How to Dress Your Body Type: Prints & Colors [Infographic]
Monroe and Main is sharing an infographic series on How to Dress Your Body Type.
Step #1: Take Your Measurements
Step #2: Identify Your Shape
Step #3: Shapewear
Step #4: Prints & Colors (check it out below!)
Here is Step #4: How to Dress For Your Body Type: Prints & Colors
It’s our final infographic on dressing for your body type – this one is on how to wear prints and colors.
Dressing your body type requires being able to take measurements and using them to determine your shape. You can’t dress for your body type until you understand it! And while using shapewear can help define a silhouette even further, think of using prints and colors in your outfit as the finishing touch. Not only do bold patterns and colors draw attention, making you look and feel confident and sure of yourself, but they can also be used purposefully to highlight and downplay certain areas of your body. Here’s our final infographic on dressing for your body type – this one is on how to wear prints and colors:
Click on the image to enlarge.
3 don’ts of wearing prints and colors
First, there are a few rules of thumb regarding patterns and colors that every woman, no matter her body type, should keep in mind. As far as vibrant hues go, incorporate them into your outfits by pairing a bright and bold color with a neutral one so that the overall look isn’t distracting or glaring. Pair coral with nude or royal blue with grey, for instance. And when it comes to patterns, avoid using the same pattern in multiple garments, as the effect can be a bit matchy-matchy. Break them up by pairing with solid-colored garments. If you do want to mix and match prints, that’s totally an option. Just try to keep them within the same color family and vary their sizes – in other words, pair small prints with larger ones for visual interest.
Hourglass
You’ve already determined your body type with measurements, and if you found you’re a true hourglass, you’re in luck when it comes to prints and patterns. Highlight your curves by taking risks with bold, all-over prints and bright colors. Alternatively, you can downplay curves using a more monochromatic look with darker neutrals.
Rectangle
Women with rectangle shapes are great candidates for mixing and matching prints and colors because they can create some visual contrast between the upper and lower body. Use patterns, colors and layered tops to define your torso, and choose bottoms that will contrast.
Triangle
Triangle body shapes have narrow upper bodies and wider hips, but using bold colors and patterns on top can create some visual proportion. Draw attention to the upper body using vibrant colors and fun patterns, and opt for bottoms that are neutral, dark and solid-colored.
To learn more about how to dress your triangle body shape, check out our article.
Inverted triangle
Women with inverted triangle body types have wider shoulder and bust measurements than their waist and hips. This means they can pair patterned and colorful bottoms with dark, solid-colored tops for beautiful hourglass-like proportions.
Oval
If you have an oval body shape, your waist measurement is a little bit larger than the measurement for your hips. You can use colors to your advantage by looking for tops with slimming patterns and color-blocking. For instance, tops with black panels along the sides will make the whole body appear slimmer. Take advantage of your slimmer hips and thighs by wearing bolder and brighter pants, skirts and shorts.
Reminder-here are the 4-steps in our How to Dress Your Body Type Infographic series:
Step #1: Take Your Measurements
Step #2: Identify Your Shape
Step #3: Shapewear
Step #4: Prints & Colors (above!)
Tell us how this works out for you! Comment below.
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13 responses to “How to Dress Your Body Type: Prints & Colors [Infographic]”
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I always thought I had an hour glass shape but maybe it is a triangle. My bust is 2” smaller than my hips and my waist is 8”smaller. I have narrow shoulders, but wear a 36g bra. So when I buy a top to button across my bust, it is way too large in the shoulder and neckline. Help! A large petite fits my shoulders and arms great—but too small in the chest. Do you have any suggestions ?
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Hi Love the advice you shared. I am a oval shape and It would be nice if there was some illustrations and or pictures. is there some websites you can share for body shapers? I don’t want to wear a cossets that my thighs puff out because it is to tight around the hip.
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Hi, SJ. We’re glad you found some of our tips useful. As far as shapewear goes, have you taken a look at any of the shapewear we carry to see if it might work for you? Our Julie France Body shaper extends farther down the thighs than most. You can click on this link to see our shapewear options: https://bit.ly/2v9OsAL
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i am 5’0″ 44x40x48 due to mommy tummy & this did not help me at all. i need style advice, everything i try makes me look like frumpy or like i just dont care. i need HELP
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Hello, thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear you didn’t find any value in this article. You can see more style tips and tricks here on our blog: https://blog.monroeandmain.com/ We hope you find something that interests you.
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nice to know ,,some good tips
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Very informative, as I go shopping with friends and we are always; “what do you think” or “does this look ok”…it would be great if the items in the catalogs would have Hourglass, triangle, etc next to it. I think for me personally it would eliminate alot of returns….not a fashion guru so I need all the help I can get…..
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I agree with Liz Wong. Having the shaped next to the item description would be very helpful. I have a rectangle shape. I am losing weight and hoping to regain my smaller size from years ago. I use to be able to wear almost anything but, not anymore. I’m having to learn to dress differently than I did before. It would be helpful to have a reminder of what might look good and, what will not. Sometimes what I like and what looks good on me are two very different things.
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Apparently I’ve been dressing for the inverted triangle shape without even trying! Kinda awkward, since I’ve an hourglass figure… oh well. Now I know. Dress boldly!
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Thanks for the input. Never really thought about shapes but I’ve sure noticed people sporting the wrong cloths for their body-type. What about someone who has hourglass shape but barely B cup size?
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Nicely done but, I really didn’t feel like I learned anything I didn’t already know. The information was a little bit too basic. I would have preferred more specific recommendations on shapewear, preferred brands, and especially more information on prints and colors. I’m an hourglass. What kind of prints are we talking about?Large prints, small prints, stripes? Thank you for the nice infographics though. They were, as I said, very well done.
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I agree, I am an hourglass also and would like more specific information on dressing for my curves. I don’t wear dresses, how about some tips for pants, jumpsuits, and office wear.
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Hello, Thank you for the comment. We hope you continue to find our blog useful!
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Categories: How to Dress for Your Body Type
Tags: Colors and Prints, Colors of the Season, How to Dress For Your Body Shape, How to Dress For Your Body Type, how to wear color, how to wear prints, How to Wear Prints & Patterns, infographic, infographics, Prints & Patterns, real women, What to Wear
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