Dressing as per Body Structure Class 7 Notes and Mind Map (Free PDF Download)

Dressing is not just about wearing clothes; it is about expressing who you are. When you understand your body structure and choose outfits that balance and highlight your best features, you naturally look confident and comfortable. Every body is unique and beautiful. The aim is never to change your body, but to select clothes and accessories that suit your body type and reflect your personality.

Characters

• Mr Dominic – Skilled tailor in Imphal, expert in body types and customised outfits.
• Leima – Smart, trendy teenager who loves online shopping and latest fashions.
• Aunt Bobo – Blogger and career counsellor, open minded and supportive.
• Yangpai – Leima’s brother, dedicated sportsperson training for weightlifting.

Story

Leima’s Dress and the Body-Type Lesson

Leima often spends her pocket money buying fashionable clothes online. One day she sees a stylish dress on a website and wants the same look for a family function. The dress is too expensive, so she decides to get a similar one stitched by Uncle Dominic at “Dominic Tailors”.

She buys similar fabric from the market and shows Dominic a screenshot of the dress. The original has a round neck with embellishments, but Dominic suggests a V-neck for Leima, explaining that:

• The model and Leima have different body types.
• The same style may look perfect on one body but ordinary on another.

Dominic explains that:

• Some people are tall and lean; others are short and curvier.
• Some have broad shoulders; others have wider hips.
• Some gain weight easily; others struggle to gain.

All these create different body structures. His goal as a tailor is to:

• Highlight favourite features.
• Create a proportionate body image.
• Help every person feel proud of their body.

ASCII idea:

Leima realises she has never thought about body types before. She learns that dressing as per body structure can:

• Enhance personality.
• Make her feel more comfortable and stylish.

Dominic tells her that her body type is an Inverted Triangle and the model’s is Hourglass. He suggests:

• Straight or skinny jeans.
• Tops or dresses with V-necklines to visually narrow her broad shoulders and balance her smaller hips.

He lends her a magazine full of celebrities with different body types, outfits, and styling tips.

Exploring Female Body Shapes

That evening, Aunt Bobo visits from Bishnupur. Over coffee, she and Leima go through the magazine and study five basic female body shapes:

1. Hourglass
2. Inverted Triangle
3. Pear (Triangle)
4. Rectangle (Athletic)
5. Apple

Examples from the Magazine

• A famous designer Nimrit Malhotra has a Pear-shaped body:
  • Hips larger than bust, defined waist.
  • Wears A-line full skirt and fitted open-neck shirt.
  • Embroidery near the neck draws attention upward and balances hips.
• TV journalist Nayanika Kumar has an Hourglass body:
  • Bust and hips similar size with well-defined waist.
  • Prefers open necklines, wrap dresses, and belts at the waist.
  • Form-fitting tops and pencil skirts suit her.
• A former actress has an Apple-shaped body:
  • Full midsection, no defined waist, weight around stomach.
  • Wears drop-waist and A-line dresses with embellishments near neck and shoulders.
  • Designs hide the midsection and show off her legs.
• Environmental activist Deepa Menon has a Rectangle body:
  • Bust, waist, and hips nearly same width; slender frame.
  • Wears red flared dress with U-neck and low waistline to add curves and volume.

Through these examples, Leima realises how clothing choices can shift attention and create balance.

Yangpai and Male Body Types

Later, Yangpai returns from gym training. He loves weightlifting and wants to represent Bishnupur in championships. Aunt Bobo brings his favourite dessert, and Leima uses her new knowledge to “style” him.

She tells him his body structure is Trapezoid:

• Broad shoulders and well-developed chest.
• Narrow waist and hips.
• Upper and lower body are nearly proportionate.

She suggests:

• Light-coloured shirts with vertical stripes.
• Dark-coloured trousers.
• Jackets/blazers that make the waist look tapered.
• Trouser length touching the ankle and shoe for balance.

Yangpai appreciates her eye for details and encourages her to become a stylist. Then the family enjoys boating at Loktak Lake in Manipur.

Male Body Shapes from the Magazine

Leima and Aunt Bobo learn that there are five male body types:

1. Triangle
2. Trapezoid
3. Oval
4. Inverted Triangle
5. Rectangle

A famous chef with an Oval body type is shown:

• Narrow shoulders and hips.
• Heavier waist and chest; rounded midsection.

Styling tips for him:

• Pinstripes or vertical stripes to elongate the body.
• Dark colours (navy, charcoal) for a slimming effect.
• Avoid bright contrast patterns around the stomach.
• Untucked shirts can hide the waistband line.

Gender Sensitivity and Body Positivity

When Leima comments that many top tailors and designers are men, Aunt Bobo explains:

• Skills are not limited by gender.
• Society today must give equal respect and opportunities to all genders.
• We should not be biased in our expectations or judgments.
• Clothes should express personality, not rigid gender rules.

The story encourages students to:

• Respect all body types.
• Avoid body shaming.
• Make clothing decisions based on comfort, respect, and personal style.

Ready Reckoner – Dress Your Body Type (Female)

Female Body Shapes, What to Wear, What to Avoid

Ready Reckoner – Dress Your Body Type (Male)

Male Body Shapes, What to Wear, What to Avoid

Questions and Answers

Q1 Think and Answer

A. Tina is a kathak dancer. She has a well-defined waist and her upper body and lower body are of equal proportion.

a. Her body type is
b. She should wear ______ necklines and ______ tops.

Answer:
a. Hourglass body type – bust and hips similar, defined waist.
b. She should wear open necklines and form-fitting tops to highlight her balanced figure and waist.

B. Jacob likes to play Tennis. He is thin and slight in stature. He is noticeably robust and muscular with broad shoulders and well-developed chest but is slightly shorter than his friends.

a. His body type is
b. He should wear ______ stripes to look taller.

Answer:
a. Rectangle body type – straight frame but athletic.
b. He should wear vertical stripes to create the illusion of more height.

C. Monica is a web designer. She spends most of her time in front of her desktop. She does not have a lot of curves and her hips have almost similar width as her shoulders.

a. Her body type is
b. Flare dresses with ______ straps and ______ waistlines are recommended.

Answer:
a. Rectangle body type.
b. Flare dresses with thick straps and low waistlines add feminine curves and make the shape look more balanced.

D. Kabir is a singer. He has a little rounded stomach and torso is wider than his shoulders.

a. His body type is
b. He is recommended to wear ______ stripes and ______ colours.

Answer:
a. Oval body type – large waist and chest compared to shoulders.
b. He should wear vertical stripes and dark colours for a slimming effect.

Q2 Correct the Statements

a. Some people are tall and lean, others are short and bulkier.
b. Open necklines and firm fitting tops are good for people who have apple-shaped body.
c. Light colours give a slimming effect to your body.

Corrected Statements:

a. Some people are tall and lean; others are short and curvier.
b. Open necklines and form-fitting tops are good for people who have hourglass body.
c. Dark colours give a slimming effect to your body.

Q3 Identify and Match the Body Types

(Three illustrated figures – answers only)

1. Rectangle
2. Oval
3. Hourglass

Q4 Maze Craze – Word Puzzle

Words to be found (answers):

• Proportionate
• Creativity
• Waistline
• Stylist
• Hourglass
• Designer
• Curvier
• Embroidery
• Trapezoid
• Website

Imp Words

This mind map contains all important topics of this chapter

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