Problem zone 1 - The pear shape or wide hips

Fortunately, this summer we see a spate of baby doll dresses or trapeze cut dresses that cinch you at the bust and then fall freely to the knee. These are available in a wide variety of fabrics like cottons, voile, linens that are cool and relatively maintenance friendly. Grow your hair to below your shoulder line at least and have it cut in layers for more feathering around your face and neck.

This draws eyes upwards to your face. Accentuate your bust line with smocked bustier and pretty lace trimmings on the neckline or at the throat. Choose small prints and pinstripes in bright happy colours to draw attention to your bosom and camouflage the hips. These can be teamed with tights, jeans or even worn on their own if you have great legs. Wear interesting shoes, invest in expensive heels and keep feet in great shape with pedicures and bright nail paint. The dresses can also double as kurtas and can be worn with a churidaar and dupatta for an Indian look. Avoid lowrise jeans and flared skirts as these will add girth to your middle.

Problem zone 2: Short legs

Wear jeans and trousers that are really narrow at the ankles and start higher on the waist. Avoid lowrise jeans as they lessen the length of your legs. Team these with shorter blouses and cropped jackets that end just at your hip bone and wear slim belts to further accentuate the illusion of length. Vertical stripes and delicate prints too make for an elongated feel and avoid bold colours or large prints at all costs.

Wear V-necks or plunging necklines over spaghetti tops or on their own to add length. Of course the logical thing is to wear high heels to increase the height but make sure the toes are narrow and the heels stilettos. The wedge or platform heel only makes for stumpier look. If it is skirts you like wear them knee length and make sure to wear stockings a shade darker than your skin tone to slim your calves. Boots is another style of shoes that inevitably add several inches to your legs and are great in winters. Tieups that go all the way to your mid calf too add length to your legs.

Problem zone 3: Big bust

In this day of tube tops and tiny spaghetti blouses being big busted can be quite a problem. Though many women are going for breast enhancement there are ways to control a big bust while still looking petite. Of course scarves and stoles are great to cover up and add colour to any ensemble, the halter neck is a great way to wear something skimpy yet cover your assets. Get the right brassiere and half your problems are taken care of. Go for great support and halter straps to wear with dresses.

The halter very smartly draws attention away from the bust to neck and face as the straps converge at the nape of your neck. Pick vertical stripes or even animal print to further enhance the effect. Another great idea is to wear trousers and skirts that flare slightly at the ankle and therefore balance the bust. Team blouses and tops in solids and darker colours with busy printed skirts and pants to create interesting contrasts and feel feminine The V-neck is the way to go as it allows one to look glamourous and also covers the subject quite effectively. Belts and waist chains in interesting colours and patterns too will draw attention away from the bust as will great make-up and hair. Do up your eyes and use bright lips stick to keep the attention focussed on your face.

Problem zone 4: less height

Average Indian women’s height is 5’ 2 and that becomes quite a hindrance in wearing western fashion. The best bet is to highlight your best feature and therefore get away with lesser height. We have the prettiest faces so wear interesting eye colour and lip colours. Also the ever-friendly khol can transform eyes to magical mirrors. Do your hair up in updo. That is the sixties beehives only more controlled. Back combing too adds inches to your height.

Top knots and chignons at the highest point of the head are great in the summers any way to keep you cool. Wear heels and narrow pants with slim fitted tops. Also a big no-no to flared skirts and flared pants at all costs. Loose and ill fitting clothes make you look thicker and shorter. Get all your clothes made to order and make sure they fit perfectly. Churidaars with Kurtas that end above the knee too add height. Avoid salwars and patialas as they make you look wider. Concentrate on better accessories and smaller prints. Avoid darker colours and solids. Pick designs and prints with a vertical alignment and lighter shade palette for a more stretched effect. Avoid lycra and other clingy fabrics as they constrict the illusion of height.

Problem zone 5: thick waist

God knows we put on a tyre around the waist as soon as we have a baby. But although most new moms hide behind comfy salwar kameez and saris, moms have the right to look hot as well. A thick waist need not hold you back and lowrise pants and skirts are the answer to this. Get these in bright and bold colours and prints and have really pretty necklines on whatever you wear. Wear pretty trinkets around your neck and in ears too draw attention to your face and neck also wide and interesting belts low on your hips to camouflage the waist. Blouses and dresses should hug the bust and drop to hips or ankles. Wear long chains or beaded accessories that touch your belt as they will distract attention from what is behind them. Floor length dresses or gowns are making a slow come back to the ramps as well as the parties world over, these long dresses or maxis are great to cover the waists and draw attention to the whole dress and its cut. Bell sleeves too are remarkably efficient in camouflaging the waist as they fall right next to the sides and distract attention. Pretty bangles in metallics and even wooden bangles in bright colours are great to wear on wrists to add style.

Invest time, patience and money in your clothes and grooming. Take a good long look in the mirror and feel free to ask your sisters and best friends for advice on what suits you best. Whenever you get a lot of compliments make a note of what you were wearing at the time and wear that style more often. Keep in touch with the current trends. Any trend with the right altering can be made to suit you and your body type. Like if you are dying to wear a mini denim skirt but have reservations, just team it with a pair of cotton tights underneath. Above all love yourself and enjoy what you wear.

The writer has been a stylist and a fashion journalist for over 7 years now. Her forte lies in styling filmstars and models to look picture-perfect for cover shoots. She also has styled for advertising campaigns like Pepsi, Tropicana, Sunsilk, Dove, Bajaj Hair Oil, Garden, and many more.

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