Dressing for a heavy top half

Learning how to dress your particular body type puts you at a distinct advantage. You not only know yourself better but you also know how to make yourself look better in clothing. We have only 10 seconds to make a first impression on our future friends and relatives – and that impression is often made before we even open our mouths. But, we not only impact the way that others view and treat us by dressing well, we also impact our own body image, self-perception, confidence and power by the way that we feel in our clothing.

So what do you do when you have an apple shaped figure that is larger on the top than it is on the bottom? This translates into a body that has broad shoulders, a large bust line, narrow hips and slim legs. If you are a man this is the best figure to have (minus the bust line of course!). However, if you are a woman you come off looking top-heavy and short.

Having this body type requires certain cuts of clothing to flatter the figure and highlight the best features. The first thing a woman should do is to get measured for the correct size bra at a specialty lingerie shop. Many of us wear the wrong size without realizing it and this can cause sagging and bulging. The girls should be halfway between shoulder and elbow and sit firmly in place.

Many times women with this body type also have great legs. Their clothing should emphasize those legs while minimizing their top half. Women should avoid fitted tops that actually accentuate a larger middle and top and steer away from bulkier gathered skirts because a more tailored fit flatters your greatest asset, your legs.

Outfits that have a wide belts will divide the body and make it appear off-balance. Instead, look for a narrow belt that blends with the colors that you\’re wearing. Your handbag should be worn at hip level or even lower to draw the eye downward. Any collars or lapels that you wear on jackets or shirts should be narrow so they do not accentuate the top.

Women should wear earrings, necklaces and other focal points to draw the eye upwards towards the face. A monotone color scheme will also create an uninterrupted and slimmer body line. Don\’t wear tops that have ruffles or pastel shades because they draw the attention to the top half. Skirts should be fitted at the top and flare at the hemline or pencils skirts to accentuate the legs. Bell bottom pants are back in style and women who have this shaped should take full advantage. They balance out the top half and draw the eye downward. A medium to slim heel will complement beautiful shapely legs.

Women who have a larger top half can camouflage it with blazers. But instead of wearing a boxy outfit they should wear a fitted, single breasted blazer that defines the waist but roomy enough that it doesn\’t pull over the breast. The overall look is slimming and shape-defining