Buffed your bod? Pick clothes that become you
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Whether you're already fit or working on it, try to wear the right style of clothes to look your best.
Cassandra Hawkins-Wilson, an image consultant in Pearl, knows all the secrets.
"I help people with their personal appearance from head to toe," she said. "A lot of people don't realize that how they look speaks louder than words, and that your body type dictates what type of clothing you should wear. Not everyone can wear a V-neck shirt."
Hawkins-Wilson worked as a retail salesperson five years while earning a degree in psychology and political science. Instead of going to law school, she became a special education teacher.
Seeking professional fulfillment, the stay-at-home mom of three decided to combine her background in fashion and psychology to create seminars that help women better understand the clothing they should and shouldn't wear.
Today, she conducts regular personal development seminars at the Pearl Library. One seminar focuses on evaluating body types to determine which clothes are right for certain shapes.
Hawkins-Wilson said your body shape doesn't change when you're getting fit and losing weight, but you may begin to notice areas you didn't before.
"If you begin to lose your tummy, you can start accentuate your waist," she said.
Women who lose weight also may experience a sagging bust, so it's important to get a bra that fits, Wilson said.
It's also important to find someone who can alter your clothing so you don't have to purchase a whole new wardrobe. And another tip for women trying to lose weight is make sure you have appropriate athletic shoes.
"Make sure you're purchasing shoes for the right activity," she said, "and they need to be replaced every six months to make sure they are fitting the arch of your foot. A lot of women buy shoes based on the look, but it's not about the look, it's about their functionality."
Hawkins-Wilson offered other tips about dressing, like choosing clothing. "If you're not purchasing fabric with natural fibers like cotton, silk, wool and cashmere, it won't fit right," she said, adding that it's important to try things on in the store.
She recommends taking an honest friend with you who will tell you if something does or does not fit well, and she said everyone should have a full-length mirror to evaluate their look before leaving home.
"As long as you are addressing the body type you have, you can look nice," said Wilson, a size 16. "I cannot wear leggings and look appropriate, but I can wear jeans and still look put-together."
Crystal Springs resident Donna Walls recently attended Hawkins-Wilson's Dressing the Body You Have seminar.
"I have wide shoulders, so I'm an upside-down triangle," she said. "There's a few clothes I was wearing that accentuated that, so I now know what not to wear."
Walls learned she shouldn't wear shirts with square collars, and said the seminar was worth the fee. "If you are going to spend $20 on a shirt, it was worth the $20 class," she said.
