When you are deciding what to wear, there are some rules to follow if you want to look your best. You always want to consider your body shape when you pick out your clothes. There are five main body shapes to think about. They may go by different names depending on the article you are reading but they all boil down to the same thing. One thing to keep in mind is that you are born with a particular body shape and diet and exercise won’t change that shape, just your size. Taking a look at your body shape and dressing accordingly will ensure you always look your best. Keep in mind that you always want to offset your unwanted features and accentuate your good ones.

In order to decide what body shape you are, there are ways to determine that. First you want to get familiar with the body shapes. The pear shape identifies a more round figure. This shape tends to have more weight on the hips and a heavier bottom side. It is narrow at the shoulders with heavier thighs. If you are an apple shape, your upper torso is heavier. This shape also has a bigger bust line and a larger waste. Women who are a rectangular shape tend to have a more athletic figure and are slender in build. The bonus with this shape is that any weight gain is distributed evenly through the body. The petite shapes are short with small frames. Finally, the most coveted shape is the hourglass. This shape is curvy and proportionate with slim hips. Once you familiarize yourself with these, you can look in the mirror and judge what shape you are.

You can also take measurements of your body or have someone do it for you. You want to measure across the middle of your breasts, being sure to exhale before you read the measuring tape. Then, measure your waistline. This is done just above the belly button. To measure your hips, you want to get the measurement at the widest part. These measurements will give you an idea of your body shape. The pear shape is heavier on bottom. The apple shape has waist measurements that are significantly larger when compared to the chest and hips. The rectangle finds little difference between the chest and the waist. For the hourglass shape, the chest and hip measurements are very close and the waist is small. Petite body shapes are small and proportionate.

There are some items of clothing that work wonders for your appearance. Black is a slimming color. It will make you appear to be thinner. A blouse and pants with vertical stripes also will cause a slimming effect, whereas horizontal stripes will make you appear fuller. If you have fuller, wider hips, you want to choose jeans and pants with flared legs to offset your unwanted curves. Slim cut or ‘skinny jeans’ works great for someone who has a hard time filling out their pants. For larger ladies, keep in mind that baggy, loose fit clothing does nothing for your figure. You want to go for clothes that contour your body.

There are certain items of clothing and accessories that look best on certain body shapes. Pear shaped women want to go for clothing with vertical lines. Like I mentioned earlier, this will create a slimming effect. Keep in mind, the pear shape is a more round figure with more weight on the hips. The pear should wear dark colors on the bottom and go for lighter shades for the upper torso. V-neck shirt and long, straight skirts are highly recommended for this body shape. This will draw attention away from your fuller hips and wide pelvis. You can also wear wrap dresses and jackets that cover the hips. Shirts that are right for the pear include attractive, large prints, shiny tops, and bright colors. Be sure to stay away from high waist pants with pleats or decorations. Boot cut pants with longer tops will also look amazing on the pear shape. The goal is to draw eye movement toward the upper area.

The petite build can enhance their appearance with simple ideas. Clothes that fit well will accentuate their short, small frames. Shirts with vertical lines will give the appearance of being taller. U-shape and V-shape necklines in lightweight fabrics also look fantastic on the petite shape. The pear should avoid short skirts and opt for fitted, knee length skirts paired with medium heels. Narrow belts are also recommended for this body shape. When considering what pants to wear, choose straight leg, neat cut pants to help you look your very best.

The rectangle doesn’t have to worry much about what will look good on them. Since they have very few curves, patterns will add dimension. Full skirts will give the appearance of a fuller figure. The rectangle will look amazing in peasant style blouses with ruffles and gypsy skirts. Striking patterns and interesting designs will break up the straight lines of the pear shaped body. The apple shape needs to use clothes to create a more balanced looks. They should lean toward tops with comfort fit and tunics with v-necks. They look their best in simple cuts. They want to stick to things like A-line dresses and fitted jackets. Solid colors also work perfectly for this body style. When choosing skirts, they want to stick to a knee length one that can be paired with formal tops. Always choose fabrics with a nice fall that doesn’t hug the body. Avoid clingy tops and fancy fabrics and the pear will look incredible.

The hourglass shape will fit most styles easily and can experiment with fashion trends. Their curvy, proportionate shape will look dynamite in fitted jeans that will show off their slim waist. This shape can also go for straight leg trousers. This shape is perfect for halter tops and tees, as well. Being the most envied body shape, they can take advantage of all the tight fitting, trendy clothes.

Stick to these tips and you are sure to look your very best.

“I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.” These are the words of Marlene Dietrich. Who knows better than her on how to become an icon of style? Fashion and style. These two words are always together, like an inseparable couple. To me, they are like sun and moon, black and white, fire and water. They cannot be together and they cannot be without each other either.

Image by cherrypatter via Flickr

The simplest definition of fashion is ‘a popular trend’ and style, ‘a manner of doing something’. I always went with these specific definitions of these two words. In my personal opinion, to be popular and wear what is popular would not give me a sense of satisfaction. I always wanted to be affiliated with a style that is specific to me and up to date. It does not always mean to wear exactly what is fashionable during that time.

I started my journey as a child by watching. I watched everything and everyone. I was curious how specific outfits fit different types of figure. Sometimes it was good, sometimes – a disaster. It made me very interested in fabric. I was thinking that depending on a fabric used, some disasters could have been prevented. What a smart child I was… I especially liked watching what my mom was wearing. I loved going through her clothes and picking what would suit me the most. I would always finish the ensemble with the appropriate hair, make-up and shoes. Just like my mom did. And still does.

Soon after that, as my body was changing, my understanding of what I wanted to wear and how I wanted to look changed too. Maybe, it was not a change itself. It was more likely a transformation. I started understanding what made me look better and what looks were not mine at all. I started developing that feeling or sense, which made me happy or not at all by the way I looked. And later on- the way I lived. Very quickly, I understood that to dress nicely and act poorly was not my style at all. I did not like inappropriate behavior and it was clear to me that it has to be part of that satisfaction that I received from my appearance. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t have fun. I did. I just did it with my own understanding of how it should be done. I guess that’s when I started working on my own style. That part of my journey brought me to the 18th century, understanding of tea parties in England, research of my mother’s relatives who were Russian nobility. And again, I was amazed by my mother. I started believing that whatever she knows was in her blood.  Nobody had to teach her how to be stylish and always look fabulous. It also gave me hope that I might have inherited at least some of that wisdom.

I continued experimenting, and it brought me to different TV shows and fashion books. I was amazed by how many resources are out there. And the more my knowledge grew, the more I was thinking that not many either had access to these resources or thought they needed any guidance.  I could not afford spending thousands of dollars on something I would wear once or twice. And I didn’t expect it from others.  But I knew that there were affordable great options and I could not understand why not everybody would want to take advantage of those. There were only a few I would look at and appreciate their style sense. It made me think of Albert Einstein’s famous quote all the time : ‘A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?’.

Finally, I was smart enough and had this conversation with my mom. I was afraid at first that she would not be able to understand my concerns. But as always, she made me feel so comfortable and content. I asked her many questions, and I remember all her answers so well. The most important was the advice she gave me: Not to run after fashion, but adopt fashion to my own needs and style. At first, I was confused. I could not understand the difference in those terms. And even more – how they applied to me. That is when it hit me. I finally understood that whatever ‘sense’ I developed was my own, personal style. I knew how to be fashionable and I did it in my own way. I didn’t have to like what I saw and now I knew what I didn’t like. I didn’t like that everyone was wearing the same things, the same way. And it didn’t matter if it was not complementing their complexion, skin or hair. It was a very inspiring realization. I understood that I could make a difference by encouraging them to personalize their style and their lives. And all I had to do is be myself and keep developing my own style.

Understanding of your own style comes with a lot of work and experience. This challenge is everlasting. But that is the beauty of it. It is a personal achievement that can be shared with others. Style is something that can be shared and passed on. But at the same time, it is something very personal and individualized. It includes all the human characteristics. You might not like someone personally, but you might respect them for their sense of style. In case of doubt, search for inspiration. Do your research. Ask questions. Educate yourself. And the most important, do not be afraid to experiment. Fashion style will always be part of our lives and as the amazing Yves Saint Laurent once said: ‘Fashion fades, style is eternal.’

Clothes are art. Like art, they have changed through time and generations. They have filled a place in human studies: psychology, sociology, and anthropology. While worn out of necessity, clothes have also been a representation of human beliefs, and social class system. They have also represented revolutions in these areas. Clothing choices in the past few decades have changed both rapidly and dramatically. The 1800′s started out with flowing dresses, which changed to more top-fitted dresses, which began to show more skin in the front and back, which turned into more bottom-fitted dresses in the early 1900′s. This time line continued. The 1930′s brought in two piece skirt sets. Things picked up from here: the poodle skirt of the 1950′s-60′s, the short dresses of the 1960′s-70′s, the short-shorts and bell-bottoms of the 1970′s-80′s, leg warmers and shoulder pads of the 1980′s, the mini-skirts of the 1990′s. The 2000′s have also had their share of craziness: the butt-out pants, the thong-out pants, and so on.

Even more interesting than the general fashions of the times is the emergence of the more dramatic contrasts in subcultures of fashion. This began to occur more dramatically after the fashion revolution of the 1980′s. This decade served as an extension and exaggeration of the movements that occurred in the 1960′s. It was a decade of ‘Me!Me!Me!’ While the flower power parents were becoming responsible adults, while the generation’s mother’s worked extended hours out of the home, while it became more accepted for children to be increasingly independent in their actions and attire, the children were expressing these new found freedoms in various ways. One of the most prominent ways was through clothing. It was at this point that individuality and group representation began to form more drastically than at any other time in history. There were preps, goths, mods, skaters, schoolgirls, party girls, punks.

This contrast continued to evolve into almost infinite subgroups over the decades following. Finally, urban street fashion emerged. Like its predecessors, punk, then skater, it is a form of fashion that represents the lives of its creators: inner-city youth looking for a voice, and looking for attention of their efforts to change the world around them and express their views of it.

Calling people who wear urban street clothing is like calling an artist a person who uses a brush. People who wear urban street clothing are artists themselves. It is their application of clothing and accessories that creates their artwork. Urban street clothing is a complex mix of textures, shapes, placements, and other styles and forms. It is a representation of ideas, of values, morals, culture, and history. It is a representation of the individual. It is a form of expression that is constantly visible for others to see. Like any other artist, these people are putting themselves out there at the risk of rejection, judgment, and dismissal. It is a way of putting what is inside a person’s heart, mind, and soul, into public view. It is making oneself vulnerable. And this is a direct representation of the people and the generation wearing them.

Like any attire, urban street fashion has also been utilized as a tool for the purpose of unity. While there are many, many forms of individuality found in urban street clothing, there are also striking resemblances as the clothing of a state, city, or neighborhood is witnessed. This is largely due to peer influence and exposure to similar social events, environments, media, view points, and other social influences. Ironically, urban street fashion’s intention is to show individual expression, rebellion, and viewpoints, but in doing so, it illustrates major and minor cultural differences from one place to another.

The rapid progression of fashion after the 1960′s is a reflection of the progression of society. In this case, it has been the thoughts, morals, views, and opinions of social interactions. In the 1960′s, the clothing revelation was linked to a sexual revolution. As seen in attire dating back to the early 1800′s, this revolution was a long time in the making. The 60′s however, broke through that barrier and beyond, paving the way for other changes in clothing and society. It provided a platform for female liberation, heterosexual experimentation. These freedoms opened the door for all sorts of self expression and even pride. It is upon this idea that many subcultures of fashion were formed, mirroring their progressive social counterparts.

Urban street fashion is a huge incorporation of several sub(sub)fashions. These fashions can be anywhere from an edgy, punkish look, to an intellectual, artistic look, to a hip-hop look, to a more structured, Eastern look. The common factor is having the elements put together in a way that it represents a person, in an artistic, cutting edge manner. Some types include:

Bicycle Urban Fashion: Lightweight, practical clothing made for biking. It usually includes a fanny pack or pageboy bag and bicycle gloves. May include sunglasses.

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Japanese Urban Fashion: Became popular in the 1990′s and is made up of various sub(sub, sub) fashions that have their own subs. Includes versions of versions of hundreds of different fashions from cute to Gothic (within the same sub, sub, sub, sub) category. They have taken the idea and multiplied it.

Hip-Hop Urban Fashion: This fashion became dominant in the 1980′s and evolved within the rap community. Rap itself was fueled by Black Nationalism. With the rap and Black Nationalism intertwined, the fashion surrounding this part of the music industry created a form of fashion based on traditional Black influences. Du-rags, baseball caps, baggy pants, and basketball sneakers dominated this market and encouraged further evolution.

Surf and Skate Wear: These were the founding fathers of Urban Street Fashion. Based on the subcultures of their respective sport, they introduced a form of sportswear that evolved into the various categories of urban street wear visible today. Surf wear often includes t-shirts with logos of surfboards and the various brands associated with them, surfer shorts, and flip-flops. Skate wear often includes t-shirts with skateboard brands, jeans and jean shorts, skater shoes, and baseball caps.

Fashion gives us an amazing insight into sociology. It is as intriguing, if not more so, than its artistic counterparts. In fact, it is a form of art itself, displaying an infinite number of cultural, social, and individual ideas. This is what I love about urban street fashion.

Finding your own fashion style is as much an exercise in self-discovery as it is in choosing patterns and prints. Our clothes speak so much about us, and whether we like it or not, there is quite a bit of truth to the old saying that ‘the clothes make the man (or woman)’. In a sense, what we wear conveys something about us to the world around us; it becomes a ‘visible bio’ for onlookers, and can give people clues about our personalities, preferences, and inhibitions (or lack thereof) as it relates to self-expression.

Image via Wikipedia

When you first set out to discover your own fashion style, you may find it a bit frustrating in the beginning, because you may experience a certain amount of worry about what other people’s opinions of your clothes may be, and it can cause you to make preemptive adjustments to your clothing choices – you may not pick this sweater because your friend once remarked that she doesn’t like that particular color, or you may not pick that pair of jeans because your co-worker once said that he thought those kinds of jeans were tacky. As trivial as these things may seem, they can actually cause you to lose a little bit of your own individuality, because you’re operating more from a reactionary mode (based on other people’s opinions) versus really digging deep and finding out what you actually like. In a certain sense, it takes ‘guts’ to find your own fashion style, and you have to be willing to put yourself out there and allow yourself the freedom of expression through choosing clothes that truly reflect your preferences.

So how do you actually go about developing your own sense of fashion? Research will be a very important part of the process. Fashion magazines, television shows, and even visiting local clothing stores can provide you with all kinds of ideas. Many people look to celebrities to get a feel for the latest fashion trends, and it wouldn’t hurt to check out what the latest and greatest Hollywood A-listers are sporting just to get some ideas. There is a caveat to this, however: If all you do is simply copy what someone else is wearing, you’re not really tapping into your own sense of style; you’re instead taking all of your cues from someone else without really consulting your own preferences to see if it’s something that you actually like. It is definitely useful to look to others to gain inspiration, but the way that you interpret that inspiration makes all the difference.

Research has shown that most people tend to dress in a manner that’s comfortable to them, sometimes at the expense of staying ‘current’ or staying ‘with the times’. Examples abound of people who seem to be stuck in a past decade with their clothing choices. Interestingly enough, many people actually dress in a manner that reflects the most exciting time of their lives, even if that time was three decades ago. Dressing in those outdated clothes is a way for them to keep that part of their past ‘alive’, and their clothes actually provide a level of comfort for them, and can conjure up positive feelings of nostalgia. This is a great example of how clothing choices can be a form of self-expression, even if that expression reflects only a certain period of a person’s life.

Your own fashion style is, in many ways, linked to your self-image and your overall perception of who you are as a person. If you consider yourself to be a conservative person, then you will more than likely choose an overall fashion style that will not be too revealing or too provocative. On the other hand, if you’re an outgoing and fun-loving person who doesn’t mind ‘flaunting it if you’ve got it’, you may be a little more liberal with what you choose to wear. Even the types of materials that you choose can make a statement about your personality. Everyone knows that black leather makes a bold and somewhat jolting statement all by itself. Fabrics like wool or cashmere can convey a warm, comforting, and inviting personality. Loose and flowing materials like silk can express more of a free-spirited attitude, while outfits that are mainly made of denim can convey a more no-nonsense and tougher aspect of one’s personality.

Color is a very important factor in finding your own fashion style as well. Bold and bright colors usually denote a more open and lively personality, while someone who always wears muted and nondescript colors (such as gray) can seem to come off as cool and unaffected. Red has always been seen as a ‘power’ color, blue as a ‘cool’ color, and yellow as a ‘happy’ color. These are just some examples of how colors can communicate visual messages without us having to say one word. So when you’re developing your own style, it would be a good idea to do some research on which colors communicate which message, so that you don’t accidentally make the wrong statement, or wear something that does not reflect your true personality.

Once again, it’s all about how you choose to describe yourself to the world around you. What would you like to say by way of the clothes that you wear? What type of statement do you want to make? The old adage ‘Know thyself’ actually becomes very important in this process. It’s very difficult for you to select clothes and fashion accessories that reflect or express your personality if you’re not even certain what that personality is. A good suggestion would be to take some time and write down some of your favorite attributes about yourself. What do you like about you? What do you really think makes you unique? What type of personality best describes you? Then go out to your local department stores or check out some of your favorite online retailers and select the clothes that truly seem to ‘click’ with what you’ve written down. Whatever it is, it does you no good to be ashamed of who you really are. Who knows, you may just find true freedom of expression through fashion!