Trends come and go, but your body shape is always going to stay the same. True, you may gain or lose weight, but in general your proportions aren’t going to change much. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing, though – if you can learn to love and dress what your momma gave you, you’ll avoid embarrassing “wardrobe malfunctions” and learn to be confident and happy in your own skin. Since it’s important to understand your shape, what looks good on it, and what doesn’t, we’ve provided our top three tips to get you started.

1. Know Your Shape
Can you flip through a magazine or walk through a store and automatically know what styles are going to look good on you? If you know your body shape well enough, you won’t waste time and money on unflattering trends (remember those harem pants you bought? Yeah, we thought so). First, stand in front of a full length mirror for a few minutes. Don’t suck it in or wear your Spanx, just be honest with yourself. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you carry most of your weight in your hips and thighs? You’re a pear shape.
2. Are your chest and shoulders wider than your hips? You’re an inverted triangle.
3. Are your hips, shoulders, and waist pretty much the same size? You probably have a ‘rectangle’ shape.
4. Can’t figure it out? Ask a close friend for her opinion.

2. Proportion is Key
Now that you know your shape, the main rule is to dress proportionally to your body. If you’re heavier on top, it’s probably not a good idea to wear square-cut, boxy blazers (go for a longer, simpler cut or skip the blazer all together). If you’re a rectangle with a little more to love around the middle, a super-tight bandage dress is a no-no. If you’re pear-shaped, balance wider-leg pants or A-line skirts with a fitted top.

Proportionality applies to your clothing, too. Rocking the skinny jeans? Then go for a longer, more flowing top. If you’re wearing a full, retro circle skirt, make sure your shirt fits your frame well and is tucked-in.

3. Tailor, Tailor, Tailor!
Tailoring can be an important factor in an item’s cost per wear. The more often you wear an item of clothing, the less its cost-per-wear, so it’s much better to have three pairs of pants that fit every curve perfectly than a whole closet of ill-fitting trousers!

Off-the-rack clothing was never meant to fit each body perfectly. If you need a large pants size through the hips, but have a small waist, make sure to get the waistband taken in so it doesn’t gap. If you’re short-waisted, have the hemlines of shirts shorted so they hit you at the right place. And ratty pants hemlines never look good on anyone – make sure you have pants hemmed and ready for heels and flats.

When your clothes fit you just right, it is much easier to throw on an outfit and head out the door in the morning. Knowing your shape and adjusting your wardrobe accordingly can save you time and money – and make you look darn good, or course.