I will now explain what to dress for the inverted triangle body shape and what to avoid for a flattering look. The goal is for you to apply this style theory to any outfit. You will see the benefits for yourself. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
- The Inverted Triangle Body Shape – Characteristics
- In Between Body Shapes
- Black Women with Inverted Triangle Body Shape
- Fashion Strategy
- Styling The Inverted Triangle – Tops
- Styling The Inverted Triangle – Bottoms
- Styling The Inverted Triangle Body – One-Piece Outfits
- Outfit Ideas
- What’s Next?
- Recap – Do’s and Don’ts
- Other Body Shape Guides
Inverted Triangle Body Shape- Characteristics
Body shape can change over time, so if you are not sure if this description fits you, download my free guide – How To Find Your Body Shape.
In Between Body Shapes
You can have 2 body shapes. In this case, you need to consider guidelines for both body shapes when you get dressed.
- Hips wider than your shoulders, require you need to consider pear shape styling guidelines when you dress your lower body.
- If you have a wide waist you need to consider apple shape styling guidelines when you dress your upper body.
- Bust, waist and hips of the same widths, need you to consider rectangle shape styling guidelines when you get dressed.
Black Women with Inverted Triangle Body Shape
You can follow these people for inspiration on how to dress and see how outfits look on this body shape. Click each image to go to their respective Instagram profile.
Inverted Triangle – Fashion Strategy
The shoulders are the widest part of the inverted triangle body. As we try to balance your proportions,
the tendency is to narrow the shoulders and add volume to the lower body.
It is strategizing with fashion to create a defined silhouette, and it has worked for many women for
decades.
You can try it first to see if you like it. In the end, these are suggestions on how to dress and not
inflexible guidelines.
Tops for the Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Role of Tops in your Closet: Tops create the illusion of a waistline, reduce the wide appearance of your
shoulders and elongate the upper body.
Feel: The right top will balance your proportions to naturally make you look taller and curvier.
What to Look for in tops? Look for tops with a built-in waist that downplays the upper body.
Tops – How To Create a Waistline:
The illusion of a waistline can be created by defining the smallest area of your abdomen with accessories and styling. This creates curves at the waist and hip. To create a waistline, you can:
– Wear longer tops to lengthen your torso. Tops should flare from the waist and end below the hipline. It will draw attention away from your shoulders and into your waist and hips.
– Belt your clothes at your natural waistline. Buy waist-tie tops. They are specifically constructed to create a more defined waist. Alternatively, you can use any belt on top of your garments.
– Tight-fitted tops look flattering but must be paired with waist-fitted bottoms that add volume to the legs
Tops – How To Narrow The Shoulders
To narrow the shoulders you can:
– De-emphasize your upper body. Wear tops with deep and narrow necklines that make the upper body look smaller and more proportionate. These, as well as asymmetric necklines, elongate the body and make you look taller.
– The neckline should be simple without embellishments and details like collars or shoulder pads.
– Wide and low necklines like off-the-shoulders and square add volume to the shoulders and make your upper body look disproportionately big in comparison to the lower body. For that reason, they should be avoided.
Tops – Choose The Right Sleeves Style and Colour:
– Chose sleeves carefully. Short sleeves should be fitted and skin-tight to avoid adding any volume to your shoulders.
– On the other hand, long, wide sleeves that flare down are very flattering. They add volume around the hips and draw attention to that area. This balances the wide shoulders.
– Thin straps will only accentuate your broad shoulders so, wide straps are better. Go strapless if you want to show off your shoulders.
– Draw attention to the legs. Pick tops whose colours are darker than the bottoms to draw attention away from the upper body to the lower body.
Coats/Jackets for The Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Role of Coats/Jackets in your Closet: Coats/Jackets are used to create structure and shape from shoulder to waist evenly, eliminating the disproportional look. They also need to draw attention to your waistline and legs.
Feel: The right coats/jackets have structured lines that make you look longer while their loose-fitting fabrics naturally add movement and space near your hips creating curves.
What to Look for in Coats/Jackets? Look for coats/jackets that de-emphasize your shoulders and elongate your body while defining the waist.
Coats/Jackets – Should be long, fitted and with details at the waist and hip:
– The length of your coat/jacket is crucial to how you look. Shop for coats/jackets that end at the hip or longer and flare at the waist to balance the wide shoulders.
– Find single-breasted styles because they avoid adding more volume to the upper body. Belted and wrap jackets and other styles that define the waist, are flattering.
– Simple designs above the waist with no embellishments (shoulder pads, collars) are a better fit. Any details like pockets should start below the waist to add volume at the hips.
Bottoms for The Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Role of Bottoms in your Closet: Bottoms maximize the lower body. They create a waistline and widen the hips to balance your shoulders.
Feel: The right bottom styles for the inverted triangle body add volume at the hips and butt to create the illusion of a curvier lower body.
What to Look for in Bottoms? Look for bottoms with lots of details and a loose fit.
Jeans/Trousers – If it adds volume and curves to your lower body, you want it!
– Wide-leg gives the illusion of waist and hips. A straight-cut elongates the legs. Jeans/trousers that flare down from the knee visually widen your lower body to balance your broad shoulders.
– Because you have narrow hips, details in the back, front and sides like pockets, buttons, and embroidery will add curves to your hips.
– Bright colours, micro prints and big bold prints – like florals – draw attention to the lower half. Darker colours, simple styles and skinny jeans accentuate the legs and make your upper body look disproportionally larger. So I recommend you avoid these looks.
Best Skirts
– Skirts that flow away from the body create the illusion of fuller hips. Flared skirts, just like flared jeans, look good and balance the volume on the shoulders. A-line, tiered, pleated and flowy skirts are flattering for the same reasons.
– Mid and maxi skirts flatter the legs and elongate them. Short skirts with lots of details draw the eyes to the lower body and show off the legs.
– Bright colours, micro prints and big bold prints – like florals – draw attention to the legs. Details at the hips such as embroidery, and buttons create curves.
– You should avoid tight-fit skirts that hug the hips to not create unbalance of proportions.
Best Shorts
– The best shorts styles for the inverted triangle body have a wide-leg cut or a loose fit from the waistline.
– They define the waist and flare from the waist down. This elongates the legs and creates the illusion of curves at the hip and waist.
– Tight shorts in dark colours unbalance your figure and make the upper body look very large, so you should avoid them.
– Lots of details, like ruches, drawings, pockets at the front, sides and back bring attention to the waistline and hips enlarging those areas which is exactly what we want.
One-Piece Outfits For The Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Role of One-Piece Outfits in your Closet: One-piece outfits have the combined roles of tops and bottoms. Dresses have the combined role of tops and skirts. Jumpsuits have the combined roles of tops and jeans/trousers. Playsuits have the combined roles of tops and shorts.
Feel: The right one-piece outfit creates curves in the lower body.
What to Look for in one-piece outfits? Look for one-piece outfits that draw the eyes away from the shoulders.
One-piece outfits should:
– Highlight your legs. Draw the eyes down and away from the shoulders with bright colours, big prints and micro prints with lots of details below the waist.
– Create the illusion of a defined waistline and fuller hips. Belt your outfit at the waist or buy them with a built-in waist that flares down.
– Avoid one-piece outfits that are fitted at the legs.
Outfit Ideas for The Inverted Triangle
What’s Next?
Now that you know the theory behind dressing better, it’s time to experiment with fashion. This does not mean you have to go shopping for new clothes.
You should instead, take the clothes you have in your closet and adjust them to your body shape.
Belts, fitted shirts, and wide-leg jeans/trousers are great cheap ways to get started that show you instant results.
There is no point in spending money before trying as much as you can and figuring out your new style.
Mixing and matching clothes according to the instructions in this guide is also a great way to start. You can build your closet as you evolve on this fashion journey.
Remember that a learning curve is required, but practicing makes perfect. Don’t be discouraged and remember that if the clothes don’t look good, the problem lies with the clothes, not with you!
Change clothes or adjust them to your shape and try again. You can look beautiful and confident with the outfit of your choice regardless of your body shape!
I have seen the results of dressing for my body shape. Not only my style but also my confidence improved.
I was no longer self-conscious or tried to cover my body.
Instead, I understood how to make the best of my features and use them in my favour to feel and look beautiful.
You too will see the results! Thank you for reading this guide. I sincerely hope it was helpful to you.
Style Guides
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The rectangle body already has a balanced silhouette. But it is flat with no curves. For this reason, you should focus on the waistline and create the illusion of curves there.
The hips are the widest part of the pear body. As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the hips and accentuate the upper body.
The waist is the widest part of the apple body. As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the waistline and create curves to the hips and butt.
The shoulders are the widest part of the inverted triangle body. As we try to balance your proportions,
the tendency is to narrow the shoulders and add volume to the lower body.
The hourglass body already has a balanced silhouette with a defined waist. To best dress this shape, you can leave the upper and lower body untouched and instead belt the waistline.
