How to choose clothing that complements your body shape

Recognize your body shape. Pay attention to curves to understand how the chest, waist, and hips are proportioned.

• The body shapes discussed in this article apply to women, not prepubescent girls. While it's sometimes possible to recognize a body shape before full development, the clearer indicators appear once the chest, hips, and other parts are fully developed.
• Measure the chest, waist, and hips. Depending on the size of each area, you can determine your body shape to find suitable clothing.
• No body shape is inherently "better" or "worse." A particular shape might be trendy in a specific region for a certain time, but that doesn’t mean your body shape is "ugly."
• All body shapes have their strengths and weaknesses. Learn about your shape to know how to style your clothes beautifully.
• Even the body shape of a model falls into one of these categories.

Apple-shaped body. This body shape is generally described as having a "full upper body," with around 14% of women having a chest measurement larger than the hips by more than 7cm. You can easily recognize this apple shape when looking in the mirror.

• Your arms and legs are typically slim, particularly your arms, but broad shoulders are usually the most recognizable feature of this shape.
• Weight tends to accumulate around the midsection and chest, making the bust and stomach fuller.
• If you have a naturally smaller chest, weight will focus around the diaphragm area.
• Right below the midsection, the waistline is not clearly defined, which emphasizes the fullness of the upper body.
• Although your upper body may be fuller, your legs will be slim.

Pear-shaped body. In contrast to the apple shape is the pear-shaped body. This shape has a fuller lower body (or looks like an inverted triangle), with about 20% of women having hips larger than their chest.

• You can quickly identify this body shape as the lower body—hips, thighs, and sometimes the buttocks—will be fuller.
• Shoulders are often narrow, slightly sloped, and not too broad.
• This body shape is often described as having "sensual curves." It's easy to spot this shape by looking at the legs, as they tend to be fuller, stronger, and more defined than other areas of the body.

Rectangular body shape. Approximately 46% of women have this body shape, where the waist is the same size as the chest and hips. Your body will lack the curves seen in pear or apple-shaped figures. Instead, you will appear more straight with broad shoulders.

• Unlike the other two shapes, the best way to determine a rectangular body shape is through measurement. You will find that the waist is 2.5cm to 20cm smaller than the chest.
• When standing, the waistline will not be visibly curved.
• The ribcage plays a significant role in defining your shape, as there is no distinct waistline to create a curve.
• Though your body may have a rectangular shape, you can still have curves at the lower body (similar to a pear shape) or a larger bust with some weight in the stomach area.

Hourglass body shape. This is a rare shape, with only around 8% of women having it. The hips and chest are usually similar in size, with a small waist.

• Unlike other body shapes, the hourglass body has a clearly defined waistline.
• Distinct curves are evident. Fat tends to be distributed evenly across the body.
• When you look in the mirror, you will see that the hips and chest are of equal size.
• You still have an hourglass figure even if your upper arms are a bit fuller, shoulders appear broad, and your lower body is more pronounced.

It's important to know that your current body shape can be adjusted through diet and exercise. Genetic factors will determine where fat is stored in your body; this inherent aspect cannot be changed. However, if you're not overweight, your body shape won't appear overly bulky, and the difference between body parts won't be as noticeable. Slim women often have a more uniform body shape compared to those who are overweight.

• You can't "target specific areas for slimming." It's impossible to slim down just one part of your body, but you can do exercises for your abdominal muscles to achieve a flat stomach. However, fat loss occurs across the whole body, and for women, weight loss is usually noticeable around the chest, hips, and buttocks, whether you like it or not.
• You can't "increase the size of specific areas." Similarly, without surgery, it's impossible to increase the size of certain body areas. Chest exercises or creams will not make your chest bigger. While chest exercises can firm up the area, they won't increase the bust size.
• Some body shapes tend to gain or lose weight in specific areas. For example, women with an hourglass shape often gain or lose weight in the chest and hips but not the waist. Women with a pear-shaped body, on the other hand, tend to gain weight in the hips but not in the chest, even when the overall weight remains the same.
• Cardio and endurance exercises are commonly used to change body shape. By understanding which areas of your body tend to accumulate fat or lose weight more quickly, you can create an exercise plan that aligns with your body's needs.
• Remember, clothing helps to accentuate your body, not the other way around. Actresses and models often look stunning in outfits regardless of their body shape. In fact, models don’t need to look good in all outfits. When designers plan photo shoots or runway shows, they select models whose body shape best suits the clothing. Models can't adjust their body shapes to fit the clothes.
• How has the ideal body shape changed over time? In America, during the Victorian era, the "hourglass shape" was considered the epitome of perfection, and women often wore corsets to achieve it. In the 1920s, the ideal body shape for women was a "rectangular" masculine figure, so women wore belts and corsets to achieve a flat chest.
• Different cultures and subcultures have different ideals when it comes to body shape. African American women in the U.S. are often praised for their curvy, fuller hips. However, Japanese women don't necessarily view this as ideal.

Consider genetic factors. Genetics play an important role in shaping your body. Look at the women in your family and observe their common traits. If they generally have similar body shapes, chances are yours may be similar too. Keep in mind that both your maternal and paternal sides of the family can influence you!

Clothing for apple-shaped bodies. To dress beautifully with an apple-shaped body, avoid drawing attention to the stomach area and focus on highlighting other regions.

• Pay attention to your body's lines and emphasize your bust and neckline. With this body shape, you can easily wear shirts, blouses, or dresses with a slight V-neck that won't overly highlight the upper body.
• Avoid drawing attention to the waist and shoulders/arms (wear long-sleeve tops) and instead highlight the bust and neck (with a V-neck top).
• Opt for flared pants rather than straight or skinny pants, and create a balance between your shoulders and the lower body. Waistbands of pants or skirts should sit just below the pelvic bone to divert attention from the stomach area.
• Avoid wearing tight dresses or belts that cinch at the waist, as these will draw attention to areas you may not want to highlight.
• Wear loose tops to conceal the upper body if desired.
• Highlight areas far from the stomach or cover them with darker clothing.

Clothing for pear-shaped bodies. The key to dressing well for a pear-shaped body is to emphasize the shoulders and bust. Draw attention to the upper body rather than the lower body.

• If you have a pear-shaped body, you can try slimming down your hips and buttocks, or enhance your hips if that's your goal!
• Balance the proportions of your upper and lower body. Choose tops that accentuate your shoulders.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants or stockings.
• You may also consider padded bras or other options to enhance your bust size.
• Wear flared pants or slightly bootcut styles with heels. Tight ankle-length pants can make your lower body look inverted, while flared pants will make your legs appear larger or slightly curved when compared to your upper body.

Clothing for straight or rectangular body shapes. With this shape, your body will be long and slim, often lacking prominent curves. This shape is sometimes referred to as a "masculine" body type. Your goal is to wear clothing that accentuates your slim figure and creates curves around the waist.

• If you have this body shape, try "cinching" your waist to add curves. For instance, wearing a belt with a dress will help achieve this effect.
• Choose clothing with borders or pleats to add texture, fullness, and femininity to your body. For example, a dress with patterns around the chest can make the bust appear fuller.
• Avoid choosing masculine clothing. Wearing baggy pants or sportswear may make you appear "boyish" instead of feminine. Opt for form-fitting pants that suit your body shape and wear female-specific sportswear when heading to the gym.
• Short skirts and light-colored tights will highlight your slender legs. This also adds curves to a straight body shape.
• Wear body-contouring clothing. A body with a rectangular shape can be easily enhanced with the right lingerie. For example, padded bras can help balance out the straight lines of your body with minimal effort.

Clothing for hourglass body shapes. Avoid clothing that makes you appear like a "box"! You have enviable curves, so embrace them.

• Your waist should be the focal point when choosing clothes. This means selecting form-fitting garments with accessories that highlight the slimmest part of your waist. Drawing attention to this area will enhance your curves.
• Choose clothes that accentuate your beautiful curves based on the contours of your body. Tailored outfits will highlight your figure more than loose or baggy ones, which may draw attention to your chest, making your body appear heavier or pregnant.
• Balance the proportions of your upper and lower body while emphasizing the waist. Focus attention on the waist with belts or fitted dresses in the middle section.
• Women with fuller curves often find it easy to showcase their bust. If the neckline of your top is too deep or inappropriate, consider ditching that outfit.
• Enhance your bust. If you have an hourglass body, your bust is likely quite full; make sure to wear supportive bras to keep your chest lifted and prevent sagging.
• Opt for dresses or tops with V-necks. Many neckline styles work for women with a fuller bust, but a V-neck tends to be the most flattering. Just ensure the cut is deep enough to suit the occasion.

• Regardless of your body shape, making your legs appear longer is usually more flattering.
• If you're petite (short and slim), avoid long coats and maxi dresses, as they tend to "swallow" you. Instead, opt for shorter jackets, shorts, and skirts to make your small frame appear more balanced. Choosing solid colors or vertical stripes will also give you the appearance of being taller. Add high heels to further elongate your legs.
• Pick the right bra; this is extremely important and will help you achieve a perfect bust.
• Experiment with different options. Don't be discouraged if you're not used to a new style. Step out of your comfort zone!
• Be clever with your choice of colors and patterns. If there are areas of your body you'd like to hide, choose dark-colored clothing (black, navy blue, dark purple).
• Choose light-colored or patterned clothing for your best features to draw attention away from any imperfections!
• Wrap dresses or tops that tie around the waist and bust are only suitable for those with a fuller bust, as they can make the chest appear smaller (if you have a pear-shaped body) or make the bust and shoulders appear flat and square (if you have a straight body shape).
• If you have a flat stomach and aren't shy about showing it off, a crop top will make your chest look larger in proportion to your waist.