Crack The Body Shape Styling Code
Crack The Body Shape Styling Code
We all know a woman who always looks gorgeous despite having an unconventionally beautiful figure. This is
because she knows exactly how to package her shape to highlight her best features and create visual balance.
Differences in body shape are why some women look long and lean in skinny jeans and a long, slouchy tee, while
another woman of the same height and weight appears shorter and heavier in exactly the same outfit.
The hourglass figure – a body with balanced hips and shoulders and a defined waist is the longstanding ideal. This
is because it is inherently proportionate and quintessentially feminine. To make your figure look its best, use styling
to create the impression of hourglass curves.
This is not to say that the hourglass is hands down the “best” shape to have and every other is inferior. For one
thing, the hourglass is one of the hardest shapes to dress with off-the-rack clothing because standard sizes rarely
conform to such killer curves. A rectangle shaped woman, or model-slim inverted triangle shaped woman, will
undoubtable have an easier time shopping.
Further, even longstanding ideals fluctuate over time and between cultures. Today large hips and buttocks (the
triangle shape) are seen by many as a new ideal – while supermodels, perhaps the most worshiped beauties
among us, typically sport inverted triangle proportions. As you’ll see on the next few pages, each of the shapes
have their own standout assets to highlight!
The styling secrets that follow are tools to dress your shape in the way that creates the most visual harmony,
leading to the illusion of a more balanced and lean silhouette, making every body shape celebrity-chic!
2 Discover Your
Vertical Proportions
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The 5 Body Shapes
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STEP 1 | KNOW THE MAGIC
MEASUREMENTS
Determining your specific body shape requires just three simple
measurements – bust, waist and hips.
How to Measure
Bust: With a non-padded bra on, measure around the most projecting part
of your bosom.
Waist: Measure around the smallest part of your natural waistline (where
you have the most indentation). If you lack indentation due to weight gain,
typically the natural waist is a few inches above the navel.
Hips: Measure at the low hip (i.e. the largest part of your hips/upper thigh)
and over the most protruding part of your bottom.
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What measurements mean
The proportionate difference between measurements is how we determine your body shape. For
example, a hip measurement that is larger than your bust measurement suggests you’re a rectangle
(pear) shape, while bust measurements that are larger than hips, indicate an inverted rectangle. You
have a “defined waist” if it measures at least nine inches smaller than your other measurements.
Discover the specifics for each body shape on the next pages.
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The Hourglass
Defined waist, with shoulders and hips of equal width
The hourglass shape is a cultural ideal • Waist-cinching belts are your best friend.
and the easiest to dress (although Use them to showcase your waist and
finding clothes that fit your bust or hips add structure to flowing or baggy tops.
without drowning out your waist is a • Expect to have clothing altered. It is
challenge). tricky to find off-the-rack styles that
accommodate your bust and hips/bottom
The hourglass figure doesn’t need while fitting your waist. Consider it the
styling tricks to create the illusion of price you pay for perfect proportions!
symmetry as it’s already the definition • Maintain your proportions. If you choose
of “balanced”. The challenge for this a top that adds volume to your bust or
body shape is to find garments that fit shoulder line, coordinate with a bottom
your curves without making you look that adds volume at the hip.
bigger.
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The Rectangle
Shoulders and hips of equal width, minimal waist definition
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The Triangle
Hips wider than shoulders
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The triangle shape, also known as Triangle Styling Secrets
a pear, is characterized by hips that
• The secret to making a triangle body
are larger than the shoulder/bust line. look look its best to create the illusion of
balance between your lower and upper
The triangle body is larger below the body.
waist than above. Shoulders tend to be
• Highlighting your upper half with bold
narrow and/or sloping and the bust
colors, prints and interesting details,
usually ranges between small and while keeping your lower half more
average. muted with solids provides visual
balance.
Triangles tend to gain weight in their
• Create balance with skirts and dresses
hips and buttocks first. that skim over hips and thighs. Maxi
dresses, “fit and flare” and A-line styles
This is the most common female body are all great options. In contrast, tight,
shape and a feminine ideal among hip-hugging styles, like pencil and tube
skirts, amplify the width of your lower
many.
body.
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The Inverted Triangle
Shoulders wider than hips
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The Round
Shoulders and hips of equal width with minimal waist definition
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STEP 2 | Determine
Your Vertical
Proportions
A much lesser known principle of understanding
your body shape is working with its vertical
proportions.
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67” (5”7)
What measurements mean
If the second measurement is exactly half of the
first (e.g. 33.5 inches in the case of a 67 inch
woman), your body is vertically balanced.
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Long Legs
Long legs are an asset! The key for you is to show off
your legs without visually truncating your shorter torso.
•Tops, blazers and jackets that fall above her hip bone
visually lengthen your lower half.
•High waisted skirts and pants create the illusion of longer
legs.
• Belts worn on the high waist (above belly button) will
create the illusion of longer legs while belts worn on the
lower hip shorten your leg line (and exaggerate a long
torso).
•High heels lengthen and slim the legs.
Finally, don’t let your newfound knowledge get lost to the vast
amount of information you take in daily. Studies show that, after a
week, we only retain about 10% of what we learn! Beat the system
and make success effortless by keeping your top styling tips close
by at all times (bonus points if you message them to yourself now).