Photo: Patrick Andersson
Q: I'm shaped like a vee: broad on top with skinny legs. What's the best way to dress?
A: Strong, commanding shoulders are a thing of beauty—they make clothes hang better. All you need are a few figure-balancing strategies:
- Offset your upper body with volume below: wide-leg pants; fuller skirts.
- Look for details that draw the eye up and down, not across—vee or scoop necks, vertical embellishments, long scarves and necklaces.
- Choose soft shoulders, raglan sleeves, halters—anything that isn't crisp and squared-off.
- Define your waist, or you'll look boxy. If a jacket fits your shoulders but is too big overall, have it altered.
Adam's figure-balancing picks
From the October 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Halterneck narrows shoulders: Cocktail dress with black rosettes 
Color-blocking sculpts the body: Long-sleeved dress
Eye-catching, strategically placed jewels: Scoopneck sweater 
Vertical design elongates the torso: Button-down shirt and argyle vest O's Fall Fashion Handbook: More instant updates for all of your wardrobe staples
From the October 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
