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An hourglass figure is characterized by broader hips and bust with a well-defined waist, often associated with the curves of iconic beauties like Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe. However, you can still rock the hourglass look even if your belly is a little fuller, as long as your waist shows an inward curve on both sides. To choose clothing that flatters an hourglass shape, focus on styles that emphasize the waist without adding bulk to the hips. With a bit of skill in mixing and matching, you'll soon have your favorite outfits.
Steps
Find Clothes That Enhance Your Shape
Look for tops, jackets, and dresses that highlight your waist. The hourglass shape features a naturally narrow waist, so clothes that cinch at the waist will accentuate your curves beautifully. The best choices include wrap tops and dresses or anything that ties at the waist, such as a trench coat, fitted flared dress, or a peplum top.
- A fitted top with a wide neckline, tucked into high-waisted pants or skirts, is also a great way to emphasize your waist. Just ensure the top comfortably fits around your bust.
Avoid wearing loose or overly tight clothing. If you wear baggy, oversized outfits, your body will get lost in the fabric, giving you a shapeless, unflattering appearance. On the other hand, clothes that are too tight can feel uncomfortable and draw attention to areas where you may have some extra weight.
- Instead, opt for clothing that fits snugly but comfortably. This will help you feel confident and look great.
- If you're concerned about certain areas of your body, consider wearing clothes that fit well but aren't overly tight, especially fabrics that provide support, such as knit, denim, or stretchy materials.
Choose V-neck, wide-neck, or boat-neck tops to highlight your bust. Whether you're comfortable showing off your chest or prefer to keep it more modest, if you have a larger bust, it's best to go for tops with a neckline that creates angles or curves. For instance, a V-neck will make your bust appear smaller as its sharp angle draws attention toward your waist.
- A boat-neck top, which extends from one shoulder to the other, will highlight your elegant collarbones.
- A wide-neck top frames your face and accentuates your collarbones without revealing as much cleavage as a V-neck.
- Avoid high-neck tops, such as polo necks, turtlenecks, or tight crew necks, as they tend to make your bust look larger.
Avoid clothes with excessive fabric around the hips or bust. Steer clear of items with lace trim or horizontal pleats at the waist. Since your body already has natural curves, adding extra details around these areas can make you look heavier, disrupting your body's proportion.
- One exception is lace trim running vertically on a shirt, which can help minimize the appearance of the bust.
- You should also avoid horizontal stripes across the bust or hips, as they will make these areas look larger.
Alison Deyette
Style Expert
Style Expert
Expert Tip: Choose pants with slanted pockets and avoid pants with straight pockets placed along the seams. Straight pockets tend to flare out at the front, creating an unflattering horizontal line. You could also opt for pocketless pants to enhance your silhouette.
Use a belt to draw attention to your waist. If you're wearing a flowy dress, blouse, or coat, you can add emphasis to your waistline by adding a belt. Depending on your style, choose a delicate, sparkling belt for a flowing dress, or a wide belt for a trendy trench coat. For the most impact, wear the belt at the narrowest part of your waist.
- If you have a fuller stomach, a belt may draw attention to that area more than your waistline. In such cases, consider highlighting your waist by wearing a short jacket or high-waisted skirt or pants.
Wear well-fitting underwear. When you have a curvy figure, it's important to wear underwear that fits properly and provides the right support. For example, your bra should fit snugly and lift comfortably without digging into your skin. If needed, consider getting a professional bra fitting to determine the right size for you.
- When choosing underwear, opt for seamless styles if you prefer full-coverage briefs, as they will prevent any visible panty lines under your clothes. Alternatively, you can wear thong underwear to ensure no lines show through.
Create a casual dressing style
You can wear a fitted jersey t-shirt with bell-bottom jeans as a casual outfit. Jersey is a lightweight, soft fabric commonly used to make t-shirts and other everyday wear. As long as your outfit fits well, jersey fabric will gently hug your body, keeping you comfortable and cool while still accentuating your shape. Bell-bottom jeans with a slight flare at the hem will balance out your curves.
- Try pairing this look with your favorite sandals and a messy ponytail for a relaxed weekend outing!
Create a feminine vibe in casual wear with a flared dress and tennis shoes. A flared dress is the perfect outfit to showcase an hourglass figure because it hugs the body like a t-shirt and flares out at the hips. This dress can be worn to school, work, or while hanging out with friends – just pair it with low-top sneakers, grab a handbag, and you're good to go!
- A choker necklace is a stylish and chic accessory to complete this outfit.
- If your style is more edgy, try pairing the flared dress with ankle boots. Add some personality with ripped fishnet stockings and bold eyeliner.
Wear a short skirt with a fitted t-shirt if you want to show off your legs. If you love your beautiful legs and want to make them the focal point of your look, pair a wide-neck t-shirt with a short skirt and low-top sneakers. The t-shirt will be modest enough on top to highlight your legs below, giving you a playful and eye-catching appearance.
- To add a little extra flair, you can choose a t-shirt with shoulder details like embellishments or lace trim.
Pro tip: If short skirts feel a bit daring for you, try wearing a skort or tailored shorts instead.
Rock a bomber jacket to stay warm in the cold season with a cool edge. Bomber jackets with stretchy waistbands are perfect for drawing attention to your waist. They're also comfortable and versatile for everyday wear, complementing a variety of styles.
- For example, a leather bomber looks fantastic when paired with boyfriend jeans or a voluminous dress.
- Try wearing a satin bomber with skinny jeans, high heels, and a V-neck t-shirt for a hip-hop inspired look that's perfect for an hourglass figure.
Dress for special occasions
Choose peplum tops and dresses to accentuate your waist. Peplum tops typically hug the waist and flare out toward the hips, while peplum dresses follow the same structure but with a pencil skirt instead of a flared one. The peplum style naturally mimics the hourglass shape, enhancing your curves beautifully.
- For example, try wearing a peplum top with a fitted skirt and pointed heels for a fun night out.
Try wearing an empire waist dress to highlight your figure the best. Empire dresses have a waistline that sits just under the bust, emphasizing the narrowest part of an hourglass figure. The rest of the dress flows loosely around the stomach and hips, making it a perfect fit for an hourglass body shape.
- For example, if you're going out for dinner with friends, you can wear an empire waist dress that reaches the knee, paired with wedge sandals, large hoop earrings, and a colorful handbag.
- These dresses also work well for office wear!
Wearing a short jacket is another way to draw attention to the waist. A jacket that hits at the waist will naturally attract the eye to that area. It’s a subtle and elegant way to showcase your shape without needing a belt.
- For example, you could wear a sleeveless satin top paired with an A-line skirt, and layer a short embroidered brocade jacket on top. It's a stunning look for a formal event.
Wear a stylish event jumpsuit with a cinched waist for an elegant yet chic appearance. A jumpsuit made from lightweight fabrics like chiffon, lace, or crepe silk offers the style of a dress while providing the practicality of pants. Look for a design that flatters your waist without adding extra details at the bust or hips, no matter the event.
- Pair your jumpsuit with an updo hairstyle, high heels, and bold earrings for a look that will make everyone stare in admiration.
If you're bold enough, opt for a bodycon dress. A bodycon dress fits snugly to your body, making it a great choice to show off an hourglass figure. However, this style can also highlight any imperfections, so consider choosing a stretchy, thick fabric to offer some support.
- Bandage dresses are one example of a bodycon style.
- Pair your bodycon dress with ankle boots, bold eyeliner, and messy hair for a rock-n-roll vibe.
Choosing office attire
Wear a tailored blouse for a sharp and sophisticated look. A blouse made to fit your shape allows freedom in the chest area while still accentuating the waist. Pairing it with tailored trousers gives a professional, neat appearance, yet remains comfortable enough to handle your tasks throughout the day.
- Pair it with flat shoes and a chunky necklace to add a touch of elegance and simplicity.
- A tucked-in t-shirt at the waist is also a great office-friendly option.
Consider wearing a trench coat for a timeless, classic style. The trench coat never goes out of fashion and suits most body types, but it's especially flattering for the hourglass figure. Wear it over a fitted outfit or cinch the belt when paired with looser attire to accentuate the waist.
- Try pairing it with a neat updo and low-heeled shoes for a polished and professional office look.
Wear a loose-neck blouse with wide-leg trousers and flats for an easy office look. A bright blouse, comfortable trousers, and practical flats offer a stylish yet understated appearance. In fact, rotating through these blouses gives you multiple workday looks, especially if they make you feel at ease.
- If high heels aren’t comfortable, flat shoes work perfectly as well.
Opt for a wrap dress for a quick yet professional look. A wrap dress is designed to look like a piece of fabric wrapped and tied at the waist. This versatile outfit suits many body types, but is particularly flattering on hourglass figures. Another bonus is that when you're in a hurry, you can simply slip into this dress and still look polished.
- Pair it with a neat low bun and low-heeled shoes, and you're ready for a busy workday.
Invest in a single-breasted coat or blazer for a professional look at work. A tailored coat or blazer is an excellent choice for a polished, professional appearance, with the single-breasted design being particularly flattering on hourglass figures. These pieces are also versatile, as a blazer can be paired with blouses or dresses. Take the time to find one that fits well, and if you can afford it, don't hesitate to invest in a high-quality one that will last for years.
- Two-button blazers, however, may enhance the size of your chest.
High-waisted pencil skirts for a sophisticated office look. A pencil skirt is designed to hug the body, and the high-waisted style accentuates the narrowest part of the waist. This versatile piece can be styled in various ways, such as tucking in a chiffon blouse and pairing it with low-heeled shoes, or wearing it with a sleeveless top and adding a blazer for extra flair.
- For instance, you can tuck a sleeveless top into a pencil skirt, then layer a light blazer with rolled-up sleeves for a chic ensemble.
