Styling Tips for Different Body Types
HOURGLASS FIGURE:
Overall goal: Lengthen your body & showcase your slim waist without hiding your curves.
DO:
- Strut your stuff in a strapless dress, which won’t divide your body like a two-piece outfit.
- Make sure you’re wearing the right bra so you have enough support.
- Wear wrap-around tops and wrap dresses to really show off your slim waist.
- Three-quarter length sleeves show off those thin arms while hiding any flaws.
- Scoop & v-neck tops show off your bust and draw attention upward to your pretty face.
- Try lighter colors on top, darker on bottom.
DON’T:
- An empire waist dress or top will hide your waist and make you look shapeless… or pregnant.
- Stay away from high necklines, which will only exaggerate your upper half and do nothing to call attention to your waist.
- Never wear jackets that hit right across your rear; either wear one that ends at the waist, or one that extends below your bottom.
- Double-breasted jackets will only double-highlight your upper body.
- Don’t wear short skirts, as they don’t elongate your look (they actually make you look more round).
- Baggy pants will make you look larger, so opt for slightly flared bottoms will help add more balance.
Those who tend to be petite on top and bigger on the bottom are typically considered to have a triangle shape. Since women with a triangle figure have small shoulders and curvaceous hips, the idea is to pull the focus up and add interest to the top half by highlighting your more slender upper body.
Take advantage of trends like bold shoulders and statement necklaces, or use detailed and colorful tops to draw up the eye. Then keep it sleek on the bottom by opting for dark pants or skirts and simple shoes.
DO:
- Wear clothes that balance broad shoulders
- Create the illusion of a defined waist
- Draw the attention to your legs.
DONT:
- Don’t wear clothes that create more volume on the shoulders.
- Don’t wear wide and straight necklines
- Don’t wear loud patterns and heavy detailing around the neck and shoulders.
- Don’t wear tight trousers and narrow hemlines
INVERTED TRIANGLE
Women who are the opposite of the triangle body type — the inverted-triangle silhouette — tend to have broad shoulders and narrow hips, so it’s important to find clothing that helps elongate the torso. Try leaving a scarf unwrapped or accessorizing with a long necklace or low-slung belt to create a vertical eye-line. Remember, drop waists are flattering, so avoid high-waisted jeans, skirts and pants. Items like corsets, halter tops and padded shoulders are generally a no, but you should take advantage of fun footwear trends and show off your legs with skirts and skinny pants.
DO:
- Wear clothes that balance broad shoulders
- Create the illusion of a defined waist
- Draw the attention to your legs.
- Choose styles that add volume to hips and leg line.
DON'T:
- Don’t wear clothes that create more volume on the shoulders.
- Don’t wear wide and straight necklines
- Don’t wear loud patterns and heavy detailing around the neck and shoulders.
- Don’t wear tight trousers and narrow hemlines
RECTANGLE FIGURE:
Someone who is straight all the way through from top to bottom is typically considered to have a rectangle body type, and will want to create curves and define her waistline. Many females with a rectangle shape complain of a boyish figure, but there are plenty of ways to play up your womanly assets.
Wrap tops and dresses, bias cuts, ruffles and draping can all help create the illusion of a bigger bust and hips in comparison to your waistline. Jackets or blazers that have darts at the waist and V-neck tops are other ways to curve out your silhouette as well. Just be sure to avoid square-neck or fitted tops, mid-rise pants and wide-leg or loose trousers, as all of these will create a boxy image rather than a curvy one!
DO:
- Slight shaping of garments
- A classic round-neck jumper gives elegant shape
- Angular jackets that point to your waist
- Shoulder-line emphasis
- Dresses that wrap or flow through the waistline, feminine chiffon softens your shape
- High waisted dresses (like a wrap dress) will add definition to your shape.
- Jackets that fasten with a tie belt or sash to create a waist.
- A three-quarter length coat that is belted (like a trench-coat), make sure you tie the jacket either at the front or the back. Hip pockets on the jacket add a bit of curve.
- A coat that is cut in an empire line that comes in at the waist.
- Straight and semi-fitted jackets and dresses
- Straight to slightly flared flat fronted pants
- High placed focal points
- The gentle flare of an A-line skirts is all you need to add shape to your waist.
- Slightly flared pants that add shape to your waist
- Accessories that focus the attention to the centre and the top part of your body.
- Fitted Vest with a shirt, blouse or t-shirt underneath to carve into the body.
- Shape wear that shapes the waist.
DON’T:
- Clingy Fabrics that accentuate the rectangle shape
- Fitted silhouettes that accentuate the rectangle shape
- Baggy pants
- Big loose tops
- Narrow skirts
- Cropped tops
- Dropped waist
- Formless three-quarter length jackets
- Boxy jackets
- Double breasted coats
- Mini-skirts
- Trousers in a stiff fabric
WE love to style our clients! If you need help reach-out to JoJo and we can help you!
Thanks Loves!
JoJo xoxoxo
