Buying a Sweater to Fit Your Body Type

Is it sweater weather already?

As temperatures drop, you can still stay warm and toasty - and feel hot and sexy - with the perfect sweater that fits.

Depending on your body type, some sweater styles can enhance your shape while others definitely don't. Before you go shopping, find out which styles may be just right for you with our guide to the perfect sweater weather look...

Apple Shape
For apple shapes, avoid bulky knits and look for a smoother vertical knit cardigan or pullover, just long enough to end just below your buttocks. A flare at the hip is also extra slimming. If opting for a pullover, avoid tight fitting crew necks and opt for a scoop or v-neck to emphasize your neck and your bust and further enhance the elongated look.

Pear Shape
Small waste and wide hips? Choose a sweater that ends just at the waist to balance your upper and lower body. A square neck or boat neckline (one that opens wide and ends at the collarbone) will also draw the eye to your face and neck. A-line sweaters are also perfect and a great look for pear shapes.

Banana Shape
Women with straight banana or ruler shapes always look for clothing styles to make them appear curvier, and there's no easier way in autumn and winter than by opting for a bulky sweater and pencil jeans. More great looks include wrap sweaters or belted cardigans tied tightly at the waist to help break up the vertical lines of a banana shape.

Hourglass
Enhance your look with belts and low buttons that prevent tugging across your bust. Avoid turtlenecks and crew neck sweaters and opt for adjustable wrap sweaters that are always very flattering to the hourglass figure.


More about choosing the best sweater for your body shape around the Web:


Associated Content: Choosing the Right Sweater for your Body Shape - A good overview of the best body shapes for turtlenecks, cardigans, wrap arounds, cowl necks and vertical stitch sweaters.

Helium.com: Flattering sweater styles for pear shaped women - Suggestions for stripes, empire waists and scoop neck sweaters.





also see in the Fashion Blog:

How to Buy A Swimsuit to Flatter Your Body Shape

Dressing for Your Body Type

There's the popular fantasy that there are some women now walking the planet who are blessed with ideal proportions.

That may be "true" in airbrushed fashion shoots or classical paintings, but the fact is nobody in the real world meets the criteria to win the title of "Miss Perfect Body".

However, there are lots of tips and tricks for making it appear that way. All you have to do is accentuate the positive and let the eye of your adoring public do the rest.

Long torso - Tall women's fashions look best well-fitted and with classical Greek goddess lines. If you're tall and slim you can easily create those desireable S-curves by simply adding a belt to whatever dress you're wearing. Not only will it bring attention to your waist, it will create the illusion of a fuller, curvier figure.

Oval or pear shaped - Slim down your silhouette with a top or dress in a dark or muted color featuring a deep V neck to create a vertical slimming effect. Earrings, necklaces and other accessories will also help bring attention up to your head and shoulders. The addition of subtle shoulder pads also helps transform your figure from oval to V shape.

Petite - Tired of other people challenging your stature? In addition to adding a high heel, a classic trick for appearing taller is simply by dressing yourself head to toe in a single color (i.e., tops and jeans) to aquire that long and lean look. Be sure to choose straight legged pants or jeans to accentuate the vertical illusion. When choosing skirts, show off your legs! - and avoid calf-length or ankle-length skirts that make you look shorter than you are.

Also see:

How to buy a swimsuit that flatters your body shape

Best sunglasses to fit your face shape

More tips about dressing for your body type around the Web:

Body Shapes & Goals

Identify Your Body Type

Plus Size Clothing - Trendy to Classic

Is Loud & Outrageous the new black when it comes to plus size fashion?

While women of all ages have been clamoring for hip, stylish fashion in larger sizes for years, the result is that some clothing lines are obviously trying way too hard, especially when selling to teens.

Today, more clothing stores are finally answer the call for clothing in larger sizes, especially for the younger set. But ... will the styles get any better?

The initial response from the fashion industry seems to equate plus-size with airhead. "OK, we'll just go ahead and churn out the broad horizontal stripes, the puffy sleeves and loud prints and the clothes will fly off the shelves!" Yikes. Even skinny girls wouldn't be caught in some of this stuff.

If you want to experiment with the new thick horizontal lines, hothouse paisley prints and raucous colors, of course you're free to throw the rule book out the window.

But once you've got that out of your system, hold close to the traditional plus size do's and don'ts to pull off a classic, big diva look.

These are obvious, but may need repeating:

• Buy the perfect bra. Not for nothing do they call them foundation garments. The perfect bra fit results in clothes that drape just beautifully for a perfect sillouette.

• Wear clothes that fit. Even if you haven't put on weight since you last went shopping, the size you always wear doesn't mean that it matches what manufacturers say is a size 14. Buying a size too tight or too loose-fitting means you've thrown your money away on a look you won't feel comfortable in. Surf around on the Web, but be sure to visit the store TO TRY IT ON.

• Know your body type. Apple shape or hourglass? Long & tall or pear shape? This classic rules of style is one of the most important in discerning what styles flatter YOU.

More about tips on voluptuous plus size fashion around the Web:

Fashion stretches to fit plus-size teens

About.com - Plus Size Fashion

Fashion 411 - Plus Size Fashion