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

The Look of Summer - White Jeans

Nothing says summer like crisp white jeans that start appearing in stores around Memorial Day.

Of course, white jeans aren't for everybody and it's not the most practical color for keeping clean. 

Maybe more importantly, white is an unforgiving color when it comes to revealing any lumps and bumps in your silhouette. (And while some fashion experts recommend going a size up - if you're not careful you might end up looking like a hospital orderly.)

To achieve the the well-tailored white jean look, begin with a straight leg pair. For casual evening wear, opt for jeans that come partly over the heel of your shoe to add the illusion of length to your legs. Again, you can avoid the Hospital Employee Look by pairing your white jeans with dark colored shoes.

While wearing white jeans, tops should be fairly straightforward, as well. Above all, avoid shirts or blouses in wild colors or patterns. Simple black-and-white is a stunning look, or opt for warm grays or earth tones with rich gold or silver accessories.

Finally, keep 'em clean! Help preserve that whiter-than-white look of summer by either having them professionally dry cleaned, or presoak them overnight in a stain remover before washing.

With a little thought and planning,  white can be the ultimate expression of cool and sophistication as you head into a hot and fun-filled summer.

More about wearing and caring for white jeans around the Web:

How to Wear White Jeans

Can I get away with white jeans?

Style on Trial: White Jeans