The Pear Figure is the new Lady Peacock

 

Not an Pear but a Lady Peacock

It’s Still A New Year

Let’s continue our resolve this new year to change how we look at our bodies. Lets continue replace the negative can’ts with empowering cans!

In this mission to revise how we look at ourselves, let’s checkout another body shape and get some new empowering cans rather than the old can’ts.

Not an Pear but a Lady Peacock

Let’s continue our discovery with the second largest shape group in the US – the pear. So you’ve checked your body shape and you are a Pear – your waist is still smaller than either your hips or bust but your hips are more than a few inches wider than your bust. Now what? What is it you need to avoid? What do you need to compensate for? NOTHING!!

You’ve Got Something No One Else Has!

Flip it and look at what your body shape empowers you to do better than any other body shape. That is display! Anything and everything around your face and shoulders. Just like the feathers of your namesake, the peacock.

That Pesky Ideal

Our society’s current ideal body shape and the one we are all striving to emulate is the hourglass. On her, bust and hips are close to the same measurement. By making your shoulders and bust visually larger they will appear closer to your hip’s dimension and closer to the hourglass ideal.

How To Do It

So – your face and shoulders as a display. Just what does that mean? How can you do it?

On Top

In jackets, select ones that are full and well defined at the shoulders. Play with contrasting or exaggerated yokes and shoulders. You can indulge in a lot of shoulder attention and still stay in pleasing proportions.

Scarves

Scarves are your private fantasy land. Have at it with all kinds of beautiful scarves draped around your shoulders and neck. The only style of scarf to be avoided is turning it into a necktie Why would you want to do that and lose all that drama?

Feast On Jewelry

In jewelry, the chunkier the better. All those statement earrings and all those beautifully intricate dangles and huge statement pieces that look overpowering to other body shapes are made just for you. So are all those beautiful statement necklaces placing oodles of big chunky charms around your neck.

Don’t hide. All those small delicate necklaces are beautiful but don’t play up your assets and the long long vertical chains do nothing but point away from your beautiful face.

Sleeves Please

In a dress or top, find ones that have details that draw attention to your bust or shoulders. Play with sleeves. Make them a statement. Go all out. If you want sleeveless in the heat of summer select dramatic armholes that are not cut into the shoulders like the conventional sleeveless top but go out to the armhole – maybe even add a cap to that shoulder.

On the Bottom

Because you don’t want to take attention away from all the drama going on up top, keep the bottom simple and quiet. Use darker colors. Steer away that pencil skirt and skinny jeans. They are statement pieces that draw attention away from the drama at the shoulders where you want the attention to reside. Make it more classic and quiet with wider legs and defined waistlines.

Want More?

For more Lady Peacock information check out my page on Lady Peacock Dressing. Then slide right over to the Shop  for a guide to shopping for your shape. It comes in a beautiful leatherette pouch that you can slip into your purse to take with you shopping  or to check out Lady Peacock specific styles – it’s already sorted out for you!

Contact Me!

Need more info on just what your shape is and what looks best then contact me at IstinaDesign.

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Coats for All Shapes, Body Shapes that is.

5 body shapes and the right coat

Coats for body shapes

Winter is Here!

Winter is here now and most of us are spending a large part of our lives in coats.

Now that you understand your body shape the next question is “What is the best coat for me?”. Here are the five basic shapes and the best coat silhouette each one.

Sassy Gal (aka inverted triangle) Body Shape

Your broad shoulders give you a great natural posture and make coats look great on you. The object is to create more of a curvy silhouette. Choose a fitted and belted jacket. Big flap hip pockets add to the look you are going for. Don’t get carried away with fancy or oversized collars – stay classical. Going with a small check pattern will also draw attention away from the shoulders and add to the overall look you want.

Lady Diva (aka hourglass) Body Shape

You have the shape everyone is going for just don’t lose it in the bulkiness of the coat. Keep the coat a fitted one with a v necked collar. Emphasize the v neck and wear your coat with the collar button open – use a scarf to keep your neck warm. You can sport the hip pockets and wide collar – just as long as the waist is fitted snugly. Don’t chop yourself in half with a tie belt. It will trash your silhouette. If you wear a belt make it a buckled one over a fitted coat.

Earth Goddess (aka apple) Body Shape

If it is warm enough you can still employ the Rule of Thirds and leave your coat open down the front. Otherwise, look for a coat that has a pattern or design going down the center front of the coat (perhaps even around the neck in a shawl collar. Keep the elements simple and steer away from big lapels – a lapel less duster style coat works best on you. Add a long scarf hanging around your neck and traveling down your center front to break up your torso into those thirds. You can sport simple beautifully

Lady Peacock (aka pear) Body Shape

Like everything else in your wardrobe, you along can play with all the unique and different collars and lapels around. The funnel shaped collar is carried off best by you as are huge lapels and double ones. Wear all the scarves in all their unique ways that you want. With all your focus on the face and shoulders just let the coat skim your waist and hips and fall smoothly.

Lady of Movement (aka rectangle) Body Shape

Like the rest of your ensembles, keep it flowing. Your shape handles belted coats the best – letting the material puff out above and below the belting. Add hip pockets and dynamic lapels and you are set. Because you are usually tall for your size the three quarter length coat is best for you and keeps you in proportion.

Above all, buy a coat you love and feel great in! Dress to your likes and not to our shoulds and, above all,  have fun!

 

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What is your Bodyshape?? The answer in 3 simple steps.

What is your body shape? Previously I described the 5 body shapes and guidelines on how to dress. Next step is determining your particular shape.

That will take 3 easy steps with 3 simple measurements.

Step 1 – Prepare to measure.

In addition to a tape measure, there are a few other things you will need to before measuring.

First, leave your jeans for another occasion. They are bulky and act as a girdle.

Second, the less material between you and your tape measure the better. Lightweight garments are best. Tank top and leggings are perfect

Third, gather up your tools.

a good tape measure.

elastic. To determine where your waist is.

a mirror. This will help you find where you are measuring. A good friend would be a good substitute.

Step 2-The Measurements

Now, take that tape measure in your hands and start measuring

1- Bust. Making sure the tape measure is level with your bust across your back measure around the widest point of your bust. Do NOT pull the tape measure tight.

2- Waist. If you are not sure where your waist is, tie a piece of elastic around your waist and move around. It will settle at your waist. It is fine to pull this one a little tight. You are measuring over clothes

3 – Hips. The dreaded hip measurement is next. Hips in this context is the widest part of your body below your waist. Look at yourself sideways in the mirror to find this line and measure it. Do NOT pull tight here.

Step 3 – What Bodyshape are you?

You are a Lady Diva (aka Hourglass)  if your bust and hips are within 2 inches of each other and your waist is 7 – 8 inches smaller.

You are a Lady of Movement (aka Rectangle) if hips and bust are within 2″ of each other but waist is NOT 7 – 8″ smaller

You are a Lady Peacock (aka Pear) if hips are more that 2″ larger than your bust and waist is smaller than  bust.

You are a Sassy Gal (aka Inverted Triangle) if your bust is more than 2 inches larger than your waist and your waist is smaller than your bust.

You are an Earth Goddess (aka Apple) if waist is larger than or equal to bust.

You can be on a scale between two shape. Claim ownership of both shapes. I will clarify that on an upcoming post.

Right now, you can you can go to my website Istina Design  to read up further on what your particular body shape will look best wearing.

 

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You’re Not a Pear! You are a Lady Peacock!!

pear-sketch-4

Let’s start redefining body shapes and make them empowering this time. Let’s go over the 5 different body shapes and discover a new, empowering way to see and dress them.

Let’s start with the second largest shape group in the US – the pear. So you’ve checked your body shape and you are a Pear – your waist is still smaller than either your hips or bust but your hips are more than a few inches wider than your bust. Now what? What is it you need to avoid? What do you need to compensate for? NOTHING!!

Flip it and look at what your body shape empowers you to do better than any other body shape. That is display! Anything and everything around your face and shoulders. Just like the feathers of your namesake – Lady Peacock.

And just WHY is that?

Our society’s current ideal body shape and the one we are all striving to emulate is the hourglass. On her, bust and hips are close to the same measurement. By making your shoulders and bust visually larger they will appear closer to your hip’s dimension and closer to the hourglass ideal.

On Top

In jackets, select ones that are full and well defined at the shoulders. You can get away with contrasting or exaggerated yokes and shoulders and still stay in pleasing proportions.

Scarves are your private fantasy land. Have at it with all kinds of beautiful scarves draped around your shoulders and neck. The only style of scarf to be avoided is turning it into a necktie Why would you want to do that and lose all that drama?

In jewelry, the chunkier the better. All those statement earrings and all those beautifully intricate dangles and huge statement pieces that look overpowering to other body shapes are made just for you. So are all those beautiful statement necklaces placing oodles of big chunky charms around your neck. Here again, the styles to avoid are those that do not take advantage of all that display real estate – the small delicate necklaces and the long long vertical chains that don’t display anything at the neck.

In a dress or top, find ones that have details that draw attention to your bust or shoulders. Play with sleeves. Make them a statement. Go all out. If you want sleeveless in the heat of summer select dramatic armholes that are not cut into the shoulders like the conventional sleeveless top but go out to the armhole – maybe even add a cap to that shoulder.

On the Bottom

Because you don’t want to take attention away from all the drama going on up top, keep the bottom simple and quiet. Use darker colors. Steer away that pencil skirt and skinny jeans. They are statement pieces that draw attention away from the drama at the shoulders where you want the attention to reside. Make it more classic and quiet with wider legs and defined waistlines.

 

Generally

Some general rules to follow are:

Darker colors on bottom/Lighter and brighter on top

Designs that draw the eye upwards

Details around the shoulders and face

Designs that widen the shoulders

Designs that lengthen the torso

Vertical lines

For More Info

If you want more detailed info on your body shape, get our free ebook Know Your Body Shape

Final Note

Above all, don’t be so bound by the ‘rules’ that you select clothes that you don’t like. Have fun. Enjoy the clothes you wear – that will generate the best impression.

Want to know YOUR body shape? Check it out at Find Your Body Shape

 

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Trunk Shows

To avoid the major markup that retail stores have to impose on clothing to cover the cost of retail I am using a different way to get my clothing to you - in home trunk shows. Invite a few of your [...]

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