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LEOTARD FOR BODY TYPE
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Raise the Barre
Leotards for Every Body Type
This audition season, look your best by selecting a leotard to flatter your body type. Make sure to check the dress code for each audition to insure that you are wearing the required color and style.
 Wide Shoulders
Balance is the key word here. You need to give the illusion of a wider bottom to even out your line. Leotards can be worn with a colored or printed alignment belt at the hips. A colored or printed short skirt that sits right at the hips would be very cute. Also, wide shoulder straps and square necklines are fabulous for your body type.
Choose a leotard with a high-cut neckline. This cut will minimize the top, and emphasize the bottom. Avoid the "V" silhouette by staying away from those plunging necklines both in the front and back of your leotard.
Large Bustline
Halter-top leotards can be a good choice by offering support, while still providing a fashionable silhouette. Look for structured leotards with seaming details.
Look for hidden support like Mirella’s leotard with a built in underwire or Bodywrapper’s Totalsupport leotards, both can be found at www.merdegirl.com. Leotards with a higher lycra content can give extra support. The support should be for your bust as well as the sides of your top. Many dancers with a larger bustline select a leotard they love and pair it with one of our Julie of France support bras. Avoid tiny tri-top camisoles with minimal coverage.
 Short Legs or Torso
Play up your figure by finding a leotard that is cut high on the thigh. This will make your leg look much longer. Also, a leotard with a plunging neckline in the back creates a long appearance and is drop dead gorgeous! Check out the Vala Dancewear designs, these match your body type perfectly. Definitely wear your leotard with a pair of seamed tights to elongate your legs. Avoid boy shorts and skirts that draw the eye downward, making you look shorter.
 Long Torso
You can go wild with leotard embellishments at the hips and bustline. Try horizontal stripes and textured fabrics, such as pleating details and velvet. The new Jozette leotard with the beautiful pleated bustline is perfect for you. Boy shorts are just the thing for your slim hips.
Avoid up and down stripes and high necklines when choosing a leotard.
Small Bust
You are lucky that you have the body to wear ruffled tops and tiny tri-tops camisoles. And as for strapless bandeau tops, only you can wear those well. Leotards with a big plunge in the front are great because the space helps distract from a flatter chest. Avoid tops that have too much fabric or a poor fit.
Pear-Shaped
When you are a little larger on the bottom than the top, you want to draw peoples’ eyes upward by wearing a pretty, eye-catching detailed top. Make sure that your leotard sits well on your hips and that it is completely covering your bottom. Boatneck, square necklines, and racerback leotards create the illusion of broader shoulders for a more balanced figure. Avoid boy shorts and skirts. Keep the bottom of your torso simple.
 Athletic Shape
Show off your toned arms and shoulders with a halter leotard. If you have a boyish figure, try to wear leotards with flirty details. Try mock wraps or ties on the side of the leotard that will help create visual curves.
The athletic shape is long and lean with the same width at the shoulders, waistline and hips. The main goal with this body type is to produce visual curves. Necklines that fall below your collarbone will elongate your neck. You’ll want a leotard that creates the look of a defined waistline. Try an alignment belt! Avoid plain leotards without texture, pattern or detail. Stay away from boxy leotards that don't have seaming details to add shape. Avoid belts or skirts that tie at the waist, always tie and wear at your hips.
Hourglass
Hourglass figures have balance shoulders and hips with a smaller waist. If this is you, you're lucky because just about any classically styled leotard should flatter your figure. Select a color that looks great on you, and there is no way you will not look stellar!
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