There are many occasions in a woman’s life when she might want to look extra special – beyond day-to-day looks.
At the same time, it shouldn’t take a special occasion for a woman to really discover what style of clothes, colors, materials, and silhouettes suit her best.
A well-put-together outfit says so much about its wearer. It shows how much you care about where you’re going and who will see you, it shows whether you think there’s going to be a second date, and it certainly proves whether you know your body type well.
Read on to learn more about the different body shapes – and find the best clothing options for you!
Table of Contents
5 Different Body Types
Bodies come in all different sizes and shapes. No two bodies are completely identical, and yet each body is beautiful!
Trying to fit within a certain body shape isn’t the goal here. The goal is to help you figure out which body type you are, and find the right clothes, fabrics, and prints to compliment your body, allowing you to enjoy how you look on a daily basis.
1. Rectangle/Straight
Women with straight body types have a waist that equals the width of their hips or bust, with shoulders and hips also at a similar width. The key with this body type is to create the illusion of a waist and a more balanced figure.
Think: Cameron Diaz and Natalie Portman.
2. Pear
With the triangle body type, your bust and shoulders are narrower than your hips. Usually compared to a pear, you probably have a defined waist and slim arms.
Think: Kim Kardashian and Rhianna.
3. Hourglass
The coveted body type by many women (and men!), this body type means your hips and bust are nearly equal in width – and you have a well-defined waist. This body type usually suits form-hugging or tailored clothing that’s been designed with this shape in mind.
Think: Marilyn Monroe and Scarlett Johansson.
4. Inverted Triangle/Apple
Women with this body type have got a bust and shoulders larger than their hips, which are usually narrow. Stylists might recommend showing off your legs and adding some definition around the waist.
Think: Angelina Jolie and Naomi Campbell
5. Athletic
An athletic body type is muscular, but not particularly curvy. Shoulders and hips are similar in width, and the waist isn’t too defined. A stylist would usually recommend halter or strapless style tops and clothes that showcase the legs.
Think: Julianne Hough and Halle Berry
6. Petite
Being petite has everything to do with height and proportions, and not weight. Usually, the following characteristics are true of petite women:
- They’re 5’3’’ or under
- Regular straps or sleeves are usually too long on them
- Pockets can fall in the wrong places
Think: Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi and Kristen Bell
Dressing for Your Body Shape
There are some universal tips for choosing the types of clothing, regardless of body type. Here are the main ones:
- Balance it out. Body shape is dependent on your bone structure, and not so much on your weight – so the outfits you choose need to balance your shoulders, bust, waist and hips.
- Draw the eye. Use lines to focus the eye on the parts of your body you want to accentuate. You can visually lengthen body parts or create curves with the right colour and fabric.
- Think about color. The eye is drawn to patterns, hues, and light – so learn how to use color to your advantage.
Read on for ways to choose the best clothing for every body type.
1. Best Clothing for the Apple Body
Look for clothing pieces that accentuate your shoulders, bust, and neckline – but in a tasteful way. Here are some clothes to look for when shopping:
Tops and Blouses
- V-neck Top: Reveals your collarbone and draws the eyes up
- Peplum Top: The built-in waist will give you some curve in that area
- Wrap Blouse: Creates a more defined waist, and is a universally flattering style
Jackets and Outerwear
- Long Vest Jacket: Vertically lengthens the midsection of your body
- Open-front Jacket: Adds more long vertical lines for an elongated look
- Long-lapel Blazer: Elongates the chest and neckline
Jeans and Trousers
- Bootcut Jeans: Brings balance to a curvier silhouette
- Straight or Slim Jeans: If form-fitting jeans are not your cup of tea
- Skinny Jeans: Choose a high-rise pair to accentuate your waist
- High-waisted Trousers: drawing the eye to the lower half of your body
- Belted Trousers: Gives you a well-proportioned shape
Dresses
- Off-the-shoulder: Bare skin always draws the eye
- Empire Waist: Creates a more dramatic look with a higher waistline
- Wrap: Form-fitting with a defined waist
Bonus Tip: What should I avoid wearing?
Fashion rules are meant to be broken, but if you want to stick to a balanced frame, avoid the combination of super-skinny trousers with oversized tops.
2. Best Clothing for the Pear Body
In order to balance out your silhouette, look for clothes that accentuate your upper body and waistline – ideally in bright colors and prints. Here are some clothes to look for when shopping:
Tops and Blouses
- Squareneck: Helps draw the eye up to the collarbone
- Cowl Neck: The draped fabric adds volume and draws the eye up
- Peplum: A classic waist-defining top you should add to your wardrobe
Jackets and Outerwear
- Cropped Jacket: Hits at or above the waist, which avoids adding fabric to the hips
- Patterned Jacket: A bright or patterned jacket draws the eye
- Wrap Coat: Add a belt to a longer wrap coat and go for more tailored options
Jeans and Trousers
- Straight Jeans: Balance out the silhouette
- Bootcut Jeans: Balance out the hips
- Flat-front Trousers: A tailored option for a more elongated bottom half
Dresses
- A-line: A bigger skirt doesn’t cling to the hips, streamlining your bottom half
- Fit and Flare: A flouncy skirt with a defined waist
- Off-the-shoulder: A completely bare shoulder draws the eye to the upper half
Bonus Tip: What are the best fabrics to wear?
Choose thicker fabrics, like denim and wool, that hold their form and don’t cling to the body too much.
3. Best Clothing for the Hourglass Body
A classic and feminine body shape, the hourglass presents infinite opportunities for accentuating your best body parts. You already have the defined waist and curves many women dream of – so pick clothes that compliment your natural shape.
Here are some items to consider when shopping:
Tops and Blouses
- V-neck: The eye is drawn up to a defined midsection
- Keyhole: A subtle but sexy detail to draw the eye up
- Wrap: The perfect top to accentuate your assets
Jackets and Outerwear
- Belted Jacket: Draws more attention to the waist
- Longline Belted: Creates the illusion of longer legs
- Moto Jacket: A layering piece with some edge
Jeans and Trousers
- Wide-leg Jeans: Adds proportion to the lower half of your body
- Flared Jeans: A beautiful balance for curvier hips
- Flowy Trousers: Leaves enough room for curvy thighs
- Stretchy Trousers: A comfortable fit that follows your natural curves
Dresses
- Jumpsuit: Showcases your curves beautifully
- Sheath Dress: Form-fitting, with enough room for comfort
- Fit-and-flare Dress: Accentuates the waist and flows effortlessly from your curvy hips
Bonus Tip: Will shorts flatter my hourglass figure?
Definitely! Pick a pair of chino-style shorts in a length that feels comfortable for you. Their straight cut leaves enough room for movement.
4. Best Clothing for the Rectangle Body
If you have a rectangle body type, you’ve probably already noticed that a huge perk is that you get to choose which assets you want to accentuate. You can create the appearance of curves or a more elongated look fairly easily.
Here are the top clothing recommendations for your body:
Tops and Blouses
- Sweetheart Neckline: Scalloped to create curves and accentuate the waist
- Scoop-neck: An open neckline draws the eye upward
- V-neck: whether you choose something more modest or edgier like a deep V-neck, you’ll look gorgeous
Jackets and Outerwear
- Trench Coat: A staple that goes with most outfits; wear it open or tie a belt for more shape around the waist
- Duster Jacket: A flowy, open-front jacket will look great on your body in a bold colour
- Vest: Lapels will add more structure to your upper half; go for leather to make a statement
Jeans and Trousers
- High-waisted Jeans: Choose a darker wash to make your legs look super long
- Slim-straight: A great alternative to super skinny jeans, which will flatter your figure
- Pleated Trousers: This glamorous flowy cut will add volume to your lower half
Dresses
- Fit-and-flare: Brings added definition for your waistline
- Belted: A belt will create a more hourglass figure
- Puff-sleeved: A dramatic style that would allow you to play with texture in an unusual way
Bonus Tip: Are there any silhouettes I should avoid?
With your body shape, you can wear pretty much anything and look amazing in it – but remember that the more form-fitting the clothing is, the more it’ll highlight the straightness of your frame.
5. Best Clothing for the Athletic Body
The typical characteristic of an athletic body type is a small bust, evenly distributed weight, and a more muscular than curvy physique. So, how do you style a body type without curves?
Here are the clothes to consider when shopping:
Tops and Blouses
- Off-the-shoulder Blouse: Showcases your well-defined arms and shoulders
- Bodysuit: When worn with jeans, this is such a great statement for your shape
- Peplum Top: Adds some curves around the hip and waist areas
Jackets and Outerwear
- Hip-length Jacket: Adds some structure to your frame
- Leather Jacket: Virtually any leather jacket will look amazing on you
Jeans and Trousers
- Skinny Jeans: Form-fitting, for a great leg showcase
- Wide-ankle Jeans: Go for this option if you aren’t a fan of skinny jeans
- Mom Jeans: The straight shape and extra fabric will add more curves to your frame, with comfort being an extra bonus
Dresses
- Belted Blazer Dress: Accentuates the waist and showcases your great legs
- Smock Dress: A great alternative if you don’t like wearing belts
- Colorblock Dress: Plays with color to your advantage
Bonus Tip: Should I layer pieces?
Absolutely! To create the illusion of curves, think about layering pieces – for example, throw a jacket over a dress and add some accessories.
6. Best Clothing for the Petite Body
Petite women often have a hard time finding clothes that are proportionate to their bodies. Luckily, most high street fashion brands have whole sections dedicated to petite figures, but there are still some general tips you can follow when choosing the right garments for you.
Tops and Blouses
- Off-the-shoulder: Probably the most versatile top, suitable for nearly all body types
- Light-colored Blouse: Will make you appear bigger, and make a statement
Jackets and Outerwear
- Cropped Jacket: Hits right at the waist and elongates your legs
- Knee-length Coat: Creates a long, straight line to visually lengthen your frame
- Wrap Coat: A universally flattering style you can’t go wrong with
Jeans and Trousers
- Wide-leg: Go for a cropped style to flatter your figure
- Mid or High-rise jeans: Visually raises your waistline will make you look taller
- Pleated Trousers: The crisp lines will naturally elongate your legs
Dresses (and Skirts)
- Midi-skirt: Go for pleats (vertical lines), bold colors, or color-blocked midis.
- High-low Dress: The cut showcases part of your legs in a very flattering way
Bonus tip: Do I need to wear heels all the time?
If you’re a petite woman, you don’t have to suffer through wearing high heels everywhere you go, just to add a few extra inches to your height. Instead, pick a pointed-toe flat. It’ll elongate your legs! Remember that comfort is everything.
Now that you know what your body type is and what clothes look best, you will never be at a loss when shopping! Follow the rules and have fun!
