Figure Fashion: Styling Outfits for your Specific Body Type
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
Growing up a chunky girl, I always hated clothes. They clearly weren’t designed for me at the time, and I absolutely hated that I felt like I couldn't wear cute matching outfits with my friends. They stuck in the wrong places, accentuated my worst features, and overall made me pick apart my beautiful body. Deciding on an outfit was considered cruel and unusual punishment and I continuously stuck to oversized hoodies and leggings. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself all there is to know on styling for my body type at the time. I wish I could tell myself that size doesn’t define me, and that buying smaller, tighter fitting clothes won’t help me feel better about myself. Once I grew into this mindset, I started doing a lot of research on why I was unhappy with how clothes fit me.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
I started taking into account proportions of my body. I have an extremely long torso, and shorter legs. I have broad shoulders and broad hips, but a smaller waistline. This puts me into the hourglass category in regards to body type. I spent so much time covering my waistline but it turns out to be one of the most important features of my body. It’s easy to figure out your body type, as long as you pay attention to detail.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
If you can’t figure your body type out, ask a friend! There’s no such thing as the “best body type,” because every type has certain clothes that don't highlight the specific figure. However, just because something isn’t suggested to be worn, doesn’t mean you should limit yourself to that. Wearing whatever you want is a form of expression and you should never let anyone take that away from you. These techniques are just to help you understand how to see yourself in a positive light in relation to clothes if it’s something you struggled with like I did! Now to get to the nitty gritty, I'm going to go into some depth about what to avoid with certain body types.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
Rectangle body types are recommended to avoid clingy, sticky styles like latex, and Apple is recommended to avoid off the shoulder, halter, and heavily decorated styles. For Oval body types, it’s recommended that you wear clothes that help camouflage your waistline, like those free people shorts, and skirts that puff at the sides.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest (Rectangle Figure)
For Pear body types, it’s recommended to avoid thin straps, pleated or gathered fabric at the hips will accentuate them, so you should avoid them if you want to add balance to your figure. Patterned bottoms are also not the best look for pear body types. For Hourglass, I tend to avoid embellishments at my hips or chest, higher necklines, baggy clothes, overly short skirts, and shorts that end at the thickest part of my thighs. The last shape is Diamond, which unfortunately tends to get overlooked. However, these body types should try to avoid thin straps and beading or gathering along the waist. Diamond body types look AMAZING in styles that add to the silhouette, like beading, padding or gathering at the chest, or dresses that have an A-line or empire cut. Hourglass body types look awesome in corset styles, off the shoulder styles, and styles that highlight the small waistline, since it’s easy for it to get muddled up in your outfit and ruin your figure. Pear body types also look good in bodice or corset styles, with embellishments, beadings, or design on the chest of the corset because it adds to the figure. Oval body types look amazing in various necklines, including deep V, scoop, or halter necklines. Look for bottoms that are high waisted to help add to your figure.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest (Oval Figure)
Apple body types look especially beautiful in styles that highlight or add width to the hips, making the figure look fuller! Try to stick to narrow bodices with the bottoms puffing or flaring out. For Square body types, any combination of styles that add width on the chest, as well as along the hips.
Dressing for your body type is all about balance and detail. Once you start investigating your body type, you can pretty much figure out exactly which clothes look good on you with a simple pinterest search. This has truly helped me accept not only my body but also the shape of my body, and I’m so happy to finally be able to be confident in what I'm wearing! I hope this helps you find your own way to express yourself through your own personal style. It took me so long to realize that I never need to change my body for clothes, rather change which clothes I wear, and it's beautiful to be able to change my mindset rather than struggle with weight or insecurity. Try it! You’ll feel liberated!
Strike Out,
Writer: Payton Raine Muscato
Editor: Racquel Gluckstern
Graphic Designer: Camila Denker
Tallahassee