How to Dress Nice for your body type
There is an old stereotype of women taking forever to dress to go out because they have "nothing to wear" despite having a bulging closet. They are often heard opining that nothing they own looks good on their body. That doesn't have to happen anymore. Knowing your body type will allow you to look good no matter your shape or weight. Being mindful of what will look good on you because of your body type will make shopping and dressing easier.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Hourglass Shapes:
- Belts
- Pencil skirt
- Tailored shirts
- Wide-leg trousers
- Triangle Shapes:
- Bold necklaces
- Spaghetti strap shirts
- Colorful tops
- Dark denim
- Inverted Triangle Shapes:
- Long scarves
- Long necklaces
- Tailored jeans
- Wrap dresses
- Rectangle (straight) Shapes:
- V-neck animal print tops
- Skinny jeans
- A-line skirts
- Darted jackets
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Body Types and the Clothes That Complement Them
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1
The hourglass figure is considered the ideal silhouette. That is your body type if the width of your shoulders and hips is the same and your waist is smaller than both. Always accentuate your waist while dressing your top and bottom proportionally. Wide belts are a great way to show off your waist. You probably have beautiful legs so dress with varying skirt lengths. Loose dresses and blouses that billow in the midsection will hide your waist and make you look bigger. Pencil skirts, tailored shirts and wide-leg trousers were made for hourglass body types.
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2
Women who are small on top and bigger on the bottom are considered to have a triangle shape. You want to wear clothes that draw the attention upwards, and de-emphasize your stomach and hip areas. Bold necklaces, detailed necklines and exaggerated shoulder styles will highlight your top half. Spaghetti strap shirts and colorful tops will also look nice on this body type. Coats and jackets that end at the hip are the most flattering. Wear neutrals and slimming colors such as black pants on your bottom half. Body-hugging pants will not be flattering on this body type. Stick instead with dark denim boot cuts.
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3
Women who are the opposite of the triangle body type are defined as the inverted-triangle type. These women have broad shoulders and narrow hips. Elongating the torso is the main objective. Try scarves, long necklaces and drop waists. Tailored slim pants are good for this body type but don't go too short in skirts or you will look top heavy. Wrap dresses will flatter this body type. Stay away from high necks and super skinny jeans.
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4
The rectangle or straight body shape is the most common body shape in America. Over 45 percent of American women have the straight body shape. Their hips and bust are the same size, they have no defined waist, and they have a flat bottom. Their legs are often their best feature. Form-fitting clothes with a dark belt will create a waist. Jackets with darts and wrap tops and dresses will make an attractive silhouette. Avoid square-neck tops; opt for v-necks instead, in animal prints, which create more volume on top. Skinny jeans and A-line skirts will highlight the legs.
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Tips & Warnings
Try on clothes with a supportive foundation before buying them.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
