Exploring Hourglass Body Shape with Priyanka Chopra

Got an Hourglass Body Shape? Well, you're in luck, because it is considered the most ideal body shape! Out of the 4 silhouettes, the hourglass has the best proportions - with upper and lower half approximately in line with each other, along with a defined waist (Other 3 silhouettes being Column, Apple & Pear).

Compared to the Pear or Apple shape, you've got the curves on all the right places! Some of the visible characteristics of your body shape are:

- Your full hip-line and full bust-line are of almost the same width
- Your waist is well defined, apx 10 inches lesser than your hip/bust measurements
- When you gain weight, the fat gets evenly distributed throughout your curves

For your shape to be an hourglass, its ***very important*** that your waistline is 8" - 12" lesser than your hip/bust line. Only then will your waist get that definition..

The reason why your body shape is considered ideal is because of its proportions and defined waist. It sounds rather shapist of me to say but it's true! This is the shape fashion stylist strive to create on their models. Having the curves on the right places indicates femininity and is appealing (sells better) to the eye.

Talking of appealing to the eye, who can be considered a better eye-candy than Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra... Her deadly curves, sun-kissed skin tone and acting marvels make her one of the most versatile female actors Bollywood's got today. And remember her in Dostana..?? OMG..!! No words to describe.. Totally jaw-dropping... Take a look below...

Style Tip - The best tip for an Hourglass is to accentuate the best part of the body, i.e.the waist! Don't be afraid to highlight your curves..

Let's see how to dress your Hourglass shape, taking cues from the gorgeous Priyanka Chopra...

1. Keep your Waist as the Focal Point

Wearing outfits that snuggle around the thinnest part of your waist can really bring out your perfect proportions. Definition at the waist will leave volume on the shoulders and hips, giving the hourglass appeal. A-line dresses, pencil skirts, mid-waist pants, etc which are not very biased on the top or bottom are good choices for you.

2. Wrap it around 

Wrap tops, shirts, wrap dresses create a smooth and sexy silhouette, adding a flirty touch to your waist without making your midriff look boxy. Unless you’re short-heighted (where wrap outfits tend to hit the wrong areas of the torso), wrap outfits will compliment your figure just like hairbands do to fringe haircuts!

3. Flare it Down

You can’t go wrong with wide leg trousers. Bootcuts, flared denims, hipsters, etc seem as if they’ve been made for you! Nonetheless, if you have slender thighs, you can try on slimming bottoms. But never ever wear baggy trousers, with side flap pockets. This will only add bulk and will do no good...

4. Dresses = BFFs

Your curves were made for dresses and vice versa.. I’d like to repeat - Go for wrap dresses, back-ties & halter necks that will work for your waist. ‘Fit & flare’ are the most classic and safest options you can choose for any occasion, just like our beloved Piggy Chops! 

Avoid dresses with empire lines. Instead go for princess line which will give your body good curves..

5. My favorites – The Necklines

Being an hourglass, you carry major responsibility of doing justice to your neck and upper torso. Choosing random necklines will make you appear just like another figure trying to find its identity... Your figure is royal by birth and thus you need to choose elegant necklines like the Sweetheart Neckline, the Scoop Neck, Deep Vs, the Crossover Neck, the Grecian Neck (one shoulder) and the Off-Shoulders..

Avoid Squares, Boatnecks, Turtlenecks, Jewel necks, etc as they’re meant for other shapes that want to volumnize/de-volumnize their upper half.

6. The Magic Belt

When we talk of waist, how can we not mention Belts?!  Accentuating waist and adding belts go hand in hand. While most accessories will look great on your figure, the belts has a special place because it’s the matter of your waist.. I can just imagine a blingy belt and a matching clutch bag with a sexy LBD.

Remember not to wear the belts on your hips. They will divert the attention from your thin waist to your huge hips, as also making your figure appear out of shape..

7. Downplay your Curves

Having shared all the tips to flaunt your figure, I’ve noticed that some hourglasses do not like their curves (tiny waist and bigger busts and hips). They prefer to look thin and tall.. That's perfectly okay unless and until you don’t make a complete mess of your shape!

Just take care of the dont’s mentioned above. There will be hundreds of do’s for your figure.. So need not worry and play the game. After all, you’re among the 0.7% (only) women in the world who own this fabulous shape!

I’m eagerly waiting to hear how have you stylized your hourglass shape... Do write to me asap...

Exploring Pear Body Shape with Sonam Kapoor

Does your body appear triangular? Are you bottom heavy? Do you have petite shoulders and a medium bust, but appear to be broad at the hips?

If yes, you probably have a 'Pear' body shape.

Pear-shaped ladies are narrower on top and wider on the hips. You have an elegant neck that you can boast about! You tend to gain weight at your bottoms and thighs first, followed by your tummy and upper body..

Due to Pear body shape, your waist-to-hip ratio is less than 0.8 and your waist-to-bust ratio is more than 0.8. You are curvy in your lower body. The key to dressing your body is to enhance and add volume to your upper body (or create an illusion of the same), emphasizing your waist and de-volumising your lower body. This will create a perfect balance and make your body look proportionate.

Let's take some cues on dressing your Pear shaped body from Sonam Kapoor, the new born fashion icon of Bollywood..!!

Sonam Kapoor, the daughter of renowned Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, did her first movie Saawariya opposite Ranbir Kapoor in 2007. Today she is endorsing a lot of products and brands including L'Oreal, and she sizzled the Cannes Red Carpet in stunning Jean Paul Gaultier Couture gown in white.

Read on to explore her do's and don'ts when it comes to dressing her Pear Shape...

Pear Shape Style Tip - Balance out your curvy bottom half with bold bright tops or tops with large collars, lapels or sleeves. Enhance and add volume (or illusion of vloume) to your upper body while emphasizing your waise and de-emphasizin your lower body to create an hourglass appearance.

1. All in the Sleeve

To balance out your shoulders with your broad bottoms, experiment with sleeves.. Ruffles, puffs, extended shoulders, boat neck tops, off-shouldered tops, shoulder pads anything that can add volume to sleeves.. You will, many a times, see Sonam playing around with her sleeves.. She simply loves puffs! Also, broad necks with extended shoulders make her look very classy...

2. Layer on Layer

Layers on your top half will again help you add volume. Try adding shrugs, open jackets & crop tops ending near waist line. Remember not to add to much volume by wearing baggy tops or loose fitted outfits. the idea is to accentuate your waise and just add volume to top parts like shoulders and bust. When in her casual look, Sonam never leaves her tops alone. Open jackets are her favourites esp in nude colors!

3. Parters in Crime

Although skinny jeans and cigarette pants are in vogue, they're a complete no-no for you unless you are not wearing them skin tight and are ending around the ankle. The safe bets are mid-rise trousers and jeans in darker colors. Stick to mid-rise as high-waist pants or jodhpurs will only broaden your bottom half, which your are trying to nullify on the top. Flat-fronted trousers will give a sleek look and slightly flared or straight fit bottoms will also compliement with your heavy buts.

Look at the way Sonam has sported narrow pants.. Not very tight and just ending near her ankles.. With top having small prints & extended ruffled sleeves.. Perfect!

4. Neck in Limelight

When you want someone's attention to sway from one thing, you make something else interesting, isn't it? Here the interesting thing is your Neck!

The best a Pear can do to sway attention from the hips is to make all eyes go on the neck. Chinese collars, boat necks, wide necklines, cowl necks, peter-pan collars and many more..

Not forgetting to mention, if you are planning on a gown, saree or anything ethnic, let all the bling and embellishments be around the neck and bust area and keep the remaining half free and flowing.. You'll not believe the magic this will create!! 

5. The Feminine Touch

The world does not end with pants my dear ladies.. Although Pears have fairly heavy bottoms and thighs they can still carry on skirts and dresses very gracefully. The catch is to flaunt your feminine curves and still balance your body.

Just the way Sonam does.. She teams up skirts with either a shrug or fancy sleeved tops & plays around with necklines in her dresses.. Like the party skirt in glitter and yellow Victoria Beckham dress.

6. Accessories..

If you are a jewellery person, then you must experiment with chunky neck-pieces and bling all around your neck.. Again having the same theory, these chunky pieces will hold on the onlooker's attention to neck region (away from hips) and will also beautify the lovely necks you gorgeous ladies have been gifted with!

If you're not a chunky jewellery person, try wearing minimal yet exquisite pieces. Contrast colors will also work in your favour. Just be comfortable in carrying them and rock the show!



Isn't Sonam Kapoor charming and attractive.. A 'girl next door' - cum - 'hottness on the platter'? I love her styling and I bet you all love it too!!

What has been your tried and tested formula to make your Pear-shaped body appear Oh La La? Do share.. I'll be waiting...

Exploring Column Body Shape with Anushka Sharma

Are your body measurements about the same for your shoulders and hips with very little curve at waist and long legs?

If yes, you probably have a 'rectangle' or a 'column' body shape.

Column ladies have fairly straight up and down structure. Many women would kill for this shape, since there is no area you would want to minimise. You can get away with many clothes which other women can't wear.

Due to column body shape, your waist-to-hip ratio varies little. You do have curves, but sometimes they seem to disapper due to inappropriate dressing.

Let's take some cues on dressing your column shape from our very own Bollywood newbie - Anushka Sharma.

Ms. Shruti Kakkar from Band Baaja Baarat aka Anushka Sharma has rocked the industry with her performance in the movie. The crude but cute Delhi girl is shown to be very enthu about setting up her own business, making jugaads and finally falling for Bitto Sharma aka Ranveer Singh. She's got it in her DNA and her looks say so too... Let's see how this model-turned-actor manages to get away with her Column Body with tonnes of compliments...

Column Shape Style Tip - Columns are fairly straight up and down; there’s no main area you want to minimise. However you may crave more curves – an illusion that can be easily created with the right clothing..

1. Illusion of Curves

Your body lack curves to a very great extent. You do not have extra fat, but some fat is required to give your body a shape or a definition it needs. This can be done by creating an illusion of curves on your body. Volumnize your upper and lower halves and clinch at the middle. An hourglass shape can thus be easily created on your body. Look at Anushka's appearance in the picture below. I bet you'll not be able to make out that she has a Column body...!!

2. Adding Volumn above the Waist

Since your're a column, we can assume to some extent that you may have a small bust too. Start with choosing the right bra that can add a bit of volume. Push-ups or corsets will create beautiful curves.

Next, add detailing to the topwear with ruffles, pleates, bows, embellishments, etc. Alternatively, you can also layer your topwear by using shrugs and crop tops (Only if you are not very tall. Else it'll elongate your torso). Use horizontal stripes and if you're planning to wear a jacket, keep it till the hip-line with a belt clinching at the waist..

Avoid baggy tops while adding volume, since they may end up giving you no shape or definition at the waist..

3. Rise High with High Necks

High necks create an illusion of more volumn on the top. Experiment with Turtle Necks, Bateau (Boat) Necks, Polo Necks, Jewel Necks, etc. Also, since you have small busts, you can very well carry Strapless, Racer Back Vests, Spaghetti Straps and Halter Necks..

Avoid wearing wide necks as they may make you look all the more skinny. If you like an open neck top too much to resist, then team it up with bib-necklaces or wear a camisole underneath. Nevertheless, if your busts are medium sized, you can play around with deeper / wider necklines, just like Anushka does..

4. Adding Volume below the Waist

Columns are very leggy.. They're tall and have great legs! Show them off in outfits thats compliment your length below the waist. Short skirts, A-line skirts, pin-tucks and pleated skirts will give your the volume you need down there. Jumpsuits will also look very playful and peppy.. Talking of pants, skinny jeans were made for you it seems!! Linen trouser will look very elegant on you.

Beware of flared pants and cargos. They will unbalance your body and/or make you look more boyish. Avoid low-rise trousers too, as they will elongate your upper torso. Maxis and high-waist pants may be in trend, but if your tall, it's better to avoid them..

5. Wanna look Girly? Dresses are on your way...

Most dresses will look great on your straight frame. Aim to create more curves by playing around with sleeves, ruffles, frills and necklines. Bias cut dresses and Shift dresses will work wonders, as also Halter necks, Strapless and Off-Shoulder dresses.

Avoid sheath, body hugging and straight dresses as they may highlight your lack of curves. Dropped waists and empire lines will broaden your upper or lower torse (respectively) unless you play around with large and small prints or color-blocking.

6. Belts @ Rescue!

When we talk of defining waist, belts work like darts hitting the centre of the board.. Right on target! Broad belts are totally in vogue. They will divide your vertically large torso without making it too obvious. Contrasting belts will attract attention to your 'illusion-created' waist and give a curvy appeal to the straight figure.

Are you a fan of Anushka Sharma? Did you get inspired by her way of layering her Column Body?? Well, I totally am!!

Do share your tried and tested ways of dressing your Column Body.. I'll be waiting... :)