Before anything, it’s important to ask the question “Do we really know our body shape?”
Maybe you aren’t sure or possibly you are a hybrid of two different shapes. Before building a wardrobe, you have to understand your body shape. Once that is done, you can identify the ways to look stylish, polished, and always confident!
How To Dress For Your Body Shape
Once you identify the shape of your body, you can then move onto how to dress for your shape.
Silhouettes, fabrics, styling, accessories, and small design details should always enhance our shapes, not distract from them.
It’s not easy building the wardrobe of your dreams or have a closet filled with all the right pieces for every occasion. This takes time and patience.
And the best way to get started is to understand the shape of your body first!
How To Dress For Your Body Shape and Size
The wonderful part about the human body is that all sizes and shapes are beautiful. This is simply a guide to help you better understand your shape and how best to dress for it. It is just a guideline, not hard fast rules! This week we will talk about 3 body shapes, and follow up next week with the next three, so be watching your inbox.
Hourglass Body Shape
If your shoulder and thigh width is fairly equal and there is a gentle arc throughout your waist, your silhouette is an hourglass.
To visualize true hourglass shapes think of Sophia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Salma Hayek….those are your visuals.
Many times hourglass women have a larger bust so making the silhouette a bit more voluptuous.
Although it’s seemingly the most proportionate of body shapes, choosing the right style is key.
Some styles that work best for the hourglass figure are:
- V-neck and scoop neck tops
- straight or flare trousers or jeans
- aline skirts
- bias-cut skirts
- belts
- shorter blazers
There are many styles that work for an hourglass figure so remember that there are no hard fast rules.
Play with styles but pay very close attention to styling and proportions.
For example, if you are petite and have a larger bust you may not want to wear a very high-waisted skirt or jean. You may opt for a mid rise pant fitted through the thigh and slight flare with a heel to elongate and balance your silhouette.
Tops with fitted sleeves, short sleeves, or ¾ sleeves are best so as not to add any more fullness to the hip area. **When your arms are at your sides, wherever your sleeve ends is where the eye is drawn to.
Pear Body Shape (also true for Triangle Body Shape)
If your shoulders are narrower than your thighs, then your body silhouette is a pear.
Famous people such as Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna have this body type.
This is the body type I identify with more as well, although I tend to go between the hourglass and pear shapes as many women do.
Usually, the pear body shape is smaller breasted than the hour glass and 2+ sizes bigger on the bottom. (I go from 1-2 sizes bigger on the bottom depending on the piece and/or brand)
Because this shape is not as proportionate as the hourglass figure, we must pay closer attention to proportions and how we style our pieces.
Some styles that work best for the pear body figure are:
- V-necks
- boat necks
- tops with a sharp shoulder or small puff sleeve help balance the shoulders and hips
- blazers that are shorter
- pants that skim the thigh
- higher waist jeans and trousers are good to elongate legs
- flare and boot cut look great and balance the shape
- A-line skirts, bias cut, pencil ( but pay attention to the fullness in the top)
Figure 8 Body Shape
Not mentioned much as a common body silhouette, however, the figure 8 body shape is quite common.
It’s similar to the hourglass and Oval (apple) shape, but usually refers to women with a larger bust than the typical oval, and slightly more rounded shoulders than the hourglass with the appearance of a shorter waist.
Think Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie for your visual here. These women’s shapes seem very different to the eye given their difference in size, but the shape is still similar.
Figure 8’s can wear many different styles like the 2 shapes above.
Avoid voluminous styles in anything as it will make your shape shapeless.
You want to draw attention to the waistline while elongating it a bit so don’t wear anything too high-waisted.
Mid-rise, slim or straight bottoms are good, even a skinny or taper is great.
Peplum tops, scoop or v-necks, defined shoulders, and collared shirts are great for this silhouette.
Look for a thin or trouser style belt, nothing too wide, to accentuate the waist. Look for jackets with a defined shoulder, and accessories are important to draw attention more to the neck and face area while elongating the torso.
Thinking that it’s time to get some assistance in identifying your body shape? This is what I’m here for! Once you truly identify your shape the flood gates open as to why pieces in your closet work or don’t work for you. No more guessing. Having this knowledge is power, and I would love to help you understand it even better. It’s hard work creating a wardrobe you love and align with, and even more so making it work for you in daily life and for every occasion that comes up. If you’d like to chat for 30 min to see how we can possibly work together to help you truly find your style and confidence through dressing, I’m just a click away.
Work With Me Client Reviews
Below are just a few client testimonials from people that I’ve worked with in this past:
“Kim is the best! I had very little time to basically re-do my entire closet before a trip I was going on, and I had never met her before. She met me in Brickell and spent about 6 hours straight shopping with me (way longer than we had planned for!) and finding everything she possibly could, and then because we didn’t get everything I needed, she opened up her schedule to work with me remotely 2 more times. She also understood my style almost immediately, which was awesome. I can’t thank her enough!!” Sam K
“Kim is knowledgeable, professional and really listens! Her boards are such an efficient and excellent way to shop and organize your looks. I’m pretty busy and she is both available and not pushy. I loved the pieces she choose and look forward to working together more!” Stephanie S
