One of our most frequently asked questions by clients is how to dress for your body shape. Everyone wants to look good in what they wear, and much of this revolves around choosing silhouettes, design details, and fabrics that work well on our unique bodies.

So, how do you know what styles will work for you? Consider your body type. The concept may seem simple enough, but often we look in the mirror and focus on minor details, which makes it difficult to understand our overall frame. Take a step back and consider your proportions altogether. It may help to dress in all black form-fitting clothes before looking in the mirror so that you see one continuous shape. Look to see if your widest point is your shoulders and bust, midsection, or hips and legs. Do you have a defined waistline? Are you on the shorter or taller end of the spectrum? These factors may be useful to consider as you get dressed.

If you can’t seem to figure out what shape you are, we recommend taking your measurements and entering them into this body type calculator. That’s how we start all of our styling appointments!

However, don’t get caught up in the numbers, this is not a matter of identifying flaws. This exercise will simply inform how you balance your features. Remember, we will be discussing general rules of thumb to bring balance to your silhouette. By no means do you have to follow these rules to look great! 

Petite Dressing

One body type that can be challenging to dress is a petite frame. Petites are generally considered to be women under 5’4”. Before Petites can even consider which styles flatter their frame, they often must worry about clothing simply fitting correctly. Most petite women will run into issues like inseams being too long on pants, sleeves extending past their wrists, and long shirt hems that make tops look more like dresses.

One great trick is to find brands that offer special petite sizing. Banana Republic is a particularly good brand for Petites to shop from because of the incredible breadth of their petite selection, including classic styles like this utility jacket. Items labeled as petite will offer better fitting garments straight off the rack, but that doesn’t guarantee that they’ll always be perfect. If the garment still needs adjusting or if you fall in love with an item that is only offered in traditional sizing, the best thing you can do is to take it to a trusted tailor. Everyone – regardless of body type – should have a go-to tailor. A great fit is everything when you want to dress for your body shape!

Now that we have garment fit out of the way, let’s talk about how to flatter this body type. Many petite women seek to look taller and lengthen their frame. There are a few tricks to achieving this. In general, you will want to avoid styles that “cut” your figure up, such as horizontal stripes, midi skirts and culottes, and stark contrasts between your top and bottom (e.g., a black top and white pants). Bulkier fabrics and oversized silhouettes can easily overwhelm petite figures.

Instead, look for vertical lines, bottoms with hems either above the knee or down to the ankle, and monochromatic outfits to lengthen your frame. Solid dresses and jumpsuits are great for Petites because they create an uninterrupted line down the body. V-neck necklines are a great choice to create the illusion of a longer neck and torso. Additionally, slimmer silhouettes with defined waistlines will prevent your figure from being overwhelmed in fabric. Shoes can also be key in creating a flattering outfit. Nude pumps and pointed-toe shoes are as good as it gets to lengthen your legs, but any shoe with a heel will also work beautifully.

Balancing your Top and Bottom Half

Many women are wider on either the top or bottom half. These body types are determined by both bone structure and weight distribution. If you’re wider on one half, there are tons of styling tricks to dress for your body shape and balance your proportions. The strategies for these two body types will be the opposite.

Women who are wider on the bottom are commonly referred to as triangle or pear shapes. Their hips are wider than their shoulders and weight distributes in their lower half. If this describes your body type, you can balance your proportions by slimming your lower body and adding volume to your upper body. Some of the best styles to emphasize your chest and shoulders are bateau necklines, sweetheart necklines, off the shoulder tops, cap sleeves, puff sleeves, and shoulder pads. These will draw attention upward and outward. You can also accomplish this with accessories, such as scarves, necklaces, and earrings, or with bright colors. On the bottom, your best choices will be dark colors, vertical lines, simple designs, and straight-leg silhouettes. Skinny leg styles tend to emphasize curves on the bottom half, so look for styles that pull away from the ankle somewhat for a slimming effect.

Those that are wider on top, commonly referred to as an inverted triangle body shape, have proportionally broad shoulders and narrow hips. Women in this category may wish to balance their shape by slimming the upper body and adding volume to the lower body. To do this, pay attention to the neckline. Choose asymmetrical shapes, wide straps, and narrow v- or u-necks to downplay the proportion of your shoulders. Vertical lines and body-skimming shapes are also great on top. Avoid heavy embellishments, bright colors, and loud patterns on top, as these will draw attention upward. Direct attention downward instead. Opt for patterns, lighter colors, and embellishments on your lower half. It also looks great to balance your body’s volume on top with voluminous clothing on the bottom. Look for A-line skirts, wide-leg pants, and flared silhouettes to balance out your look.

Flattering your Midsection

If you previously identified your midsection as your widest point, you may be wondering how to flatter this area as you dress for your body shape. In fact, this is a common concern for women regardless of shape, whether you’re looking to disguise extra weight, define a boxy waistline, or emphasize a narrow waist. There are plenty of tried-and-true tips to make your midsection look great no matter your goal.

Most women realize that tight clingy clothing is going to draw attention to extra weight around their middle. However, baggy clothing isn’t the answer either. Sure, oversized clothing won’t cling to the area, but it will make you look larger and drown your shape. Flattering the stomach area is a balance of nipping in the waist and making sure the garment skims rather than clings. You’ll want some structural details on top combined with a great fit to nail this! 

Ruching and draping are among the best ways to create a great structure that pulls away from the body just enough. For example, draped dresses with an empire waist will allow the fabric to float over the midsection while still carving a narrow waistline for an ultra-flattering effect. Peplum blouses accomplish the same. Surplice tops and dresses allow for plenty of breathing room while the draping narrows your waistline for an hourglass effect. Other details to look for are a wrap, tie, and drawstring details at the waist.

Outerwear is another great tool to cinch in your waist. Cardigans and jackets do a few things for you: First, they create a vertical line down your body for a slimming effect. Second, when worn open, they visually cut off a few inches from either side of your midsection. Third, they are the ideal way to create a flattering shape for your body. A structured jacket with a contoured waistline will carve out a waistline for you no matter what top you have on underneath. Throw over a monochromatic outfit to enhance the effect!

Wrap up

Start with these guidelines to dress for your body shape and create balanced, beautiful overall looks. Of course, every body is different and can’t exactly be summed up by a simple shape. Consider what your goals are in dressing your body and pay attention to what makes you feel confident! Looking for a little more guidance? Fill out our contact form and let’s grab a coffee. We’d love to help.