How To Choose The Right Clothes For Your Body Shape

With ever-changing fashion designs and trends, there is one thing that remains the same: dressing to complement your body shape will always make the biggest impression. Whether you are wearing last year’s skirt or this year’s dress, the way it fits your body is what makes you look fantastic or just ordinary.

It doesn’t matter if you have a pear-shaped body or a to-die-for hourglass figure, there are always certain styles of clothes that will flatter your body type. With a seemingly endless array of stylish accessory options and different clothing styles, you too can look and feel fabulous.

If you have been blessed with a pear-shaped figure, you are not alone! Your hips are set low and your thighs seem out of proportion to your upper body. With a less significant bust size and a typically pronounced waist, you should avoid anything that attracts extra attention to your hips, including blouses or jackets that sit directly on your waist. By shifting the attention to your bust with fitted tops, you will move attention from your trouble areas below and appear more proportional to the rest of your body. Don’t forget to accessorize to complement your look! A subtle necklace and a short hanging bag can perfect your outfit and bring more attention to your upper body. With the faultless pairing of the right clothes and accessories, your outfit will look like it has been tailored to fit and you will be ready to impress even the most stylish divas.

With hips to love and a full bust, women with the classic hourglass figure are in luck. If your body resembles that of Salma Heyak or Tyra Banks, you are one of the eight percent of American women that have been fortunate enough to inherit the curves that most women dream of! When dressing for an hourglass figure, it is important to flaunt those curves and remember that over seventy five percent of fashion designers tailor their clothing to fit this classic shape, making it a breeze to find the right fit for you. Wearing clothes that skim your body, and are not too tight and not too loose, will flatter your form and make the most of your body. Accessorize with belts and tops that tie at the waist and your outfit (and body!) will be runway ready.

Women with an undefined waist and a straight body shape should show off their slender legs and highlight the best aspects of their lean body. Wearing skirts and dresses that lengthen the appearance of the torso flatter this body type. Pair fashionable dresses with a longer overcoat and your body will appear long, lean and fit. Wearing V-neck shirts or tops with a low collar will elongate your neck and draw attention to your most helpful assets. With a straight body shape, you can detract attention from your waist and hips by avoiding belts and any dresses or shirts that gather at the waist. To make your legs appear even longer, add stylish pumps or pointy high heels to perfect your outfit.

If you have inherited a round body figure with a voluptuous bust, narrow hips and a round tummy, there is no need to shy away from chic styles. Celebrities like Kate Winslet have become fashion icons with their voluptuous bodies and you can too. With characteristically lean legs, rounder types will find that their best bet lies with showing off their legs and shapely hips. Wearing tops with a longer neckline and avoiding broad collars and polo necks can diminish attention from your full bust and can help your neck appear extra lean. Wear attractive tunics and steer clear of tight fitting clothing so that your round stomach will seem lean and fit while drawing attention to your trim legs. Accessorize your outfit with narrow belts that blend with the color of your outfit and you will be model ready in no time.

With simple changes to your outfit, your body shape fears can be a thing of the past. Always remember to accentuate your best features to detract from your most troublesome areas and you will be an exemplary model of first-class fashion.

About The Author
The Glass Slipper offers a great resource for people looking Makeup Lessons and Personal Styling in London - http://www.theglassslipper.co.uk.

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Spa Treatments: What's So Great about Body Wraps?

By Cherisa Chapa

"Lose inches today from our exclusive body wrap," proclaims the spa manager. "Body wraps don't really help you lose weight", whispers your friend. So who are you to believe? Actually, both comments are correct.

What is a Body Wrap?

A body wrap treatment may vary depending on where you are receiving your treatment and what type of result that you are trying to achieve. Body wraps are generally great at hydrating the skin, riding the body of toxins, and helping to lose inches in water weight. The primarily product used in a body wrap usually consists of either mud, clay, algae, seaweed, lotion, cream or aloe with essential oils and/or herbs designed to revitalize the body.

This product is applied to the body - except the genital and breast areas which are covered - and then you are wrapped in a Mylar sheet, plastic sheet, towels, or linen sheets depending upon the service. A contouring wrap will use bandages or a tightly wrapped sheet instead. Your body will generate heat and warmth while you are wrapped for twenty minutes as this allows time for the product to be absorbed into your body for the maximum effect.

The body wrap may help improve circulation, stimulate the metabolic system, increases the body's ability to carry waste products for elimination, and assist with skin care issues. It can also give the skin a very healthy, vibrant look. The time spent wrapped is great for stress and tension reduction.

Preparing for the Wrap

Medical precautions for all body wraps (as with any body treatments) are recommended. Regardless of your health, take note of the products that used as some products for wraps include high concentrations of essential oils; some of which are not recommended for those who are diabetic and those with high blood pressure. Also any product that includes algae may increase the risk of an allergic reaction for those that have sensitivity towards iodine. Other products such as coconut, almonds, and many others are also used in body wrap products. If you have any concerns in regards to the product to be used in the wrap, consult with your treatment profession prior to the treatment. Of course, you should discuss any of these concerns or questions with your primarily health care provider prior to receiving any treatments.

If you tend to be claustrophobic, this may not be the treatment for you. Some individuals have found that not having the feet and upper chest area covered (which should be done for individuals who have high blood pressure) aids in reducing any claustrophobic effects.

While you are wrapped for the twenty minutes, you may be alone in a dark room. If this bothers you, please let your treatment professional know so you can be accommodated. (I personally love spending this time receiving a facial massage.)

Getting Wrapped

In general terms, a basic body wrap is usually in a wet room where the table used is designed to get wet or the room is equipped with a shower of some sort. The type of equipment will depend upon the spa or treatment professional.

You will need to completely undress for a body wrap. However, your personal dignity will be protected by either disposable undergarments or the treatment professional will use the placement of towels to cover the areas not worked. You may be lying either on a sheet, towel, a thin piece of plastic or a Mylar sheet.

The treatment will begin with a dry exfoliation scrubbing technique used to remove any dead skin cells and for preparing the skin for the body wrap product. This product will then be applied to the body much in the same fashion as a body scrub or massage and can be brushed on the body similar to being painted with a paint brush. You will then be wrapped by the sheet, towel, plastic or Mylar sheet and perhaps a blanket for twenty minutes.

Once the twenty minutes are over, the treatment professional will quickly unwrap you since your skin will feel very cool. Then you may be rinsed to remove any excess product by the treatment professional or will be allowed to take a brief shower (where you will not want to wash strongly with soap to allow the product to continue to be absorbed into the body).

The body wrap will then conclude with an application of warm cream or lotion to hydrate the body.

Enjoying your Wrap

After receiving your body wrap, you will want to avoid any excessive exercise, such as working out at the gym and you may need to restrict your sun exposure depending upon the product used during your treatment. If you have any concerns of the after affects, check with your treatment professional or spa coordinator.

Many individuals are delighted with the overall sense of well-being and relaxation that they feel after a body wrap, especially if they had it followed with a massage. This experience is very difficult to articulate into words. If you have never received a body wrap before, I hope that you try it. It is an experience that must be enjoyed personally.

Cherisa Chapa, LMT is the owner of Nature's Paradise Spa where you can learn more about stress and tension reduction, pain management and injury recovery, and self-wellness and pampering information. We also offer advertising and marketing techniques for massage therapists. - Finally Pampering Just for YOU!

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