Dress for your body type: hips and bottom

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Look as though you’ve lost a few kilos or create extra curves by learning how to dress to flatter your body shape. Here’s how.

Sharon’s body shape

Sharon wants clothes that will help to minimise her hips and bottom. She recently took advice from Melanie Moss Corporate Styling to help put together a corporate wardrobe. Armed with confidence from this experience, Sharon was ready for the next stage of her makeover. Notebook: helped Sharon to find a range of outfits that cover both corporate and casual looks. The key to dressing for a bottom-heavy body shape is to choose clothes that flatter your curves, without drawing too much attention to them.

Look for:

• Wide-legged flat-front trousers.
• Fitted or semi-fitted v-neck tops and jackets.
• Outfits that elongate the body.
• Clothing that redirects attention from your hips by highlighting your waist or décolletage.

Avoid:

• Pants with detailing at the waist, such as drawstrings or patterned waistbands.
• Cropped jackets that finish at the widest part of your hips.
• High-waisted trousers with tapered legs.

Outfit 1

the outfit
Charlie Brown top, $199; Esprit jeans, $99.95; Mollini heels, $158; Liz Claiborne bangle, $69.95.

neckline
A deep v-neck draws the eye down the body, creating a slimming effect.

print
A bold print draws attention to the torso, while a fitted style accentuates the waist, creating curves.

jeans
An uncluttered waistband is slimming and a boot-cut balances wider hips. Dark-coloured denim makes legs look slimmer.

Outfit 2

the outfit
Charlie Brown trench, $399; Ho by Lisa Ho skirt, $264; Sportscraft shirt, $119.95; Na Na heels, $59.95.

shirt
Go for a semi-fitted shirt that falls loosely on the body while still defining your shape.

trench coat
A coat that falls below the waist conceals the hips and bottom.

skirt
A pencil or A-line skirt without a waistband works to balance out the hips.

Outfit 3

the outfit
Howard Showers dress, $229; Dinosaur Designs bangles, $77 each; Nine West heels, $139; Kenneth Cole clutch, $275.

pattern
Not all horizontal stripes are a no-no. Thin, widely spaced stripes help to elongate the figure .

bangles
Bold accessories in block colours simplify prints. This cream colour gives the outfit a spring feel.

length
A knee-length dress is both elegant and flattering. A longer style will make your legs appear shorter.

Want a makeover?
For more about this makeover and how to apply for one yourself, check out the Noticeboard on at Notebook: forum.

Photography: Scott Hawkins Styling: Jackie Shaw Hair & make-up: Jay Jay Rauwenhoff stockist details, page 224.