Issue Date: October 25, 2009

Secrets to flattering Your Figure

By Kelly DiNardo

Want to find clothes that fit you well? We sought advice from two famed experts, Clinton Kelly, co-host of TLC's What Not to Wear, and Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, author of Shop Your Closet. Fascitelli's starting point: Buy a realistic mirror for your home. "Some can make you look stretched out or fat, and that can be deceiving," she says. Here are more tips:

Wear heels.
In shoes with a heel, you will always appear a little longer, taller and more slender. "If you're not comfortable in heels, then try a wedge," Fascitelli says.

Buy large enough.
When shopping for your body, buy clothes that fit your largest area first. "If you're a woman with a large bust, you have to find a good fit there first, and then you tailor the rest down," Kelly says. "You might be a size 6, but if it takes a size 10 to fit your bust, then you tailor it down from the size 10. That goes for men, too. If a man has broad shoulders or a big stomach, then you shop for that area of the body and tailor down."

Consider fabric.
"The more you want your clothes to determine the shape of your silhouette, the heavier or stiffer fabrics you'll want," Kelly says. "Flimsy fabrics don't hold shape." Example: To camouflage a tummy, a leather jacket works better than a cotton knit top.

Vary shades in an outfit.
"Use color blocking to draw the eye to an area you want to emphasize or away from trouble spots," Kelly says. If you want to, say, highlight a slender upper body and downplay a wide bottom, then try an A-line skirt in a dark color and wear a brighter or lighter color on top.

Tips for different body types

Try on a variety of things until you're confident about what works for your shape. Some guidelines:

Hourglass
Your bust and hips are about the same width, and your waist nips in.

Tip: Show off your natural waist in pieces that accentuate your midriff, like wrap dresses, belts or nipped-in coats. For pants, try those with a slight flare to balance your curves.

Top heavy
You carry your weight in your top half.

Tip: Avoid scoop necks and horizontal stripes, which make your bust look bigger. Try a V-neck, which elongates the chest, and bottoms with some volume, such as a wide-leg pant or a full skirt.

Bottom heavy
You carry your weight in your bottom half.

Tip: Avoid tapered pants or those that hug close to the leg. Try an A-line skirt in dark colors. And bring attention to your upper half by wearing ruffled or embellished tops.

Middle heavy
You have an undefined waist.

Tip: Get a properly fitting bra to create a visual break between your bust and tummy. Try an empire waist with material that falls in an A-line. A well-fitted blazer is also a great tummy concealer.