You most likely have a Pinterest board full of style inspiration and outfits you would love to put together but somehow just can’t pull off. You’re not alone! We’ve all been there and no, the outfit isn’t the problem. When trying on clothes, you might notice that some silhouettes and styles flatter your shape more than others. While you can rock any outfit you like, the secret to unlocking your style potential lies in understanding and embracing your unique body type. Fashion is not about following every trend but about dressing in a way that highlights your best features and makes you feel confident and comfortable.
Let’s dive into the world of fashion tailored just for you, so you can step out with confidence and finally bring those Pinterest outfits to life! We’ll explore how to identify your body type and provide practical tips on choosing the right clothes to accentuate your shape. Whether you have an hourglass figure or a pear shape, there are styles out there that can help you look and feel your best.
Identifying your body type
It’s important to note that the female body shape is primarily determined by genetics and skeletal structure. While exercise can slightly alter your body shape, it is largely influenced by your bone structure and natural fat and muscle distribution. The first step in understanding your body shape is to know your proportions. Grab a tape measure and place it around the fullest portion of your bust, the smallest area on your waist, and the widest part of your hips to find out. Generally, body types are categorized into five main shapes: hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle, and inverted triangle. Here’s how to identify which one you are:
Hourglass
This body type tends to be curvy on both the top and the bottom with a well-defined waist. If you have this body type, your hips and bust are very proportional with almost equal measurements while your shoulders and hips are in balance, creating an hourglass silhouette.
Dressing tip: With an hourglass shape, you want to avoid shapeless or baggy clothes that will overwhelm your frame. Instead, focus on outfits that accentuate the slimmest part of your body which is the waist. Embrace your curves with fitted clothes such as wrap dresses, pencil skirts, and high-waisted pants.
Pear
If your hips are wider than your bust and shoulders, you have a pear-shaped body. Women with this body type also have a defined waist, and their lower body tends to be more prominent with wider hips.
Dressing tip: For this body shape, the goal is to bring the eye up by highlighting the upper body and defined waist in order to create balance. You can do this by choosing prints or brighter colors for your top half.
Wider necklines like boat necklines and sweetheart necklines will help to balance out your silhouette by broadening the shoulders and turtlenecks are particularly flattering because they can make your bust appear fuller. The biggest challenge for Pears is finding bottoms that fit well, and styles that balance out your body. Choose darker colors and straight or wide-leg pants. A-line skirts and high-waisted jeans are also flattering on the pear body shape.
Apple
This body type is often described as being top-heavy or round. If your bust is larger than your hips, you have wide shoulders and a less defined waist, then you have an apple body shape. Women with this body shape typically tend to have thinner legs, arms, and hips and their weight might be concentrated around their midsection.
Dressing tip: The goal with this body shape is to even out your proportions and to try and create the illusion of a defined waist. Avoid buying oversized clothes to compensate for the broader top half instead, keep your tops and jackets more streamlined and simple. Embellishments and patterns can draw too much attention to your top half.
You want to aim for a balanced look, which means you should opt for well-fitted, tailored tops and jackets that are not skin-tight. flowy, structured tops that don’t cling to the midsection, A-line skirts/dresses, and V-necklines are flattering choices.
Rectangle
Also known as the athletic body shape, this body type isn’t as curvy as the hourglass, pear, or apple shapes. Instead, your silhouette is fairly straight with Your shoulders and hip measurements being nearly the same. People with this body type do not have a defined waist, and their body weight tends to be evenly distributed.
Dressing tip: Create the illusion of curves and a waist with ruffled or peplum tops. Always try to cinch your waist, belts are your best allies. Wrap tops and blazers with defined waists can also add shape. Choose pants, skirts, and dresses with volume such as A-line skirts, dresses with ruffled details, or wide-leg trousers. You should avoid silhouettes that are too vertical like a straight jacket with straight trousers which will give you little definition.
Inverted Triangle
You typically have an inverted triangle body shape if you have a larger bust, broader shoulders, and a narrower lower body with minimal definition between your waist and hips.
Dressing tip: Balance your shoulders with tops that have minimal details. V-necks and scoop necks help soften your upper body whereas boat-neck and halter-neck tops will overwhelm your silhouette. Opt for clothes that accentuate your bottom half such as palazzo pants or boyfriend jeans.
Every body shape is unique and beautiful; you don’t need to change yourself in order to feel better about your style. However, knowing your body shape helps you choose clothes that are more flattering on you. Dressing for your body type is essentially about celebrating your unique shape and choosing styles that flatter and celebrate your body while making you feel confident and comfortable.
