To look better in your clothes, you must honor your proportions, and the secret is to establish a graceful bust-to-waist and shoulder-to-hip balance, as with the Marc Jacobs halter jersey dress featured here.
To establish your personal proportions, identify whether you have one or a combination of the following: ample chest, slighter chest, fuller booty or bountiful belly. Overall, this doesn't mean compromising on what you like, but rather, showing devoted consideration for your shape in the most flattering way possible.
For a More Ample Chest
Ideally, you'll want your breasts to be held up in a secure, comfortable and shapely manner, so we recommend you don't buy a brassiere right off the rack but get fitted for a good and, most importantly, comfortable one by a professional who knows the distinct characteristics of construction, cup shape and size.
Stylists Clinton Kelly and Stacy London, authors of Dress Your Best, recommend choosing tops with higher-placed armholes "to create a distinction between the arms and chest." Lower-placed arm holes can give the appearance that you're wider at the bust than you actually are.
Try a blouse with pretty side venting, which will give a slight flair at the lower waist, balancing the more ample dimensions of your bust area.
Look for jackets with pockets or embellishments at the hips to pull attention away from your chest while creating a flattering balance to your proportions.
Wear a classic black top with a lighter-colored bottom piece, such as beige or cream. This'll create a wonderful contrast, as the black gives the impression of diminishing, while the lighter bottom will stand out more, balancing your more ample bustline.
