Gok's Body Shape Masterclass

Gok Wan is on a mission to help fashionistas up and down the country dress for their body shape. Stick to his body shape rules to make sure you look and feel fabulous each and every day. Gok has classified women as five classic body shapes - apple, pear, hourglass, boyish (slender and athletic) and top heavy (inverted triangle) - and has tailored fashion advice for each one.

Read on for his top styling tips. Remember to keep checking back each week for more exclusive fashion tips from our favourite style saviour.

His style master class unveiled that:

44% of women don't know what body shape they are
1 in 3 women buy clothes they never wear *
99% of women claim they have bought clothes which don't suit their figure.

* research conducted by the IPC Media Origin Panel

> Not sure which body shape you are? Let our body shape finder work it out

Gok's Styling Tips

1. Styling is all about wearing clothes to balance out your frame and help create the enviable hourglass silhouette, because this is the shape most manufacturers use as their blueprint for their designs.

2. Hourglass ladies should look out for structured jackets - they will give your shoulders more definition, pull you in at the waist and skim your hips.

3. A waist-cinching belt will work wonders to help define the waist - ideal for apple, slender and boyish (athletic) shapes.

4. If your shoulders and bust are much wider than your bottom half, Gok classifies you as top heavy. If this is you, don't hide behind shapeless smock dresses. Show off your assets with a dress that highlights your slim waist. Pleated details in a skirt or trousers will help balance out your bust. (A top heavy body shape shares the same principles as an inverted triangle: read more about the inverted triangle body shape.)

5. Broad-shouldered girls should steer clear of strapless dresses. Instead, opt for a cap sleeve or a little strap to give the optical illusion that your shoulders are closer together.

6. Halterneck dresses will make your shoulders look bigger. Top heavy or inverted triangle ladies should steer clear but they are ideal for pear shapes as they will help balance your slim shoulders and wider hips.

7. Scooped and cowl necklines will flatter big boobs. Show off your assets and draw attention upwards, away from a broader bottom half - ideal for apple and pear shapes.

8. If the widths of your shoulders, hips and waist are all the same then Gok classifies you as having a boyish figure. A boyish body shape is similar to the slender and athletic body shapes. The key here is to create curves for a more feminine look - asymmetric lines and pleating details will help achieve this.

9. Hourglass girls can use a belt to create a contour line around the waist. Wear a belt in a contrasting colour to the rest of your outfit - it will highlight your waist and show off your shoulders and legs.

10. Wearing matching coloured tights and shoes will elongate your legs, making you look taller and slimmer.

11. A sweetheart neckline adds another curve to a boyish (athletic) figure - it will give you the bangers you've always dreamed of.

12. If you're top heavy (inverted triangle), close fitting tops can add bulk to your upper torso. An empire line will work well - it pulls you in at your narrowest point, just below the bust.

13. Wide-legged trousers will balance out broader shoulders, great for top heavy (inverted triangle) ladies.

14. If you're pear shaped, avoid tops that cut off at the hips. Instead, choose frocks with wide straps which will balance out your bottom half.

15. A waterfall jacket will drape over your torso but nip you in at the waist.

16. A peplum detail on a skirt will enhance the curves of an hourglass figure.

17. Top heavy girls can get away with plunging necklines to show off your bangers and balance your frame.

18. Petite girls should look for ways to lengthen your limbs - try tucking a caridgan or shirt in to high-waisted trousers to elongate your frame.

19. Wearing one column of colour through your outfit will help narrow a stocky frame.

20. V-necks are great if you've got big boobs as it helps lengthen the upper body. Combine with wide-legged trousers to balance balance out top heavy frames.