Body Type Guide
Fashion is not just about finding the latest fads - it's about finding the clothes and fabrics that make you feel great! The styles that suit you depend on your body type - use our body type guide to learn which styles may flatter your figure the most.
Select Your Body Type for Styles Meant for You:
PEAR

INVERTED TRIANGLE

APPLE

RECTANGLE

HOURGLASS

BODY TYPE: pear
Flattering Tops:
- High necklines
- Bright patterned or embellished tops
- Strapless tops
- Statement necklaces
- Large earrings
Flattering Bottoms:
- A-line skirts
- Wide-legged pants
- Flared pants
- Tall structured boots
Pear-shaped bodies have smaller shoulders, bust, and waist in comparison to larger hips and thighs.
Pear-shaped women typically carry more of their weight on the bottom half of their bodies, and less on top. When considering how to best dress for this body type think about ways to create visual balance with your outfit.
For instance, by adding a bold necklace to a high neckline, A-line dress, you can draw the eyes up to the top half of your body. This will help you balance out the bottom. Or try a strapless dress with big and bold earrings and statement belt at the waist, again giving more balance to your outfit by accentuating your top half.
Women with pear-shape body types should avoid clingy fabrics and bold prints that draw unbalanced attention to their bottom half, instead focusing more on embellishing the top half.
BODY TYPE: inverted triangle
Flattering Tops:
- V-neck tops
- Long necklaces
- Button down tops
- A-line dresses
Flattering Bottoms:
- Pencil skirts
- Skinny jeans
- Leggings
- Wide belts
- Embellishment or bold prints
Inverted Triangle bodies have broader shoulders that lead to a narrow waist/thighs.
In contrast to the pear-shaped body type, women with an inverted triangle body shape have broad shoulders that lead to smaller, more narrow hips. They may also have a larger bust, or they may not - the main proportions that are prominent are the shoulders to hip ratio.
When looking at how to dress for this body shape, think about creating visual balance between your shoulders and hips. A v-neck top tucked into a pencil skirt will lengthen your torso and draw the eyes to the waist and hips, creating more visual balance. Add a long necklace and a belt to the skirt, and you can either dress the outfit up or down, still retaining the visual balance.
BODY TYPE: apple
Flattering Tops:
- Bangles and statement bracelets
- Tunic style tops that extend below the hip
- Long pendant necklaces
- Empire waist tops
- Long open cardigan sweaters/kimonos
Flattering Bottoms:
- Patterned tights
- Skinny jeans
- Shoes with straps and embellishments (such as gladiator-style sandles)
- Skirts or dresses with hemline above knee
Apple-shaped bodies have rounded shoulders, bust and waist line in comparison to legs and arms.
Ladies with an apple-shaped body type tend to carry more weight in the waist and shoulders, possibly their hips as well, and less on their arms and legs. Like every shape we have discussed, the key to dressing confidently is to think about creating visual balance between your features. For example, a kimono cardigan over a tunic paired with bright leggings and bangles will draw the eyes away from the torso and bring more emphasis to the rest of your body.
Think about ways to lengthen the torso, such as wearing a long statement necklace, and work to draw attention outward.
BODY TYPE: rectangle
Flattering Tops:
- Embellished tops
- Wider necklines with a fitted or belted waist
- Statement necklaces
- V-neck top
Flattering Bottoms:
- Skirts with hems above the knee
- Shorts
- High-waisted pants or skirt
- Pencil skirts
- A-line skirts
Rectangle-shaped bodies have shoulders, waist and hips that line up.
Ladies with a rectangle-shaped body shape have roughly the same width in the shoulders, waist, and hip, resulting in a body shape that is mostly straight up and down. In order to create visual balance, add a little definition by experimenting with embellishments to your tops or bottoms and then pairing with a belt to create a more natural waistline. By using either a belt or wearing clothing such as an A-line dress that naturally hugs the waist, you’ll be able to create more definition in the hip.
BODY TYPE: hourglass
Flattering Tops:
- V-neck tops
- Belts at the waist
- Fitted tops
- A-line dresses
- Light-weight, thin fabrics
Flattering Bottoms:
- A-line skirts
- Midi skirts
- Skinny jeans
- Wide-legged pants
Hourglass-shaped bodies have smaller waists in contrast to both shoulders and hips, while hips and shoulders are proportionately the same or similar in size.
Ladies with an hourglass figure have a natural balance between their hips and shoulders because the waist is smaller in contrast. When thinking about how to dress, consider styles that enhance instead of detract from the natural visual balance. For instance, a wrap dress accentuates the waist and retains the shoulder and hip balance. A midi skirt paired with a fitted blouse can also help keep that balance.
By taking time to learn more about the basics about body types and styles, you'll have more confidence and enjoy shopping new clothing lines, fabrics and prints each season.
A shift dress might look amazing on one person, but less flattering on another. A fitted pencil skirt could look like it was custom-made for one shopper, but might not look right on someone else.
For many, the idea of shopping for clothing online without having the chance to try anything on beforehand can be a little imitidating...but it doesn't have to be! You just need to have a better idea of what your body type is, and what to look for when shopping different styles.