Beauty is made from the inside out - you are what you eat, but you can enhance your beauty by wearing the right sized clothes to fit your shape. Are you an apple? - a big middle. A pear? - big bottom. Or are you a banana? - not a big middle or a bottom, just straight up and down. With each hape or size you can look beautiful and define the best parts of your body

 

TIP # 1 – If you are an apple, wear empire waist dresses or blouses and show off and define the breast area. Never try and define the waist with a belt over your blouse. Layer with a jacket with a solid color button-down crisp white shirt and a great pair of straight-legged pants. You’ll be ready for a day at the office or a great night out. Bathing suits with the little flirty Marilyn Monroe top and matching material covering your stomach but still styling a two-piece is the suit for you.

 

TIP #2 — If you’re a pear shape then define that waist with a really nice belt. Chico’s is having a great belt sale with some really cute buckles, so you can be styling with just a brand new belt. Boot-cut jeans and a belted nice printed blouse takes the attention off of your bottom and draws it to your top and belt. The flirty little skirt bottom bathing suit is perfect for you. Find one with a cute print like a paisley or popular animal print on the top with a solid black or dark blue bottom skirt, and the attention is drawn upward.

 

TIP #3 – If you are a banana shape, then you need to define and create your shape by wearing a slightly flared jean. The new style these days are the printed jeans and they are perfect for your shape. Match a solid top and a great belt over the blouse and you have defined your waist and created a shape with style. Bikinis are perfect for you - need I say more.

 

TIP #4 – When you go shopping for new clothes, take a good friend with you. They will be honest and tell you if something does or doesn’t look right. If they don’t, then they’re not a good friend. Look in the mirror; you will know. A few months ago I went to the Rehoboth Outlets with my good friend Lisa. She had asked me to take her to a few of my favorite shops to help her find a few new outfits for her new job. When she came out of the dressing room, the shop attendant made such a fuss over how great she looked. She was wearing a pleated skirt with a big bold print on it. The look on my face told her it wasn’t for her; and as she stood back and looked in the big mirror, she agreed and immediately went back into the room and took it off. Please remember, these shop attendants are trying to sell you and make their numbers. They are not always looking out for what looks good on you. On this awesome shopping day, Lisa went home with eight essential items: a great-looking jacket, three blouses, two skirts and two pair of pants. she could wear the jacket with the skirt and the pants, and mix and match the whole wardrobe. This is the whole point of wise shopping - shop the sales, set a budget, mix ‘n match, and walk out with a whole new wardrobe. I love to shop and I can usually find some really great pieces and have no problem putting them together for a look that works for my shape and size - little and petite.

If anyone would like to have me go shopping with them as a personal shopper, just contact me and we will set up a date to meet at the Outlets in West Ocean City and shop ‘til we drop. I can help you dress for success for the office or for a special date. If you just can’t seem to figure out what your style is, maybe I can help you ‘figure’ it out.

Next week’s article will be about what your color is. Do you know? Or are you the kind of person who buys anything off the rack because it looks good and in hopes that it will look good on you? If you have a story, share it with me and I will include it in my next article. If you would like to read any of my previous articles, go to coconuttimes.com and click Special Features to find Beauty Tips. Thank you for reading my articles and sharing your thoughts when you meet me on the street. I’m having fun with this and will continue to share your great tips. lindasears53@aol.com