Understanding Your Shape
Fashion is meant to be fun and glamorous not frustrating. So with many trends coming and going, it’s easy to feel and look your best when you figure out what actually works for your body. That’s where understanding your shape comes in. Think of it as your personal style compass—helping you navigate the endless sea of fashion in a way that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and, most importantly, you. The goal is to enhance what you already have, love and highlight the features that make you feel like your best self.
While each body is unique, the most fit into five main categories: hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle, and inverted triangle. These are not fixed classifications, but instead a beginning point for finding silhouettes that naturally suit your proportions.
Hourglass: Balanced Top and Bottom & Defined Waist
If your bust and hips are roughly equal in width with a naturally defined waist, you’ve got an hourglass shape. So what looks best on you? Pieces that bring focus to your waist, like wrap dresses, belted tops, and high-waisted pants. Structured fabrics work well, too, as they emphasize your curves without overwhelming them. Avoid overly boxy shapes unless you balance them with a cinched waist. Examples of an hourglass shape would be celebrities like Halle Berry, Dorothy Dandridge, Marilyn Monroe, and Katy Perry would be good places to start looking for inspiration on how they put looks together. My style guide on fashion do's and don'ts for the hourglass shape is here.
Pear Shape: Beautifully Bottom-Heavy
Pear-shaped bodies have hips that are wider than their shoulders, creating a naturally feminine silhouette. With this body type you will want to balance your curvy bottom by drawing the eye to the top of your body. The key here is balancing proportions—structured tops, statement sleeves, or off-the-shoulder styles draw the eye upward. A-line skirts and tailored trousers help elongate the lower half, giving you that effortless balance. Celebrities like Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Scarlet Johansen, Viola Davis, and Jennifer Aniston have pear-shaped bodies. You can check out my pear-shaped style guide for more inspo here.
Apple Shape: Chic & Softly Rounded
If you carry more volume in your midsection, your strengths lie in your legs, arms, and neckline. Your goal is to make your arms, legs, and neckline to appear longer. Clothes like empire waist dresses, flowy tops, and structured blazers create an elongating effect while still being comfortable. High-rise jeans and straight-leg pants work wonders to balance proportions. And don’t shy away from v-necks & scoop neck shirts—they elongate the upper body beautifully. Celebs to put you in the mindframe of an apple shape would be Oprah, Adele, Mindy Kaling and Drew Barrymore. For more info my apple-shaped style guide can be found here.
Rectangle: Sleek and Straight
A rectangle body shape is one in which the widths of the shoulders, waist, and hips are approximately equal. If this is your body shape you want to create curves by drawing attention to the middle of your body. Which types of clothes are going to work best for you? Belted dresses, peplum tops, and high-waisted skirts all provide the illusion of curves. Layering tops and ruched clothing create dimension, but softer fabrics like satin, linen, and wool makes them look feminine and effortless. Think of celebrities like Gabrielle Union, Gigi Hadid, Ayesha Curry, Anne Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon and check out my dedicated rectangle shape style guide here.
Inverted Triangle: Strong and Striking
The inverted triangle shape is when you have broad shoulders and narrow hips. With this body type the trick is to draw the eye to your waist and below to create some symmetry. The solution is to balance your proportions by adding volume to your lower half—think wide-leg slacks, flared skirts, and flowy materials. Scoop and V-necklines serve to soften the upper body while making you look balanced and stylish. I personally fall into this category along with the likes of Zendaya, Victoria Beckham, Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie for tips on how to master this body shape check out the inverted triangle style guide here.
At the end of the day, fashion should empower you. If you love a piece, wear it. If you feel amazing in it, flaunt it! Style is about knowing yourself, embracing your shape, and having fun with your wardrobe. So go ahead, experiment, mix things up, and most importantly—wear what makes you feel unstoppable!
