The Apple of My Eye

     Accessory time! With jewelry and the like for you, you really want to pull the attention to any place but the torso (particularly the midriff). Therefore, bright, large accessories that stand out will be good choices. Large necklaces, long earrings, long scarves, short scarves that are more like neckerchiefs, etc.

     When most people hear "large, bright," they tend to think "loud and gaudy." Sometimes this is true, but not always. There are come rather classy accessories out there that are quite large. You just need to get out there and look. :-)

     I was able to find you some really cool examples of apple-phile accessories:

     Wedge heels will also look good on you. Don't pick skinny shoes or skinny heels-- they are hard to walk in, and will not flatter you as well as other shoe types. Again, with the long theme, long-strap purses will be better for you than hobo-style bags.

     Well, that just about wraps up my say on apples for now. Next, we'll finally delve into movies!

MORE Apple Dumplings...

     Before we dive into pants, I have a few quick notes about skirts and dresses for you:
     Straight dresses (column-shaped) will not at all look good on you: they will cling to your middle and make it very prominent. Details at the waistline are also things to run from, as they will draw the eye toward your middle. Skirts with pleats? Same thing.
     On to pants--
     Never wear tight pants, be they skinny jeans, tapered-leg pants, or whatever. Also don't wear pants with high waists. Pick "natural" waisted pants. These will not bring as much attention to your stomach. Also do NOT wear elastic-waisted pants. Pants with elastic waistbands (like the kind on many pajama pants and sweatpants) cause the fabric to gather up to your waist, and makes you look much heavier than you are. The best cut of pants for you is flare or bootcut.

     And that is all I have on pants for you. Next post is on accessories, and the one after that will touch on--- movies!

Apples....And Oranges?

     Okay, so I couldn't think of a better title for this. Anyway, moving on...

     Today we are taking care of tops that will flatter an apple-shaped girl. As I said in the last post, empire waists will look wonderful on you. Longer shirts (tunic-length) will also be good choices for you. Since you want to draw attention away from your middle, neckline and sleeve accents will compliment you wonderfully.

     Be careful about the texture of the top, as well. You don't want to wear anything that is noticeably thick and large (unless, of course, the alternative is freezing to death; style isn't that important :-) ).

     Wearing a shirt or jacket unbuttoned part of way down your torso is a bad idea. This will bring attention to your middle. You should also beware of crewneck shirts. These will not flatter you at all, I'm afraid.

     While tops with horizontal stripes and ruffles will not look amazing on you, you may want to try those with vertical stripes, and maybe even a vertical ruffle. These will make you look longer, rather than wider.

     Here are some examples of tops for you to investigate.

     Above and second-to-left is a sort of a "waterfall" cardigan. Not only will these flatter you, but they happen to be in style now. Go for it!

     The cranberry/raspberry top on the left is an example of a great pick for you. Classy, pretty... Check back soon for the kinds of pants that will best suit you!

Apples to Apples

     Time for apples.
     If you are an apple, you can wear something that few girls can: empire waists. Hey, for Halloween, you could go as Elizabeth Bennet and look great in a 1810's dress!

     Wrap and bias-cut dresses are also good for your figure.

     I found a good pattern for you: yes, the pictures on the package look pretty outdated, but if you use modern fabrics, prints, and colors, you can make a great dress that is wearable today.

     Another thing you could do to this dress is to put a decorative band or applique on the bottom. Dresses and skirts which have hems that stand out are really flattering on you.

     Next post will be on apples and.... Well, I'll let it be a surprise. :-)

The Summer's Last Strawberry

     Now for the fun stuff: accessories! In order to draw attention away from the upper torso, strawberries should go for long-strap purses, and shoes that stand out. Shoes with buckles, beadwork, etc. Colored shoes can be good too. Stay away, though, from stilettos and platform shoes. These will not flatter you, but in fact do the opposite.



      I would also be careful with head ornaments, at least with the ones that are closer to your face. I'm not saying "Don't wear any earrings or headbands," but I am advising you to be especially unostentatious with them. Same thing with necklaces. Bulky ones will only add more volume up top, but average-size ones that can look fabulous.

     Next fruit on the menu-- apple.

Strawberry Shortcake

     Moving on to tops and dresses for strawberry-shaped women. You have a hard task ahead of you, since even conservative necklines tend to show cleavage in your case. Fear not! Especially if you are well-versed in the old tank-top trick. :-)

     One really cool thing for you to try is tunic dresses. If you can't find any long enough, you can add a band to the bottom, or wear them as a blouse with a pair of straight-legged pants for a fun, Asian-inspired look! Bias-cut dresses are also a good choice for you, as are v-necked tops (though modest ones are hard to find) and dresses. Button-fronts (closed or open), open cardigans, and open jackets will help take attention away from the width of your top with thier vertical lines. Be advised, though, when it comes to button-fronts: all have a nasty habit of opening every so often, some more than others. Keep this in mind, and get one that doesn't gap so much. You also will want to wear another layer underneath.

     What you really don't want is anything that will add volume to the top half of your body: puffed sleeves, thick shirts, shoulder pads, double-breasted coats, heavy embroidery, eye-catching designs, horizontal stripes, etc.

     I only wish that I could give you more tips. Not being a strawberry myself, I'm afraid I can't give as much advice as I should like. Therefore, if you have any input regarding this, please share! :-)

Strawberry Fields Forever

     So, now that we've discussed pears, we are ready to move on to the next fruit: strawberries.

     Strawberries are the exact opposite of pears; however, they can and should wear some of the same articles of clothing. For instance, strawberries look great in skirts that are bias and fuller. Full skirts with bright colors and patterns are especially good for you. Fitted skirts (pencil, tube, etc.) are not at all a good idea. Why? They will put a lot of unwanted emphasis on your bust, and make you look larger up top than you really are. Short skirts will also do this.

     Light colored pants are something you should try. Light and wide-legged. Just be careful when buying white pants: you need to make sure that they are not see-through; this is best tested out by bending over or squatting in the fitting room. Tapered pants, leggings, and shorts will have the same effect on you as will tight skirts, and therefore should not be worn. Two other things to look for are cargo pants, and pants/skirts that have details at the hem.

     So-- feel free to experiment with different skirts and pants! Just remember not to buy anything that you don't like, even if it does flatter you. Wearing clothes that you don't like is no fun at all, and doesn't make you look like your gorgeous and awesome self.  :-)

Dearest Pears, P.S.

     I forgot to mention one very important thing: fit of pants. If you are a pear, a belt is a MUST. For you, finding flattering pants that fit both your waist and your hips is nigh impossible. Therefore, the best solution (next to professional altering, I suppose) is to buy pants that fit your hips, and use a belt. Do not buy pants that are tight on the hips but okay on the waist. This is certainly not modest; nor is it comfortable.

The Perfect Pear, Part the Second

     Now onto more do's and don't's for pears to wear...
     When it comes to pear-flattering skirts, you basically follow the same idea as you do for pants: wide at the bottom, and on the flowing side. Therefore, a-line, gypsy, and other full skirts will be great on you. What skirts should you not wear? Bias, pencil, and definitely not mermaid. Shorter skirts will emphasize the hips too much for you, so you should probably wear all your skirts below the knee, and not at it.

     Shorts are, of course, a no-no for you. Even long shorts that come just above the knee will highlight the size of your hips. Ankle boots will probably not flatter you, nor will shoes with pointy toes. (Longer boots, on the other hand, will work nicely.) Purses that have long straps are probably not the best choice, either, as they will draw attention to your hips, thus making them stand out more, and making them look bigger. As far as accessories go, it's a good idea to wear things that draw attention upwards.

     So, there you have it! Pretty Dressing for Pears, in a nutshell. Just remember, don't just wear something because it flatters you. Wear it because you like it, because it brings out your natural beauty, and because it shows the world who you are inside: a unique daughter of God with her own awesome personality.

The Perfect Pear, Part the First

     So you've discovered that you are a pear, and you're wondering what to wear. (Rhyming unintentional.) Generally speaking, you look best in clothes that emphasize your bust, and not your hips. For instance, wide-legged, bootcut, and flare are the best pant cuts for you. This is because they take attention away from your hips. What you really do not want to wear are tapered pants and especially skinny jeans. (I honestly don't think skinny jeans are very flattering on anyone; can't say that I think they're terribly modest, either, as they are pretty much thick, footless tights. This is especially true for girls with larger hips.)

      Here are some examples of pants that would flatter a pear-shaped lady:

     As far as blouses go, look for ones that are colorful, or have lots of detail. Do NOT, I repeat, NOT wear anything baggy. If you wear a shirt or a dress that's too big or baggy up top, you will look shapeless. Because you are small, you can also wear shirts that have ruffles on the bodice. Puffed sleeves, and other full sleeve styles are also a good idea for you.

(No, I don't endorse every single of these necklines. Then again, that's what tank tops are for.)

     Anyway, I think I've talked enough for now. Don't want to leave you with a super-long post, so I'll finish up my discussion on pears next time. :-)

     Ultimately, the best way to determine whether or not you should wear a given item is to try it on. There are always exceptions to the rules.

All About Shapes

     There are a number of factors that go into figuring out what looks good on you. These are skin tone, face shape, hair and eye color, age, height, and body type/shape. Shape is one of the big reasons why a given piece will look great on one girl, while it looks terrible on another. Following the basic rules for your shape will help make it easier for you to look your very best at all times.

     There are a basic body shapes are as follows.

     Pear: The largest part of your body is your hips. The good news is that you don't have to worry very much about exposing cleavage, and that you can wear very bright and decorated blouses.

     Strawberry: You are the exact opposite of the pear, as your chest is the most prominent part of your torso. The good news for you is that you're not concerned about your hips; therefore, you can wear bias-cut skirts.

     Apple: If you are an apple, you have a larger mid-section. However, you can also wear bias-cut skirts, as well as empire waisted dresses (something not many women can wear).

     Hourglass: This is the what many people call the "perfect" shape; however, that doesn't mean everything looks great on you. (Sorry, girls. Nobody can wear everything well. :-) )

     Rectangle: Rectangles were very much the fashion in the 1920's. They are women with boyish bodies; that is to say, they are slender with few curves. The good news is that you aren't the least bit concerned with trying to look smaller, whether on the top or on the bottom.



Mary Pickford, Actress

       So, the first step is to figure out which shape you are. Next step will be coming along, as I go into the details of what each shape should and shouldn't wear in order to look amazing.