Women! Know Your Body Shape!

If you don’t fancy having Trinny and Susannah hoist your breasts around like a pair of over-excited teenagers or being poked and prodded in your nearest Marks and Spencers until you finally fit into one of their very limited sizes (these aren’t your norks, they’re M&S norks), we’ve got the solution for you...

Presenting, the LoveHoney Lingerie Guide by Body Shape!

Bend Me, Shape Me, Anyway You Want Me

We ladies know that it’s not the size you are but the shape of your body that matters.

There are girls that are a size 8 who can fit into the slimmest of skinny jeans, but then there are girls that are a size 8 that have curves to rival that of J-Lo. It’s all about working out your proportions and what suits you best.

The first step to discovering your body shape and what lingerie will look best on you is to do what most women dread - standing in front of the mirror, naked and analysing yourself.

With your shoulders back, your back straight and your body facing forwards, look at your body in the mirror and take a mental note of the shape you see. Is your bust bigger than your hips? How much of a difference is there between your waist and hips? Which parts are most prominent?

If you're having trouble, get an eyeliner pencil (this will come off with a little make-up remover or baby oil) and draw a rough outline of your body on the mirror, then step back and take a look.

You should fall into one of the five main body shapes explained below and from there you can see which style of underwear we recommend for your shape.
 

Dress Up Time!
 

The Hourglass

Features: Big bust, tapered waist, bootylicious bottom.
Percentage: Bust 40%, Waist 20%, Bottom 40%
Famous Hourglass Ladies: Marilyn Monroe, Kelly Brook and Scarlett Johansson.

The hourglass is a classic body shape that is envied by many. The ratio from bust to waist is very significant but the ratio from bust to hips tends to be 1:1.

Hourglass ladies will want to boost their lingerie drawer with a few corsets, basques and bustiers that will emphasise those shapely curves even further.

One of the most popular corsets for girls with an hourglass figure is the Sweet Streak Royal Brocade Lace-Up Corset Set. Not only does this piece of lingerie boost the bust and slim the stomach, but it creates a smooth silhouette too!
 

The Skittle

Features: Average bust, average waist, curvy bottom.
Percentage: Bust 30%, Waist 30%, Bottom 40%
Famous Hourglass Ladies: Shakira, J-Lo and Beyonce.

If you have a 'skittle' body shape, then your bottom is one of the most coveted in all the land! Although you may struggle to find jeans that fit, lingerie is an area of fashion where you will excel.

The skittle body shape works well with baby dolls and chemises as they flatter the upper body by creating cleavage but highlight your gorgeous rounded bum by cheekily skimming over it with sensual material.

LoveHoney recommends the Music Legs Lace Chemise with Double Back Straps for skittle shaped girls because the soft material will stretch over your bottom in the most devastatingly sexy way possible.
 

The Lollipop

Features: Big and busty, slim waist, average bottom.
Percentage: Bust 40%, Waist 30%, Bottom 30%
Famous Lollipop Ladies: Angelina Jolie, Jessica Simpson, Rosario Dawson.

The one thing that people with the lollipop body shape find most difficult about lingerie shopping is getting the top and bottom half to fit perfectly. Often the bust of the lingerie in question will fit perfectly but the matching thong or G-string is way too big, or vice versa.

The best solution to this dilemma is to invest in a bra set. Unlike camisoles or chemises which are sized in simplified ‘small, medium or large’ ranges, bra sets stagger their sizing so the knickers match the cup and bust size.

The beautiful Rene Rofe Sheer Lace Bra and G-String Set is a great set that will boost the bust and make lollipop women feel good about their bottoms too.
 

The Column

Features: Average bust, average waist, average bottom.
Percentage: Bust 35%, Waist 30%, Bottom 35%
Famous Column Ladies: Cameron Diaz, Sienna Miller, Kate Hudson.

Column ladies often feel boyish or overly athletic in their looks but the number of people who strive for this exact body shape just goes to show how desirable it really is.

When it comes to lingerie, women with a column body shape will want to go for something that breaks up the sections of the body and emphasises individual parts, like a camisole set.

Teaming the Lola Luna Zambie Floral Camisole with the matching Lola Lunza Zambie G-string will make column shaped ladies feel super sleek and sexy, with the stretchy sheer mesh boosting the bust and highlighting your pert bottom perfectly!
 

The Apple

Features: Average bust, full waist, curvy bottom.
Percentage: Bust 25%, Waist 45%, Bottom 30%
Famous Apple Ladies: Drew Barrymore, Emma Bunton, Catherine Zeta Jones.

Many women with the apple body shape feel insecure about their mid-section and tend to cover it up with loose clothing, but the right piece of lingerie will make you feel feminine, beautiful and sexy.

A lingerie dress is not only a great way to improve your bedroom confidence but it will enhance your bust, boost your bottom and skim sexily over your stomach.

A great ‘evening wear to bedroom wear’ lingerie dress is the Forplay Keyhole Dress. The soft materials are very tactile and the gentle ruching will draw attention away from your mid-section and divert it to your other key features.
 

Strike a Pose, Vogue!
 

One of the biggest and most important parts of wearing lingerie is having the confidence to pull it off. If you’re worried about the way you look or scared of showing your new outfit off, it will come across in your body language.

Here are LoveHoney’s top tips for cheating your way to supermodel confidence:
 

- Keep your shoulders back at all times. Slumping forwards or rolling your shoulders inwards creates a hunched over look that doesn’t display your assets in the best possible way. If you feel yourself doing it, pull back and straighten your back.

- If you don’t feel like ‘you’ in lingerie, it is entirely acceptable to try a little role-play! If the ruffles on those French knickers make you feel like a Parisian maid, then bring that raunchy sex appeal out in your actions. If the corset you’re wearing makes you feel majestic and royal, play the strong and silent Queen Victoria for an evening, with your partner as your servant.

- Go all-out and accessorise your outfit. Wearing stockings, shoes, make-up, jewellery and even nipple pasties, will make you feel a lot less naked which is a good thing if you’re feeling insecure.

- If you’re worried about your legs, then stilettos are your friends! High heels help to lengthen your legs and making the muscles taut which almost instantly gets rid of cellulite.