Question about what the goal of ID'ing Body Types

Vina

Hi!

Sorry if this is a silly question- I seem to be mixed up by a few things I have been reading...
I am wondering why we are identifying our body types? Is it to dress the parts you like to accentuate them and de-emphasize the other parts you don't like?

I am confused about what balance means also, when it comes to clothing and dressing. Can someone explain this to me.

Also, how do we combine what our body type guidelines are suggesting we should wear and the MOTG outfits - for example wearing a cropped cardi or fylaway cardi- what if your body type guidelines say that won't flatter your body?

Thank you.

13 years ago

Body Type

10 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

kimlee

Veteran

Vina - By identfying our bodies types we are able to best identify those cuts/shapes/items that are the most flattering. With that being said, the body type guidelines are just that - a guide - not a hard fast rule. If you want to wear a cropped cardi - then YLF says go for it.

Also, you could substiute the cropped cardi or flyaway for a cardigan that is better suited to your body type.

I hope this helps.

13 years ago

Anonymous

For me, identifying my body type was a huge "AHA!" that's why certain things make me look like a linebacker!

When translating a dressing formula, like a MOTG outfit, I would tailor it to suit me: ie. I would choose a jacket that doesn't have epaulets and I would choose a blouse that doesn't have puffed sleeves.

Someone more into fashion and less into body flattery might choose to ignore this, however, and wear an outfit with an exaggerated shoulder line just because they love it so much and that's okay, too! No rules, just fun!

13 years ago

Ginny

Veteran

I am in the same boat with clearlyclaire, the guidlines helped me find tops to to accomadate and flatter what had been difficult for me ( ie one shirt makes me feel like the linbacker but another makes me look curvy) now I know what cuts are better on me and then when you figure that out You will know this type of card/jacket/ top or whatver does work or doesn't wotk on my body. Like the ladies said just guides, have fun trying stuff on to see what does flatter you and your body.

13 years ago

yellowgirl

Active Member

Like clearlyclaire, identifying my body type was a major part of my style journey. I have lost a lot of weight (still losing!) and I found myself so incredibly frustrated when I went shopping and found myself looking awful in the clothes I was putting on. I thought shopping would be so much more fun after weight loss, but it wasn't.

That's when I found YLF and learned about body types. As it turns out, the clothes I was picking were fine...for another body type. I wasn't even looking at clothes that would suit me! As soon as I started to pick clothes based on the recommendations for MY body type, everything changed! It felt like I had learned the "insider's secret" b/c I could now dress my body in a way that was flattering, and understand why the clothes worked for me.

13 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Great questions! Here are my thoughts

"I am wondering why we are identifying our body types? Is it to dress the parts you like to accentuate them and de-emphasize the other parts you don't like?"

I wouldn't say it's to de-emphasize parts we don't like; for example, I have a strong shoulder line so I have to be mindful of that so I don't end up looking crazy broad in the shoulder, but I certainly love my shoulders! Once you know your body type, you have a set of guidelines to help you in determining which clothing cuts will make you look your best, but they are just guidelines.

"I am confused about what balance means also, when it comes to clothing and dressing."

Balance can mean many things, and different people look for different types of balance. It could be balancing narrow hips against wide shoulders, a large bust, a long torso with short legs, a long neck, etc. Balance can also refer to balance of styles, such as pairing a tough element with an otherwise girly outfit. And balance can also refer to the "weight" within a single outfit, such as ensuring that the top half of your outfit doesn't look heavier than the bottom half. Most of our dressing will involve several types of balance at once, even if we're not fully conscious that we're doing so.

"Also, how do we combine what our body type guidelines are suggesting we should wear and the MOTG outfits - for example wearing a cropped cardi or flyaway cardi- what if your body type guidelines say that won't flatter your body?"

The MOTG formulas show examples, but you certainly don't have to follow the examples exactly. So for the formula Jeans + embellished / graphic T + new look cardigan + ballet flats, you would pick the jeans silhouette flatters most, a tee with the neckline and sleeve that's most flattering, a cardigan in a style that's flattering, and flats. For one person this could mean skinnies, a sparkly cap-sleeve tee, a cascading cardigan, and flats. And for someone else this could mean straight leg jeans, a deep v-neck tee with 3/4 sleeves, a cropped cardigan, and flats.

13 years ago

Kat

Veteran

I think, too, that describing body types puts things more objectively....it makes it easier to say "this style or detail just isn't right for my body type" and to know WHY, rather than to take an outfit that doesn't do quite what we'd like and feel that it says something is WRONG with our bodies.

13 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

Everyone has explained this SO well, I'll just say "hear hear!"

And I'll add that figuring out my body shape was a relief because I suddenly understood why I kept accidentally looking like a short football player... why jackets almost always look too big on me.... why cargo pockets are a good thing for me, when often they are something to avoid. My wide-for-my-body shoulders aren't something I dislike, but I do need to watch how I dress them. It also gave me direction in my shopping by eliminating the obvious "those don't work well for an IT" items.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

These posts might help you too:

http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....body-type/

http://youlookfab.com/2009/09/.....uidelines/

13 years ago

Irene

Veteran

I think the guide is useful in order to provide a sense of proportion. Because beauty is said to be directly related to proportion, the bodytype guide guides you so you can look like you have the 'perfect' proportions even if you don't have them. That is, if you are a Pear and your hips are larger than you top part, you can de-emphasize them with a pair of black pants, not so that they look smaller per se, but to make them proportional to your top-half, which should be covered by a top in a light or bright color and with interesting details, especially on the shoulder line and/or bust. It's NOT because you don't like your hips, but because you are striving for proportion.

That said, the rules are there so you can break them, and if you are an Inverted Triangle but still want to emphasize your beautiful shoulder line, you are free to wear a boatneck top with shoulder pads. It will look like you have wide shoulders, sure, but as long as YOU are aware of that and YOU like it, that's fine. I regard the guide as a means to avoid looking ridiculous/unaware of what you look like, that is, as a way to get to know your body proportions, understand them and then play with them at your will.

13 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

For me personally, knowing my body type is most useful but not to deemphasize. I don't want to deemphasize any part of me because:

1) I love all parts of me
2) There's very little of me anyway.

BUT knowing my body type helps me:

- Have more control. Chose the clothes to get the effect I am looking for, not the other way around;

- Avoid crappy experiences in the fitting room;

- get proportion when that's what I'm after.

13 years ago

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