KONKO FASHION

Your Best Assets? - Your Sexy Shoulders It Is!

Forget cleavage — the sexiest way to dress is to show off your shoulders. As actresses Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn showed at this year’s Oscars, a shoulder-less frock is a glamorous look any woman can pull off, whatever her age. Unlike our busts, arms, bottoms, stomachs — in fact, almost any other area you can think of — shoulders are the one body part that doesn't sag or wrinkle with age. And dress size isn't a barrier to the trend.

Petite

If you’re trim, but a little challenged in height, you can still show off your shoulders to great effect. Try going sleeveless with a bandeau top. It’s easy for you to get lost in a loud pattern, so stick to block colours. Add curves with pleats, rather than prints. 

Opt for a high waist — either a two-tone design or separate top and skirt — as this will make your legs look longer, particularly if the bottom half is a darker shade.

Curvy

If you’re on the curvy side, a one-shouldered style is ideal, as it will highlight your trim collarbones while hiding the bits you’re less confident about. Avoid clingy material and go for fitted fabric with soft draping instead, which will skim any lumps and bumps.

A plain, bright colour is infinitely more slimming than a pattern. And a knotted waist like this will not only give your middle more definition, but it is also incredibly forgiving on tummies that are slightly thicker.

Boyish

With a straight-up-and-down figure, choosing a dress should be about creating curves. An off-the-shoulder style with strap-like sleeves that sit in line with your bust makes you wider above the waist. A pencil skirt and thicker fabric will create a curvier silhouette. Go for different shades on the top and bottom and look for interesting belts. 

This dress has an inverted  V-section, which gives more of a sense of hips and a waist than a straight belt would.

Pear Shaped

If you’re a little hippy, the trick is to balance out your wider bottom half by shifting focus to your top half. Choose a shoulder-less dress, which still has sleeves of some sort — even if they’re only sheer, like the ones on this dress. This gives the illusion that you’re wider up top, as the eye is drawn across your chest, rather than downwards. 

If you don’t like your upper arms, sheer sleeves are a great way to show off your collarbones, while hiding a multitude of sins. If you’re pear-shaped, you probably have a lovely narrow waist, so highlight it by adding a simple belt, such as the built-in black ribbon on this delicate, cream lace dress.

Top Heavy

The secret to flashing your shoulders when you have a generous bust is a halterneck. It draws the eye in towards your neck, rather than outwards as a low neckline would, which could broaden your chest. Go for a slimming, plain colour and avoid jewellery. Instead, simple details, such as the folds and pleats on this dress, will make you look trim. 

Finally, look for a straight, rather than fitted, skirt to balance things out — if the bottom of your dress is too tight, it’ll draw attention upwards.