Oprah did an article recently in her magazine about body types and the best clothes for them and we have included the whole article below. Melissa is the third actress in this article. Enjoy!
The Most Flattering Clothes—And Hairstyle—For Your Body
In fashion, as in life, it’s always best to stay true to yourself, and that means knowing what makes your figure look smashing. A few gorgeous, talented women are here to show you how it’s done.
Jane Lynch, 53
Body Type: Tall
At six feet, Lynch, who plays scheming Sue Sylvester on Glee and hosts Hollywood Game Night, says finding clothes that fit is quite the challenge. “Darts are always too high,” she says, “and the knee is never where it’s supposed to be.” Lynch favors menswear-inspired pants and jackets. “If I find something that fits, it’s usually a designer’s mistake, and I can never get it again.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Gap extra-long jeans, bold cuffs from jewelry designer Alexis Bittar (“I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, so I like to make a statement”), black Elie Tahari slim bootcut pants, and for shoes black suede two-and-a-half-inch Miu Miu pumps. “I know this sounds so lesbian, but I like a sturdy heel.”
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
A vibrant Black Halo Eve gown shows off Lynch’s arms; the plunging neckline is sexy without being over-the-top.
If you’re tall…
Look for horizontal details—stripes, belts, waist-length jackets and ankle-strap shoes—to counteract a beanpole look. If you find an item you like, buy it in multiples.
Check out these websites:
US.LongTallSally.com
AnnTaylor.com
If you have larger feet, as many tall women do, Nordstrom.com carries up to size 14.
Dress, Black Halo Eve, $850. Earrings, Max and Chloe. Necklace, Lele Sadoughi. Bracelet, Dina Mackney. Shoes, SJP.
Top Notes: Chic, Short and Touseled
Los Angeles hair guru Ken Paves made sure all our celebrities’ styles were in perfect proportion.
Ken Says…
“Just because you’re statuesque doesn’t mean you can’t be feminine and even delicate. You can have a fun, flirty cut. All you need is to add movement and texture.”
Balancing Act
Ken enhanced the width of Lynch’s cool, cropped haircut. “I added volume at the sides because she has broad shoulders,” he says. He applied Kérastase Lift Vertige root lift gel to Lynch’s wet hair, then held her hair straight up and hit the roots with a blow-dryer. When he finished, Lynch’s hair was spiking in every direction—so Ken smoothed it with a vent brush and a blow-dryer for effortless-looking results.
Shirt, Thomas Pink, $195. Bracelet, Alexis Bittar. Tights, Donna Karan. Shoes, Christian Louboutin.
Rutina Wesley, 35
Body Type: Athletic
Wesley says her personal style isn’t so different from that of her True Blood alter-ego, strong-willed vampire Tara, who is partial to body-conscious, edgy pieces like corsets and ankle boots. “I have a lot of input in choosing her wardrobe, and I’ve learned to wear things that accentuate my muscles but in a feminine way,” says Wesley, an avid runner and Pilates fan. “My arms, especially, can look bulky in the wrong top, so I’ll wear one with sleeves instead of a tank.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Giuseppe Zanotti wedge sneakers and J Brand jeans. “They fit my curves well, and I can get into them without too much shimmying.”
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
Feminine pieces in flowy fabrics soften an athletic frame.
If you’re athletic…
Wear halter styles—they draw attention away from broad shoulders and toward the face.
Try longer sleeves like three-quarter or elbow length; they slim muscular upper arms.
Check out these websites:
IssaLondon.com
LisetteL.com
CloverCanyon.com
Dress, CH Carolina Herrera, $1,130. Earrings, Sheila Fajl. Bracelet, Rivka Friedman. Shoes, Alejandro Ingelmo.
Top Notes: Smooth and Flowing
Ken Says…
“Simply styled, luxuriant hair beautifully contrasts with an athletic body.”
Balancing Act
Ken layered Wesley’s hair throughout to give it movement and a soft shape. Afterward, he worked Unite U Luxury D Frizz oil through her dry hair in sections from the midshaft to the ends. Then he went over it with a warm blow-dryer to help the hair absorb the oil, followed by a shot of cool air to lock it in. “Oil is good for keeping thick hair soft and swingy,” he says. Finally, Ken used a two-inch curling iron all over to add a bit of wave.
“When you’re going for luxurious, it’s all about fluidity—and keeping everything incredibly soft.”
Dress, DKNY, $395. Necklace, Pluma.
Melissa Rauch, 33
Body Type: Busty and Petite
“I used to wear extremely baggy clothes—lots of jeans and oversize sweaters,” says the 4’11” Rauch, who plays microbiologist Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on The Big Bang Theory. “But a few years ago I realized that the tailor is my friend. Pretty much everything I buy needs to be altered: I sometimes go up a size in tops and have them taken in under the chest. I also shop in the junior section a lot and at Forever 21.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Bleulab reversible jeans, Margi Kent shapewear, dresses by Rebecca Minkoff, BCBG (“They really pay attention to waistlines”), and Rubin Singer for red-carpet events.
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
A busty woman looks best in a top that fits her chest rather than hiding it. Opt for a sleek scoop or V-neck like this Boss shirt—boxy shapes and crewnecks will make you appear bigger. More details to look for when choosing a top: darting and a forgiving fabric.
If you’re busty…
Besides having a tailor on speed dial, you can build your look from the inside out—the right bra goes a long way to creating tasteful cleavage. Accessorize with scarves and long necklaces. They establish a vertical line that will elongate your shape.
Check out these websites:
The-Shirt.com
EssentialCami.com
Store.MyIntimacy.com
Beauty Bit
To avoid an over-the-top bombshell look, complement your voluptuousness with minimal makeup but full, lush—and sexy—black lashes, courtesy of CK One Color Volumizing Mascara ($18; Ulta.com).
Top, Boss, $255. Skirt, Peter Som, $595. Bracelets, Phyllis Rosie. Shoes, Alejandro Ingelmo.
Eva Amurri Martino, 29
Body Type: Pregnant
“I’m learning how to dress for my new body shape,” says Amurri Martino, who is expecting her first child this summer. “People say you can wear your regular clothes, but it’s not true! Everything has to be longer, especially shirts. And I prefer to wear things that are tight around my growing belly so I can show off my shape.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Asos’s maternity line (“They have really cool jeans and faux-leather leggings”), anything by Tory Burch. “Her pieces are feminine and pulled together, but not too girly,” says the actress, who teams up with her mom, Susan Sarandon, in the upcoming movie Mother’s Day.
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
Look for stretch fabrics that will accommodate your changing silhouette. And resist the urge to hide in oversize clothes—they’ll make you look frumpy. Sleek pieces (like this Elizabeth and James skirt) are more flattering.
If you’re pregnant…
Don’t cover up luminous skin. It’s okay to flaunt lovely shoulders and décolletage.
Stick to neutrals or richer shades—they’re more becoming than brights or metallics.
Check out these websites:
DestinationMaternity.com
IsabellaOliver.com
HatchCollection.com
Beauty Bit
Play up your pregnancy glow with a rosy cream blush, such as Guerlain Météorites Bubble Blush in Pink ($42; Dillards.com), dabbed on the apples of your cheeks.
Jacket, Ann Taylor, $198. Top, Sportmax, $425. Skirt, Elizabeth and James, $365. Jewelry, her own.
Christina Milan, 32
Body Type: Petite
At 5’2″, actress and singer Milian (current single: “Video Model” featuring Lil Wayne) is always on the hunt for perfectly proportioned clothes. “I can’t wear anything baggy; pants are always too long,” she says. “I usually shorten dresses to show more leg, but I try not to go too far—I don’t want to have to watch my butt every ten seconds.” Her easiest fix for too-long garments? “I roll up my jeans, boyfriend-style, or I just wear heels.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Wedge sneakers, 7 For All Mankind jeans, leather pieces from Alexander Wang, anything from NastyGal.com. “And a great Louis Vuitton shoe dresses up everything,” she says.
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
A petite woman doesn’t have to stick to solids. Just choose small prints so the pattern doesn’t swamp your frame. Cropped lengths, like these Nicole Miller Artelier designer pants, and heels in a color that matches your skin tone visually elongate the leg.
If you’re petite…
Accessorize with small, delicate pieces. Bold jewelry can look too big on petites.
Choose strappy, skin-baring heels. They’re more leg lengthening than pumps.
Check out these websites:
JCrew.com
BananaRepublic.com
AllisonIzu.com
Jacket, Cut25 by Yigal Azrouel, $495. Shirt, Ann Taylor, $89. Pants, Nicole Miller Artelier, $235. Earrings, Stephanie Kantis. Bracelet, Lulu Frost. Shoes, Manolo Blahnik.
Top Notes: Wavy and Sleek
Ken Says…
“When you’re petite, hair that’s too long—like waist-length—really makes you appear shorter.”
Balancing Act
Ken cut four inches off Milian’s hair, until it came just to her bra strap, and added layers, so her style wouldn’t visually weigh her down. Then he worked Kérastase Touche Finale shine serum through her dry hair. To prevent Milian’s style from getting overly full, Ken used a one-inch curling iron from the midsection almost to the ends. “By minimizing volume,” he says, “I gave Christina a vertical silhouette that helped create an illusion of height.”
“Dark, heavy hair tends to overwhelm a petite woman. Try a lighter tone.”
Dress, DKNY, $395.
Bellamy Young, 44
Body Type: Curvy
“I have a small waist, big thighs and a big booty, which I’ve come to adore,” says Young, who plays Scandal’s feisty first lady Mellie Grant. “Tailoring is everything. I need clothes nipped in at the waist and looser in the thighs and hips. I have my skirts narrowed at the knee. I’m 44, so I don’t wear anything too short.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses (“DVF changed the way curvy girls live! The dresses are simple but super sexy”), Hudson jeans, pieces by Michael Kors.
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
A woman blessed with an hourglass shape looks best in curve-skimming styles. This Badgley Mischka dress cinches Young’s middle, and the wrap-look top plays up her beautiful form.
If you’re curvy…
Keep hemlines around the knee to prevent an outfit from getting too va-va-voom.
Choose structured looks. Don’t let your small waist get lost in something flowy.
Check out these websites:
ColdwaterCreek.com
Shoshanna.com
DVF.com
Dress, Badgley Mischka, $525. Bracelets on right arm, from top: Charm bracelet, Lulu Frost. Bracelet, Bauble Bar. Earrings, Heather Benjamin. Bracelet on left arm, Rachel Zoe. Shoes, Chelsea Paris.
Top Notes: Full and Bouncy
Ken Says…
“A shapely woman shouldn’t let her hair grow too much past her shoulders. You want to see her curves!”
Balancing Act
“Being a Southern girl,” Ken says, “Bellamy really likes big hair”—which, happily, looks just right with her voluptuous shape. He sprayed Phyto Phytovolume Actif on her roots, then set it with a blow-dryer. Next Ken took random medium-size sections and curled them with a one-and-a-half-inch curling iron. To finish, he had Young shake her head upside down as he misted her style with L’Oréal Paris Elnett Hairspray to give it body.
“Big hair today is not yesterday’s pageant hair. It’s beautifully textured volume and movement.”
Dress, Reiss, $370. Multicolored stone ring, A Peace Treaty. Flower ring, Tory Burch. Shoes, Rene Caovilla.
Yvette Nicole Brown, 42
Body Type: Full-Figured
“My style is defined by comfort,” says Brown, who plays the outspoken Shirley Bennett on Community. “I like clothes I don’t have to pull or tug on. I want to be able to walk when I’m 80, so no stiletto heels—I wear them on the red carpet only till the photos are taken, then I switch to flats. I like dolman sleeves because you can’t tell where you end and the fabric begins. And I’m in a battle royal with Adam Glassman over harem pants, because I love them and he does not. Harem pants are like a dolman top for your bottom.”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Pencil skirts (“They’re perfect for the curvy girl because they hug the hips and taper to the knee, so your bottom half doesn’t look like a big mass of body”), Lane Bryant’s Cacique bras, NYDJ jeans and V-neck tops (“I used to not let the girls see sunlight, but a V lifts them up”).
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
A full-figured woman needs to make sure she doesn’t fall into the boxy top, boxy bottom trap. Instead, wear formfitting pieces like this Christopher Fischer knit top and Eloquii pencil skirt. Nicholas Kirkwood wedge heels add height without discomfort.
If you’re full-figured…
Embellishments are not your friend. Skip ruffles and frills in favor of simpler pieces.
Invest in a good bra and shapewear, so you have a sleek foundation for your look.
Check out these websites:
Eloquii.com
LaneBryant.com
ASOS.com
Beauty Bit
Even no-fuss types can appreciate the pulled-together effect of a well-groomed brow. Dolce & Gabbana Shaping Eyebrow Pencil ($45; SaksFifthAvenue.com) enhances your arches in a flash.
Sweater, Christopher Fischer, $198. Skirt, Eloquii, $68. Bracelet, Rivka Friedman. Earrings, Alexis Bittar. Shoes, Nicholas Kirkwood.
Maria Menounos, 35
Body Type: Pear
Slim on top with curves at the hip…the Extra host, Suave spokeswoman and star of the reality show Chasing Maria Menounos definitely knows what works (and doesn’t) for her figure. “I’m never going to wear a sheath dress—that’s for Kate Bosworth or Kate Moss,” says Menounos, author of the upcoming book The EveryGirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness, which details her past struggles with weight: She lost 40 pounds she had gained in college and has kept it off through careful eating and regular exercise. “I need something fitted at the waist with an A-line skirt. Shoulder pads are good for balancing hips. That, or a lot of pulldowns at the gym!”
What She Knows Works for Sure
Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana are among her favorite designers, as well as American Eagle Outfitters, Lucky Brand and J Brand for jeans. As for shoes, Menounos says she’s “allergic to platforms,” but loves wedges and stilettos.
O Creative Director Adam Glassman’s Take
An outfit that’s sleek on top and flirty on the bottom—like this Sandro dress—looks fantastic on a pear-shaped woman. Trumpet and A-line skirts are more flattering than pencil styles.
If you’re pear-shaped…
Keep hems above the knee or higher. Shorter skirts lengthen the leg.
Consider boatneck tops and cap sleeves to counteract wide hips.
Check out these websites:
NicandZoe.com
PinkTartan.com
ModCloth.com
Beauty Bit
A shiny pink lip gloss in the same color family as a vibrant red dress can be easier to pull off than a dramatic scarlet lip shade. Try YSL Gloss Volupté in No. 15 Grenade Pépite ($32; YSLBeautyUS.com).
Dress, Sandro, $495. Earrings, Alexis Bittar.
– Kayla and Vicky
The Bazinga Cast 