How (Not) To Dress Your Body Type

Female body types

Listen to this story and tell me if it sounds familiar? You walk into a clothing store, and after browsing tons of dresses, you finally find one that you instantly fall in love with. You picture yourself in the dress, imagine all the compliments you will receive, and eagerly pace towards the dressing room to try it on. But when you look at yourself in the mirror, you can’t believe your eyes, because the dress looks terrible on you!

We’ve all been there, but don’t worry, there’s a solution! Each dress in catered to different body types, and as we know, the female form comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. If a dress looks spectacular on your friend, it may not flatter your body type as much. Want to know more about the female body shapes? You have come to the right place!

How to dress for your body type

The female body type can be divided into 5 basic (stunning) shapes. It includes rectangular, pear, apple, oval and hourglass. No, I’m not randomly naming fruits. Each of these body types has certain measurements and ratios that give them their name. Let’s talk through each of them so that you can identify your body type and dress accordingly so you can look splendid every single day.

5 Types of female body shapes

1. Hourglass

Women with this body shape have a bust and hips that measure roughly equal and have a well-defined waist. Do you have a curvy body with a tiny waist? Do you wear the same size top and bottom? You may have an hourglass body.

Generally, this is considered to be the ideal body shape because most Hollywood actresses flaunt this type of body. It looks good in most styles of clothing, and dresses look classy and chic on these women. Let’s get into the details about the styles most suited to this shape, so you can look stunning day-in and day-out.

What to wear?

Choose well-fitted clothes that cinch at your waist and accentuate your curves. Form-fittings jerseys, wrap tops and peplum blouses all enhance your silhouette and highlight your narrow waist. Dresses are an hourglass-shaped women’s best friend because almost all styles will look fabulous on you. They will highlight the beautiful curves and the waist, and emphasize your figure. Try to wear body-hugging styles, like the fit & flare or the wrap dress, as they have a fitted bodice and flowy bottoms that look absolutely gorgeous and works perfectly with the lower body. While choosing a neckline, you can go with v-shaped or sweetheart necklines as they work well. Another idea is to use a belt to display that narrow waist, and a dark belt on a light-colored dress is a perfect choice.

What to avoid?

If you have a well-balanced curvy figure, try to avoid loose tops or flowy dresses because they will not let your body shape shine through. Instead, embrace your curves.

2. Apple (Inverted Triangle) Body shape

Women with this figure have shoulders that are broader than the hips, with a waist that is not very well-defined. This type of body is heavier on the top. If your top size is larger than your bottoms, and you have narrow hips with wide shoulders, you may have the apple body type.

Let’s discuss how to take full advantage of your figure

What to wear?

Since an apple body type has narrow hips, you need to enhance the bottom to get a balanced look. All detailing, embellishments and volume should be kept to the bottom half while leaving the top clean and plain. You should opt for A-line silhouettes and flowy tunics. A V-neck is perfectly suited to this body type and makes the shoulders look narrower. For bottoms, straight pants and pencil skirts work like a charm and help to streamline the body. When choosing a dress, look for one with a low neckline and wrap dresses. Knee-length hemlines will look super chic and flattering.

What to avoid?

Don’t wear outfits that have details on the top like puffy sleeves and shoulder pads. Try to keep the upper part of your body minimalistic.

3. Rectangular body shape

The rectangular body shape is a well-balanced female form. The bust and hips are equal and there is no well-defined waistline. This body type tends to have minimal curves and the body shape looks straight from shoulders to hips. If you wear the same size top and bottom but have little waist definition, you probably have a banana-shaped body.

To look your absolute best with this shape, you should try to focus either to enhance your top or your bottom at any given occasion.

What to wear?

Since the rectangular body shape doesn’t have a lot of curves, it is best to wear clothes that bring attention to your bust or your hips. You can wear tank tops to highlight your shoulders and arms, and you will get an elegant look. A strapless dress also looks fabulous as it brings attention to your arms, shoulders and those wonderful collar bones. If you want to enhance your waist, straight pants and tuck-in tops with a belt are an amazing option. An A-line skirt with a ruffled top will enhance your bust and make your waist look petite. And if you want even more enhancement at the top, a V-neck or an embellished collar looks stunning. Do you want to wear dresses but hesitate because of your body shape? Please don’t! Because with a rectangular body shape, a wrap dress or a strapless dress with a high hemline looks breathtaking. Yes, it’s the perfect opportunity to show off your legs.

What to avoid?

Try to avoid wearing loose bottoms and tops together, and always use a belt at the waist with flowy dresses.

4. Pear or Triangular Body shape

Women with a pear-shaped body will have narrow shoulders, broad hips, and a well-defined waist. This body shape is heavier in the bottom and the hips and thighs are curvy and full.

If you wear bottoms a size bigger than tops, you probably have a pear-shaped body.

What to wear?

If you want to look your absolute best, you should focus on adding volume to your upper body so that your figure looks well-balanced and resembles an hour-glass shape. It is a great idea to choose a ruffled top, and pair it with wide pants. Boat-necks, bell sleeves, and plunging V-necks are all great options as they balance out your upper body. Fitted tops and wrap dresses will look stunning on you because they highlight the narrow waist and shows off your curves. When it comes to dresses, you have a wide array of choices. Take your pick from A-line dresses, open back styles, embellished necklines, and puffy sleeves as each one of them will look fantastic on your slender upper body.

What to avoid?

When shopping, try to avoid pants with heavy detailing and bright colors, and opt for straight or bootleg pants

5. Oval body shape

If you have an oval body shape, your shoulders and hips will measure almost equal but your waist and bust will be fuller. This type of figure is narrow at the top and bottom but with plumpness in the tummy area. Want to know some style hacks so you can flatter your body shape? Read ahead

What to wear?

Wear slightly fitted clothes that follow your body lines, but keep all the details and embellishments on the top and bottom thirds. You should aim to keep the abdominal area plain while putting details on the shoulders and hips to draw attention away from your heavy middle region. Try to wear jackets with shoulder pads to make your figure more balanced. Jackets and tops with vertical lines will work to give an illusion of a narrower waist. Straight pants and bootleg pants will work great, as they will highlight your legs. You can also wear a combination of sleeveless tops and knee-length skirts, and pair them with long necklaces and this will highlight your figure while emphasizing your best features.

What to avoid?

Try to avoid super fitted tops and skinny jeans because they will highlight the heaviness around your abdomen. Also avoid horizontal lined tops, which might make you look larger than you actually are.

To Sum It Up

All the tips and tricks are summed up in the overview below.

The Bottom Line

We have discussed the several forms of the female body, and the bottom line is that whatever body type you have, you can look absolutely elegant and well-dressed if you follow these few simple tips. All you have to do is determine your body type and keep it in mind while shopping for the gorgeous new dress or those classy jeans. Make a list of all the qualities you want in the outfit, and try to find one that will enhance and multiply your natural body shape. Sound simple doesn’t it? Because it is! So, give it a go the next time you are shopping. I’m sure you will find it easier to find the perfect ensemble and fall in love with your body shape.

I’m looking forward to reading your comments and ideas on this topic, so please leave a message below!

A bientôt!