How to dress your body shape
A woman’s resource to understanding her body shape and how to dress it with confidence.
2 minute read | By Maddison McKinley
This resource is designed to answer the following questions:
“What is my body shape?”
“What flatters my body shape best?”
“How to dress a plus size body shape?”
Body shapes from left to right: Pear, Hourglass, Triangle, and Rectangle.
Know your body, dress it how you want
Understanding your body shape can be enlightening.
There are “dos” and “do nots” that can be followed once you have identified your body shape that can serve as a sherpa when you have lost all direction and hope in clothing.
Of the women I’ve spoken with, the ones who understood their body shapes can more accurately and quickly find pieces they know will work for them because they have developed an eye for finding pieces that flatter their figures.
The #1 quote I heard from women I’ve interviewed about clothing:
“I don’t understand how to dress myself in a way that I love””
Disclaimer
All bodies are different. It’s what makes us, us.
You know your body best and can dress it however you please.
The information here are documented best practices for each shape. If you have a suggestion on the information provided here, please let me know.
Pear Shape Body
Your hip / rear area is the widest part of your body.
✅ The pear wears
Blouses/tops that bring attention to the upper half of your body
Tighter tops with flare-y skirts
Flowy fabrics
A-line skirts and dresses that are form fitting in the top, but extend from the waist
🚫 The pear avoids
Pants with coarse fabrics (e.g. thick lace) that adds volume
Crop tops
Column dresses
Straight jeans
Bottoms with heavy detailing
Horizontal stripes
Column dresses
Straight Shaped Body
Your dimensions are fairly even throughout your body (shoulders, waist, and hips).
🚫 The rectangle avoids
Shapeless clothing
Chunky fabrics
Overall bulkiness
✅ The rectangle wears
Straight silhouettes with fitted components
Fitted tops and bottoms to accent slight curves.
Column dresses
Triangle Shaped Body
Your shoulders / bust are the widest part of your body.
You don’t have a defined waist
Weight tends to lay in your middle
✅ The triangle wears
Dresses/blouses that accentuate the chest-area and create a waist (A-line, high waist, etc.)
V-neck, scoop, strapless necklines will highlight your chest
Slim fitting pants/jeans to accentuate learner hips and legs.
Loose tops to distract from large shoulders and straight waist
Show off legs!
🚫 The triangle avoids
Tight fitting tops that reveal middle
Shapeless tops
Clingy materials
Blouse/top cuts that bring too much attention to the shoulders (halter)
Hourglass Shaped Body
You have a defined waist
Your bust and your hips nearly match in dimensions
🚫 The hourglass avoids
Items that are low-rise or cut right at the hips.
Boxy clothing/shapeless clothing
✅The hourglass wears
All things that accentuate the waist (high waisted pants, etc.)
Fitted silhouettes (jackets/blazers)
Dark denim