body type, body shape and skin color and see what suits you the best. Selecting the right type of fabric with suitable textures will also help in determining what looks good on you.

For the slightly pudgy:

Avoid horizontal and diagonal stripes. Focus instead on vertical stripes for both shirts and trousers, which give an illusion of elongation and thus make you look slimmer.

Avoid double vented jackets - These are jackets with two slits at the back and should be avoided if one has a large backside, which needs to be covered. To cover a wide posterior, and highlight your body shape, a single vented jacket or one without any vents is preferred.

Buy clothes that fit - Do not wear very tight fitting clothes, which will only accentuate your flab. On the other hand, overly large sizes will make you look bigger and fatter than you already are. Thus the key is to wear clothes that skim your body shape and fit well.

Color coordination - To appear slimmer than you actually are, try and wear shirts and trousers of the same color or similar rather than contrasts. It gives a cleaner visual appearance leading to a slimmer effect.

For the slightly heavier-set individual

Avoid turtlenecks and go for sweaters, open, V-necked shirts and long sleeved tops.
Avoid large and busy prints, which always emphasize the top and the front drawing attention to the largeness of your size.

Wearing a belt will narrow your waist and make it look slimmer

For the tall and thin

Wear horizontal striped shirts and trousers, which will help to add bulk to your body. Moreover, a solid, single stripe across the chest will give the appearance of broader shoulders and flatter your torso.

Avoid monochromatic colors, which make you look thinner than you are. Bold colors and contrasts fill your body.

Wear fitted clothes - Slim cut shirts combined with a good layering technique will serve to accentuate your physique and body shape

For the short man

Choose light colors - White, creams, beige, light blues and greys add bulk and make you look larger than you are.

Avoid skinny and tight fitting jeans

Wear heeled and square-toed shoes to look bigger and taller. The pant leg should be long enough to cover the heel making you appear taller than normal.

Avoid large prints - They overwhelm and tend to drown you in the busyness of the print.
Wear slimmer and shorter ties

Obviously, every individual wants to try out a new and trendy outfit, once in a while. But the fact of the matter is that if it does not look good on you, flatter your body shape and skin color, its not worth it. Wear what suits you and focuses on your individual style optimally. Following the basics mentioned above will help you to choose your clothes, dress well and look outstanding.

William Brister - http://www.menswear.tv - A guide to male style.