Shaping up to look good

STYLIST Riaan Albertyn at The REDTAG Group, which currently boasts 50 fashion and lifestyle stores across the region, has devised some helpful tips for women wanting to shape up in the latest designs.

The company's fashion trend and visual merchandise manager has figured out the best way of choosing what to wear and what to avoid, according to your body shape.

Mr Albertyn said: "It is now the time to build-up on some knowledge and get to know your body shape as there are four different female body shapes.

"Each of these has their Do's and Don'ts when buying clothes. It's important to know your body type and what to buy to make you look and feel great."

The four typical body figures are pear-shaped, apple-shaped, hourglass-shaped and rectangle-shaped.

THE PEAR-SHAPED FIGURE: Typical Pears have a long slender neck, sloping and narrow shoulders, small to medium bust and curvy hips. With this body shape you have to over-play on the upper body and give your lower body a slimmer sleeker look. You have to ensure attention to your face, neck and bust. You can easily do this by using colour at the top, dark colours for bottoms and wide neck lines.

Tops you can wear with confidence: Looser fitting tops and fitted tops, blouses with a lot of detailing, tops with puffy sleeves and wide-set straps.

Bottoms: Remember to look at the darker wash jeans or darker colour for bottoms. Also invest in mid-rise jeans as this will give the illusion of slimmer hips and bottom.

Shoes: Pointed toes, peep-toe (open front showing the toes) shoes are more flattering, sleek shoes with a thinner heel.

Stay away from: Stiletto heels, body-hugging tight skirts, full skirts, pants with bulky side pockets, bold patterns, light colours and large checks used on your bottoms.

THE APPLE-SHAPED FIGURE: Typical Apples have a fuller face and neck, broad shoulders, a fuller bust, a fuller, undefined waist, narrow hips and shapley legs.

For the apple shape we have to draw the focus to your best attributes, which will be your bust and legs. You have to ensure the appearance of a slimmer shoulder and waist.

Tops you can wear with confidence: Wrap-around tops, fitted tops (but not too tight), v-necklines, belted blouses and jackets and darker solid coloured tops.

Bottoms: Jeans with flat front, jeans with back pocket and flaps, boot-cut and flared-leg jeans, Capri's with back pocket detail.

Shoes: Chunkier heels or sleek shoes with a thicker heel is best.

Stay away from: Stilettos, tops that are too baggy, full sleeves, bold patterns and large checks above your waist.

THE HOURGLASS-SHAPED FIGURE: Symmetrical shoulder and hips, full busts, defined waists, medium to broad hips and shapely legs. This is an ideal form and already balanced. This figure is the easiest to dress as most of the garments will look good on you.

Tops you can wear with confidence: V-neck, scooped neck, wrap-around,

halter tops, small dots and patterns.

Bottoms: Slightly flared-leg jeans, wide-leg jeans, mid-rise jeans and low-rise jeans.

Shoes: You can wear any kind shoe as they will look good on you. The sky is the limit.

Stay away from: Baggy tops and pants, straight lines in tops and skirts and jackets, blouses with ruffles (these will hide all your good features), tops with large prints and checks and stripes.

THE RECTANGULAR-SHAPED FIGURE: Typical Rectangles have a full neck, broad back, average bust, undefined waist, great legs and arms.

Tops you can wear with confidence: Wrap-around tops with scooped and V-necklines, spaghetti-strap tops, fitted tops that go in at the waist.

Bottoms: Jeans with larger back pockets and flaps, low rise jeans and Capri's.

Shoes: You can wear any kinds of shoes as they will look good on you. The sky is the limit.

Stay away from: Vertical patterns, very tight fitting blouses; high waisted skirts, pants and jeans, baggy tops and bottoms.

REDTAG is a chain of value fashion and home stores and under its umbrella in Bahrain are the Sana stores in Salmaniya and Bahrain Mall as well as DHS in Adliya, Riffa and Sanad.