When choosing our clothes, it is very important to opt for clothes that are in harmony with our body shape to create visual balance, comfort and well-being.
If you’ve ever wondered which dress suits your body shape, read the following article where you’ll discover all the secrets to exude confidence and charm around you.
Table of Contents
How to identify your body shape: a quick and easy guide
If you want to find out how to dress in harmony with your body shape, an essential step is to determine what exactly that shape is. The first step in this process is to measure your own features, as follows:
- Measure your shoulders: Place the centimeter on the widest part of your shoulders.
- Measure your bust: Measure the most prominent part of your chest.
- Measure your waist: Find the narrowest part of your waist, usually just above your navel.
- Measure your hips: Measure the widest part of your hips and butt.
Once you have obtained these measurements, the next step is to identify your dominant body shape. Knowing these defining lines of body shape will help you emphasize your beauty and uniqueness.
There is a system for defining body shapes that classifies them in this way:
- Pear Shape
- Apple Shape
- Hour Hourglass shape
- Rectangle shape
- Inverted Triangle Shape
The Pear Silhouette: Features and Style Tips
The pear-shaped silhouette is present when the hips are wider than the shoulders and bust and the waist is often well defined.
How to dress to show off your pear figure
To beautifully highlight this silhouette, the main intention should be to balance the volume between the lower and upper body, with attention to the waist and bust.
Opt for clothes that add volume at the top, such as tops, jackets and blouses with eye-catching details (ruffles, prints, shoulder highlights, necklines) and create the illusion of broader shoulders to balance the proportions. For example, a short bomber jacket can be a great choice to add volume in the upper area. When choosing dresses for the body shape, look for dresses that flatteringly define the waist and bust, such as party dresses, A-line dresses and those with interesting necklines, like a milkmaid dress.
What clothes to avoid if you have a pear figure
To achieve a balanced look when you have such a silhouette, it’s advisable to avoid clothing that emphasizes the hip area (tight pants or skirts) or adds extra volume to the hips (bold metallic prints or accents, pockets or oversized details).
Apple Silhouette: How to look fabulous for any occasion
The apple silhouette is characterized by a fuller waist with a generous bust and narrower hips.
Which clothes suit your apple figure
If you have such a silhouette, the aim is to choose clothes that balance your body proportions, create the illusion of a slimmer waist and draw attention to your bust and legs.
The ideal options are clothes that elongate and slim the body line (loose-fitting tops and blouses in flowing materials, draped dresses, V-necklines), emphasize the legs and bust area (pants and skirts that slim the lower body, interesting necklines that draw attention to the bust) and define the waist in a subtle way. The best dresses for this type of figure are party dresses, V-neck, tunic and maxi dresses. Choose flowing, figure-flattering materials (silk, cotton, satin) and discreet prints (vertical lines elongate and visually slim the silhouette). For example, the printed voile dress on our website is perfect for the apple silhouette as it has an eye-catching V-neckline, is cut from a fluid material and slims the bottom.
What clothes to avoid if you have an apple figure
For this silhouette, avoid clothes that emphasize fuller areas of the body (very tight or low-waisted clothes), stiff fabrics and bulky details (pockets, ruffles, oversized belts) that can add unpleasant bulk to the silhouette.
Hourglass silhouette: How to enhance your natural shape
“The ‘perfection’ of body shape is the hourglass silhouette, as it has the most balanced body ratio, where the shoulders and hips are well proportioned and the waist is beautifully defined.
What clothes to choose if you have an hourglass figure
This body shape allows for a variety of clothing choices, and ideally focuses on emphasizing the natural balance of proportions, with a focus on the waistline and charming curves of the body.
Confidently choose items that harmoniously define the waistline (curve-hugging dresses and tops, bodycon cut, belts) and follow the body line (fitted tops, flattering necklines, high-waisted pants, tapered skirts). If you’re a fan of wearing dresses, the most suitable choices are party dresses, bodycon (tight-fitting) dresses, corset and mermaid dresses, which emphasize the natural body shape in a captivating way. One of our Veneration dresses are perfect if you want to show off your hourglass figure.
What clothes to avoid if you have an hourglass figure
When you have such a figure, it’s a good idea to opt for clothes that contour your features charmingly. So avoid baggy, shapeless clothes, straight cuts, excessive detailing on the hips or bust, which hide your natural body shape.
Rectangle silhouette: transform your look with these tips
The rectangular silhouette is characterized by straight lines, with similarly sized shoulders, waist (very slightly defined) and hips.
How to choose clothes for the rectangle silhouette
To compliment such a silhouette, it’s necessary to create the illusion of more defined and curved shapes in strategic areas such as the bust, waist or hips.
Opt for garments whose cut helps you achieve a more contoured silhouette (high-waisted pants and skirts, tops with eye-catching details and V-necklines), with details that give extra volume to the silhouette (ruffles, draping, pockets, visually interesting prints). The most flattering types of dresses are flared, A-line, such as the Pleated Ivory Dress, those with ruffles, draping and asymmetrical shapes.
What clothes to avoid if you have a rectangular silhouette
With this type of silhouette, to create a balanced look and to emphasize the best features of your body, it is recommended to avoid outfits that continue the straight line of the body. Highly tight-fitting clothes emphasize the lack of curves, while stiff fabrics and straight, shapeless cuts blur any definition in your body.
Inverted Triangle Silhouette: Balance your proportions in style
The inverted triangle silhouette is characterized by shoulders that are wider than the hips, often with a prominent bust, and a less defined waist.
How to dress for the inverted triangle silhouette
The main goal when it comes to this silhouette is to balance the proportions of the body, adding volume in the lower part and de-emphasizing the shoulders.
Some suggestions for outfits and styles to compliment this silhouette are garments that do not draw attention to the upper part of the outfit (simple, non-volume, V- or U-neck tops with thin straps) and that captivate with volume in the hip area (flared skirts and trousers, palazzo pants, pleats and voluminous pockets). To balance the proportions and build a more harmonious silhouette, A-line dresses, those with volume on the skirt side (ruffles, pleats) and those with thin straps or sleeveless are the perfect choices. Our loose-fitting tracksuits are also a great choice as they offer volume in the lower area.
What clothes to avoid for the inverted triangle silhouette
In this case it is advisable to completely avoid items that can add extra volume in the shoulder area, such as voluminous tops or tops with necklines, structured or puffed shoulders, epaulettes, too obvious coloring and prints.
Conclusion
Knowing which clothes suit your body type is a fundamental step when you want to build outfits that are full of confidence, well-being and comfort. By following this guide, you’ll find it easier to maximize your natural beauty and express your personality in a unique and balanced way.
