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Completely Bare's Cindy Barshop's Tips to Dress for Your Body Type

4/19/2011 11:16:00 AM by Colleen Moody

cindy barshop

Now that you've transitioned your beauty routine into spring, our celebrity guest blogger and Real Housewives of New York star Cindy Barshop wants you to embrace the season of sundresses and tank tops. Read below as she steers you towards some super helpful tips when deciding on an outfit, no matter what your body type may be.

Your Shape: Busty

Before getting into what clothes will best fit your shape, you must get a proper bra fitting. It's essential. My mom was a fit model for bras in the '50s, so before I even had any boobs I was told how important a good fitting bra was. At the time, she could have been explaining Einstein's Theory of Relativity. I was so not interested, but in hindsight it's one of the most valuable fashion lessons I've learned. Bra fittings are readily available in many places that specialize in lingerie. Stop in to a boutique spot or any of your local Victoria's Secret spots and their specialist will privately fit you to know which styles, shapes, and straps work best for your body. They're usually free, so you'll have no excuse for a lousy fitting bra.

What to Avoid: Babydoll dresses and tops — you may as well be wearing a shapeless sack, nothing will make you look heavier! Avoid anything that resembles this shape — floaty trapeze tops, boxy cropped T-shirts, and opt for more structured pieces. To make the most out of your curves you want clean lines that accentuate the waist. Waist cinching belts are your best friend, but nothing will help more than confidence. Stand tall and enjoy what you've been blessed with. Half the population either has surgery or a drawer filled with padded bras to get what you have naturally.

Your Shape: Apple

After I had my babies I went from a boyish figure to more of an apple figure. While watching my stylist Teresa trying to hide the left over baby bulge of my twins, I realized that shapewear will gives you a great base to dress. I started with Spanx, and then my friend Jill Zarin from Real Housewives of New York blessed us with Skweez Couture. Each piece hugs my body and is trimmed with lace, leaving me feeling far from an old lady mom stuffed like a sausage.

To give our apple shape definition, look for items with an empire waist. The area slightly below the bust line will always be the smallest area, which is perfect to accentuate. Rock a boot cut pant for balance and look for flowy, flouncy silhouettes in a dress. This will help fabric from hugging the wrong places, while creating the illusion of a more svelte figure.

Your Shape: Boyish/Athletic

The great news is that with this figure you can wear almost any new style that has hit the runways in the last 20 years. To give the illusion of curves or volume, a large print can attract (or distract) the eye to a particular area, while feminine ruffles are a great way to add the illusion of curves in the bust area. Hips can be accentuated with low-slung pants, and the bust with strategic cuts like the infamous sweetheart neckline. Finish any outfit with a structured, cinched at the waist blazer.

Your Shape: Pear

It's safe to assume many of you don't have your "assets" insured like famed pear-shaped beauty Jennifer Lopez, but even a million-dollar body can miss the mark. The first rule is balance. Bright colored or printed V-neck and fitted tanks can be worn on top to draw the eye up. A blazer or cardigan in a boyfriend cut that falls longer on the hip can be amazingly flattering, especially when cinched with a belt, but always try it on first. You don't want to be swimming in it! Look for styles that are slightly tailored at the waist and keep in mind those that are cut a bit broader in the shoulders can do wonders to balance your figure. And don't forget to accentuate your legs with a good pair of heels or a skirt that hits just above the knee.

Cindy Barshop is the expert on all things beauty. Since opening her national chain of spas, Completely Bare, she has been a media darling for all things lifestyle and especially hair removal. She's the go-to gal for info on how to stay gorgeous, a mom to two darling daughters, and the newest housewife on The Real Housewives of New York. Follow her on twitter @CindyBarshop.

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Reel Beauty

Welcome to our blog! Get the latest beauty news, celebrity and street trends, product info, and how-to advice. Plus, come back daily for beauty polls and quizzes. We'll also share our latest how-to videos with the newest products we get in.

Colleen Moody

Colleen Moody is a New York City writer.

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