It’s important for you to know your shape before you go into your closet. You will then be able to decide which pieces of clothing should be and should not be in your closet. The following style tips for each body shape will help guide you with your decisions.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get dressed each morning with happiness, confidence, and exude a secure sense of self? These tips will help you not waste so much money on clothes you will never wear.

Apple Shape

Waist is equal or greater than bust and hip, no waist definition-usually larger bust

APPLE SHOULD NOT WEAR:

• Boxy cuts or anything with a lot of embellishment along the waistline
• High necklines
• Empire jackets
• Puff sleeves
• Belts at waist
• Tight tops
• Shorter jacket – they cut you off at your widest part

APPLE SHOULD WEAR:

• Longer jackets and cardigans
• Monochromatic
• Lower necklines-V, scoop, u-shape – these help draw the eye out and shrinks the waistline
• High waisted pants
• A-line-flares out at waist
• Tailored jackets

Hourglass Shape

Waist is at least 8” smaller than bust and hip.  8% of women are hourglasses

HOURGLASS SHOULD NOT WEAR:

• Boxy, shapeless clothing
• High necks – if you want to minimize your chest
• Boxy crop tops – they make you appear wider
• Shoulder pads
• Cropped jeans or low rise jeans

HOURGLASS SHOULD WEAR:

• Belts that pinch your waist
• High waist wide leg trousers
• Angled pocket pant, pocketless – these will not tug across your hips
• Peplum top, peplum jacket
• Close fitting sleeves
• Fit and flare skirts
• Tailored jackets
• Cinched wrap dress

Inverted Triangle Shape

Shoulders and back have a broad quality, very little waist definition, hips look small compared to shoulders, tend to have a flat or small bottom 

INVERTED TRIANGLE SHOULD NOT WEAR:

• Wide necklines – they will further broaden your shoulder’s horizontal line
• Skinny bottoms or pants that cling to your hips – these will make you appear top-heavy
• Shoulder embellishments, padded shoulders, puff sleeves, Juliet sleeves, tulip sleeves, any sleeves with shoulder volume
• Fitted dresses, spaghetti strap dresses, slip dresses

INVERTED TRIANGLE SHOULD WEAR:

• V-neck, deep scoop, gentle scoop (or U-shape), asymmetrical tops
• Pockets or hip embellishments
• Peplum jacket, cut-away jackets (flares through hip), longer-length blazers (straight-cut)
• Maxi dresses
• Straight-leg jeans, flared jeans, bootcut jeans, wide leg jeans

Pear Shape

Has hip that is 2” larger than their shoulder or 4” larger than their bust

PEAR SHOULD NOT WEAR:

• Pants or tights that narrow the leg or very flared jeans
• Anything that clings to the hips
• Tight tops – they make the shoulder look smaller making the hips look larger
• Extremely long shirts 
• Pockets at hip

PEAR SHOULD WEAR:

• Straight leg pants
• Puff sleeves or off the shoulder – these help draw attention to your top half
• Boat necks, scoop, sweetheart necklines
• Shoulder pads – they do the trick
• Peplum tops – they are ultra slimming
• Structured shoulders
• Bright colors on top
• Dark colors on the bottom
• Shirts or jackets that just hit the hip or just bypass the widest part of your hip
• A-Line dress or skirt

Rectangle Shape

Waist measurement is less than 8” different from hips and shoulders, smaller bust and butt, minimal curves

RECTANGLE SHOULD NOT WEAR:

• Straight or baggy clothes – they give a shapeless look
• Waistlines that are low – they will lengthen your rectangle
• Slim fitted sleeves
• Boxy cropped jackets
• Bell bottom pants – they are too much volume for your shape
• Hi rise jeans – they widen your waist

RECTANGLE SHOULD WEAR:

• Belts that pinch in waist – they help exaggerate your curves
• Pants with wide legs – they create a smaller waist
• Boat necks – they broaden the shoulders making the waist look smaller
• Dresses with a lot of embellishment at bust – they can give weight to the area creating a smaller waist and make the area look larger
• Large collars and ruffles
• Bell or puff sleeves
• Back pockets on jeans
• Peplums