Dress for your body shape- Find your flattering style

Clothing choices for your body shape

Are you the kind of person who will go and select a dress or a pattern to sew because you have seen your favorite actress wearing it? I used to do that. But with age, I have grown some sense, and now I know that when selecting the pattern for my clothes, I should not forget who I am and How I am.

Realizing the specialties of your body is essential before selecting the clothes you should wear. You have to appreciate the body you have and adjust the clothing to fit you rather than incessantly worry about the way your store brought clothes should fit you.

Oval, circle, round, hourglass, diamond, rectangle, straight, triangle, inverted triangle, spoon, Christmas tree, cone ; terms which are fruit based like apple and pear – There are so many body shapes, you may get confused about where you fit.

Check out the post on Body shapes for more details. And the What are different fashion styles that you can choose from.

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Before you select your next dress, the basic thing to do is to look at yourself in the mirror first and analyze yourself.

• Are you tall or short?
• Are you top-heavy or boxy?

Everyone has a distinct body shape, and that shape has some special peculiarities (big bust? no waist?), which your clothes should address.

If you know your figure type, you can select styles that will emphasize your positive features, flatter you, and downplay the negative aspects of your figure. Correct dressing aims to achieve balance and proportion. 

Read on for some tips for dressing according to your body shape.

Triangle Figure

( Also called A shape, Pear, Spoon, or Christmas tree)

The distinguishing characteristics of this body shape:

• The Upper body is smaller than the lower body.
• This figure has shoulders narrower than the hip.
• Hips will be heavy mainly in the buttocks, low hips, and thighs.
• A smaller or medium bustline is typical of this figure.

A similar type, a spoon shape, can be referred to as having a definite waist, and then it has a distinct area that projects from the hip area (lovingly called the love handles).

  How to dress a Triangle body shape 

For this body shape, we must create a visual balance between your narrow upper body and wider lower body. This can be achieved by drawing attention to the upper body or emphasizing the upper body.

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Wear boat or scoop necks, off-shoulder styles, and even plunging necklines to draw attention to the upper body. Shirts suits this body type. Do not wear any prints for the lower body clothes.

Go for straight cut and Boot cut styles in Jeans. Loose pants with a sleeveless fitted tunic are an option. Make an A-line silhouette this way.

Any pleats and embellishments like embroidery should be on tops, not pants/skirts…

Ruffled collars, bold jewelry, trims, and embellishments on the bodice can draw the eye upward and create the illusion of more width in the upper body. 

Shoulder pads and structured shoulders also give that same effect. 

The hips and thighs being heavy, should be underplayed with dark colored fabrics, or fabrics with small prints.

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The off-shoulder style is very suitable and glamorous for a Pear body type. The flutter sleeves also look good as they add to the shoulders.

Avoid light-colored fabrics for bottom wear. Bright-colored fabrics with bold prints can be chosen for tops. Dark-colored fabric is appropriate for bottom wear for this body type. So if using a light-colored top, wear dark pants or a skirt. 

Stripes or prints on the upper body and darker, plain pants work well for this body shape.

Dresses should be well fitted at the waist as this figure has a small waist, and you need to emphasize this advantage

Read more on selecting clothes for a pear shaped body.

Inverted triangle figure

( Also called Cone or V shape)

It is basically the shape of a triangle figure turned upside down. The top part of the body is heavier than the lower portion.

You must have heard of this figure referred to as ‘top heavy.’ The shoulders of this body type are wider than the hips, and this figure typically has a large bust line. The legs will be thin and mostly well-shaped. 

  How to dress an Inverted Triangle figure.

The heavier upper body of this body type needs to be balanced to look slimmer. So V necks that make you look slim is a preferred neckline for this body shape.

Do not wear short tops. Instead, choose tops that are long – even till the hips, which will elongate your body.

Wear jackets that are structured and fitted with one button. This will define your shape and make you look slimmer. Check out the post 30+ tips to dress to look slimmer

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Dark colors have a slimming effect, so wear this color for the upper-body garments. Wrap tops which hug the body, and create a curvy shape at the waist are suited for this shape.

Cowl necks with a medium cowl also are good. Ensure that the tops do not have any over-the-top fancy embellishment, adding to the heaviness of the top portion of the body.

Tunics that flare from the waist to the hip also create a balance. Pockets can  be placed below the waist to draw the eye from the upper part. 

Flared and pleated skirts are good choices for this figure type. But do avoid any embellishments or detailing near the waists.

Never ever think of selecting a pattern with shoulder pads. Avoid.

Body shapewear is a blessing for the top-heavy figure. Take advantage of the many kinds of waist nippers, shape enhancers etc., out there.. 

Read more on selecting clothes for an inverted triangle shaped body.

Rectangle Figure

( Also called H Frame)

This is a body type with no definition at the waistline, with shoulders and hips of almost the same width, and the waist only slightly smaller; Mostly a straight up and down figure. 

Usually, this figure is proportioned small at the top half of the body and larger towards the bottom around the hips and buttocks. This body type is usually referred to as ‘Boxy‘ in layman’s terms. Do you know that it is also called a banana figure? Some may call it the boyish figure or an athletic figure.

   How to dress a Rectangle figure

When choosing the dress for this body type, we should create the impression of a waistline. You will need to reduce the boxiness of the figure. 

To define the waist, always add belts to your tops and dresses. The belts will define your waist. Elasticized waistbands also work very well. But if you have no waist to speak of, do not wear belts. 

Necklines can be embellished with trims. Boat necks, scoop necks, U necks, and off-shoulder necklines are all suitable for this figure. 

Avoid oversized dresses or any styles that will not give you any shape unless they are belted at the waist. 

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Skinny jeans are a good addition to the wardrobe of a rectangle body type. Tulip skirts and pencil skirts also work. A-line skirts are another good silhouette for this shape.

Choose clothes with ruffles, flounces, pleats, and other embellishments near the hips to make them look fuller.

Wear wrap dresses that will make the waist line look more defined and curvy.

Read more on selecting clothes for a rectangle shaped body.

Hourglass Figure

( Also called figure 8)

This is the dream body type which is the most sought-after one. It is a well-proportioned body shape coveted by all. This figure has a hip and bust of almost equal width, with the waist almost ten or more inches thinner. 

  How to dress an Hourglass figure

This figure has a balanced figure and can carry almost all styles. But a well-fitted style with soft flowing lines will suit this body type the best. Tops in light colors with darker belts work well in accentuating the waist. 

Avoid loose-fitting dresses like loose tunics without any shape. Tops with an empire line waist are a good choice. 

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Shorts , skinny jeans and mermaid skirts are very suitable looks for this figure.

Avoid heavy fabrics to sew the dresses as they can also make you look heavy. Choose knits that will hug your curves.  

Oval Figure

( also called Apple or Diamond shape)

This body type has narrow shoulders and hips of relatively the same width with a fuller bustline and waistline. i.e., narrow at the top and bottom of the figure and Chest and belly heavier than the rest of the body. Usually waist and stomach of this figure measure more than the bust. This figure will have skinny legs.  

  How to dress an Oval figure

When dressing this figure, the aim will be to draw attention away from the tummy and waist area.

This figure can benefit from shoulder pads, and they will make the shoulders broad and hence comparatively make the waist look smaller.  

Choose V necks for your bodices. 

Avoid tight leggings and skinny jeans. Tight bottom wear will emphasize the heaviness of the upper body. A straight pair of jeans or pants  would look good. Bootleg and wide-leg pants also balance the look.
Short skirts work well, showing off the shapely legs but not too short, or it will emphasize the top-heaviness. Knee-length skirts work well, as well as calf-length skirts.

Try to create vertical lines with long jackets and long necklaces. 

Avoid wearing tops or tunics which are too tight or low-waisted jeans that will emphasize the tummy. A sleeveless style is also another way to take eyes off the abdomen, but only if your arms are well-toned. 

Dark colored Plain Tunics in soft flowing fabric (not too clingy), which are hip length paired with a light-colored bottom wear, are good options for a slimmer look.

Tall and short figures

You may also be tall and short on top of these body types. Let us see how you can select your clothes, taking into consideration your height and weight.

Read more on selecting clothes for a round shaped body.

Tall Figure – How to look less tall ? 

Tall girls are so lucky – that is my thought process, being short, but all tall girls may not think so. If you are concerned about your height and feel odd, like a pole, you should dress to give an illusion of less height. And that is easy.

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Wear clothes with different color combinations rather than stick to the same color throughout. Choose a different skirt or pants if your tunic or top is in one color. Contrast-colored bottom wear will work very well. They will cut the height and make you appear shorter if that is your aim.

Color contrast at the waistlines and hip can make a tall girl seem shorter and fuller.

Dark-colored clothes suit tall people. But not all dark colors suit everybody equally. Depending on your skin color, you may choose dark colors like rust, navy blue, etc. Bright colors also suit tall girls.

You can choose to wear a plain colored dress if you can accessorize it with a contrasting color shawl or scarf.

If you are wearing plain clothes, do carry accessories of contrasting colors or unusual designs

Button-down garments make you look all the taller, so avoid it.

People with tall figures can wear wide collars, boat necklines, full sleeves, and full dresses.

The skirt styles that suit a tall girl are flared, gathered, pleated and tiered.

Fabric with thin vertical lines is to be avoided by a tall girl. But other than that prints, stripes, and checks are very suitable for tall girls. Ensure that the bodice of the dress is plain and uncluttered. A boat neck is one of the most suitable necklines for a tall girl.

Big bags and purses also suit them. When selecting jewellery, go for big and bold designs.

TALL AND SLENDER – How to look less angular?

This is a figure that most girls covet—the kind of figure that makes high fashion models.

A problem faced by this type of figure is their very thinness which may make them look angular. The solution is to soften the outline and create the illusion of feminine curves. Avoid bare necklines and shoulders. So waterfall ruffles of an off-shoulder dress are not for this figure.

Do not go for too well-fitted clothes. It could make you look all thinner. Slightly loose but fitting clothes (semi-fitted) like jackets will add fullness to the figure.

Puffed sleeves and padded shoulders are suited for this figure. Full sleeves also suit them.

Look for fabrics with slight stiffness to sew clothes for you if you have a tall and very thin body. Fabrics like organdie and Taffetta are like that and best suit this body shape. Clinging fabrics that hug the figure also will work..

When selecting patterns to sew for this figure, choose one with a fitted waist. As the waist is thin for this body type, emphasizing the waist with waistbands or belts works very well.

Straight dresses like sheath dresses should be avoided.

Choose skirts that are gathered, pleated, or tapered.

Short Figure – How to look tall ?

This is, assuming that short girls want to appear taller. There are many who are happy with their short stature.

The best silhouette for short girls is an A-line one.

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Other styles which suit short girls are Princess lines, gored skirts, and narrow front panels. Tiered skirts and other styles that flare below the hips should be avoided.

Plain-colored clothes will make you look tall, as does the same colored clothes for top and bottom. For e.g., a plain top and pants in the same color will elongate the silhouette.

The fabrics best suited for short girls are soft fabrics in light colors and light or medium-weight fabrics with small pattern designs. Only select big prints in your upper wear; instead, go for small prints. The short girl should avoid fabrics with big borders at all costs.

Horizontal lines should be avoided. Big dots also should be avoided. Vertical lines obviously create an illusion of tallness, so go for them.

Do not wear wide belts. If you have to wear belts, choose a narrow one in the same color as the pants or dress. Belts in the same color as your dress will give a trim look.

To sum up, to look taller

• Wear outfits of one color or pattern.
• Avoid too much fullness, large pockets, and large accessories.
• Vertical patterns elongate the figure.

Heavy Figure – How to look thin ?

The clothes you wear should be aimed at trimming down your figure.

Avoid fabrics which cling to your body emphasizing portions you do not want to be accentuated. Another kind of fabric to avoid is heavy fabric and piled fabric like velvet.

Do not wear clothes with too many colors. Too many colors distract the eye and make the wearer look heavy. Wear same colored top and pants to look slim.

Light colors tend to make the wearer look fat. So avoid those colors.

Avoid dots or checks. , horizontal lines and big prints (maybe even medium prints). Vertical lines in the fabric will elongate the silhouette and make you look slim.

Select clothes in dark color; Dark color will make you look slimmer. Light and vivid colors are to be avoided as they can make you look large.

Select fabric like crepe, Dull finished silk, fine wools in colors which suit your skin tones.

A long jacket in a dark color is a good choice for the heavy figure.

If you have a heavy body especially near the hips you should wear a long skirt; this will elongate your legs

Short and Heavy

• Do not wear clothes with shoulder padding.
• Avoid bulky textures and big patterns.
• Avoid sleeveless styles if your arms are heavy.
• You should wear outfits of one color or pattern.
• Very light- or very bright-colored outfits are best to be avoided.
• Wear gored or slim (not tight) skirts.
• Avoid wide belts, full sleeves, ruffles, and curved lines.

Hope this post has helped someone out there in selecting the right fabric and suitable patterns to sew. Though at times I ignore all the rules and select those beautifully printed fabrics with stunningly bold designs in spite of knowing that they do not suit me so well. But you live and learn.

Related posts:

• How to dress if you have flabby arms
• How to dress if you have short and stocky legs
• How to dress to hide a big belly
• How to dress if you are short and petite
• How to dress if you want to hide a big bustline

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