Understand Your Body Shape

As far back as I can remember, I have had trouble finding ready to wear clothes which both fit and flatter me.
I have proportionally large hips compared to my bust and waist. In clothing terms, skirts and pants have to be larger in size than tops.
My first solution was to make my own clothing, and I would  adjust patterns to fit. I took a course in pattern design, so I could make well fitting clothes. However, when I made up the styles which looked so good on the models, they rarely looked good on me.
I gave up making clothes, and now buy separates. However, it wasn't until I discovered  Trinny and Susannah's What Not to Wear that I began to understand why some styles never looked good on me.
Their book The Body Shape Bible: Forget Your Size Discover Your Shape Transform Yourself gives their no nonsense approach to understanding your own figure. A preview is here, and another analysis is here.
Some of the names are a bit unflattering, but Trinny and Susannah tell it like it is.
Do some research, and see what you come up with for your own body shape. I am a pear. We can't all afford a fashion makeover, but wouldn't it be great if we chose the "right" clothes when shopping?