A new year is the perfect opportunity for you to give your wardrobe a refresh. If you’re planning on trying out a new look or you want to feel more body-confident, we’ll show you the shapes, styles and colours that will be most flattering for you. 2022 style is all about feeling great in the clothes you’re wearing and that’s where we come in: Damart is renowned for helping women like you dress and feel their best.
Know your body shape
Women’s body shapes can be split into five categories, and once you know what body shape you are, you’ll be able to find what fashion suits your body.
Rectangle
If you have a rectangular body shape, your shoulders and waist are the same width and there is almost no difference between your waist and hips. With this type, you’ll want to create curves with your fashion choices.
To achieve a defined waist, choose high-waisted trousers and high-waisted skirts. We particularly love A-line flared skirts that will nip you in at the waist and then draw the eye out creating the illusion of an hourglass.
Choose tops with frills on the shoulders and throw on a belted coat that adds warmth and style.
You’ll want to avoid anything that hides your shape, like very loose clothing. Low-rise jeans aren’t advisable either because they sit below the waist, missing the opportunity to create definition.
Oval
Oval body shapes tend to have rounded shoulders and fuller hips and waist. If you have an oval body shape, you’ll want to create structure by accentuating other body parts to create a more elongated and streamlined figure.
Choosing tops with a V-shaped neckline can help draw the eye down and immediately make you look longer. For a modern take, button up a cardigan with a camisole underneath and pair with wide-leg, high-waisted trousers. Our black fluffy knit with jewelled buttons cardigan would be great for this look and can be dressed up or down. Avoid wearing tight clothing or busy patterns and instead opt for tonal colour palettes.
Hourglass
If you have an hourglass figure, your shoulders and hips are similar sizes and you have a more defined waist. When dressing an hourglass figure, you’ll want to maintain your proportions by choosing clothing that cuts at the waist: belted jackets, like this gorgeous khaki jacket, and figure-hugging tube skirts are great at emphasising the curves.
The key to dressing an hourglass is embracing the curves instead of hiding them under baggy clothes and drop hem waists.
Triangle
Triangle body shapes have narrow shoulders and a wider hip and are sometimes called pear-shaped. For women with a triangular shape, broadening the shoulders will help to achieve a more proportionate silhouette.
Tops with patterns and ruffles can help add dimension, whilst straight-leg trousers and jeans slim the lower half. Our perfect fit pull-on jeans are ideal for triangle shapes and can be dressed down with a casual trainer or dressed up with a pair of ankle boots.
Keep the bottom half plain and avoid vivid colours and busy patterns that draw the eye down. Tight skirts and trousers should be avoided too, unless you’re wearing a top with statement shoulders.
Inverted triangle
Broader shoulders and a narrower waist are tell-tale signs of an inverted triangle. You’ll want to accentuate the bottom half of the body to create symmetry. Wide-leg trousers and pleated skirts worn with fitted tops or blouses look great on an inverted triangle.
If you’re looking to add colour to your wardrobe, why not try out these fabulous high-waisted, wide-leg trousers in dark green or pomegranate for a pop of sophisticated colour. Wear with neutral colours on top and avoid wearing tops with narrow straps or shoulder pads that emphasise shoulder width.
Pick your colours
Once you know what type of body shape you are, you can start picking the styles in colours that suit you. There are three predominant skin tones: warm, cool, and neutral.
Warm skin tones
If you have a warm skin tone, your veins will look green or greenish-blue. You may even have a visibly yellow undertone to your skin. Hair colours for warm skin tones tend to be deep brown to dark blonde. If you have a warm skin tone, yellow gold jewellery will suit your complexion.
People with warm skin tones can be brave with their colour choices and can wear bright pops of colour, like orange and yellow, as well as embrace natural earth tones, like browns, reds and rich shades of green.
Cool skin tones
If your veins appear blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone and silver or rose gold jewellery will complement your look.
Hair colours for cool skin tones range from blue-black to light blonde. Cool skin tones look effortlessly chic in charcoal and cool blue colours. In the summer months, you can introduce a softer colour palette with pastel blues, pinks, and greens, but remember to avoid strong colours like oranges and vibrant yellows that could make you look washed out.
Neutral skin tones
If you can’t determine whether you’re warm or cool, you probably have a neutral skin tone. People with neutral skin tend to have hair with natural warm highlights. Neutral skin tones look great with both yellow gold and silver and mixing and matching metals is a contemporary way to layer jewellery.
Neutral colour palettes that have a combination of black, white, navy and camel provide a great base for this skin tone. To add colour, we recommend wearing soft, warm neutrals, like dusty pinks and peach and jade green for a pop of colour.
Refresh your look with Damart
Shop our full collection at https://www.damart.co.uk/home and wear the clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident. Don’t forget to follow our in-house stylist Julie Dickson @jools66 on social media for her top picks.