We live in a culture where the pressures of being super skinny are almost everywhere. Women and young girls are trying to meet these expectations by going on crazy diets and taking extreme measures to lose weight and fit a certain mold. For me, reading “The Science of Sexy” by top designer Bradley Bayou was a life changer. Bayou’s book is a comprehensive guide to dressing for your unique body type instead of losing weight. It doesn’t encourage unhealthy habits; it’s about embracing your body for how it truly looks and choosing clothing that flatters it so you can put your best self forward.

In the above set, I styled a look with various styles and silhouettes that are known to flatter most body types.

V-Neck & Wrap Top: Above I featured an orange Safiyaa blouse. This top serves several purposes when it comes to flattering your body; it has a ‘v’ neckline and it has a ‘wrap’ characteristic. The v-neck helps to elongate your upper body and draw attention to your face. Unless you have a particularly long neck, this neckline will flatter anyone. The ‘wrap’ style helps to make you appear thinner. It accentuates the waist-line in a positive way, creating balance. It will show-off what you do have or create what you don’t have.

Cinched Waist: I also featured a buff Marc by Marc Jacobs blazer and a Stella Jean printed waist-tie skirt. Both of these items have a tie at the waist, which creates that cinched waist look. This also emphasizes the waist to create balance and the appearance of a slimmer body. 

Pointed-Toe Heel: I accessorized with a tan Lauren Ralph Lauren pointed toe heel. This is the perfect shoe for petite women, like myself, or women with short legs. The pointed toe elongates the leg, making you appear taller than you actually are. In addition, the heel is a good height. Your common sense may tell you that if you want to look taller, then you should wear the highest heel; this is just not true. If you truly want the best, most flattering look, go with a small or average heel. A shockingly tall heel will make your leg look stumpy in comparison.

What’s your favorite style to flatter your unique body type?