We ladies come in all shapes and sizes. There’s no ‘normal’ and no ‘right or wrong’ figure shape…you need to love the body you were given. After all, we’ve only got one and it has to last us a lifetime!
Whilst we do love what our mumma gave us, there are tips and tricks that help us to know our body type and dress accordingly. After all, pieces that flatter a curvaceous body won’t have the same impact on an athletic body.
It all comes down to knowledge on what your body type is, and then what to wear that suits you. That’s why this handy guide will become your body type bible.
To know if you’re an hourglass is simple: your shoulders and hips will be roughly the same width and your waist will be narrow. The hourglasses are lucky as they can, relatively speaking, get away with wearing most things.
As with most body shapes, your waist is to be enhanced with an hourglass, but as you already have a narrow waistline then it’s pretty easy. Choose fabrics that are figure hugging for optimum ‘feminine’ appeal.
With your bottom half, you are pretty much okay to wear most options. However it is good to note that skinny trousers can make you seem shorter and thicker set, whilst flare trousers give your frame a balance.
Pencil skirts are fantastic for your figure, but so are 1950’s style full skirt / A line dresses too – think old Hollywood glamour. They nip in at the waist and fall at the knee, showing off all your best bits. Team this with a sweetheart top and chunky waist belt and you’ve nailed it.
Image: ASOS
Tops with V, scoop, halter and sweetheart necklines work wonders for the hourglass as they keep the proportions in place and draw attention down to your narrowest point. Avoid anything that adds extra bulk to the breasts as this can lead you to looking top heavy. This includes ruffles and bows etc.
Dresses that nip in at the waist are your best friend, in any length or style. You can pull off both short and long skirt lines…on the condition your waist has been enhanced in the ensemble.
Image: Sheshops
The rectangles are easily defined, being straight up and down. The hips and shoulders are the same width, and the waist is similar width too. The hips and bottom are straight and often, the bust is small.
Being a rectangle, your aim is to create illusion of curves. However, you can also get away with that shapeless style, such as rocking a shift or tunic dress. But most opt for creating curves.
Avoid baggy and oversized garments and opt for good tailoring instead – anything that defines your waist area is great. You can choose tops with lots of detail like ruffles, bows, pockets and embroidery, as this will give a nice balance to your bust. Mix your prints and your fabrics to create an illusion of curves. Go wild!
Avoid square and straight across necklines, instead go for halter, halter strap or V shaped necklines as these will give you a feminine form.
Image: Zara
If you have next to no waist, it it is best to avoid waist belts altogether. Instead, create a waistline with your garments – teaming the right top with trousers or skirt.
Jumpsuits that nip in at the waist and show off your long limbs are a quick and easy way to create illusion of curves for a rectangle body type.
Rectangles are lucky in that they can pull off any trouser style, but wide leg trousers do wonders for your figure. As do tulip skirts.
Image: Zara
You fall in this group if your top half is larger than your bottom half – so you taper down towards your hips. You usually wear a larger top size than you do bottom.
Avoid Bardot and off the shoulder tops as they will only emphasize your top half. Halter necks and straight across tops would be fine, particularly if you team with a waist belt.
When balancing out your heavy top half, you can wear dresses that nip in at the waist / under the breast line and then have a flowing A line lower half. Do not choose any material or style that will hug your hips as this will have the adverse effect.
Combine clever print with wider bottoms and A line skirts to rock this body shape.
Image: Sheshops
To dress for this shape, you’re looking to balance your hips out with your shoulders, so make your shoulders appear smaller and your hips wider.
Wide leg trousers and tulip / full skirts will immediately give your lower half that volume you need. Vertical strips on top or bottom also give the illusion of balance too.
Image: ASOS
The apple, or round body shape, is for the women who have slender limbs but carry their weight in their middle and top section. Bust with be large too.
Flattering an apple body shape is about showing off your limbs and creating an illusion of a waist. You’ll also want to create an illusion or a larger bottom, which will in turn balance out the top heavy aspect of your figure. Oh, and that epic chest could do with being shown off too!
Avoid low waist bands on your shorts and trousers, instead go for high waisted bottom pieces as these will give illusion of balance in your midriff. Also avoid crop tops or any tops that draw attention to your middle area. Any dresses or tops that have a pattern across the middle are also a no-go as they accentuate your widest part.
However, long tops / shirt dresses are fab on you. Think tunic style tops that fall below your hips. If the long top or dress has sleeves or detail / embellishment on your shoulders, then this is fantastic for your shape.
Image: ASOS
Showing off your bust is a great technique for apple shapes, and the sweetheart, halter neck and V neck tops are perfect for this. Bardot, boatneck and straight across necklines are to be avoided as they do not flatter larger busts.
You should also show off your great pins with shorts, skirts and high heels. Leggings and skinny jeans will make you look more top heavy, so avoid these where possible.
Image: ASOS
Whilst a triangle can be seen as a pear shape…they are similar but the triangle proportions are much smaller. Your lower half is larger than your top half, but not to the extent of a pear. It is a more subtle difference.
You still need to adopt a similar stance when dressing though – top half needs to be enhanced to balance out your heavier lower half. Triangles usually have smaller busts than a pear, so you can get away with more embellished detailing on top.
Dresses are great for the triangle, but be sure that they nip you in at the waist and offer a neckline / sleeveline that gives your shoulders a wider feel.
Flared trousers work well, as do straight cut trousers – avoid cigarette pants or anything with embellishments around your hips and bottom area.
Image: ASOS
Shirts with sleeves and ruffles are great to add extra bulk up top, which then balances out your lower half. Same with the pear – A line skirts also work magic for you too.
Oversized sleeves are a huge trend right now, and these are perfect for the triangles. The exaggerated sleeves give you volume and length to your arms, which will then offer proportion to your bottom.
Image: Sheshops
You’re a pear shape if your lower half is greatly larger than your top half. Most pear shapes carry their weight on their thighs and rear, whilst their top halves are slight in comparison. That being said, your bust will be large, which differentiates you from a triangle (see triangle slide for comparison).
Balancing out your lower half is your aim with a pear shape. Think about ways to accentuate your waist and choose tops that draw attention away from your bottom.
As for your lower half, avoid trousers and skirts that accentuate your thighs and bottom. Super skinny trousers are a no, but flared trousers or straight trousers are a yes.
Avoid pencil skirts (they’re too tight and draw all the attention to your bum and thighs) and instead look for skirts that start at your waist and finish either at your knees or your ankles.
Image: ASOS
The right neckline can make all the difference – Bardot, Boatneck and Off Shoulder will give you that shoulder exposure that balances your lower half. The top’s length also plays a major part – you should opt for a crop top or top that finishes on your waistline, or a top that finishes above your hips. Anything longer, like an oversized tee that finishes on your thighs, will just emphasize the area we’re trying to balance out.
Avoid baggy tops and shift dresses – anything that hangs loose and gives you no waist.
Layering your top half will give illusion of body balance, as will large statement accessories. Large earrings or costume necklaces are just fabulous for you.
Image: ASOS
As a diamond, you’ll have small hips, small shoulders and carry your weight in your middle section. Your waist is the widest part of your figure – but because you often carry weight in your middle section, your legs and arms will be slender!
The aim with a diamond is to create an illusion of waist, and balance out your hips and shoulders in doing so. It’s tempting to wear baggy clothes that ‘cover’ your torso but this is actually the opposite of what you need to do.
Tops that suit are wide neck / open tops that show off your chest area or shoulders. Steer clear from halter neck or crop tops as these will only emphasise your middle area.
Anything with an accentuated waist is great, particularly if you add a waist belt yourself! You can also opt for tops that wrap around the bust if you dislike actual belts – they achieve the same look.
Image: ASOS
To dress a diamond shape, you need to source tops that broaden and balance our your shoulders and skirts and trousers that lengthen your lower half.
With your lower half, don’t go for fussy or detailed trousers around you bottom area. Keep it simple. Choose dark colours too, as they help elongate your shape. A-line skirts will be your best friend.
Image: Zara