Knowing your body shape is the key to successful dressing, no matter what trends or fashion fads are happening. Stick to the rules and you’ll never be stuck for something to wear again
APPLE BODY SHAPE
Of all the fruit in the fashion basket, the apple, with its rounded tummy and big bust, can be one of the most difficult to dress. Luckily you also often benefit from slim hips, a great bum and lovely legs. Find out how to make the most of your apple body shape with these expert fashion tips.
Use clothes to sculpt your midriff, so it looks less like an apple and more like an apple core. At the same time, draw attention to your favourite bits – that cleavage, those legs, and anything else you really like.
Body control underwear will work wonders to define your middle area too, pulling you in at the waist.
Don’t hide in baggy trousers. Show off your lovely legs with straight or boot-cut trousers. Look for flat-fronted trousers with a wide waistband to draw attention away from the stomach.
Open up the neckline. V-necks and scoop-necks are good for apple-shaped ladies as you often have a great bust. Don’t be afraid to show it off.
Use structured, tailored jackets to give definition to your upper body and show off good shoulders. Look for single-breasted versions with one or two buttons.
Wrap dresses are always a winner for an apple body shape as they fit nicely over a fuller bust. A side tie on the dress will draw attention away from the stomach.
Drop earrings will draw attention to your lovely jawline and face, while chunky bangles accentuate slim wrists.
Opt for an A-line skirt – a full skirt will make the waist line look smaller.
Don’t be afraid to use colour. Vibrant patterns will gloss over problem areas and strong block colours will accentuate your best bits. Think of a bright jacket with a patterned top underneath.
THE PEAR BODY SHAPE
The pear body shape is the classic feminine silhouette, with hips, thighs or bum that are bigger than the upper half. OK, so sometimes your bum probably does look big in this, but chances are you have slim shoulders and great boobs.
“Pear shapes also have the advantage that when they put on weight it goes on their lower half – and the eye tends to take in the top half first,” says stylist Emer Dewar. Read on for fashion tips on dressing a pear-shaped body.
Show off your slim top half with strapless tops and dresses. A strapless maxi dress is a great buy – try and find one with a nipped-in waist and a flared skirt.
Spaghetti and embellished strappy tops are your friend, because they show off your lovely arms, shoulders and décolletage.
Shoulderpads in jackets will help broaden your top half and balance out wider hips.
Be wary of the length of your clothes. Choose jackets that cut off above the hip line for a flattering look.
Minimise wide hips with dark block colours on your bottom half. Dark bootcut jeans will elongate the legs and balance out hips.
Showcase your fantastic small waist with a thin belt across the smallest part.
Invest in a good bra(opens in a new window) - a padded bra(opens in a new window) will add a few cup sizes and could give you a confidence boost.
Support underwear can pull in your waist and support your thighs – it really will take inches off you.
Look for skirts with front pleats. A-line skirts also work well as they make the waist look small, while skimming over the hips.
Wear prom dresses – the circle skirt will hang from the waist to the knee area, creating a flattering A-shape.
THE ATHLETIC BODY SHAPE
The lean athletic body shapeis one of the least common. Also called ‘boyish’, ‘straight up and down’ and ‘sporty’, an athletic figure normally has shoulders and hips of the same width, long arms and legs, a slight (undefined) waist and small boobs. It may include broad shoulders and strong thighs.
“The great advantage of an athletic shape is you can wear pretty much anything,” says Alain Mehada, a head personal shopper atDebenhams(opens in a new window). “However, lots of my clients who have this shape complain about feeling unfeminine and find it difficult to find clothes that suit their slightly androgynous shape.”
Short, fitted dresses show off your slender shape and long legs. Flippy dresses with simple spaghetti straps instantly add dimension and femininity.
Stay away from round or plunging necklines – they will make your boobs look smaller – and opt for an empire-line cut instead.
Your slim hips and long legs can accommodate the frilliest underwear, and you can add oomph to your cleavage with a padded or gel bra(opens in a new window).
Leggings look great as they show off your slim legs and allow you to wear something with more volume or detail on top. You can get away with skinny and straight-legged jeans too.
Use A-line skirts to add definition to your waist. You can experiment with lengths – show off those lovely legs. Flat waistbands on skirts will add some structure to your middle.
Look for feminine details in your clothes to soften any hard lines. Ruffles on tops will work wonders.
Pay attention to the fabrics of the clothes you buy – look for feminine prints and soft materials. Animal print is great for athletic figures as as it gives a 3D effect, creating lots of lovely curves.
Give the illusion of a waistline – pull it in with a waist-cinching belt and look for a parka or trenchcoat with a large belt to really add some definition.
Asymmetric necklines are great as they draw the eyeline away from the shoulders.
Knitwear(opens in a new window) is a fantastic way to create soft lines. Look for ruched or draped cardigans(opens in a new window) to diffuse a square upper body.
THE HOURGLASS BODY SHAPE
Characterised by a curvy bust and hips with a slimmer waist, the hourglass body shape is often thought of as the ideal female body shape. To make the most of your gorgeous figure, read on for tips on dressing an hourglass.
Unfortunately, not all styles will flatter curvy bodies. High-fashion stores in particular can be a frustrating experience for hourglass women – the clothes often seem designed to fit ‘straight-up-and-down’ figures.
“Hourglasses may feel frustrated at not being able to wear ultra-fashionable styles, but certain items will always suit you, whether that’s a fitted jacket, strapless dress or crisp shirt (you fill it so well),” says stylist Emer Dewar. “And if you want to make a nod to fashion, you can do it with colour, fabric andaccessories(opens in a new window).”
Use puff-sleeves or epaulettes on a jacket to emphasise your shoulders.
An A-line skirt teamed with a fitted top will mirror your fabulous hourglass shape. Make like Marilyn Monroe and use some 50s-inspired (opens in a new window)accessories(opens in a new window) to complete your look.
A peplum detail on a skirt creates a line down from the waistline to the hip, which will exaggerate your curvy hips.
You can wear any shape skirt, but the pencil skirt is the most flattering on you. Team with a simple shirt, tucked in and unbuttoned to reveal a little cleavage.
Straight-legged jeans that skim your thighs and are cropped at the ankle work well for you. Bootcut jeans will balance your curves – look for darker shades and ones with large pockets on the bum.
High-waisted, wide-legged trousers will emphasise the curve of your hip without making your bottom half look big.
Use draping to your advantage. Not only will it accentuate your curves – look for diagonal draping from the waist to hip area – but it will also disguise the tummy area.
Wear fitted clothes but make sure they’re not too tight. Consider going one size up so your clothes really mirror your figure, rather than pull at it.
THE SLENDER SHAPE
Look for clothes that will create volume, with details such as frills, fluted edges and ruffles.
Bootcut jeans are perfect for you – the slight flare is flattering, and the slim fit shows off a petite waist and great bum.
If you want to create the impression of bigger boobs, look for chunky statement necklaces that fall around the bust area.
Stay away from clothes with a large print, as they can drown out your dainty features.
Draping will give soft lines across the body and will create volume in your more petite areas.
A padded or push-up bra(opens in a new window) can give you extra curves. You can also try bum-lifter underwear to create a rounder derriere. For more information, read our guide to control underwear.
Make use of a cowl neckline – it will drape over the bust, adding extra volume.
Trapeze-style jackets have lots of fabric to play with. Cinch it in at the waist with a belt: the material underneath will create a peplum effect, adding volume to the hips.
You can carry off a slim-fitted boyfriend blazer to perfection, or try a simple, fitted jacket to add flattering definition to your frame.
AN INVERTED TANGLE
Being an inverted triangle doesn’t sound very sexy, but with your strong shoulders, narrow hips and slim legs, it’s considered to be one of the most desirable body shapes and is often seen on athletes and models.
OK, you may not have much of a waist, but chances are you’ve got some great legs to show off and as you’re slim-hipped, finding a wide range of clothes to help balance and make the best of your figure is not a problem.
The main aim is to create the illusion of an hourglass shape by discreetly adding volume around your hips to balance your broader top half, while flattering your shoulders. Strong shoulders are an asset, as long as you keep everything else in proportion.
Avoid anything boxy, such as high-necked shift dresses and wide-cut or cropped jackets, plus anything billowy, like blouses or smock dresses. They’ll make your top half – and by association, you as a whole, look bigger. Instead, look for tear-drop shaped necklines or any that cut a feminine curve into your shoulder line. You’re really suited to classic looks, such as sexy tailored jackets, slim-line trousers and sweeping dresses, so if you want to look up-to-date, go for on-trend colours rather than trying to wear the latest shape. Accessories-wise, large bangles and clutches will help balance your shape, but resist outsized earrings and necklaces.
Tips for Inverted Triangles
Add width to the hip line with asymmetric garments or waistcoats to help balance out broader shoulders.
Use block colours on outer garments and avoid any details on the shoulders as this can make you look bulkier.
Wrap tops are perfect for inverted triangles, especially if you have a fuller bust.
Tulip skirts and harem pants will create volume on your lower half. Make sure you draw them in at the waistline with a belt.
Print can help add bulk and volume to your lower half, drawing the focus away from a broader upper body.
Accessories should be big and bulky. Long necklaces will create a focus in the centre of the body, and don’t forget some show-stopping shoes.
When it comes to tops, look for details that will soften your shape. A waterfall neckline with ruffles will draw attention towards your cleavage, and away from strong shoulders.
Use a statement belt to create a centrepiece to your outfit. Look for embellishment – perhaps studs or a big buckle.

FOR TALL WOMEN
In Italy there’s a saying, ‘altezza metà bellezza’. Roughly translated, it means ‘If you’re tall, you’re already halfway to being beautiful’.
So what’s tall? If you’re five foot 10 (1m 78cm), you’re there. That’s a good six inches taller than the UK average. Read on for style tips for tall women.
Simple, structured pieces in bold, striking colours or large patterns complement your height.
When it comes to shift or fitted dresses, don’t go for something that has a block of colour or pattern from shoulder to knee – it could look severe. Break up your body with styles that span shoulder to mid-thigh or breast to knee.
Dresses with flared, A-line or peplum skirts (skirts that have flaps or frills at the waist) help balance your shape and play up your femininity.
Create horizontal lines across your body to help diffuse your height. Do this by using opposite colours – try neutral tones against brighter colours.
Don’t worry if dresses seem too short. Turn them into tunics by layering them with a pair of leggings or trousers underneath.
Don’t be afraid to wear heels. They can give you an extra confidence boost and show the world that you’re proud of your body.
Wear floor-skimming maxi skirts and dresses to really show off your height. Go to specialist shops to make sure you get the right length.
Use large accessories(opens in a new window) - chunky jewellery and oversized bags – to make a real impact and flatter your proportions.
Look for big bold patterns in tops and dresses, because smaller, dainty prints may get lost on you. Break the pattern up with a bright waist-cinching belt, which will also show off your curves.
Layer long, fine-gauge tops and tees to create an elegant but soft look. Opt for simple narrow-cut knits.
Try structured jackets that create dramatic angles and break up the long line of your body
A PETITE WOMEN
A petite body shape doesn’t just mean ‘short’; it can also mean that you are slight all over. Luckily, the high street caters more and more for petite women but you can also select clothes from regular ranges – just follow our fashion tips to find out how to dress for your body shape.
“At under 5’3″, petite women can feel overlooked,” says stylist and co-founder of personal shopping service The Shoppers(opens in a new window)Tessa Langmead. “One way to get noticed is to bare some flesh – not in a crass, sexy way, but simply so your clothes don’t dominate you.”
And less is usually more when it comes to detail too. “Avoid fuss and clutter, like pockets, pleats, turn-ups, ruffles and frills, as they all distract from the line of your clothes and will make you look shorter,” says Tessa.
You look great in well-tailored, form-fitting clothes (nothing baggy) and showing lots of leg will make you look taller. Invest in a tailored jacket to give structure to your shape.
Dresses are your friends – opt for ones in a single colour from shoulder to knee.
Research brands that specialise in petite sizes. Alternatively, get handy with a needle and thread and alter the length of garments yourself.
Draw attention to the top half of your body with stripes and patterns. Block colours on the bottom half will elongate your figure.
Avoid colours that are too ‘girly’ – sugary pinks, lilacs etc – as they can appear childlike.
Use large but delicate accessories(opens in a new window) to help draw attention to the top half of your body. Hooped earrings are ideal.
Consider the length of garments – opt for longer lines to make you look taller. Create columns of colour with your clothes to help elongate your frame.
A high waistline on skirts and trousers will work well for you. Draw attention to it with a belt.
You look great in straight-legged jeans and skinnies, and pale denim will make you look taller.
Add inches with a pair of heels. Opt for wedges for a modern but comfortable look.

Damour lay across the Sidon - Beirut highway about 20 km south of Beirut on the slopes of a foothill of the Lebanon range. On the other side of the road, beyond a flat stretch of coast, is the sea.
It was a town of some 25,000 people, containing five churches, three chapels, seven schools, private and public, and one public hospital where Muslims from near by villages were treated along with the Christians, at the expense of the town.
On 9 January 1976, three days after Epiphany, the priest of Damour Father Mansour Labaky, was carrying out a Maronite custom of blessing the houses with holy water. As he stood in front of a house on the side of the town next to the Muslim village of Harat Na’ami, a bullet whistled past his ear and hit the house. Then he heard the rattle of machine-guns. He went inside the house, and soon learned that the town was surrounded.
Later he found out by whom and how many — the forces of Sa’iqa, consisting of 16,000 Palestinians and Syrians, and units of the Mourabitoun and some fifteen other militias, reinforced by mercenaries from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and a contingent of Libyans.....
Father Labaky telephoned the Muslim sheikh of the district and asked him, as a fellow religious leader, what he could do to help the people of the town. "" can do nothing,’ he was told ‘They want to harm you. It is the Palestinians. I cannot stop them.'" While the shooting and some shelling went on all day, Father Labaky telephoned a long list of people, politicians of both the Left and the Right, asking for help. They all said with apologies and commiserations that they could do nothing. Then he telephoned Kamal Jumblatt, in whose parliamentary constituency Damour lay. ‘Father,’ Jumblatt said, ""I can do nothing for you, because it depends on Yasser Arafat."" He gave Arafat’s phone number to the priest.
[......] [Big snip]
""...In all, 582 people were killed in the storming of Damour. Father Labaky went back with the Red Cross to bury them. Many of the bodies had been dismembered, so they had to count the heads to number the dead. Three of the men they found had had their genitals cut off and stuffed into their mouths.
The horror did not end there, the old Christian cemetery was also destroyed, coffins were dug up, the dead robbed, vaults opened, and bodies and skeletons thrown across the grave yard. Damour was then transformed into a stronghold of Fatah and the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine). The ruined town became one of the main PLO centres for the promotion of international terrorism. The Church of St Elias was used as a repair garage for PLO vehicles and also as a range for shooting-practice with targets painted on the eastern wall of the nave.
The commander of the combined forces which descended on Damour on 23 January 1976 was Zuhayr Muhsin, chief of al-Sa’iqa, known since then throughout Christian Lebanon as 'the Butcher of Damour'. He was assassinated on 15 July 1979 at Cannes in the South of France..."""
Damour (Arabic: الدامور‎) is a Lebanese Christian town that is 24 kilometres south of Beirut. The name of the town is derived from the name of the Phoenician god Damoros who symbolized immortality (ديمومة in arabic).
In 2009, Damour was selected as the future site of the first artificial island off the coast of Lebanon. The project is set to start construction later this year.[1]
Beirut-based developer, Noor Investment Holding has presented a detailed explanation of the Cedar Island project to the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) and is waiting for approval.[2]
Geography[edit source | editbeta]
The city is located in one of the few flat areas of the Lebanese coast. It is built to the north of the river, the ancient Tamyrus,[3] which bears its name on a dune overlooking the Mediterranean. It is surrounded by plantations of bananas and vegetable crops.[4] It has an area of 10.1 km². Beirut-tyre road through. The Beirut-Tyre Highway separates the plantations. Now dismantled, the track is a stopover.
Churches[edit source | editbeta]
There exist 5 churches in Damour, of which Notre-Dame de Damour and Saint Élias are the biggest. We also find three other chapels, including Sainte Thècle and Saint Michel, which was the first church in Damour.
Tourism[edit source | editbeta]
Because Damour is one of the few cities of the Lebanese coast having a sand beach, and since it is ten minutes from Beirut, Damour attracts tourists and especially water sports enthusiasts. Thus several restaurants, coffees and snacks are located along the beach. There are also a few restaurants at the edges of the Damour River.
History[edit source | editbeta]
Emir Fakhreddine the Great had a great interest in Damour.
It was the capital of the Mount Lebanon between the 17th century and 20th century.
In the 19th century, Damour was the a flourishing center of the Chouf region. Its plain was then planted with mulberry and had twelve large manufacturing companies. Ten thousand workers and technicians worked in the natural silk industry. The city has a real fascination for the Lebanese worker and attracts the largest majority of the natives in the Sahel region.
During the last centuries, Damour was located on the central axis of fighting and successive wars.
In 1302, after the mamelouks took Arwad Island, on 8 June the same year, the Cypriots landed on the Damour River. A battle took place between the Emir Fakhr al - Din Abdel - Hamid bin Jamaluddin Altnokhi, his brother the Emir Shams al - Din Abdullah accompanied by an army of Muslims against the Cypriot. The battle was won by Crusaders. Fakhr Din Emir was killed, while his brother Shams al - Din fell hostage. He was released after five days for a ransom of three thousand dinars tyriens.
In May 1860, Druze forces committed a massacre of the people.
During the nights of the first world war, inhabitants met the armoured French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc sailors and received medicines, food and other needed supplies.
The city being a strategic crossing point on the road to Beirut, 21 July 1941, was the place of one of the battles that affected Lebanon during the second world war Syria-Lebanon Campaign. Australian troops, progressing towards the North along the coast, took Damour, held by the French Foreign Legion, faithful to the Vichy Government. A cease-fire was concluded at the end of the battle. There were no more obstacles in the direction of Beirut.
In 1942, the New Zealand troops built a track from Beirut to Haifa on the coast.
On January 9, 1976, Palestinians laid siege to the city. On January 20, 1976, thousands of Palestinians committed a massacre of the inhabitants. See Damour Massacre.
During Israeli invasion of 1982, the Israeli air force bombed the city which was under the control of the Palestinian militias.
During the Israeli conflict of 2006, the Israeli air force destroyed several bridges on Highway Beirut-Tyre and on the Damour River.
The Historical Bridge of Damour
[edit source | editbeta]
The history of the archeological bridge dates back to the era of prince-Béchir Shehab who had a great interest in it, it was considered a strategic and important transit point between Mt Lebanon and the South.