These Fashion Tips For Body Types Actually Work

Looking for fashion tips for body types that actually work? Here are four effective tools to help you dress for your body type, no matter what shape.

These fashion tips for body types are super effective for all different body shapes. There’s no “one size fits all” approach to styling. Rather it’s learning to style clothes from a different perspective. You don’t have to spend thousands on a new wardrobe or purchase a special book to get you there either.

These fashion tips will help you look at your body, clothing, and accessories from a different angle so you can learn how to dress for your body type. Using these style tips combined with the awareness of the look you want to achieve will enable you to create stylish outfits and shop for clothes you’ll actually wear.

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This post is all about fashion tips for body types.

Best Fashion Tips For Body Types

1. Style Based On Your Natural Volume Distribution

Determining your natural volume distribution is the gateway step of all fashion tips for body types. It’s incredibly effective for learning how to style clothes.

Even with these traditional body shapes and measuring methods, there’s still confusion for ladies who fall somewhere in between two or even three shapes. The way to get around this confusion is by understanding your unique volume distribution and how to balance and/or maintain it.

Balancing volume means distributing weight or emphasis between your top half (shoulders, chest, waist) with your lower half (hips and thighs). This can be done by adding clothes and accessories or by creating the illusion of length. We’ll get into both of those dressing style tips later. Knowing which method to use requires an awareness of your own natural volume distribution.

Examples Of Natural Volume Distribution

The woman below carries the most volume in her chest and hips. Her shoulders carry slightly less volume while her waist carries significantly less volume. We see that her features are curvy, most closely resembling an hourglass body shape.

Based on the analysis in the photo above, this woman has a naturally balanced volume between her top and lower halves. When your body already has balanced volume and natural curves, you don’t need to add or subtract volume. Rather, this woman’s focus when styling should be on maintaining her natural balance of volume.

Now, let’s try a more complex example. The beauty below carries the most volume in her shoulder area. Her hips come secondary in volume, while her chest and waist carry the least. You could say she mostly resembles an inverted triangle body shape due to her broad shoulders. However, she has a slight curve between her top and lower half, and her hips are not the most narrow part of her body, so you could also say she’s a top hourglass.

Rather than getting stuck on the details of which body shape she is, we analyze the volume in the photo above. Naturally, her top half (shoulders especially) is more voluminous than her bottom half. Her focus when dressing for her body type should be to enhance the volume on her bottom half (or hip area) to match her top half. Or, use styles that detract from her broad shoulders so upper body volume is minimized.

Related Post: How To Dress Better In 2023

How To Measure Your Body For Volume Distribution

Rather than only looking at your body as one shape that needs to fit into things, break it up into different parts, taking note of where you carry the most volume. Volume also includes weight and width. Stand in front of a mirror wearing form-fitting clothing, or in your underwear or bathing suit. Take a picture of yourself and analyze each section of your body including the following:

Shoulders
Chest
Waist
Hips
Thighs

Taking inspiration from the examples above, use your phone’s photo editor (or print out your picture) and draw lines across these body parts. Use the same colored line for body parts that are the same or very similar in width. Use a different colored line for body parts that are a different width. The horizontal lines represent your natural volume distribution.

Next, trace the silhouette of your body. This will show you your body’s natural curvature (how curvy or how straight you are). It might even be helpful to take a profile snapshot as well or at least be aware of your curves or a large tummy from the side. You may find that your front silhouette appears straighter, but you have a pronounced booty from the side.

clothes for your body type quiz — This slim woman has small breasts, but a pronounced booty and natural curvature of the lower back. Rather than debating whether she’s a rectangle or a bottom hourglass, focus on volume and how to balance or maintain in the front and from the side.

How To Analyze Your Volume Distribution

The goal of this exercise is to take your edited picture from above and determine whether most of your volume is located in the top half of your body, the bottom half of your body, or whether it’s evenly distributed. Based on the silhouette tracing, you should be able to tell whether your top half or bottom half (or both) are volume dominant.

If your volume is dominant on your top half, your focus in styling is to add volume to your bottom half to create a balance
If your volume is dominant on your lower half, your focus in styling is to add volume to your top half to create a balance
If your volume is balanced between your top and bottom half and your silhouette is curvy (e.g. an hourglass), your focus in styling is to maintain the balance of your natural silhouette and create the illusion of length (especially if you’re petite).
If your volume is balanced between your top and bottom half and your silhouette is undefined or minimally curvy, your focus in styling is to maintain that balance of volume by breaking up the straight line of your silhouette. Do this by styling similar volume pieces on top and on bottom and cinching your waist to create shape; or use juxtaposition to enhance your volume on top or on the bottom.

If you have a large chest or tummy, your focus in styling is to elongate that area of the body in addition to the (above) volume distribution fashion tips for body types based on your volume measurements.

What Are The Body Types According To Fashion?

There are a few different body type classifications, but the most traditional body shapes are based on geometric shapes and/or fruit. Here are examples of each of the 5 body types and where volume is typically distributed. Use as a supplement to your analysis above.

Hourglass Body Shape

how to dress for your body type female — The hourglass body is also known as an X body shape.
Top and bottom are balanced; curvy, with waist defined.

Triangle Body Shape

how to dress for your body type plus size — The triangle body is also known as a pear shaped body.
Bottom is volume dominant; curvy on the bottom with waist defined.

Rectangle Body Shape

how to dress for your body type and age — *The rectangle body is also known as a banana body shape.*
*Top and bottom are balanced; straight with minimal waist definition.*

Inverted Triangle Body Shape

what clothes look good on me quiz — The inverted triangle body is also known as the strawberry or carrot body shape.
Top is volume dominant; curvy on top with minimal waist definition.

Oval/Circle or Apple Body Shape

female body shape pictures — The oval or circle body is also known as an apple shaped body.
Top is volume dominant, little to no curves or waist definition.

2. Balance Volume When Styling

The next topic of fashion tips for body types is learning to balance volume when styling. If you did the volume exercise above, you should know whether to style your clothes to either create or maintain balance. Let’s dive into the style tips for creating balance.

Fashion Tips For Balancing Volume

Balancing volume means using certain clothing styles and accessories to enhance an area of the body to create a balanced silhouette. This means the volume between your top and lower body is balanced, which is more pleasing to the natural eye from a design aesthetic.

The following styles will enhance the volume of an area of the body when worn:

White, ivory, pastels, light colors, light denim, neons, bright colors
Horizontal stripes (super thin, muted stripes are the exception, but take colors into account)
Strategic color blocking on top and on bottom
Bold prints and patterns
Boxy styles and oversized fits
Embellishments, zippers, belt loops
Puffed sleeves
Sharp tailoring such as padded shoulders
Chunky knits
Pockets
Heavy textures and fabrics
Handbags worn at the area you want to add balance to
Chunky jewelry
Large hats
Large waist belts or a chunky belt buckle
Peplum
Sharp hemlines at the area you want to add balance to
Double-breasted jackets
Wide collars, shawl collars
Wide-leg, flares, and palazzo pants

The following styles will help diminish and balance any volume dominant areas of the body:

Solid, dark colors (that’s why black is so slimming)
Slim-fitting styles
Lightweight fabrics
Smooth fabrics
Styles tailored to your natural body shape
No embellishments
Muted vertical stripes

Let’s go over some examples of how to wear clothes for your body type based on volume balance.

Example #1: Volume Dominance On Top, Volume Isn’t Balanced

fashion tips for body types women — This maxi dress is really cute, but it’s not flattering on this woman’s beautiful figure. Her volume dominance is up top, which means she needs to balance out her bottom half. The heavy tweed material of the dress combined with the sleeve hem that stops at her chest adds additional volume.
Let’s fix this: if we made the dress into a tweed skirt and styled it with a solid, dark, v-neck top, she’d have a winning look.

Example #2: Volume Dominance On Top, Volume Is Balanced

fashion tips for women — I love this outfit. She wears bold pieces on top and bottom, but the high-waisted maxi skirt adds the right balance to her top half where the chest carries the most volume. A great fashion tip for big busted women is to style with a high-waisted bottom, moving the demarcation line between your top and bottom half upwards to create balance.
Bonus points for the long dangly earrings and the long necklace, which help to elongate your top half, which we’ll cover more in the next section.

Example #3: Volume Dominance On Bottom, Volume Isn’t Balanced

fashion tips for body types female — This woman has volume dominance in her lower half. This is a simple and classic outfit that looks very unflattering, unfortunately. The wide-leg denim jeans in a light wash are adding additional volume to her lower body. The slim-fit white shirt isn’t doing enough to add balance.
Let’s fix this: Swap the light denim for dark denim and add a waist belt.

Example #4: Volume Dominance On Bottom, Volume Is Balanced

body type guide — This woman wears a balanced outfit with the black fabric helping minimize her lower half. The tie belt helps cinch the waist and the straps hang down as opposed to being fully tied, which might add unnecessary volume. The orange shirt is loosely tucked and relaxed, balancing her top and bottom halves.

Example #5: Volume Balance With Accessories, Volume Isn’t Balanced

body type chart — Close, but no cigar. The clothes and jewelry are so on point, but I want to cry with this oversized white tote. It adds so much volume, throwing off her already balanced outfit.
Let’s fix this: Swap the white tote out for a black bag to maintain balance.

Example #6: Volume Balance With Accessories, Volume Is Balanced

clothes tips for body shapes — The style and color of the dress add volume to her entire body, but balance and shape are maintained with a waist tie. The black bag is the perfect accessory to maintain the balance of her outfit (and also matches her boots).

3. Maintain Natural Volume When Styling

The next topic of fashion tips for body types is learning how to maintain volume when styling. This is important for body types that have a natural balance between their top and bottom halves. It’s also helpful when you’re adding volume to one area and need to maintain your natural volume in another area.

Here are some styles and fashion tips for maintaining natural volume balance:

Form-fitting clothes
Add volume evenly on top and on bottom
Cinch your waist or have a clear demarcation point between top and bottom
High-waisted styles to emphasize the contrast area
Monochromatic or tonal outfits
Wearing clothes that follow and flow with the shape of your body

Having balance infers that there are at least two parts in contrast–in this case, your top half and your bottom half. If you’re naturally curvy and have a well-defined waist, your waist already provides the contrast between your top and bottom half.

If you’re more straight, athletic, or have an undefined waist, you need to add contrast in order to harmonize that balance. Do this by cinching the waist, color blocking, or using contrasting elements on top and bottom.

More on how to style using contrast and juxtaposition in the article, below.

Now, let’s get into some examples using these fashion tips for maintaining volume.

Example #1: Too Relaxed, Volume Isn’t Balanced

fashion tips for women book — This curvy woman’s balance is thrown off by the oversized, relaxed blazer, the harsh white top, and the low-rise pants. The vertical stripes downplay her natural curves giving a frumpy aesthetic.
Let’s fix this: Swap the jacket for a more tailored fit and style with a navy tank instead. I’d also go for high-waisted trousers, but if she fixes the jacket and tank she can get away with a lower rise style.

Example #2: Tailored To Fit, Volume Balance Is Maintained

body type book — This woman also wears a white top, but because her suit is nicely tailored to her body shape, the contrast is welcomed. The waist belt also emphasizes her curves. The strong shoulder pads only work because the jacket also flares out at the hem, maintaining balance (volume added on top and on bottom).

Example #3: Volume Balance Without Contrast

freedom of clothing — Although the volume is balanced, this outfit makes her look straighter than she is. This is why cinching the waist to create that clear demarcation between your top and bottom half is important if you lack curves.
Let’s fix this: This look needs more structure. Swap the pants for a paper bag waist or a high-waisted style with a leather belt.

Example #4: Volume Balance With Contrast

Similar style to the outfit above, but what a big difference it makes when you style with contrast. She added volume with a structured top and structured pants, with a cinched waist to create that demarcation line. Structured fabrics are great for a rectangle shaped body.

Example #5: Layering To Maintain Volume Balance

flattering dresses for thick waist — A more modest option is to style a jacket over a form-fitting outfit. Natural volume balance is maintained and you’ve added the contrast of a layer, which adds interest to an outfit. I also love the contrast the leather skirt brings.

Example #6: Volume Balance Using Your Body Shape

how should i dress with my body type — This woman has a straight or rectangle body shape. Styling with a short, rectangle-shaped dress looks amazing on her because the boxiness naturally contrasts with her bare legs. A balanced woman with curves would need to cinch this style with a waist belt, choose a slinkier fabric, or a curve-hugging style.

4. Style To Create Length

The last of our fashion tips for body types is to create length by styling. This is especially helpful for petite and plus-size women, as well as lengthening volume-dominant areas of the body.

Fashion tips and styles to create the illusion of length:

Full-length pants
Strategically-placed vertical line(s) down the center
Long, slim-fitting or straight coats and jackets
Long, slim-fitting vests and cardigans
Heels and platforms
Matching your pants/stockings and shoe color
Matching your boot hemline to your pant or skirt hemline, so no skin shows
Pointy toe shoes that extend the legs
High-waisted pants and skirts
Long necklaces and dangly earrings
North-South totes (vertical totes with long handles)
Long scarves
Single pleats on trousers
Slinkier fabrics
High slits in long skirts and dresses
Deep v-necks
Monochromatic and tonal outfits
Using the Rule of Thirds in the length and color of your clothing (your top covers 1/3, your bottoms cover 2/3)

Let’s review a few examples of how to dress for your body shape to create length.

Example #1: Choppy Look, No Length Created

how to figure out what shape your body is — This outfit is 1:1 in terms of the area covered by her shirt and the area covered by her trousers, which creates a choppy look. The cropped pants also chop her legs off, along with the white sneakers.
Let’s fix this: Tuck the shirt into her pants (even a half tuck works) and either swap the cropped pants out for a full-length version, or swap the white sneakers for black sneakers.

Example #2: Fluid Look, Length Created

fashion tips for athletic body types — This woman looks super tall with the slinky top and full-length pants. She’s not exactly 2:3, but close enough that she can wear her shirt untucked without it chopping her off in the middle of her body. Pants that cover your shoes, like these bell-bottoms make your legs look like they go on for days.

Example #3: Rule Of Thirds Ignored, No Length Created

how do you wear according to your body shape — When you wear a suit jacket closed, it needs to be treated like a top. This means you need to follow the rule of thirds, with the jacket hem ending 1/3 of the way down your body. This woman’s jacket hits 1/2 of the way down, making her appear shorter than she is.
Let’s fix this: Add length to her bottom half with a beige or taupe ankle boot that covers her ankle, so no skin shows. This will lengthen her legs, creating balance.

Example #4: Rule Of Thirds Followed, Length Created

how do i find clothes that suit me — Another woman wearing a suit, but this one wears her jacket open. Even though the jacket stops at her halfway point, it doesn’t shorten her body because the rule of thirds is correctly applied to her shirt and trousers underneath.

Example #5: No Vertical Line, No Length Created

fashion tips — This curvy woman’s balance is thrown off by the sharp horizontal line from the attached sleeves, which also chop off her body above her chest. The dress is short and there’s no vertical line created, so she actually looks shorter, even with pointy-toe heels.
Let’s fix this: Remove the sleeves.

Example #6: Vertical Line Present, Length Created

dress type for short body — I love this dress style for a petite, curvy woman. The seam down the center, v-neck and slit all help create a vertical line up and down the entire body to create length.

Well, ladies, that was a lot of fashion tips for body types rolled up into one post. I recommend picking one method to start with and slowly incorporating the others as you feel comfortable. Cheers to bodies and happy styling!

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