5 Body Shapes: Which One Are You?

By: Rosangelica Cardenas, Blush Boutique

One of the most important things we need to know and accept about ourselves is the shape of our bodies and what fashion choices work for us (and which ones don’t). This is part of loving and accepting ourselves for who we are; the other part is how we accentuate our attributes. In order to do this, we need to follow some style guidelines. We must figure out how to proportion our body to adjust our look. The body silhouettes are the Rectangle, Inverted Triangle, Pear, Apple, and Hourglass. Most, if not all of us, fall into one of these shapely categories. Which celebrity do you share a silhouette with?

Rectangle:  Some of our most famous super models fall into this category. Cameron Diaz, Heidi Klum, Cindy Crawford are amongst 46% of women shaped this way. You have a slender, athletic build and tend to be fairly straight. What you want to do is to break-up your silhouette by creating curves from the waist down. A simple trick is using a belt.

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Inverted Triangle:  Your celebrity body silhouette is Renee Zellweiger and Angelina Jolie. You should wear things that make your hips and thighs look fuller and rounder. You want to take away from your shoulders and create a smaller waist and curvier hips. Peplum dresses and peplum tops are the best pieces for this look. Anything that gives the illusion of a smaller waist and fuller hips is the way to go for you.

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Pear:  You are right with Shakira, Jenifer Lopez, and Eva Mendez. You tend to be a little smaller on top and thicker on the bottom. Since you are so close to being an hourglass silhouette, the best choice for you is to focus your attention on your upper body by choosing embellished tops around the neck, or wearing a statement necklace. You want to draw the attention upward, naturally. But don’t worry Latinas; we aren’t trying to hide the curvas. We are simply creating a balanced look!

Jennifer Lopez attends Glamour’s 2011 Women of the Year Awards on November 7, 2011 in New York City. Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com

Apple: You share the spotlight with Jessica Simpson and Catherine Zeta-Jones. You are a part of 14% of women. Apple silhouettes tend to have great legs and an amazing bust. Fashion choices with detailed hemlines are best because they draw attention to your legs. You also look amazing in empire waist shirts or dresses that define your waist. Structured garments are best because they camouflage the problem areas. Shape wear is an instant trick.

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Hourglass:  If you have an hourglass figure… amiga, you are the envy of many! Guess whose company you’re in? Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, and Sofia Vergara – these ladies are well-proportioned. Having an hourglass figure means that your shoulders and hips are almost exact in measurements, and your waist is tiny. This is the most desired look. The best type of dress for your silhouette would stop just below the knee or five inches (maximum) above the knee, depending on your height. Since you already have a very sultry look, keep it classy by being mindful and not exposing too much.

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As Latinas, we are passionate about everything we do. I mean, how many women go to the grocery store in heels? Look around and it will be us Latinas. We are proud of who we are regardless of our shape and size. We don’t hide our curves; we bring them to the forefront con mucho orgullo. To us, calling us skinny is no compliment. So please, if you want to make a Latina’s day, tell her about her curvas.

“Fashion is architecture: It is a matter of proportion” – Coco Chanel

This article is a contribution by Rosangelica Cardenas, owner of Blush Boutique in Phoenix. Blush Boutique offers women’s apparel, shoes and accessories in unique styles suitable for any age. You can visit their official website at www.blushboutiqueaz.com, email them at blushboutiqueaz@yahoo.com or call 602.579.8725.

You can also stay connected through their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Blush Boutique

3302 N. 35th Ave. Ste. 2

Phoenix, AZ