Create the hourglass illusion

I've always been a little bit straight up, straight down. Don't get me wrong, I do have curves, but there are perhaps not in the places I'd like them!

An hourglass figure is the body shape of choice for most women, as it's in proportion and pretty feminine.

Plus celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, Holly Willoughby and Kelly Brook are ensuring that we can't escape from curvaceous women!

I'm not saying this is the ideal figure, but it definitely generates a lot of female envy.

Thankfully, you don't have to be born with the perfect hourglass to achieve this shape, as there are many tricks to fake this figure.

Emily O'Brien, fashion editor of Styloko.com, told Yahoo! Lifestyle: "To get an hourglass silhouette – which very few of us are blessed with naturally – there are two rules: always choose a cut that nips in at your slimmest point and remember to balance your halves."

This is stellar advice, as if you're more top heavy, then an empire line dress can be a great choice, as it flares out from under the bust and skims over the tummy area.

However, if you're more pear-shaped, Ms O'Brien recommends picking a top with exaggerated shoulders.

"[It] will balance your hips and cheat the eyes into seeing an hourglass silhouette," she added.

This is what blazers are made for, or even those fancy jumpers with sparkly bits across the shoulders.

If you've already got an hourglass figure, then belting it in at the waist can help define it, especially during the party season.

Personally, you can't go wrong with an elasticated waist belt complete with a sparkling clasp, especially if it matches your handbag or jewellery.

Bring on the Christmas parties – I love a good excuse to dress up!

How do you flatter your figure?

Posted by Elsa Pienaar