Glam Slam: Dress Yourself Slim

Fab or a flub?

The right clothes for your body can make all the difference no matter what your shape.

InStyle’s February issue looks to the stars and their go-to designers to find out how they best flatter their body type.

CURVY: KATY PERRY
GO-TO DESIGNER: Roland Mouret

Perry, and other women who celebrate their assets, wear Mouret. Mouret tells InStyle:

Mind the middle: Defining your waist is essential.

Consider a modest neckline: A scoop or boatneck only hints at what’s underneath and balances a top-heavy frame.

PLUS: OCTAVIA SPENCER
GO-TO DESIGNER: Tadashi Shoji

The Help actress won the Oscar on her own, but Shoji landed Spencer on Best Dressed lists. Shoji tells InStyle:

Gimme a V: The sharp cut elongates your neckline and minimizes your torso by drawing the eye in and down.

Slip into nude heels: Flesh-tone pumps give your legs that go on forever. Avoid details like ankle straps that interrupt the silhouette.

PETITE: EVA LONGORIA
GO-TO DESIGNER: Monique Lhuillier

Five-foot-two Longoria turns to Lhuillier- 5’2” as well- to appear towering, not tiny. Lhullier tells InStyle:

Hit the ground: Slim, floor-sweeping silhouettes help elongate the body. (Bonus: You can be wearing gigantic platforms and no one will know.)

Choose a higher neckline: This style, along with full-length sleeves, creates a stretched –out look. Strapless dresses are not a petite woman’s friend.

TALL: NICOLE KIDMAN
GO-TO DESIGNER: L’Wren Scott

Scott, 6’3” knows firsthand how to help statuesque clients, such as Kidman (5’10”), stand out-in a good way. Scott tells InStyle:

Roll up your sleeves, literally: I love them three-quarter length. Because they’re meant to be abbreviated, they never look like regular ones that have ridden up. And invest in a set of bangles of cuffs; if a garment’s arms are too short, you can just call it a “bracelet” sleeve.

Emphasize your legs: Proportionately, you want your bottom half to appear longer than the top half (who looks good with a short torso?), so stick with high-waist pants and pencil skirts.

— Ryan Patterson