Dressing for your body type might seem tricky, but with the right advice, it’s totally doable. Have you ever seen someone rocking an outfit that looks amazing on them and wished you could pull it off too? We’ve all been there. But finding the perfect fit for your body shape is key to feeling confident and stylish. That’s why we’re here to help you figure out which outfits are best for your body type.
There are five common body shapes: rectangle, inverted triangle, hourglass, pear, and apple. To figure out which one you are, start by standing in front of a full-size mirror with little to no clothing on. Take a good look at yourself and see which category you fit into. If you want to be more precise, grab a tape measure and jot down some measurements. Here are the key body parts to focus on:
Shoulders: Start at the tip of one shoulder and wrap the tape around you.
Bust: Pull the measuring tape taut across the fullest part of your bust and around your back.
Waist: Measure the smallest part of your natural waist, just above the belly button.
Hips: Start at one hip (below the hip bone) and wrap the tape measure around the largest part of your backside.
Dressing well is about creating balance. Once you have your measurements, you’ll be ready to determine your body shape and find the perfect outfits to flatter your figure. Let’s dive in!
Rectangle Body Type
Your shoulders and hips are proportionate, with little definition in the waist. Of all body types, the rectangle body type has the most options in terms of flattering clothing. However, I recommend avoid boxy and shapeless clothes as they’re usually the least flattering for people with rectangle body shapes.
Round Body Type
Your shoulders are broad and your hips are slim with no defined waist. A round shape, also known sometimes as an apple body shape, is defined as broad shoulders, narrow hips, and no defined waist. Your waist is wider than both your shoulders and hips. When it comes to dressing a round body type, the key is to create the illusion of a waistline and to balance your hips and shoulders. Wearing a single color from head to toe is one of my favorite tips for putting together a flattering outfit for someone with a round body type. Best Dresses for You: Any dress that draws attention to your upper body is a good option. Belted styles, drop-waist dresses, swing dresses, dresses with an embellished top or an empire waist all fit this criterion. A-line dresses, wrap dresses, and dresses with full skirts are also great options, as they help conceal the midsection. A major asset of apple body types is their legs, so feel free to flaunt them in shorter dresses! Anything that turns the eye to your midsection, such as: horizontal lines, natural waistlines and fitted tops should be avoided.
Hourglass Body Type
Your shoulders and hips are close to the same size and you have a defined waist. An hourglass figure is the easiest body type to determine because your shoulders and hips are close to/equal in measurement, and you have a very defined waist. Women with hourglass body types have a lot of options when it comes to flattering clothing. I generally recommend avoiding oversized, shapeless pieces and opting instead for pieces that will highlight their curvy features and slimmer waist. Opt for dresses that hug your curves, such as wrap dresses and pencil dresses.
Pear Body Type
Your hips are wider than your shoulders. Pear shape and Triangle are interchangeable. Simply put, your hips are wider than your shoulders, and your shoulder may be on the narrow side. Since women with a pear body type have hips that are wider than their shoulders, you want to focus on adding more volume to your shoulder line to create a more balanced silhouette. The idea is to pull the eye upward, toward your neckline so there’s less emphasis on your hips. Best Dresses for You: Strapless top, fitted open neck, V-neckline, A-line or full skirt (these will help hide a wider hip). Dresses with details in the bust area will help create a balancing effect. Keep in mind that if you pick a dress that’s fitted on the hips, you will probably have to go a size up and take the garment to a seamstress to alter the waist. In short, you will look fab in flare and fit dresses as they are roomier from the waist down and add volume to your small upper body and thin waist!
Inverted Triangle Body Type
Your shoulders OR bust are larger than your hips. You are an Inverted Triangle if your shoulders OR bust are larger than your hips. Typically this is evident when you have extra broad shoulders or a wider upper-body, but you may also fall into this category if you have a large bust and narrow hips. The key to dressing an inverted triangle body shape is to add slightly more volume to your hips to balance your shoulders and bust. Along those same lines, you want to avoid adding any extra volume or width to your upper body. Say “YES” to V and U – shape collars as they will elongate your neck, monochrome/neutral colours tops and print/bright bottoms, wear wide belts and fitted suits, blazers or coats.
Dresses:
- Wrap and pleated dresses as well as shape fitted top and voluminous skirt A – line dresses.
- Wear dress with small prints/vertical lines
Say « No » to:
- Boat, wide scoop and high neckline
- Pencil cut skirts
- Try to avoid wearing short, off shoulder/ puff sleeves
The best jeans for this figure are Bootcut Jeans, Wide-Leg Jeans, flared Jeans, Boyfriend Jeans,Straight-Leg jeans,Mid-Rise or High-Rise Jeans.
Remember, every body is unique, so it’s very likely you may fall between two different body types.
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