How to Dress for Your Body Type

We all want to dress our best, but we don’t always know how to do that.  While the wrong combination can make ANY body—no matter how tall or short, thin or curvy—look bad, the good news is, whatever your body type, there is a way for you to look absolutely stunning, too.  You just have to know HOW.

Your body type is determined by your shape, usually called either pear, apple, rectangle, wedge, or hourglass.

There are many guides online to figuring out what your body type is, but we also feature descriptions which should help you identify what category you fall under.

So, how do you dress for success and compliment your body?  Read on to find out!

Pear (Wider hips and smaller upper-body)

Emphasize your waist and arms while drawing attention away from your wider hips by wearing the following:

Tops:

Ruffles, jackets that stop above the waist, boat neck, square, or cowl necklines, lighter colors.

You want to draw more attention to your narrower shoulders and smaller waist, so accent your upper body more, and let anything “wild” or “loud” you wear be on top!

Bottoms:

A-line skirts, darker colors, wide-hem pants, pointy heels (to elongate legs).

These styles can help camouflage wider hips and balance them out against your smaller top.  Avoid prints and keep things simple!

Apple (Narrow hips, broader upper body)

Create the illusion of a longer torso while showing off those sexy legs you have!

Tops:

V-necks, bras that offer good lift, belts at the waist, empire tops (and dresses).

Bottoms:

Boot-cut and flared jeans, shorter skirts and dresses.

Monochromatic styles look great on apples, so pick your best color and deck yourself out in it to help create a longer, leaner silhouette.

Rectangle (Usually slender; shoulders, waist, and hips all relatively similar)

The goal with a rectangular body is to create the illusion of curves that aren’t really there, and to accentuate your slender legs and arms.

Tops:

Scoop neck, sweetheart tops, collars, ruffles, long coats. 

Bottoms:

Colorful, fun, dresses with ruching.

Avoid styles that are too overwhelming, but don’t be afraid to have fun with your look!

Wedge (Broad shoulders that narrow to small hips)

You want to draw attention away from your broader shoulders while simultaneously showing off your legs, which are your best asset! (Not that WE needed to tell you that)

Tops:

AVOID spaghetti-straps and boat necklines, choose tops that accentuate your waist.

Bottoms:

Bright colors, wide-leg pants, full skirts, high-waited styles.

Create the illusion of a waist and show off those lovely legs of yours to look your absolute best!

Hourglass (Shoulders and hips similar, with narrow waist)

You are a curvy, sexy mama, and while it’s good to show that off, we want to make sure you don’t go overboard with these tips!

Tops:

Wrap tops, belts at the waist, a good bra.

Bottoms:

Skinny or straight-leg jeans, high-waisted skirts.

Don’t hide those curves with baggy clothes—show off by wearing fitted dresses, lightweight fabrics, and other clothes that accentuate your lovely curves and tiny waist.

The truth is that any woman can look completely incredible in her outfits—as long as she knows what she’s doing!  Pair this with our color guide and you’ll be in business!

What’s your body type, and what’s your favorite way to show it off?