Discover your body shape (updated)

Knowing your body shape will help you choose clothing and put together outfits that flatter your shape and show off your assets. The result is more STYLE CONFIDENCE! Your body shape is determined by the relationship between your shoulders, waist, and hips.

To begin, take a look at the relationship between your shoulders, waist and hips. Get a friend (or spouse) to help you measure from behind, the distance between your shoulders, the width of your waist from one side to the other (where you bend) and the width of your hips (the widest part). Then answer the following questions.

How do your shoulders compare to your hips?

Shoulders are about the same as hips

Shoulders are larger than hips

Shoulders are smaller than hips

How does your waist compare to your shoulders/hips?

Waist is larger than shoulders/hips

Waist about the same or a little smaller than shoulders/hips

Waist significantly smaller than shoulders/hips

How do your hips compare to the rest of your body?

Hips are about the same or smaller than shoulders

Hips are larger than shoulders

Do you have a large bust or a small bust compared to the rest of your body?

My bust is large

My bust is small

My bust is neither large or small, quite average

You Have a Triangle Shape!

Your shoulders are the narrowest part of your body, and your hips are the widest, with your waist somewhere in between. You carry your weight below your waist, so the main goal is to minimize your bottom half while showcasing your upper half.

Three general strategies for triangle shape:

1) Create balance by minimizing your hips and thighs and emphasizing your shoulders
2) Wear your brightest colors on top, and darker on bottom
3) Accentuate your waist

4) You can certainly wear skinny pants and leggings, just wear a top that flows over your hips and ends midway at your widest point to break up your hip line.

Garments to wear:
1) Structured jackets and coats with shoulder pads, puffy shoulders, epaulettes on shoulder
2) Boot cut, wide, flared pants
3) Layer longer tops with a short jacket or sweater on top
4) Ruffles, collared shirts, wrap tops, v-necklines, boatneck, embellishments around neckline
5) A-line and empire waist dresses that accentuate your decolletage and flow over your hips

If you're enjoying this, and you'd like to take a deeper dive into your body shape and how to put outfits together that flatter your shape, I have a Body Confidence online course you might like! Here's the link for details https://truecolorsbylinda.com/body-confidence-program-details/

You Have an Inverted Triangle Shape!

Your shoulders are the widest part and your hips the narrowest, so the main goal is to deemphasize your shoulders and play up your narrow hips and slim legs.

Three general strategies for inverted triangle shape:

1) Create balance by minimizing your shoulders and chest
2) Play up your narrow hips and slim legs
3) Avoid boxiness

4) In general, wear neutral colors on top, brighter more saturated colors on bottom to balance your upper and lower halves

Garments to wear:
1) Deep v-necklines, raglan, tunic, wrap, and collarless tops
2) Surrender the waistline by wearing fluid, longer tops
3) Pants and skirts with side pockets, full skirts, cargo, harem, loose pants
4) Short skirts and dresses that offer more flowiness and volume on bottom

You Have an Hourglass Shape!

Your shoulders and hips are equal width with your waist the narrowest part, and you may have an ample bust line so the main goal is to accomodate your large chest, accentuate your waist and honor your classic shape.

Three general strategies for hourglass shape with a large chest:

1) Wear tops that are relatively simple and elongate your upper half, and straight leg, high rise pants that elongate your leg line
2) Get the volume just right with a little structure, even if you're wearing fluid, loose-fitting clothes
3) Use tailoring and structure to accentuate your waist

Garments to wear:
1) Best bra to lift the bust line and elongate your upper half
2) Choose tops in soft fabrics that gently skim over your curves, V-neckline tops, button-down shirts, belted shirts, wrap tops, peplum tops, raglan shoulders soften wide shoulder lines
3) Shirtwaist, wrap, fit-and-flare dresses
4) Belted trench coat, tailored and "Chanel" style jackets with a bit of stretch

Three general strategies for hourglass shape with a small chest:

1) Wear tops that create more curves on top, such as cowl, boatneck with a scarf, one-shoulder or strapless, ruffles, or bright colors
2) Create more volume on top with a structured jacket over a loose-fitting blouse
3) Use tailoring and structure to accentuate your waist

Garments to wear:
1) Padded bra
2) Cowl, boatneck, collared shirts, halter and even strapless tops
3) Add jackets over tops to create more volume on top, especially with a fitted built-in belt on the jacket
4) Shirtwaist, wrap, fit-and-flare dresses
5) Belted trench coat, tailored and "Chanel" style jackets with a bit of stretch

You Have a Rectangle Shape!

Your shoulders, waist and hips are equal width so the main goal may be either to add the illusion of curves or go with your athletic, straight shape.

Three general strategies for rectangle shape:

1) If you want to emphasize your straight lines you can wear oversized, loose clothes or fitted straight pieces that flow straight down your body
2) If you want to create the illusion of curves you can cinch in your waist with belts or add a short layer on top that creates a waistline
3) Use asymmetrical shapes and diagonals to create interesting shapes on your straight body

Wear these garments:
1) Peplum tops, loose, boxy shirts, tunic, fitted, interesting necklines, wrap, asymmetrical tops
2) Straight fitted jackets, boyfriend blazers, moto, oversized jackets
3) Wide, boyfriend, ankle, cropped, harem pants
4) Sheath dress, shirt waist dress, bodycon fitted dress

You Have a Round Shape!

In dressing your round body shape, the main goal is BALANCE, to make your upper body look longer, your shoulders and waist look slimmer. Since the middle of your body is wider than your shoulders and hips, we want to draw attention away from your mid-section and up to your face or down to your beautiful legs.

Three general strategies for round shape:

1) Open up the neckline with v-necklines and show off your decolletage
2) Monochromatic and all-over prints elongate your body
3) Steer away from the impulse to wear loose, baggy clothes. Wear clothes that accentuate your smallest part, such as, add a belt just below the bust line, empire waist or fit and flare dresses that fall away from your mid-section.

Wear these garments:
1) Bra that supports and lifts the girls!
2) Trousers, boyfriend, straight, and wide legged pants
3) Single-breasted structured jackets or mid length cardigans
4) Knee-length empire, ruched sheath, a-line, wrap, and short sack dresses
5) Tunic, wrap, loose and soft drape-front blouses that cross over, loose tops layered under structured jacket
6) Choose layers and deep v-neckline jackets that nip in at your waist to create a smaller waist

If you're enjoying this, and you'd like to take a deeper dive into your body shape and how to put outfits together that flatter your shape, I have a Body Confidence online course you might like! Here's the link for details https://truecolorsbylinda.com/body-confidence-program-details/