The Big Size Disguise

If I told you that the average woman in the UK is a size 14 would that shock you or would it make you smile with relief?

How about if I said that although she was a size 14 she could fit into sizes 8, 10, and 12?

The reason for this is that whilst most clothing manufacturers try and keep their size guides the same, some prefer to use 'vanity sizing' which is when they label larger clothes with smaller sizes. Manufacturers use vanity sizing in the hope of making their customers feel better about themselves and therefore want to purchase more items ...sneaky 'eh?!

I'm sure we've all been a victim of vanity sizing at some point, however I for one don't really mind, as not only do I get to say: "I'll take that in a 12 please," I also get to tell all my friends how the 'new diet' I'm on really does work (wink, wink).

But really does it matter what size I am selecting from the rack? Surely shape has something to do with it too?...

You can't escape your shape

Research indicates that women's figures are slowly becoming less shapely and more boyish. I'm not entirely certain that I agree...

Let's look at a few female 'body models' of our times;
In the 50's we had Marilyn, with a voluptuous hourglass figure 37-23-36. Next came Twiggy, who was the exact opposite, with vital stats of, 32-22-32. The 80's bought us Cindy Crawford, and the 90's Kate Moss 33-23-35.

The fact is that, over time, our bodies change: hips become bigger, waists become thicker and busts become smaller. All of this contributes to the ever-changing body shape phenomenon. So in my opinion YES women's bodies are changing, but body shape is as individual as our personalities - no two people are exactly the same.

Some female body shapes have become more athletic, creating an almost masculine body shape, whilst others are reverting back to the glamour of the 50's with hourglass and pear shaped figures.

As females we all know how difficult it can be to flatter our individual body shapes. Do we have the correct fitting jeans? Is our jumper detracting or attracting attention towards our bust? And the main concern of thousands of women everywhere: "Do these trousers make my bum look big?"

We've all got a rough idea of what type of body we have, and there is no good pretending as fundamentally, we cannot change our bone structure. The key to dressing for your body shape is to enhance your best features, and to detract away from those not so good areas. You know what they are!

Below we case study one classic female body shape - the pear - and the relentless struggle to locate the simplest of clothing items - a pair of trousers. And why not? - after all a whopping 70% of UK women are 'pears', and with trousers overtaking the traditional skirt as first choice in the workplace, surely I am talking to the masses here.

Finding the pear-fect fit

If you have a pear shaped figure don't be alarmed. Although the styles of the clothing on the UK high street would suggest otherwise, you are actually in the majority, and all you have to really worry about is balancing the top half with the lower half of your body. Easier said than done given the choice on the high street? Let me enlighten you...

It sounds simple enough, but finding a pair of trousers that fits both the hips and waist can seem more like 'Mission Impossible' than a trip to the local shopping centre. There are clothing manufacturers out there that DO cater for pear shaped figures, however these manufacturers won't label their products to indicate this, opting for phrases such as 'Easy fit' and 'Comfort fit' to describe their ranges. However, I am pleased to report that there are places where you can shop to find that pear-fect fit...and you don't have to be Emma Bunton or Kate Winslet (both beautiful British pears) to track them down...

Let's start with the issue of jeans... for a 'pear' the most flattering style is boot cut, or wide legged, which will ultimately promote a balanced look.

I have found that Levi's do a fantastic... dare I say it.. 'Comfort Fit-Boot cut', which is ideal for pear shaped gals. And if you don't fancy paying Levi Store prices, check out the selection of Levi's available from www.madhouse.co.uk.

Alternatively if you want to draw the attention away from your backside, hipsters are ideal as they instantly make your bottom look smaller and accentuate your waistline. Before you think that hipsters are only for the ultra slim or under 20's be advised that designers have caught on to the flattering fit of hipsters for 'pears', and you can now buy suits that come with hipster trousers as standard, jogging bottoms and even skirts that fit just that little bit lower.

Dorothy Perkins offers a wide range of up to date styles that are great for both Tall and Petite pears; it's worth seeing what they've got to offer at www.dorothyperkins.co.uk

For a classy yet, up-to-the-minute looks, check out www.principles.co.uk. But don't just take my word for it - Principles themselves state, "We are about grown up fashion, for grown up women. All our collections are specifically designed to flatter by being well cut and making the best use of the best fabrics." What more could you want?

If you're still young at heart, and Principles is a bit too grown up for you, look no further than Monsoon. Their website at www.monsoon.co.uk, and nationwide stores aim to bring together clothes from different ethnic origins ranging from Malta, India and the Far East. They combine modern design with traditional materials that result in some really chic clothing. Think bright, floaty colours with class! What is great about Monsoon is their jeans are ideal for pear shaped figures and they come in three different lengths, short, regular and long... so spoilt for choice!

Zara is store that is great no matter what your age or size. Originating from Spain, Zara has adopted the notion that no matter what your generation, they have the ability to cater for everyone's individuality. Any store with consideration for individuality sounds good to me. In my experience I've found that the staff in Zara are always more than willing to give you a hand if you can't find exactly what you're looking for. If you don't ask you don't get.

The key to flattering your pear shaped figure is to draw attention from your hips and thighs. Try wearing darker colours on your lower half. Obvious as it may sound, black is always slimming, and can detract attention away from those problem areas.

To compensate for this lack of colour, go all out with bright tops that sit on your relatively small waist... go for clear, rich colours like Pinks, Blues, Greens and Purples as you'll find that this too will focus attention away from your hips.

For great T-Shirts style tops that come in huge range of sizes and colours, try H&M. Their website at www.hm.com showcases a great range of tops that are guaranteed to complete that look with a flattering pair of black hipsters.

If you can't beat 'em...

Unfortunately, clothing is mainly sold by size (whether this be 'real sizing' or 'vanity sizing'!). Granted we may get a bit of help with evasive indicators such as 'Comfort fit', but when it comes to finding clothing to flatter our individual body shape we have to go through a process of trial and error.

Not everyone falls into the category of 'pear shaped' - a quarter of UK women are 'apples', 'aubergines' or even 'celery sticks' (ok.. I added the celery stick part)... Everybody is different and your body shape and the way you dress is one of the most obvious ways to reflect this; so albeit frustrating, once you do find a style, supplier or manufacturer that does cater for YOU then spread the news.

YES we can improve our body shape, by a sensible regime of dieting and exercising but fundamentally it will always remain the same.

So take my advice, be happy with your body, dress to flatter your shape and most importantly dress to make YOU feel good!

- Article by Carley Dale