20 Ways To Choose Modern Outfits For Different Body Types

Understanding your body shape is an essential step in discovering the perfect outfit that will not only flatter your figure, but also make you feel confident and stylish. Embracing the uniqueness of our bodies – whether curvy, athletic, or anything in between – allows us to choose clothing that enhances our natural attributes. Outfits can be tailored to create beautiful silhouettes, highlight assets, and embrace the diverse body types that make each of us special. With so many options available, we’ll cover how to choose the best clothing for your body type and keep on top of fashion trends.

Our goal is to help you feel empowered when selecting fabrics, patterns, and styles that suit your body’s shape and size. This includes understanding which hips, waist, and bust measurements to consider when shopping, how to determine your body type through a style quiz, and how to create illusions or incorporate slimming effects with the right clothing choices. We’ll offer tips on working with a stylist or shopping alone, trying on chic and adventurous outfits, and styling your new finds to create a stunning wardrobe you’ll love to wear.

Sweet As An Apple

We understand the importance of dressing to suit our body types, especially for those with an inverted triangle or apple shape. To enhance the beauty of your curves, consider the following:

• Tops: Look for designs that create a waistline and opt for open necklines.
• Bottoms: Choose pieces that showcase your legs, such as skirts or slim-fit pants.
• Brands: Search for inclusive fashion brands offering stylish designs in plus-size options.

Equip yourself with knowledge on plus-size fashion and styling tips to make informed choices and embrace your unique beauty.

Pear-Shaped Body

We can identify a pear-shaped body by comparing the shoulders, bust, and hips. Key features include:

• Hips and thighs wider than shoulders and bust
• A defined waist that is narrower than the hips
• Similar body shape to celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian

In dressing a pear-shaped body, we recommend searching for clothing that highlights the waistline, allowing a graceful transition from the waist to the hips. This enhances the natural proportions while showcasing the body’s strengths.

A-Shape Body

We suggest avoiding boat or Bardot necklines, large straps, halter-neck tops, large shawl collars, and larger designs on the upper half for those with an inverted triangle (apple shape) body, where shoulders are wider than hips. Instead:

• Opt for pieces drawing attention to the lower half
• Consider A-line skirts and wide-leg pants
• Boyfriend jeans are a fantastic choice, complementing the A-shape body

Diamond

As we explore various body shapes, we must discuss the diamond body type, characterized by wider hips than shoulders, a narrow bust, and a larger waistline. Women with this body shape often have slender arms and may carry some extra weight in their upper legs.

To make the most of this gem of a body shape, it’s essential to create the illusion of curves. We recommend the following:

• Tops: Flowy off-the-shoulder or boat-neck tops are perfect for highlighting slender shoulders and drawing attention away from a wider waist.
• Jeans and Pants: Choose styles that have a slimming effect on the waist while providing room for wider hips, such as high-waisted or tailored trousers.
• Dresses: Opt for dresses that cinch at the waist to create an hourglass-like silhouette, such as wrap dresses or A-line styles.
• Style Inspiration: Look to celebrities like Adele and Melissa McCarthy for expert styling cues tailored for diamond body shapes.

In conclusion, dressing a diamond body shape is all about accentuating the positives and creating a harmonious balance between the upper and lower body. By selecting the right clothes and accessories, you can project a confident and polished appearance that truly sparkles.

Athletic

As we cater to those with an athletic body type, it’s essential to understand the characteristics. With a muscular build and minimal curves, the hip and shoulder widths are nearly the same. While the waist is smaller, it doesn’t have a significant definition, giving a more straight up and down appearance.

We recommend emphasizing the legs and contours while balancing your broad upper body. To achieve this, follow the athletic shape rule of thumb:

• Keep volume on either the top or bottom, not both
• If the top is more full, keep the bottom slim and structured
• Conversely, if the bottom is breezy or oversized, opt for a form-fitting top

When considering wrap dresses, it becomes even more important to choose one that accentuates your natural features. These dresses can effectively highlight your toned physique while adding a touch of femininity.

Muscular Inverted Triangle

We understand that dressing a muscular inverted triangle body type can be challenging. Here are a few tips:

• Balance proportions: Opt for outfits that highlight your legs and create a balance between your broad shoulders and narrow hips.
• Lower body emphasis: Choose pants or skirts with patterns, bold colors, or details

Round

As we dive into dressing for a round body shape, let’s first acknowledge some notable figures like Judy Dench, Amy Schumer, Drew Barrymore, and Adele, who embrace their apple-shaped figures with grace. We’ll offer tips on enhancing your round figure instead of hiding it.

Key aspects of a round body shape:

• Curvaceous figure
• Shoulders, bust, waist, and hips need balancing
• Vertical lines and simple color choices are helpful

First and foremost, it’s essential to understand your body shape thoroughly. Knowing your body shape helps you discover clothing pieces that suit you well. With a round body shape, often called a circle body, remember that you have a curvaceous figure. The main goal in dressing for this body type is to rebalance your body. So, when selecting outfits, focus on balancing your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips.

To channel focus where you’d like, incorporate lines that direct the eye. For instance, if you’re self-conscious about your stomach area, opt for vertical-lined tops. Bold patterns and bright colors tend to draw attention, so for a more understated look, stick to basic colors like black or blue. Keep this in mind when choosing individual pieces for your wardrobe.

A sheath dress can be a great addition to your closet as it typically skims the body’s contours, accentuating your shape without drawing too much attention to any specific area. The dress’s flattering yet comfortable fit can be suitable for various occasions, from office wear to social events.

Bottom Hourglass

As an hourglass-shaped body type, our hips and bust are roughly the same sizes, with a well-defined waist that is narrower than both. We often have slightly rounded shoulders and rounded buttocks, which contribute to the balanced appearance of our body shape. Here are some tips for dressing our bottom hourglass figure:

• Emphasize the waistline: Choose outfits that highlight our naturally defined waist, like empire waist dresses or belted garments.
• Maintain balance: Dress the top and bottom of our bodies appropriately to maintain balance and avoid becoming top-heavy or bottom-heavy.
• Form-fitting clothing: Fitted outfits, such as tailored jackets or pencil skirts, work well with our body shape as they showcase our curves.
• Proportionate leg and upper body: Since our legs and upper body are proportionate, we can confidently wear various styles, like A-line skirts or straight-leg pants.

Remember to embrace and accentuate our naturally balanced figure and make the most of our hourglass shape when choosing outfits.

Lean Petite

As we stated earlier, petite isn’t a specific body type but refers to individuals who are 5’3″ or shorter. To give you a better understanding of how to dress your petite frame, let’s explore a few essential tips:

• Proportions: Keep your overall proportions in mind when shopping for clothing to create balance and elongate your appearance.
• Fit: Opt for well-fitting garments that will emphasize your best qualities, showcasing your self-assurance.
• Adapting regular-size clothing: In some cases, you may find regular-size clothing that works for your petite frame. Just consider the fit and your proportions.

Remember these pointers when selecting outfits to ensure you look and feel your best in every situation.

Rectangle

In our rectangle body type, we have a straight shoulder line and hips, with a less defined waistline, often referred to as an “athletic” shape. To enhance this body type, our goal is to create the illusion of a waist.

• Tops: Opt for belted waistcoats or jackets to add dimension.
• Bottoms: Choose mid-waisted pants to accentuate the waist area.
• Fabrics: Softer materials are recommended for a flattering look.
• Styling tip: Avoid vertical silhouettes, like a straight jacket paired with straight trousers, as they may decrease dimension.

Lean Rectangle

Equal bust, waist, and hip measurements characterize the lean rectangular body shape. With the lack of natural curves, it’s essential to create an illusion of curvature while maintaining balance. We recommend the following clothing choices for this body shape:

• Tops: Opt for wrap tops, button-down shirts, and ruffled styles to add definition to the waistline. Embrace more feminine details that create visual interest.
  • Helpful hint: Experiment with belted styles to accentuate the waist.
• Halter Tops: For a more dressed-up look, halter tops can showcase your shoulders and add a feminine touch.
• Peplum Tops: These trendy pieces can help create the illusion of curves at your waistline.
• Bottoms: Lean rectangles can wear various bottom styles, including slim, narrow, flared, and cargo pants. Ensure a proper fit to avoid a messy appearance.
  • Pencil Skirts: Choose designs with a tapered bottom for a curvier illusion.
  • Stretch Slim Pants: For a voluptuous appearance, pair these pants with heels.
  • Corduroy Trousers: A cozy option for colder months, corduroy adds texture and warmth.

By implementing these style choices, you can create the desired curves while complimenting the lean rectangular body shape.

Oval

Round body form, also known as apple body shape

• Larger upper body, narrow waist, long legs
• Lacks definition from hips to thighs

Providing helpful tips for dressing the oval body type can be arduous due to its unique attributes. However, we recommend focusing on creating a proportional silhouette with the right clothing choices. Here’s a quick guideline:

• Keep it simple: Avoid excessive embellishments on tops and jackets. Opt for minimal designs that don’t attract much attention.
• Well-fitted clothing: Choose tops and jackets that fit snugly without being tight, to accentuate the slim waistline without adding bulk to the upper body.
• Bring balance: Aim for a harmonious appearance by selecting garments that highlight your natural assets while maintaining an even distribution of visual weight.

Following these guidelines will assist you in finding appropriate and stylish outfits for your oval body type, giving you the confidence to rock your unique shape.

Curvy Apple

Shopping for the curvy apple body shape can be initially challenging due to its characteristics of a larger upper body and a less-defined waistline. To help create a proportional look, we recommend focusing on:

• Minimal shirts and jackets: Avoid shoulder embellishments or attention-grabbing features. Choose simple, streamlined designs.
• Well-fitted and cut: Tops and jackets that fit properly and enhance your body shape.

Remember, it’s essential to embrace your unique body type and emphasize your narrow waist and long legs. By selecting suitable clothing, you can achieve a balanced and stylish appearance.

Sexy Pear

With the pear body shape, we should focus on these key aspects:

• Direct attention to the upper torso
• Emphasize the waist
• De-emphasize the lower body

To achieve this balance, we suggest:

• Choosing flare or flared pants to draw attention away from hips
• Opting for flared jeans to create an elongated look
• Incorporating bold patterns or accessories to highlight the upper body

Inverted triangle

We understand that dressing for an inverted triangle body shape can be challenging, but there are certain strategies that can help. Our primary objectives are:

• Creating the appearance of a waistline
• Enhancing your best features
• Flaunting your legs

In order to successfully achieve these goals, consider the following formatting tips:

• A-line skirts: Balance broad shoulders and create the illusion of a defined waist.
• V-necks: Accentuate the neck and chest while visually narrowing the shoulders.
• Patterned bottoms: Draw attention to the lower body while adding visual interest.
• Waist belts: Emphasize the waist and create curves without compromising comfort.
• Straight-leg pants: Showcase your legs while maintaining proportion with your upper body.

By incorporating these elements into your wardrobe, we can successfully highlight your unique strengths and create flattering outfits for the inverted triangle body type.

Hourglass

We recognize an hourglass shape by balanced shoulders and hips, and a defined waist. To dress this body type, we should:

• Emphasize the waist, the slimmest part of the body
• Avoid shapeless or baggy clothing
• Be mindful of chest proportions

A-line garments work well with the hourglass figure, highlighting its natural balance. To minimize the bust, choose boatneck or scoop necklines over high-neck options like turtlenecks.

Diamond Body Shape

The diamond body shape is characterized by a rounder figure with little waist definition, and a higher stomach compared to the oval shape. We can identify this shape by noticing the following features:

• Hips wider than bust and shoulders
• Weight gain in the stomach, back, hips, and buttocks
• Undefined waist, as the widest part of the body frame
• Shapely lower legs, with possible weight in the upper legs
• Slender and shapely arms

To complement this body shape, we suggest:

• Garments: Choose dresses or tops that draw attention away from the midsection, creating the illusion of a smaller figure.
• Fit: Opt for tops that snugly fit around the bust and flare out a bit below the bustline to conceal the stomach.
• Colors: Dark colors with simple clean lines will be flattering for this body shape.
• Outfits: Look for outfits that create a waist by balancing your shoulders and bust with your hips.
• Avoid: Steer clear of ruffles and tiers, as they tend to add weight to the figure.

Lean Rectangle

As women with a lean rectangle body shape, we have a fairly uniform width in our breasts, waist, hips, and shoulders. Embracing our straight angles and creating curves can be achieved with the right styling choices. Luckily, most models possess this slender, elongated body type, making it easy to find outfits that suit our shape. In this section, we offer advice on creating the illusion of curves for a lean rectangle body shape.

• Define the waist: One of the most striking features of an hourglass figure is a naturally defined waist. We can achieve this by styling our outfits smartly.
  • Belts: Using a belt slightly above the hips helps accentuate the waist while enhancing body contours. This styling trick not only adds dimension to the outfit but also creates the impression of an hourglass figure.
    • Bold colors: To maximize the effect, opt for belts in striking fall shades like aubergine or red.

By using these strategic fashion choices, we can redefine our lean rectangle body shape and bring attention to our newly-created curves confidently and elegantly.

Petite Rectangle

As petite rectangles, we have a straighter build and fairly consistent measurements. Our body type is also referred to as “athletic.” To enhance our appearance, we should focus on creating the illusion of a waist. Here are a few wardrobe recommendations:

• Belted waistcoats: These help provide shape and accentuate our waistline.
• Mid-waist pants: They draw attention to our waist and can be paired with various tops.
• Belted jackets: These jackets define our waist further, elevating our overall look.

To avoid a monotonous appearance, we should steer clear of vertical silhouettes, such as straight jackets paired with straight trousers. Instead, opt for softer materials that look great when belted and draw attention to our waist.

In terms of pants, we have the advantage of looking good in almost any style, whether loose or form-fitting. Body-conscious pants, in particular, may highlight our contours. Mid-rise jeans are our most flattering option, since they draw attention to our waist. Don’t hesitate to add a belt to jeans for an even more accentuated waistline.

Curvy Pear

In this section, we will focus on Curvy Pear body types, exploring suitable clothing that accentuates the best features of this shape. Key aspects to consider include:

• Balancing proportions: Since a curvy pear has wider hips and thighs, opt for outfits that create a balance between the upper and lower body.
• Highlighting the waist: Emphasize the narrow waist by incorporating well-fitting tops and dresses or using belts.
• A-line skirts and dresses: A well-fitted A-line dress or skirt can flatter the body shape by showcasing the waist and gently flowing over the hips.
• Wide-leg trousers: These create an elongating effect, flattering the silhouette while providing comfort.
• Structured jackets: Tailored jackets with shoulder details add volume to the upper body, creating a balanced figure.

Remember that embracing one’s unique body shape is crucial. Ultimately, it’s about being happy and healthy in our own skin. Should body concerns arise, consult with a healthcare professional for guidance. Feel free to share outfit ideas or feedback with fellow fashion enthusiasts to help inspire confidence.