With winter break approaching, you’re going to want to be looking your best for all the upcoming holiday events. The most effective way to rock every outfit you wear is to make sure you’re dressing correctly for your figure. Check out our guide to the most flattering holiday party looks for your body shape.
Straight and narrow
If you have a straight figure, you have very similar waist, hip and shoulder widths and you’re slim all over. You want to look for pieces that will add volume to your body and show off your slender arms and legs.
“In general, someone with a very narrow or straight up and down body should look for things that help give her curves,” says Noelle Cellini, personal stylist and owner of My Best Foot Forward, located in Chicago.
Outfit 1:
Plum Lace Corset Bustier Dress, Fashion Union, $40
Tie-Waist Trench Coat, YesStyle, $28
Wear a strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline to accentuate your chest. A flared skirt will show off your small waist. Try pairing the dress with a long jacket to emphasize your slim figure.
Outfit 2:
Cream V Neck Peplum Top, River Island, $29
Oxblood Coated Skinny Jeans, Dorothy Perkins, $49
“[Narrow girls] could pair a peplum top with some liquid or coated jeans for a trendy winter look,” says Cellini.
This top will give your narrow body more dimensions and the skinny, low-rise jeans will showcase your great legs.
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Pear-shaped
With a pear-shaped figure, you have a curvier lower body than upper. Your goal is to elongate your figure by balancing your hips and shoulders and highlighting your curves. The best way to do this is by drawing attention to your top half.
Outfit 1:
Belted Cutout Neck A-Line Dress, Charlotte Russe, $28.99
Donna Karan ‘Brilliant’ Tights, Nordstrom, $25
A dress with a patterned top will draw attention upwards. Combined with a belt that nips in at the waist and an A-line skirt that flatters your hip area, you have an outfit that emphasizes all your best features.
Outfit 2:
Selected Femme Bennja Top, Oliver Bonas, $32.26
Black Straight Leg Jean, Dorothy Perkins, $27
“Boat-neck tops, layering and embellished tops are good to help draw attention up top and give the illusion of broader shoulders,” explains Cellini. “A little bling is always nice for the holiday and helps keep attention by the face and away from the hips.”
Dark jeans are great for slimming your bottom half.
Outfit 3:
Cowl Neck Sweater, Forever 21, $19.80
Black Faux Leather Skater Skirt, Windsor, $22.90
A sweater with a cowl neckline will draw attention to your upper half and work wonders. Look for a dark-colored skater skirt that doesn’t cling and fits nicely over your hips.
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Hourglass
If you have an hourglass figure, it means you’ve got curves and you should flaunt them! Look for pieces that strike the right balance between too loose and too much skin.
Outfit 1:
Cream Lace Layer Dress, Dorothy Perkins, $44
Wide Fit Black Sparkle Shoe Boot Heels, New Look, $30
“A fitted lace dress would be a perfect choice for the holidays,” says Cellini. “They [girls with hourglass figures] usually have great, shapely legs so they should show them off with some sparkly shoes!”
Fitted dresses are great for highlighting your tiny waist and showing off your great proportions.
Outfit 2:
Kimchi Blue Structured Peplum Top, Urban Outfitters, $49
High-Waist Pencil Skirt, Mango, $29.99
“For an hourglass, they need to highlight their proportions and small waist so again a peplum top would work” explains Cellini. “Pencil and straight skirts are ideal.”
A peplum top paired with a pencil skirt will emphasize your best features. The structure of these pieces will help you avoid looking baggy by hugging your curves in all the right places.
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Apple-shaped
The upper half of your body is larger than the lower half if you’re apple-shaped. This means that you want to draw attention to your slender hips and legs.
Outfit 1:
Tulip Tie Dress, Nasty Gal, $48
Black Lace Tights, Miss Selfridge, $21
Look for a dress with a v-neck neckline in order to elongate your torso. One that wraps at the smallest part of your waist is an added bonus. It’s also best go for full or three-quarter length sleeves to flatter your broader shoulders.
“Add some patterned tights to help draw attention downward. A lace pattern or an embellished pair of tights is always fun,” says Cellini.
Outfit 2:
Darling Elizabeth Tunic, ASOS, $43.10
Straight-leg Jeans, Mango, $39.99
“For an apple body type, they need to downplay broad shoulders by opting for v-necks and scoop-necks,” Cellini explains.
An empire top with a v-neck and bottom flare will look awesome on an apple-shaped figure, but watch out for over-sizing. Low-rise, straight-legged jeans are the most flattering for this body type.
Outfit 3:
BP. V-Neck Cardigan, Nordstrom, $42.50
Pleated Pocket Skirt With Belt, Forever 21, $19.80
Again, V-necks are great for drawing attention to your chest and away from your shoulders, and a sweater like this will do just that. A skirt with inverted pleats that start below your tummy will draw attention away from it and flatter your shape.
What’s your favorite holiday party look, collegiettes? Leave a comment or a picture of your outfit below!