Fashion doesn’t evolve around what you wear only; it is about how you express who you are. The most important thing is that the clothes fit the figure and make us comfortable, beautiful, and confident in them, which is largely influenced by using the right pattern that matches our body shape. In a world filled with trends, different styles, and different style advice, it is very easy to lose sight of the major truth: great styling begins with understanding your body shape.
Understanding Body Shapes
The most common body shapes are sets of measurements determined by the majority of people that have been measured overtime but it evolves as the population increases. It represents the common body proportions in a given society. A good outfit is characterised by a proportional balance between the body and the garment, and this can only be achieved through shape assessment and construction. According to the Body Shape Assessment Scale, body shapes are divided into four categories: Hourglass, Pear, Rectangular and Inverted Triangle.
1. Hourglass Shape
For this type of shape, your hips and your bust are approximately the same dimension with a defined waist. The hourglass body shape is often considered the most balanced of the body types. People believe that an hourglass body shape can pull off any outfit, but it is not always the time.
Style Goal
You have figured out that you are an hourglass. Here are some tips on how to style.
Define your slim waist by wearing belts, wrap dresses, peplum tops, high-waisted bottoms, jumpsuits, close-fitting dresses, tops and jackets
Balance your top and bottom with fitted or flared trousers or skirts.
Flatter the neckline by wearing slight V-necks, sweetheart necklines, or square necklines to elongate the torso. Halter and off-shoulder styles also work well to frame the upper body.
Wear body con dresses or shift dresses to highlight your curves.
Avoid wearing tight clothes, as they can make you appear larger rather than accentuating your curves. Cutoffs,
Motifs that draw attention to your stomach or hips, such as flounces or ruffles, should be avoided.
Make sure you do not combine tight-fitting clothes with other tight-fitting clothes, and also wide cuts and baggy fitting clothes should follow this same rule.
Beyoncé, Scarlett Johansson, Marilyn Moore, and Sofia Vergara are examples of celebrities with an hourglass body shape.
2. Pear Shape
Also known as the triangle shape, a pear is characterised by hips that are noticeably wider than the shoulders and bust. Here your body curves are centered on the lower half, particularly the hips, thighs, and bottom. The upper body tends to be slender with little dimension around the bust area.
Style Goal
As a pear body shape, you would want to balance your proportions by adding volume or details to your upper body rather than on your lower half. Wearing tops with bright colours and shiny fabrics accentuates your upper body, while ruffles add more volume above the waist.
Wearing tops that go down your waist is unflattering.
Necklines in V-shapes, U-shapes, or square shapes are great for getting a balanced look.
Don’t wear anything too tight around the middle of your body, such as a wide waist belt, because it makes the area around your hips appear larger due to the strong contrast.
Wear sleeves likea cap, puff, or embellished shoulders. They add dimension to the upper body.
Line dresses, Wrap dresses, and empire line dresses are made for women with pear shaped body.
Minimise wearing heavy bottoms that hide your hips. Choose clothing that skims over them rather than clings or adds volume.
When choosing your bottoms, go for straight-leg, boot-cut, or slightly flared pants and skirts that helps define the waist.
Jennifer Lopez is a celebrity who has been linked to having the pear body shape.
3. Rectangle Shape
This shape is also known as straight or athletic. The rectangular shape is defined by a body with minimal curves, which tends to flatten the chest and the buttocks. The shoulders, bust, waist, and hips are all about the same width, and the waist is not strongly defined. It is often associated with a lean-toned frame, though it exists across different sizes and heights.
Style Goal
With no definite curves, as a rectangular body shape, you can choose to wear outfits to show off your best asset by focusing on the middle of your body. Use a waist belt if your outfit is loose -fitting, then the fabric will gather at the waist and create a feminine hourglass shape.
A fit top and flare bottom dress and an A-line dress will give your sporty, rectangle-shaped body more feminine curves.
By adding volume to your upper and lower body, opt for ruffled, pleated, or layered tops to enhance the bust and shoulder line.
You can try colour blocking with darker shades at the waist and lighter tones at the bust or hips, which creates definition.
Accessorise more around the waist to give it an illusion of a defined curve.
Low-waisted trousers will often make your waist look wider.
As a common body shape, celebrities like Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Hailey Bieber fall into this category of this shape.
4. Inverted Triangle Shape
If you have an inverted triangle body shape, then it means your shoulders are broader than your hips, and you likely have a narrower waist and slim legs. Women with this body type tend to have strong shoulders, a fuller chest, and narrower hips that resemble the letter V, and this is where the name is derived from.
Style Goal
Since you have a somewhat wider upper compared to your lower half, more emphasis will be made on your lower half, as your upper is more defined.
Wear tops that go down to your hips, and they should be close-fitting, but not too tight.
Your neckline should be a deep V-neckline, scoop neck, or halter styles to make your upper body look slimmer and reduce shoulder width.
Choose A-line skirts, wide-leg pants, and palazzo styles to add volume to the lower body. Bold prints, bright colours, and details like pleats or ruffles on skirts or trousers work beautifully.
Emphasise the hips and legs with A-line, flare, flowy dresses and skirts.
Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, and Victoria Beckham rock their inverted triangle body shape effortlessly on red carpets.
Finally, it is good to note that each body shape: hourglass, pear, rectangle and inverted triangle comes in different sizes and heights. One shape differs from another in the size and height of different women.
