Ever since I heard that Trinny and Suzanna were bringing out the definitive book about women?s body shapes I couldn?t wait. Well, I finally managed to read it and frankly, I?m a bit disappointed.

It wasn?t the quality of the photography or the lack of information ? they?ve clearly done their homework - it was the sheer number of body shapes they?ve come up (18 in total) and the names they?re using to describe them.

I don?t know what it is about being a woman that gives us hang ups about our bodies, but it seems to be part of the female DNA . If we can tell ourselves there?s something wrong with each part of our anatomy then we will. This has become more obvious to me since I joined the image profession. Every single one of my clients has a part of their body that they dislike and this tends to become the focus of their attention. I spend a lot of time helping women refocus on the things that are gorgeous about them and helping them accentuate these assets.

So when I read about women being described as having a body shape like a skittle, a vase or heaven forbid a brick that?s when I despair.? You see, to me it?s so much more simple than that. Ladies,? here are three important things you need to know about your body:

A: what are your best assets so you can Accentuate them,

B: how to create a Balanced sillhouette; and

C: how to Camouflage the bits you don?t want people to see.

Now when you put it like that, doesn?t life seem so much easier?

When you focus on what your best assets are, you suddenly have to be positive for a change about what mother nature has given you. For the first 25 years of my life I obsessed about my tummy and thick waist when all along I should have been concentrating on the gorgeous legs I?ve got. You see, no matter how much weight I gain or how yucky I feel, my legs always look divine. OK, so my waistline?s not that hot, but you can?t have everything and I love my legs so much I wouldn?t swap them for anyone else?s.

Do this exercise yourself right now.

?First of all, what do you really like about your body?

You should be writing a long list of things and if you can?t then speak to your partner, your mum or a close friend and ask them. They?ll be much more objective than you.

Next, what is it about your body that you need to balance? What is the widest part of your body? If it?s your hips, then you need to make your shoulders and top half of your body look in better proportion. Wear jackets with wide lapels or go for tops with puffed shoulders or volume in the sleeves. If you?re more of an inverted triangle shape then wear tops that skim rather than cling. Wear trousers that have side pockets or place a belt on your hips rather than your waist to balance you out.

So now we?re on a roll. Every day concentrate on wearing clothes with the right cut, colour and fabrics that play to your strengths, camouflage and balance out your weaknesses you?d be . Whenever your best assets are on display that?s what you and other people will see and hey presto, you?re looking the best you possibly can and probably feeling pretty good too!