A lot of low body confidence can come from not truly understanding your own shape and how to tailor for it. When you spend too much time comparing yourself to other people and other body shapes, you can easily start being critical about yourself when not being able to achieve the same look; when, in actual fact, it’s because you have a completely different body shape.
So how can you best embrace what you have?
First, Determine Your Body Shape
In order to better understand who you are and what shape your body really is, you first need to find out. Be sure to measure your body thoroughly and understand the curves and angles you have. Do you have wider hips than shoulders? Or are you wider on top with a slimmer waist? Take the time to understand your shape so you can then tailor for that.
Which Are the Most Common Body Shapes?
You may fall easily into one of the following categories:
- Straight – your top, waist and bottom will be in line all the way down, perhaps with limited bust or waist.
- Hourglass – you will have wide bust and wide hips, but with a waist which comes in.
- Pear – you will have wider hips than you do the top half of your body.
- Heart – you will have a wider bust than you do hips.
Remember, body shapes are not about weight. You can still be an hourglass and be a larger size if your waist is slimmer than top and bottom.
Ignore Any Criticism Regarding Body Shape
There is no right or wrong when it comes to body shape. All bodies are different and unique. A lot of media outlets may promote a more hourglass-shape figure as the standard look, which can cause a lot of self-criticism and negativity about any varying body shape, but it’s important to avoid comparing your body shape to any other.
Anxiety and low self-esteem regarding your own body shape can easily lead to further problems, but what matters the most is that you’re the healthiest and most confident you can be in your own skin. Professional support like edentreatment.com exists for those struggling with issues related to body shape or image.
Find Clothes Tailored to Your Body Shape
You may have always resented your body if you struggle to find clothes you love, or which fit properly — but this could simply be because you’re shopping for the wrong body shape, or the shape which high street stores most tailor for.
Research the clothes which suit your shape the best, and not those which everybody else is wearing or which you feel like you should be wearing. You can always ask for style advice from store assistants, too, and try on various outfits to find your style.
Think About What You Want to Accentuate
All bodies and body shapes come with certain areas you may want to accentuate, or perhaps relieve focus from. This can be achieved through knowing your body shape and choosing clothes which tailor for what you wish to accentuate — and what you don’t.
If you are a pear shape, for example, perhaps you want to take focus away from wider hips. You could therefore wear looser clothing which doesn’t hug your figure too much, or wear looser fitting tops which provide more of a shape on the top to even it out with the bottom.
Whatever your body shape, have fun with your style and feel your best.
