Fashion Friday!

The BOD-X System

Does the idea of discussing your body type make you break out in a cold sweat?  Many of us are dissatisfied with our bodies.  We don’t like our waists.  We don’t like our stomachs.  Many of us cringe at the number on the size tags on our clothes.  Are we really a size ____?  Well, before we go any further, you have to let go of those hang-ups.  Loving and accepting your body is a big thing.  You are looking at God’s handiwork. 

There are four specific body shapes.  Wherever you gain weight determines your body type.  Most women gain the majority of their weight in one of four places:  tummy, upper midriff and bust, booty and hips/thigh area, or evenly all over.  Are you nodding your head already, knowing exactly where you fit in?  It is possible to gain weight in multiple areas, such as in your tummy and in your hips.  If this is the case, then you’ll want to follow the tips for both categories.

b

Balanced shoulders and hips

Gains weight in belly

Fuller waist or muffin top

Straight figure

Not too  much in the rear

o

Overly endowed bust

Rounded on top, bust, and upper midriff area

Full figure

Nice legs

Usually size 14 and up

d

Gains weight in hips, thighs and behind

Narrow waist

Small to medium-width shoulders

Minimal bustline

Full bottom

x

Shoulders and hips are balanced

Narrow waist

Gains weight evenly all over

Balanced proportions

Do you know where you fit in?  It’s important to know your challenge areas so you can make them appear less obvious through your dress.  If you are a b, don’t wish you were a d and start belittling your booty.  Don’t be hard on yourself.  Accept who you are.  Appreciate the uniqueness with which you were made and be thankful you don’t look like everyone else. 

b Tips

Never tuck in your tops.  Whenever you tuck shirts in, attention is immediately drawn to the tummy area.  Use caution with belts.  Don’t wear them around your waist, as this will draw attention to the area you are trying to minimize.  If you want to wear a belt, make it a wide one that is slung low across your tummy at an angle.  The shirts and jackets you wear should always cover the fullest part of your body.  The perfect place for them to fall is just below your tummy.  Stay away from short jackets that hit at the waistline or just below the waist.  Stick with longer length jackets that fall right above the hips or even duster type jackets that hit just above the knee.  It is very important for you to wear the correct size, especially in tops.  If you wear a shirt a size too small, it will cling to your tummy and make it appear bigger.  Column dressing is your friend!  Wear a matching skirt and shirt, with a printed jacket.

o Tips

Whenever you’re having a day when you wish you weren’t so “upwardly blessed” remember there are a lot of women who would love a little of what you have J  The most important item in your wardrobe is your bra.  Make sure it fits correctly or you can suffer from back problems.  You most likely have great legs so knee-length skirts look great on you.  Jackets look fabulous on you, but stay away from ones that fit snug around your chest.  Always give yourself some breathing room.  Wear quarter-length sleeves so your tops look less bulky.  Swing jackets are very flattering to you.  If you decide to tuck a top in, don’t wear wide belts.  Stick with the skinny ones.  Also, prints make your chest appear smaller.  When wearing solids, adding a jacket also minimizes your chest.  Because so many tops are low-cut, you need to pay extra attention to make sure you aren’t showing too much.  Camisoles should be a staple in your wardrobe.

d Tips

I bet you have a hard time finding skirts that fit properly in your waist and your hips!  You probably always will, so find a good tailor who can fix this for you.  When you buy skirts, get one that fits in the hips and then have a tailor take in the waist for you.  Be careful not to wear skirts that hug your hips and thighs.  All this does is make you look bottom heavy.  Stay away from wearing patterned clothing below the waist.  Keep patterns on top to draw attention upward.  Short jackets look great on you, as long as you wear a flared skirt.  Stay away from V-neck tops because they make the upper body look likes its disappearing.  Opt for scoop necks and square necks.  Blouses with collars also look great on you.  Belts look amazing on you because they show off your tiny waist.  Lastly, choose colors wisely.  Be careful when wearing two different colors at the same time.  For example, if your jacket is red and your skirt is black, you will draw the eye to your challenge area.  Instead, wear a black jacket and black skirt, with a red top underneath.  Create vertical lines with your clothing.

x Tips

Most consider you to have the perfect body type.  Some will hate you, some will love you.  An x body type is very balanced and, surprisingly to others, you will have the most difficult time finding clothes that fit all areas of your body.  Many clothing manufacturers tend to make clothing for unbalanced bodies.  For instance, when looking for a suit, the jacket may fit great and the skirt may be too small or vice versa.  Find a great tailor who can do altering for you.  Most styles of clothing look good on you, but pay attention to your frame size.  If you have a small frame, you can easily be overpowered by large prints and accessories.  Be careful that you don’t appear overly sexy or sloppy.  If your clothes are too tight, you may look sexy when its not appropriate.  If your clothes are too big, you may look sloppy.  Celebrate your fabulous body but keep an eye on it as you age, you may find yourself seeking wisdom from a b or a d body type J  I smile because most of the my life, I’ve been an x body type, but because I can’t seem to control my hips, I’m beginning to identify with those d body types!

Happy Friday ladies!

Amberly