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We all know that feeling – standing in front of the mirror, wondering if that outfit is doing us any favors. Well, fret no more!
Because dressing for your body type is all about highlighting your best features and feeling fabulous in your own skin. And, it’s not that hard to pull off an outfit that’ll make you feel confident!
So here’s a short practical guide I’ve created to dressing for your body type, so you can step out knowing that your outfit is for you!
Hourglass Body Shape
First off the list, let’s address the hourglass shape. For a body shape like that, your waist is typically smaller, and your hips and bust are more balanced. And so, I believe that the key here is to highlight that beautiful waistline!
Here are the types of clothing that will complement this body type and ones you should definitely avoid if your goal is to highlight your curves:
What to wear:
- Belted dresses: I love a belted dresses because it defines the waist while complementing your curves. The belt cinches the dress at the waist to help define your curves even more.
- High-waisted jeans: These are your best friend! They pull in at the waist and give that perfect silhouette to strive for.
- Fitted tops: Tops that cinch at the waist or are slightly fitted highlight your narrow middle.
Avoid:
- Boxy shapes and oversized clothing that hide your waist. You want to show it off, not cover it up! However, that’s not to say you should avoid them as they’re comfy and stylish in their own right.
Pear Body Shape
If you’re pear-shaped like me, you likely have wider hips with a smaller upper body. So the goal here is to balance out your silhouette by drawing attention to your top half.
Here are the types of clothing that will complement this body type and ones you should definitely avoid:
What to wear:
- A-line skirts: These are perfect for pear shapes because they skim over your hips without clinging, plus, they create a flattering balance.
- Off-the-shoulder tops: I love how an off-the-shoulder top can highlight your neckline and shoulders whilst effortlessly balancing your proportions.
- Structured jackets: A structured blazer or jacket can never go wrong as they can add some volume to your upper body and brings everything into proportion.
Avoid:
- Pants with a lot of extra detail on the hips like pockets or unnecessary embellishments. They’ll do no favors and just draw attention away to your widest area.
- Oversized tops can also draw attention away from the top half too.
Apple Body Shape
For the apple-shaped girlies with a fuller bust, wider torso, and narrower hips, I recommend to have the focus on the upper body (much like the previous two body types.)
The only difference is that the extra goal here is to also find a way to elongate your figure to add some shape to the lower body.
Here are the types of clothing that will complement this body type and ones you should definitely avoid:
What to wear:
- Empire waist dresses: These dresses sit right under your bust and flow out, which helps create the illusion of a longer torso. I recommend it!
- V-neck tops: A deep V-neckline helps elongate your upper body and brings attention to your face.
- Bootcut pants: I personally think bootcut or flared pants are a great choice for apple shapes because they add balance by widening at the bottom. A good hack for sure!
Avoid:
- Clingy fabrics around the midsection. You want fabrics that skim along and not cling to your body.
Rectangle Body Shape
If you have a rectangle body shape, then your bust, waist and hips are all fairly uniform. Hence, the idea we’ll try to achieve here is to create the illusion of added curves and emphasize your waistline at the same time.
What to wear:
- Peplum tops: Peplum tops are top of the list and favorites of mine because they instantly give the illusion of a more defined waist and add volume to your hips due to their design
- Wide-leg jeans: These help create curves to your body by balancing out your silhouette.
- Ruffled tops: I love how ruffled blouses or tops with extra detailing can add some volume to your upper half, making you look more hourglass-like. A really good hack for sure!
Avoid:
- Clothing that create a boxy or straight silhouettes that don’t define your waist. I’ll steer clear of regular T-shirts or tops that don’t have any sort of shape at the waistline.
Inverted Triangle Body Shape
For the inverted triangle shape, what that means is that your shoulders or bust are broader than your hips. So the goal is to achieve a look that perfectly balance out your wide upper frame by adding volume to your lower body.
What to wear:
- A-line skirts or dresses: These help to balance your silhouette out by adding some much needed flare to your lower half.
- Straight-leg pants: I love straight-leg or wide-leg pants on this body shape because they can help even out your proportions.
- V-neck tops: V-necks are a go-to for this shape because they draw attention downward and thereby making your shoulders look less broad. Trust me, these tops work!
Avoid:
- Blazers with shoulder pads or anything that adds more volume to your upper half.
Petite Body Shape
If you’re petite, meaning you’re around 5’4” or under, then the focus is on trying as much as possible to elongate your figure. This can be achieved by choosing pieces that don’t overwhelm your frame.
What to wear:
- High-waisted pants: A must. These create the illusion of longer legs, and I personally love how they instantly make me feel taller whenever I put mine on!
- Monochromatic outfits: Dressing in one color from head to toe can help lengthen your silhouette as it distorts people’s perception of one’s height. It works like a magic trick.
- Tailored pieces: Petite women look amazing in clothes that fit close to the body and so, anything too loose or oversized can drown your frame.
Avoid:
- Oversized clothes and super long skirts that can make you look shorter. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
Tall Body Shape
If you’re on the taller side, dressing to emphasize your long legs and overall statuesque figure is key. However, it’s also about finding that right balance so you don’t appear too elongated!
What to wear:
- Midi skirts: I truly love how a midi skirt can break up your frame in a way that looks chic but balanced.
- Wide belts: These handy dandy accessories can help define your waist and break up your long torso, whilst also adding more shape to your outfit.
- Maxi dresses: If you’re tall, you can pull off maxi dresses beautifully, and that’s a blessing! They really do highlight your height in a way that’s graceful and elegant, so I recommend wearing more of them.
Avoid:
- Super-short mini skirts, unless you want to go for an all-out long-legged look. You just need to make sure that it strikes the right balance for yourself as you’re most familiar with what works and what doesn’t.
Curvy Body Shape
If you have a curvy body then most likely than not, your bust, waist and hips are well-proportioned, with more fullness in the bust and hips. Therefore, I believe that the goal is to highlight your natural curves without adding any unnecessary bulk.
Let’s explore some ideas:
What to wear:
- Wrap dresses: I absolutely adore wrap dresses for any curvy shaped body type. Reason being that they hug the body in all the right places whilst emphasizing your waist.
- Fitted tops: A top that’s fitted through the waist can really help show off your figure in a beautiful way.
- Tailored pants: I’d suggest looking for pants with a bit of stretch, but that also keep their shape. Hence, tailored, high-waisted pants are perfect for showcasing your curves without being too tight. Pair it with the right shoes too.
Avoid:
- Oversized clothing or ones without any definable shape. If it doesn’t highlight your waist to show off your curves, you may wanna think twice about it.
Athletic Body Shape
> White Top | > Red Top | > Patterned Top
For athletic or more muscular body types, the goal is often to add a lil’ bit more softness or create the illusion of more added curves to your body.
What to wear:
- Soft, flowy fabrics: I’m a big fan of how flowy fabrics can always add a bit of softness to an athletic build.
- Off-the-shoulder tops: These are a favorite of mine because they show off strong shoulders in a sort of feminine way. Gotta show off those lovely shoulders!
- Skater skirts: The flared silhouette of a skater skirt helps add volume to your lower body, creating balance and a curvier look.
Avoid:
- Super-tight clothes that might make you look more angular. You want to soften up your silhouette, so make sure to get something that’s just fitting enough. That’s my tip!
Plus-Size Body Shape
For plus-size shapes, the key is to find clothes that fit well and accentuate parts of the body that you’d want to accentuate. For this body type, it’s all about creating that nice balance and define your shape.
What to wear:
- Wrap tops: I love wrap tops for plus-size figures because they can help further define the waist and highlight the bust.
- Dark, solid colors: Dark colors are slimming, and that’s a fact! I wear them all the time for this reason. However, don’t shy away from bold colors either. As long as it’s fitted well, you’ll look stunning!
- Structured blazers: A well-structured blazer can pull your look together and give you that extra polished, professional and girlboss vibe.
Avoid:
Anything too baggy or shapeless. It’s all about the fit, my girlies!
Concluding Thoughts:
Dressing for your body type doesn’t have to be a chore. If you put some thought to it, you’ll realize that it really isn’t hard at all!
In fact, it’s about putting your favorite features on centre stage and most importantly, feeling great in your own skin.
The best part? Once you know how to work with your shape through trial and error, you can approach your wardrobe with a new level of confidence.
So, I hope these tips can further help you embrace your body and have fun with fashion, in your own way.
