Love at first sight for the beautiful blouse, the skirts, the pink catchy crop top and many others. Then why did they still end up in the “can’t wear this again” pile or the fellowship of forgotten clothes so soon? Because you chose the wrong style. OOPS! Has this ever happened to you?
Choosing the right style for your body type and personality can be a very hard thing to do especially when you don’t know what silhouettes, fabrics or colours fit you best. The right style can make you look like a rich Aunty or like an innocent school girl, enhance or diminish the body feature of your choice. It could also portray an attitude you want others to see or you want to feel. Here is a handy guide to teach you how to create and maintain a functional wardrobe.
1. Identify your body type:
Understanding your body type helps in mapping clothes and tweaking it in a way that suits your style too. The different body types are: pear shaped body type, hourglass body type, rectangle or banana body type, apple body type, inverted triangle body type.
The pear shaped body type has its waistline defined with heavier bottom and narrow shoulders. This body type is very common among the Effik and ibibio people of Nigeria.
Thanks to the Kardashians, women with this body type are highly admired in the society.
The hourglass body type has a small and very defined waist with its burst line and hip line having the same width.
The rectangle body shape is characterized by waist, hip and shoulder that have very little difference in width.
Wide torso, broad shoulders, full bust, full waist and upper back are features of an apple body type. Also, apple body typed women tend to gain weight at their waistline and have thinner arms, legs and hip.
For the inverted triangle body type, the shoulders are noticeably wider than the hip line. Most often, the shoulders are muscular and the body type is very common among athletes.
2. Know the style that fits your body type:
your wardrobe should contain items that flatter your body’s individuality. A-line dresses have the ability to give an illusion of slimmer thighs, and smaller waist. High waist trousers give the illusion of shorter torso. Patterns also help with creating an illusion. For example; horizontal stripes make width look wider and vertical stripes, longer. Using this dressing cheat would automatically make you confident and beautiful in your outfits and they won’t be dumped because you feel they do not suite you.
3. Identify the colours that suite your skin tone:
Traditionally, the bright colours are better on ladies with lighter skin tone than ladies with darker skin tone. Another way to find out your perfect fit if you are confused is to observe the colours you put on when people make those outstanding remarks on your dressing or better still, choose the colour you feel you love to see on your body.
4. Buy clothes according to your lifestyle:
Before you decide to add a cloth to your wardrobe, be sure of its functions in your everyday life. You cannot have a load of sporting wears when you do not participate in athletic or sporting activities. What’s the point?
5. Stock your wardrobe with clothes that match your personality:
Clothes are a medium for expressing oneself. Remember the popular saying, how you dress is how you will be addressed. Your style should portray what you want to be or be seen as. Like I said, a style can give you the rich aunty vibe or a cute school girl vibe.
6. Consider the versatility and coordination:
The first question should be, “ how many outfits can this make with other clothes”. This would help prevent a clustered wardrobe.
7. Affordability:
The forty thousand naira asoebi cloth for a friends friends sisters wedding should not be bought if you would wear it only once. Don’t try to break your bank over a design obsession or to impress people.
Be practical and logical: Your wardrobe should not be dominated by sweaters or heavy fabrics that generate heat if you stay in a temperate region. What is the use of a snow boot on Nigeria? climate, laundry, job are things to be considered when you are about to pick a beautiful dress, bag or shoe.
These would definitely lead you through your journey of achieving a chic look and having a functional wardrobe.
