How to dress with an hourglass body shape

This body shape has been very popular with artists and especially in post-Second World War fashion. Nowadays, the trends seem to not exactly pay attention to its beautiful characteristics and so to those who have this body shape it might seem wrong. In reality though, there is nothing to correct and everything to embrace. Today, we’ll work out how to dress with an hourglass body shape by figuring out what it is, the ideal closet for it and the best accessories.

What is an hourglass body shape?

It’s recognisable because the shoulders and the hips are aligned. Also, the waist point is very obvious. Looking at their back, it has this V shape that ends at the waist point and seen sideways, the chest and the buttocks will look pretty much even. It’s a bit like it has the top part like an inverted triangle, and it has the lower part like a triangle. As the name says, it reminds a lot of an hourglass.

A lot of people think that this silhouette is generous, but it’s not necessarily true: Emily Ratajkowski is an hourglass, yet she doesn’t have generous shapes like Scarlett Johansson does. As said before, make it more of a shape question.

How to dress with an hourglass body shape: the ideal closet

Because if the size standardisation that has come with the mass production process in the clothing industry, people with this body shape might find it tougher to find clothes that accentuate their shape and even fit them properly. Good news is, with these tips you’ll be able to make your next dressing venture (close to) child’s play.

Jackets and coats

Here, make sure to buy those styles that highlight your waist, like peplum jackets and ones that have a belt with them. If they don’t have a belt, pair one. Straighter fitting ones might enlarge your figure in an unflattering way.

Tops

The best ones are wrap tops and ones that have diagonal lines in general. When it comes to necklines, make sure that they are round or V-shaped, and they don’t have to be deep. You can also try boat necks and off-shoylders too. If you don’t like to uncover too much, then you can wear a high-neck shirt with a lower-neck jumper, so you can see a kind of V-neck. Or, you can wear a long necklace with your high-neck top.

This next rule is for every body shape and size out there, but those who are hourglasses should especially pay attention to it: wear sizes that are just right, not too wide and not too tight. You need to serve justice to your proportions as they are.

Dresses

These are the hourglass body shape’s kingdom. It’s really tough to find styles hat won’t flatter this shape. In general though, do avoid trapezium dresses and oversize ones. Wrap dresses, a few knots and frills here and there are a good win too. For the evening, you might want to try mermaid dresses.

Bottoms

This body shape prefers skirts to trousers. Here you have pretty much maximum freedom, but still try to prefer ones that cover at least the kneecap.

When it comes to trousers, you can wear palazzo and bootcut ones. Flare ones look good too, and you can wear skinny ones if you want to accentuate your curves. You can also wear capris and shorts, but with a high or medium waist. The hourglass body shape relies on the fact that it has an accentuated waist, so we want to keep it more that way especially if our barycentre isn’t high.

Textiles

Here you want to use light, soft and flowing fabrics to accentuate this figure. Make sure your pieces of clothing also have a bit of elastane/spandex/lycra to improve your wearing experience, even 1% is more than good most of the time.

Prints

Here you have pretty much maximum freedom, but bear in mind that any print you use will accentuate your figure, so play with them carefully.

Accessories

Belts

One of the accessories that an hourglass should always have is a good quality belt. It will depend more on your barycentre whether it will be a thin or a thick one.

Bags

Here, you’re spoiled for choice. But if you want to know where to start, then handbags and clutches tend to work very well. Also, you can try a belt bag, which is also practical if you only need to carry a few things.

Shoes

Since the hourglass shape is flattered better by skirts and dresses, you’ll definitely need a pair of high heels. Apart from that, you’re spoiled for choice, because your shapes make this accessory very flexible and adaptable. If your barycentre is low, make sure that your shoes are in a colour close to your skin tone, apart from that you can go for any colours you want.