How To Dress For Your Body Type

What clothes look good on your body type? Oh my, oh my, oh my! This question is a touchy one but one that certainly needs to be answered.

Normally when shopping for clothes, you pick what YOU think looks good on you. That is ok to some degree, but sometimes people may think something is flattering on their body type, that is the exact opposite.

Don’t think this is going to be an article shaming people for their different but maybe not popular body types. I am all about celebrating the body you are born in. I want everybody to feel and look good, and knowing your body type can help with that!

The curse of social media

With social media being consumed at an all-time high, we see a lot of photos on a regular basis. These photos are not always a reflection of what we see when we look in the mirror.

That being because photoshopping and photo filters are a lot of folks best friends, lol. Its nothing wrong with using them, however, some people are not realizing this is what is going on.

So with that being said, people are comparing themselves to altered photos of other people. Essentially, we compare ourselves to fake people, lol.

You see these “fake” people photos and you may beat yourself up for not looking like the person in the photo. Or you may see something an influencer is wearing with another body type and you go to buy it thinking it’s going to look the same on you.

You certainly should not be comparing yourself to other people, PERIODT! So if you doing that, STOP IT NOW! It’s nothing wrong with purchasing items you see influencers wearing, but if you’re not educated on your body type, you could be buying something that does not celebrate or enhance your figure.

All trends are not created equal

Another trap that even I get caught up in is TRENDS!! All trends are not created equal for all body types! Like right now, skinny jeans are supposed to be going out of trend. I call BULLSHIT!

Straight legs jeans are supposed to be the new “it” trend. That may work for some, but not I said the duck! I am single and currently waiting for my husband to be sent to me.

So that means I need to be ready and looking good as much as possible anticipating his arrival, lol. Skinny jeans look good on me and work best for my figure.

I will not be going out purchasing a whole bunch of straight leg jeans. That trend does not work for my body type. A perfect example of a trend not being created equal.

Don’t get caught up chasing trends. You can be educated on them and purchase some of them. But you want to purchase trends that look best for your body type and celebrates all the goodness of your body!

What is your body type?

You may be thinking, you say all this about my body type, but I don’t know what the hell my body type is, lol! You may be able to look and guess, but you could be guessing wrong.

If you want an accurate answer as to what your body type is, you can head over to Body Type Calculator. There it will show you where and how to measure your body and then advise you exactly what your body type is.

Once you have this information, you will be better equipped with how to dress your body. With my help of course, lol!

My goal for you when reading this post is for you to have a better sense of what clothes, no matter what size or shape is going to be the best for you! The question “what clothes look good on your body type” will be answered in this post. So let’s get to it and let me show you how to make clothes work for your body and not let the clothes overwork you!

Dressing a triangle (Pear) body

The triangle (pear) figure body type to me is very much like the Hourglass body type. By definition, however, it is not the same by far.

There are two forms of the triangle figure, which are slender and full. The ebonics term would be “slim thick”. Either way, its a sexy body type. You can really play up all the curvacious deliciousness of your body in really fun ways.

Some issues the “slim thick” may have is bringing balance and not bringing so much attention to the bottom half of their body. Now some ladies may be saying, umm I do not have any issues with all eyes being on the lower half of my body, lol.

If this is you, if it don’t apply, let it fly, lol! However, I think I can be helpful to you with the looks I put together anyway. Let me show you how you can celebrate your curves!

Now, this is how you dress up some denim! As you can see in this dress, the top shoulders are broader and for a triangle body type, this can help bring “balance’. This helps not bring all the attention to the lower half of your body if you do not want to do that.

Blood Orange realness!!! This is the perfect look to slay your workday! Puffy sleeves are perfect for the triangle body type as again, it adds “balance” and draws visual interest to the top half of your body. Flat front pants are ideal for this body type as well.

Lady wears the blues?!?! This is a nice look to wear out on a nice date or semi-formal event. This look does draw attention to the lower half of the body, but the shoulders are broad and even out the lower half. With the necklace and earrings, that also adds interest to the top half.

Cute and Flirty! This look is perfect for a happy hour or a night out on the town. Because the party is on the lower half of the triangle body type, you get to have a lot of fun with tops. So heavy prints are triangle body types best friends. It evens out the visual party favors for the top and bottom, lol!

Material Girls always have more fun! I love this new combat boot trend! Pairing them with a dress is so edgy and sexy! For the triangle body type, a puffy sleeve again helps balance out your body shape. Try it out for yourself!

Clothes to avoid

• Add bulk to the larger bottom half
• Clothes that are too tight or clingy
• Draw a line at the widest point of your body

Dressing an Inverted Triangle Body

So now, we are going to do the total opposite of the looks above. Inverted Triangle body types are wider at the top and slimmer on the bottom.

If you are a more “slim thick” Inverted Triangle, you may have a little more goodies on the top than someone who maybe a little more slender.

The goal of dressing this body type is to not look like a female Johnny Bravo. By wearing pieces that draw the eye down, it makes the top look less heavy.

Major Fashionista! I personally am not big on earth tones, but I can get with this look here! The Utilitarian trend is still very in! I know I mention trends should not be the focus but you can take part in trends that work for your body type.

This outfit certainly works for the Inverted Triangle body. The pant is plain, but its straight leg which makes it wider. I don’t F with straight legs, but this body type certainly should, lol! Also, the blazer adds an hourglass figure to the top half. Paired with the pant and you have a well-balanced look.

Red marks the spot! This is such a cute fashion-forward look perfect for Spring/Summer. The different shades of orange playing off each other are visual eye candy!

A-line dresses are perfect for the Inverted Triangle body type! It’s a built-in way to give the illusion of an hour-glass shape.

Life is a beach! I love this outfit! This makes me want to go and book a trip somewhere tropical right now. This to me is something I would wear on somebody’s Yacht, lol!

For the Inverted Triangle body type, the skirt which is the true MVP of this outfit helps create balance on the lower half of the bottom. This look head to toe is going to turn some heads!

Runway ready!!! Wearing this, you look like you just got off of the runway at a fashion show and decided to go out afterward! The top having the bow tieing in the midriff area creates shape and then the shorts being wide leg adds some additional interest to the lower half of your body.

Black, White and Silver magic! This is my favorite color combo! This is cute for a 5-star dinner or semi-formal event. The skirt is a piece of artwork!

The skirt is so visually appealing and it is a-line, it’s perfect to add some shape to the lower half of the body and bring the eyes down.

Clothes to avoid

• Anything making your top half look heavy
• Clothes that draw the eye to your shoulders

Dressing a Rectangle Body

This figure may be what some call, “the boy body”. This body type would not have any overt curves and can appear to be very up and down or narrow.

You’re probably thinking I am not making this body type sound very flattering, but this body type is probably one of the most fun when it comes to styling.

Have you ever heard anybody hate on models or say stuff like they are too skinny or they need to eat a sandwich? Why would designers want these girls with the “boyish” figure to model their clothes they may say.

Well, the answer is because they have the most versatile body type. A rectangle body type can wear many different items of clothing and do not have as many don’ts as some of the other body types does. The rectangle body type can indeed have fun with fashion in a feminine way.

A perfect example of this body type is Zendaya. She looks good in everything. It’s all about fit at the end of the day. If you know how to dress your body, you know how best to dress your body. Let me show you what I came up with.

Summer Time Fine Vibes! Nothing better in the Summer or Spring than a colorful look. It just puts me in a good mood. Even though I do not wear color, lol. I would wear this in Miami for a good turn-up.

For a rectangle figure, this looks adds a lot of visual interest to the top and bottom. The top has the side tie-around that moves your eye sideways which is perfect for a rectangle shape which is normally straight up and down.

The shorts are slim in the waist but flares out and adds shape to the lower half of the bottom. This is a slam dunk look for the rectangle body type.

Wild Classy Thang!! If you’re going to play with earth tones, this is how you do it. This look is the perfect look for casual Friday at work with a date or happy hour afterward.

For the rectangle figure, the blazer flares out adding some shape to the upper body and the pant flares out at the bottom to do the same on lower. That makes this a very proportioned look.

Feminine chic! This look is perfect for a wedding or ladies who brunch events. It’s just so girly and that is fun right ladies! This also is a win for the rectangle body type. The broader shoulders and the a-line shape of the lower portion provide the balance needed to not look stick figure like.

Black Diamond! I love how edgy and sexy this look is. This would be a great outfit for a concert, like the Black Diamond tour by my girl Janet Jackson, lol! All black is so classic and such an easy head turner.

The broad shoulders on the bodysuit add some drama to a rectangle body type and with the a-line skirt makes an instant hourglass shape!

Executive Pinkness! This is the perfect way to be a BOSS and still be girly at the same time! You could easily wear this to work and then transition to a night out being grown. Doghound print is life by the way!

The bow on the top adds some interest to the top have of the body and diverts the eye to the side. Perfect for a rectangle body girl. The pants are straight wide leg to add some shape to the lower end which balances it out.

Clothes to avoid:

• Boxy and Masculine style
• Clothes that highlight the straight lines on your body
• Shapeless clothes that hang on the body straight
• Clothes that lack personality and your individuality

Dressing the Hourglass Body

When I think of the Hourglass body, I think Vava Voom! This is probably the most coveted body type of all the body types. It’s a very feminine and much-desired figure by men and some women.

Even so, this body type still has its challenges, especially if you do not know how to dress it. It’s easy for some women with this body type to be drawn to more exercise wear as their regular clothing.

This can be for many reasons, comfortability, lack of clothes or because they like the way their bodies look in them. Not to mention the attention for those folks who love the hourglass body type.

It’s also easy for this body type to get lost in other body types when wearing clothes that do not celebrate their figures. Wearing anything that is too heavy in the top or the bottom half without the proper balance can affect this body type the same as any other.

Nonetheless, this body type is pretty fun to style and sexy for sure! I know I have some looks that you can be inspired by to wake up your wardrobe if in a style rut or just need some help with dressing your figure.

Gettin knitty wit it! This is a classy woman that knows her way around her closet. An easy way to nail a day to night look. I do not know about you, but I think animal print boots are oh so sexy!

For the hourglass body type, this look is effortless! With the belt that ties at the waist, its the perfect balance!

Sexy Red! Another effortless look for an hourglass body type. Perfect for a night at the club, you can slay in this one. It also helps that the dress has a deep v that also adds balance to the top half of the body.

Queen Bee! This look is the perfect suit for the corporate fashionista! I love to see women in bright-colored suits! I imagine a luxury realtor wearing this and closing all the deals!

Because the blazer has an exaggerated hourglass already built-in, the pant being more straight-legged and fitting works and on an hourglass figure will provide the right top to bottom proportions.

Blue Diva! There are a lot of blues here, but together it is a masterpiece! I like this for an award show, not necessarily red carpet, but in attendance of the show. Better yet, this is hot for Fashion Week! Peacocking don’t get no better than this!

This skirt is made for either a triangle or hourglass body type ONLY. The difference from the Hourglass body type is, your body is going to naturally give this outfit the balance it needs. The top helps if you are smaller up there, but for an Hourglass, it just defines your shape more.

Is it Happy Hour yet? Something so simple but chic and sexy! If you are going on a first date and not sure what you should wear, here you go! If you want to see even more outfit ideas for date-night, you can click here.

Talk about curve-hugging, every juicy curve you got is highlighted with this outfit! The shirt has a natural form that only an Hourglass body type can fill out and it lay like perfection! The jeans are skinny, which this body type wears like no other.

Clothes to avoid

• Shapeless and disguise all your juicy features
• Ones that don’t highlight your individual style and not representative of your personality
• Out-dated
• Appear heavy or add bulk to figure

Dressing the Round Body

I saved the best body shape for last!! The Round Body type is the most curvalicious of them all. You have all the goodies, lol! Dressing this body type can be amazing or a disaster.

Why is that? Well, I have to be honest, some women with this body type may not be the most confident. It has nothing to do with them as a person, but ignorance gives this body type a bad rep sometimes.

It’s not my job to highlight all the reasons this is the case. However, it is my job to highlight all the good things. I am all about celebrating your body, no matter what shape it is.

You may be in transition with this body type and plan on it changing with maybe diet or exercise. I am not saying you should be doing this or have to. It’s just a reality I am conscious of.

If you are in transition, you should still be dressing for your current body type during this process. Don’t play yourself and wait until you get to your ideal shape. Looking your best is important, always!

If you are curvalicious and proud, I’m here for it! I am only trying to get you to dress in a way where you make the clothes and they don’t make you. Knowing how to dress for your shape is a true superpower.

I am in the business of making a woman look and feel good, PERIODT! So I am all about highlighting your curves the best way and helping you realize what all of them are.

I got some looks here that will help you do just that! One thing you will not see is ANIMAL PRINT. I do not like how a lot of clothing manufacturers always make animal prints for the Round Body types.

They create it like its a sin for Round Body types not to wear animal print. Not saying you cannot wear it at all. I am just saying that there is more you can wear than just that and still slay and be sexy! Let me show you what I mean…

Pretty in Lace! This is a perfect look for an event that may require you to be a little bit more dressy or you could wear this to work. Comfy and sexy is always a go-to for me!

You may think I am crazy showing lace for the Round Body type because the lace is in the top half. But, I know a Round Body type can pull this off. You may have to wear a supporting garment underneath, but even without one, it works.

Because the skirt portion on this dress is not tight and is flowy, a Round Body type can wear this and it is complementary to their figure.

Fresh Off The Runway! I see this on a date night or maybe a look for a concert to go and see Rihanna. Black and White is always a winner in my book so that only makes this look a winner.

A Round Body type can kill this look! The shirt is more loose-fitting but is not oversized in the way that it swallows you or makes it seem like your trying to hide something. The jeans have the perfect flare at the bottom for balance.

Purple Passion! This is such a girly and flirty look! This could be worn to a wedding or maybe even work with a date later in the night.

The dress at the top is a little structured which for a Round Body type can be helpful. The dress is flowy again and adds some shape to the bottom half which brings the eye down. For this body type, the eye not being focused up top only is ideal.

Under the sea realness! The color palette of this look is everything! This is perfect for a day at the office. Wearing this definitely would add some life to your place of work.

With there being so much visual interest all over for this look, it will provide the balance necessary to not appear to “top-heavy”. The pant is the busiest part of this outfit, so the eye will move down. With the sweater and embellishments up top, you have the proper balance for a complete look!

Girls just wanna have fun! Let your inner Hot Girl out in this one here! You can wear this on a date, club or a concert! Wherever you wear it, your gonna look good, that’s for sure!

A pencil skirt works for the Round Body type because it shows the smallest part of the leg which can add some shape. This also pulls the eye down from the top portion of the body. A good t-shirt works for pretty much all body types when worn properly. The Round Body type would not want to wear it too tight, that way your proportions are not off.

Clothes to avoid

• Add width and add bulk to your look
• Hang from the widest points or cut across your widest points

That’s all folks!!!

So now you should have some idea of what clothes look good for your body type. I hope you do at least, lol! If you got anything from all of this, please remember that fit is very important! Also, balance MATTERS! You need to keep this in mind because if caught slipping it can ruin a look and take away from all of your juicy and fabulousness.

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