Dress for Your Body Pt.2 - Hourglass and V-shaped

Continuing my series on body shapes, today I make a small review on "DOs and DON'Ts" for the hourglass and V-shaped figures. Since the lolita silhouette annihilates the hips as they are, these two shapes become practically the same.

As much as LF isn't meant to be sexy, most of us still like to emphasize or best features, so there is no need to hide a beautiful waist common for these two body types.

Hourglass figure

Do wear:

• Fitted and semi-fitted clothes.
• Soft, clingy, flowing fabrics.
• Low to medium-low necklines.
• Dresses with defined waistlines.
• Corset tops with a cardigan or bolero.
• Cutsew and bolero combo.
• High-waist skirts.
• Solid colors.
• A-line silhouette.

Don't wear:

• Stiff, bulky, fabrics.
• Baggy styles, long loose cardigans.
• High necklines (unless you have a small bust).
• Peter pan collars.
• Babydoll blouses.
• Underbust JSK (unless your bust is small).

V shape
Since the main "problem" of this type are narrow hips, that in LF are conveniently hidden by layers of petticoats. Though I left the specific tips that are a great help for casual.
Do wear:

• Flowing fabrics.
• Low to medium-low necklines.
• Set-in sleeves.
• Three-quarter length sleeves.
• Princess sleeves.
• Tops and dresses that flow through the waist.
• A-line skirts.
• High-waist skirts.
• Wide belts.
• Chokers, fitted necklaces.
• American neckline.
• Heart shaped or oval neckline.

Don't wear:

• Stiff, bulky, fabrics.
• Styles that emphasize your shoulders.
• High necklines.
• Big collars.
• Puffy sleeves.
• Ruffled collars.

Since LF is rather specific, the most fitting combination would be a JSK that doesn't get bulky in the waist and a fitting cardigan or bolero, since this is the best way to achieve a semi-low neckline without "doing it wrong". Halter neck JSKs would work quite well. Small puffy sleeves are acceptable, since the skirts give some balance, tough I wouldn't risk with solid light colors, that still could make the shoulders seem too wide. Items with full bodice shirring would only create bulk and volume, as well as items sitting higher than your natural waist can make you look wider.