Image is everything. - Daphne, Scooby-Doo 2
This is the first in a series of Image posts I’ll be doing. I have had over 85 hours of classroom instruction, as well as lots of practical experience, on image, and am a certified image consultant. We’re going to be looking at how to dress your best, no matter your weight.
How do others see you? And how do you see yourself? I used to be clueless. Seriously clueless. If you look at pictures of me as a teenager, I had no idea what I was doing fashion-wise. And I really never thought about the fact that some clothes might look better on me than others. Did you ever wonder why some women can wear a dress and look fabulous, and other women put on that same dress and look awful? There are reasons for that, and it has nothing to do with weight.
I think we’d all agree that, while image may not be everything, it certainly counts for a lot when you’re out there interacting with other people. If you feel like you look good, you will act like you look good. And the first step in doing that is to know how to look good.
So, step one is to figure out your body type. There are four basic body types. The easiest way to figure out yours is to ask yourself, “Where does the weight go ON first, and OFF last?” Do you gain around the middle? Do you have “saddlebag” thighs? Does it look like you’re wearing shoulder pads when you’re not? Or do you just get plump all over? (And this applies to men, too, Bird!)
People with an H frame tend to lose the weight around their middle last. If you look at an H-frame person from the front, there are no curves; they just go straight up and down. People with a V-frame have broad shoulders and smaller waists. They tend toward a flabbier upper body. The A-frame people are the opposite: they spread out below the waist. Finally, the hourglass frame is the person who just gains everywhere. They tend to retain their curves no matter their weight.
One body style is not better than another, and I want to stress that. No one body style is better than another! But because the human eye is attracted to symmetry, part of looking your best is to create the illusion of an hourglass even if you’re not one. And for those who are, you want to emphasize that.
So your assignment before my next post is to figure out your body type. Next time, we’ll discuss how to create that hourglass illusion.
I’m an A frame. I always gain in my thighs and my waist is always way smaller in proportion. I can’t ever wear “straight leg” jeans. Even if I get them big enough to fit my legs, they GAPE in the waist.
I am looking forward to learning how to improve my image…but WITHOUT ironing!!
Comment by Brandi — April 10, 2007 @ 9:06 am
I’m an hour glass…working on being a smaller hour glass however
Comment by Tami — April 10, 2007 @ 9:31 am
My thighs are the last part to lose - but I’m still an hourglass. Even at 212 pounds I was still curvy and girlie shaped.
Comment by blestwithsons — April 10, 2007 @ 9:32 am
I’m not sure if I’m an H or an A.
Blest, can you tell from the pics that I’ve sent you?
Comment by Cristina — April 10, 2007 @ 10:35 am
I’m sort of like a bulging potato.
Comment by Bird — April 10, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Bird, you crack me up! You always have the most interesting descriptions for stuff.
Comment by Tami — April 10, 2007 @ 11:09 am
Honey, don’t forget the toothpick legs
Seriously, we are complete opposites..he won’t ever gain an ounce on his legs…they are pure muscle!
Comment by Brandi — April 10, 2007 @ 11:14 am
My husband has toothpick legs too. It’s not fair! Although my legs are never really fat. My stomach is the last place to lose it. But I have Brandi’s problem where if the legs of jeans fit, the waist is too big - even though my waist is still pudgy. Weird huh?
Comment by Anita — April 10, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Thanks, Tami.
Yes, my toothpick legs are pretty lean. If only the rest of my body were that muscular.
Comment by Bird — April 10, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
I should clarify - hourglass body types can have “problem” areas too. Mine is my belly.
Comment by Jana — April 10, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Jana, I am excited about this series! When I was young, I worked hard to hide myself ’cause I attracted too much “positive” attention. When I put on weight, I had something new to hide. Now that I am more mature, I want to flatter my figure (hourglass) as I knock off the pounds - but stay modest. I have no clue how to accomplish that. Old dog + new tricks = yea!
Comment by missy — April 10, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
I’ll have to join the hourglass group. I gain all over, but mostly the hips and bust. My waist usually stays smaller than the rest of me. And although I’d love for it to be smaller, well, it’s not even close to my biggest problem areas.
Comment by Bethany — April 10, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Count me as hourglass with a side of saddle bags! I also have a terrible time with pants: fit the hips, swing in the waist like a hoola-hoop.
Comment by lady laura — April 10, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
I think I’m somewhere between an “A” and an “H” frame — I do have some of a defined waist… I don’t know. Thanks, Jana for doing this
Comment by Anne — April 10, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
I’m definitely an hourglass, curvy all over!
Comment by Bekki — April 11, 2007 @ 1:20 am
Well i thought i was pear shaped. Is that an A frame?
Comment by elly — April 11, 2007 @ 7:00 am
Elly - yes, that’s an A frame. I know some books go by fruits - apple, pear, um, I don’t know the others. I can remember the ones I use better!
Comment by Jana — April 11, 2007 @ 7:42 pm