How to dress your bodyshape

Thu 05 Jun 2025

Dressing Your Body Type

It is very rare that you will fit exactly into one of the five body shape categories, many women will find that they are a combination of the different body types. The best thing to do is measure yourself; the highest point of your shoulders, the fullest part of your bust, the smallest part of your waist and the widest part of your hips. The more balanced your silhouette, the more visually pleasing your outfit will be. Highlight the features you love and play down those areas you dislike by using the right fits and cuts.

Oval Body / Apple Shape

  • Shoulders and hips are proportional
  • Curvy through mid-section
  • Torso is a wider measurement than shoulders & hips
  • Waist isn’t naturally defined

For an apple shape, aim to balance the upper body by adding curves to the lower half. Focus on defining the waist and minimizing attention to the midsection. Choose lightweight fabrics that reduce bulk and highlight your best features. Opt for tops with details above the bust or below the hips, but keep the middle simple. Skirt and dress styles like fit-and-flare, wrap, or empire line are ideal. A low V-neck, sweetheart, scoop, or strapless neckline will draw attention upwards. Choose loose, flared sleeves or slim cap sleeves, and open jackets that hit at the hips to elongate your silhouette. For trousers, go for wide-leg or boot-cut styles with a low to mid-rise, and flat-front trousers with side fastenings to avoid extra bulk. Avoid pleats, ruffles, and tiers that add unnecessary volume.

Triangle Body / Pear Shape

  • Waist wider than bust
  • Fuller hips
  • Narrower shoulders to hips
  • Fuller rear

For a pear shape, focus on drawing attention to the upper body and waist to balance out wider hips. Opt for wide necklines like square, bateau, cowl, or off-shoulder, and add embellishments or jewellery to highlight the upper body. Flutter or batwing sleeves work well for short sleeves, while slim long sleeves minimize volume. Puff sleeves or shoulder pads can help balance the proportions. Tuck tops in to emphasize your waist. A cropped jacket creates structure, while mid-thigh or longer styles elongate the body and hide hips. Avoid jackets hitting at the widest point of your hips. Fit-and-flare or belted coats accentuate the waist. For trousers, choose flat-front wide-leg or boot-cut styles to minimize hips, and avoid skinny or tapered pants that highlight them.

Inverted Triangle / Heart Body

  • Generally well proportioned
  • Shoulders broader than hips
  • Not usually curvy through hips
  • Don’t have a well-defined waistline

A heart body shape looks best when you highlight your fuller bust, amazing legs or arms. Silhouettes that don’t rely on a structured waistline are ideal. The aim is to balance the broader upper body with the narrow lower body. In terms of tops, it’s best to choose A-line shapes, wraps, flowy tunics and a v neck line. Ensure your jackets finish at hip or upper thigh, a straight knee-length style and also an A-line shape works. For dresses go for a maxi shape with a lower neckline, a wrap style (adding a camisole underneath for additional coverage) or even a mini dress if you love your legs. A wide leg, straight leg, bootcut or flared trouser will help to balance out your broader upper body.

Athletic Shape / Rectangle Body

  • Not curvy
  • Shoulders & hips nearly the same
  • Waist is straight up and down
  • Weight is evenly distributed throughout your body

Tailored, structured styles that show off your figure and create more shape are key for this body shape. Broader shoulders may make finding tops that flatter tricky at times. Enhance your shape with a V neck, scoop, sweetheart and plunging necklines. Details around the neckline like collars, ruffles and trims can help create volume and to direct attention upwards. Avoid square necklines and fitted sleeves and boxy shapes as these will emphasise the rectangle shape. Accentuate your waist with high-waisted, belted styles. A wide leg, flare or a boot-cut will add needed volume to your lower body. Similarly fit and flare shapes for skirts and dresses will create curves and flatter your figure.

Curvy Shape / Hourglass Body

  • Curvy
  • Well-defined waist
  • Bust & hip measurements are roughly even
  • Fuller bust, hips & thighs

An hourglass shape features a defined waist and balanced proportions. To dress this shape, emphasise the waist while keeping the top and bottom in proportion. Flattering necklines include off-the-shoulder, sweetheart, square, scoop, and V-neck. Fitted sleeves work best, and any added volume on top should be balanced with volume on the bottom. Jackets should be form-fitting and belted to highlight the waist, while single-breasted styles are ideal—avoid boxy or straight shapes. Bottoms like wide-leg, slightly tapered, or boot-cut with a mid- to high-rise accentuate the waist. Nipped-in, belted, and wrap dresses are perfect for showcasing the defined waist.

*This article was in the May 2025 edition of Velvet Magazine*

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