An iced latte from my favorite coffee shop on a crowded street corner in the center of Philadelphia is an ideal way to spend a hot summer day. I had the perfect accessory by my side, my dear friend Danielle. The chatter in the room may have been loud, but that didn’t stop our conversation on planning the rest of our fun-filled day in the city.
Our day was off to great start until a woman with shoulders and hips wider than Broadway caught our glance. She wore skinny jeans and a tight top. Both articles of clothing looked like she needed scissors to remove the fabric off her body. A little bell rang and the fashion victim was now in our presence. Our enlarged, caffeinated eyes were focused on the woman who was in desperate need of fashion advice. And that advice is “dress your body type, lady.”
I began to look around and realize how many people actually didn’t know how to dress themselves. The number was astonishing. I would see women everyday wearing clothes that were too tight or not tight enough, shirts that emphasized all the wrong places on the body, and three inches of fabric that I am still trying to figure out if it is considered clothing.
For so long I have felt guilty for not sharing my knowledge of fashion and dressing properly. That’s about to change because I have the secrets to dressing well and it all starts with fruits. See, I like to relate different body types to various fruits such as: pears, oranges, strawberries, bananas, and pineapples. It sounds better to say my body is like a beautiful, decadent, appealing strawberry instead of “I’m big on top.” Women shouldn’t be ashamed by their body type. Women should be ashamed not dressing their body type to its fullest potential. Here is the breakdown of every body type and the proper way to dress it.
1. Pear
If you are the pear body type you have smaller shoulders and wider hips. This may seem like the worst body to the many women who are pear shaped. In fact, it really isn’t so bad. Women tend to wear tight pants (which only shows off the hips more) and a tighter top. A more form fitting top only proves the facts that you don’t have any shoulders. It is important to wear jeans that are not skin tight and a top that has bulky sleeves that give the illusion of a fuller shoulder area. You may also want to try chucky accessories. This will help focus the eye up instead of down. You should also never wear clunky shoes that will only make you look bigger on the bottom. Platforms are out and it is time to invest in a good pump.
2. Orange
Orange women tend to be big on top and on the bottom. Printed fabric should be kept to a minimum, especially stripes. Strips only make orange shaped women look wider. The key to this body type is to elongate the body so it doesn’t look wide all around. A boot cut jean, white T-shirt, and a blazer that sits at the waist would be a perfect outfit for orange women. The jacket that sits at the waist is another illusion–that you have a waist. To finish the outfit, try a sleek pointy pump and accessories.
3. Strawberry
I find that these are the women who don’t know how to dress at all. Strawberry women are wide on top and small on the bottom. I have noticed that most strawberry women wear tight top and tight jeans, which make them look very top heavy. The idea is to draw the eye down. Longer jackets, belts, and tops that are tucked in will trick the eye that there is a waist.
4. Bananas
Banana women are very slender. The best articles of clothing for these women are heavier fabrics and horizontal stripes. This gives the body depth instead of having tight clothes hugging a small frame.
5. Pineapple
Pineapple women have the hourglass body type or also known as the “perfect” body type. These women can wear whatever they would like to. This may sounds like a dream come true, but there are so many women that don’t dress to their potential. I suggest that pineapple women find a style of their own and really commit to it. Find the ideal colors, tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories to wear that are suitable to her lifestyle.
Whatever your style is–dress it up, not down. You now hold the secrets to looking fabulous and classy wherever you go. Pass along these helpful tips so the next time you have a latte, you can enjoy it.
