Fashion: How to choose fashion that flatters

I'm not sure what body shape I am. How can I tell if I'm an apple or a pear?

You're said to be pear-shaped if your bottom, hips and/or thighs are bigger than your upper body - giving you a similar shape to that of a pear.

You're an apple if you're rounder in your mid-section - if your upper body is bigger than your bottom, hips and thighs. Apple-shaped women often have great legs.

At Gorgeous Me, we have a simple guide:

Hourglass: The balanced body shape. Your shoulders and hips are a similar measurement, and you have a smaller waist.

Bottom half bigger than your top half:

Pears: Your hips are wider than your shoulders. Flatter your figure by dressing in a way that balances the appearance of your upper and lower body.

Top half bigger than your bottom half:

Apples: You also need to choose clothes that visually balance your body.

Straight: Your shoulders, waist and hips are all roughly the same measurement, and your waist isn't well defined. Your build may be slim-straight or more solid-straight. If this is your body type, you'll look your best if you dress to create the illusion of a waist.

Lisa Lyford is founder of Gorgeous Me, a free personal styling and makeover advice guide - www.gorgeousme.co.nz. Send your questions for Lisa to regionalfeatures@apn.co.nz