When it comes to getting dressed, the secret to great style isn’t about following every new trend—it’s about understanding your best assets and how to highlight them. We all have parts of our bodies that we love and others we’d prefer to downplay, and that’s what makes personal style so individual. The key is finding the right clothes that flatter what you love, whether that means accentuating your waist, showing off your shoulders, or dressing for curves. There’s a lot of talk about the five main body types—hourglass shape, oval body shape, pear shape, apple shape, rectangular body shape, inverted triangle body shape…it’s like a lesson in fruits and geometry! But instead of boxing yourself into one category, think of how to show off your best assets.
Remember, fashion trends come and go – some work and some don’t – and that’s okay. We should never be chasing a trend that doesn’t work for us personally. The first step is identifying the body part you want to accentuate, then dressing to let that feature take the spotlight.
Here are five ways to dress for your body type and accentuate what you love most:
This belted blazer is a great style to draw attention to the waist. Shop all styles here.
WAIST:
If you love a defined waist, the goal is to draw attention to your natural waistline—that spot just above your belly button where your body naturally narrows. Belted silhouettes, high-rise jeans and fuller skirts with a fitted waist all work beautifully to define a narrow waist and create that timeless hourglass effect. This is exactly why wrap dresses were so popular because they really help create that hourglass figure look (and if you haven’t seen DVF’s relaunch, check it out here!) When it comes to prints and patterns, darker colors or vertical lines always help draw the eye in the right direction—because let’s be honest, horizontal stripes never made anything look narrower. This charcoal grey belted blazer is perfect to cinch at the natural waist, drawing attention right where you want it. (and it’s only $59.99!)
This black halter top frames the shoulders perfectly. Shop all styles here.
SHOULDERS:
If your shoulders are one of your favorite features, lean into styles that highlight your upper body and balance your proportions. Athletic body types often look incredible in silhouettes that show a bit of structure and skin up top. Strapless tops, halter necklines, and one shoulder styles naturally frame the shoulders and collarbone, creating a clean, sculpted look. Whether it’s a minimalist halter dress or a classic off-the-shoulder top, these shapes draw the eye upward to show off your best asset. This chic black look paired with the halter neckline draws all the attention straight to the shoulders.
This mini dress gives legs all the attention. Shop all styles here.
LEGS:
If you want to highlight your legs or make your legs look longer, it’s all about drawing the eye down your lower half in a clean, continuous line. High-waisted jeans and pants that hit right at the belly button instantly lengthen your frame, especially when paired with fitted tops or crop tops that show just a hint of waist. Mini skirts and short dresses are another easy way to show off more leg and elongate the lower body. Patterns can play a big role too—vertical stripes naturally guide the eye downward and create the illusion of height.
And don’t underestimate the power of the right shoe! Nude shoes, especially strappy styles, help the look of your legs continue past the ankle so they appear even longer whether you pair them with short skirts or pants. This denim mini dress with a neutral sandal will make any legs look a mile long!
This cami draws the focus right to your arms. Shop all styles here.
ARMS:
People don’t always pay much attention, but when you’ve got defined arms, you want to show them off! Tank tops, camis, and vests all draw attention to the arms. No matter what you pair them with, they bring the focus up and highlight your arms effortlessly. This strappy cami with dark flare pants brings the focus straight to your arms. Need a little more coverage? Even a sleek fitted tee like this style from AYR helps define your standout features.
These jeans hug curves in all the right places. Shop all styles here.
CURVES:
If your overall shape is curvier or you have an hourglass body type, the key is a great fit that highlights your natural proportions. If you have a narrower waist and a fuller bottom or wider hips, look for curvy jeans and pants that fit perfectly at both the waist and hips, with no gaping at the back.When pieces fit properly and enhance your natural shape, your curves are what stands out most. And thanks to the Kardashians there are so many more options than there used to be! These barrel jeans come in a curvy fit that nips in at the waist to accentuate all your best assets. Solid colors and dark colors are another trick for a sleek, elongated look.
In this article, I talk about how to find your perfect pair of jeans depending on your body shape.
There is no one-size-fits-all in styling because that doesn’t take your specific body shape into account or how to show off your favorite assets! That’s why people hire personal stylists to help them highlight their unique features. But if you focus on dressing to show off what you love most, you’ll always feel confident in what you’re wearing.
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