How To Dress A Column Shape Body 

As a Personal Stylist, the most important thing to me in fashion is knowing you body shape!

It…. is… vital!!

If you want to dress well, you need to dress with your body shape in mind.

It is the foundation of great style and effortless elegance.

Style is all about balance.

If you want to appear visually balanced, with no area visually wider or shorter than any other, it is necessary to learn the following rules and guidelines.

SO………There are five main body shapes:
Apple, pear, hourglass, column and inverted triangle.

In order to dress well for your shape,  the style guidelines to learn are:

1 – Determine your body shape …………….Which I will help you with here on Gails Rails!

2 – Which areas of your body to emphasise and which ones to conceal.

3 – How to attract the eye….. and detract the eye away from a particular area

4 – How to create a well balanced silhouette

There are massive benefits for knowing your body shape!!

1- Save time in the stores –

Knowing exactly what cuts and styles to look for, shopping will be quicker and easier.

2 – Feel satisfied and empowered –

Knowing you’re wearing clothes that suit your body perfectly.

3 – Comfortable your own skin

If you are wearing clothing you feel comfortable in, you are automatically happier on the inside! And that beams through!

Comfort is the ultimate secret to confidence!!
AND Confidence is the ultimate secret to BEAUTY.

……And you CAN achieve all of this by wearing what suits your body shape and sticking to it!!

You have a Column Shape body if you have:

-Small to average bust
-Un-defined waist
-Straight hips and bottom
-Not many curves
-Well aligned shoulders and hips

Goals:
-Creating the illusion of curves and defined waist
-Flaunt your lean arms

Best Trousers

-Your figure was made for trousers
-Any skinny / slim leg were made for you
-Boot cut, flare and wide leg
-Trousers with hip, thigh or leg detail such as large pockets, pleats or turn-ups
-Look for styles with detail on hips/bottom
-Flowing linen trousers will look very elegant

Trousers to avoid

-Big flares
-Combats and cargo will make you look more boyish
-Trousers that are too wide legged

Best Tops

-Tops with collars, ruffle and detail
-Frills and bow tops
-Round, high neck, off shoulder tops and slash/scoop neck tops
-Spaghetti straps and racer back vests
-Breast pockets and embellishment in the area above the waistline to add bulk
-Layer up tops in order to add bulk to the silhouette
-Fitted blazers with shoulder pads and belts to define waist

Tops to avoid

-Vertical patterns as they emphasise the up and down straight lines
-Square and sweetheart neck tops
-Crop tops and shrugs as they will elongate your torso even more
-Slouchy jackets and blazers
-Baggy tops and tunics that won’t give you a waist

Best Skirts and dresses

-Break up your silhouette and add movement to you body frame by creating curves from the waist up and the waist down
-Try to define your waist and make your body shape look more like a figure 8
-All skirt shapes will look good for you, Aline, tulip, pencil and ruffle.
-Dresses made up of two parts from the waist down
-High waisted skirts with a top tucked in
-Dresses with embellishment or wear a statement necklace
-Belts wrapped around the waist to define waist

Dresses and skirts to avoid

-Very straight skirts wont create any curves
-Dropped waists will make you look more boyish
-Baggy tunic dresses that are very boxy

So these are the general rules for dressing a Column Body Shape. If you are still unsure as to what body shape you are, you can check out the other 4 body shape types on my blog.

Gail xx