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.  :-)

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.