Different Types of Women's Body Shapes and Figures

Most ladies are never satisfied with their body shapes. It is not uncommon to see women complaining about their body shapes and sizes, because sometimes, they wish they looked slimmer, fatter, shorter, or taller. Ok ladies—you are beautiful and wonderfully made the way you are, so stop complaining.

We are all unique in our own special way. It is just the ability to choose the right things to wear that could make you adore your own body figure. There are six women body figures used in general and each of them have their various characteristics.

1. Triangle/Pear

A female with this shape has a round, heavy bottom with a defined waist but hip size are always wider than the bust and shoulders. Short legs with full thigh are common characteristics.

2. Inverted Triangle

A woman with this shape has broader shoulders, a large bust, narrow hips, slim legs, flat bottom. Fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.

3. Rectangle/Straight

A female with this figure has a boyish look with small/medium bust, slender arms and legs. Most times, the hip has the same width as the waist and also emphasizing a flat bottom.

4. Hourglass

This is a curvy female with the hips and bust of the same width which emphasizes a defined waist

5. Diamond

This shape has an undefined waist with a large and high stomach. The female may also have full or flat bottom.

6. Rounded/Oval

This shape has an overall appearance of being round especially around the waist region, the stomach are large, the hips are wide, and upper thighs are full. The bottom could be full or flat.

Triangle

For triangular-shaped women, your style aim is to balance her top half to bottom half by creating the appearance of a wider upper body.

Do wear:

• accessories and designs to draw attention to your upper body
• short-sleeved tops
• shoulder pads to broaden your shoulders
• medium to high necklines
• garments to emphasize your waist
• skirts and dresses that are straight or slightly flared
• low rise pants to avoid gaping at the waist
• boot leg and straight pants

Don't wear:

• baggy garments and garments that add bulk to your hips (hems or design lines at hip-line will only add more size to your hips)
• pleated skirts or pants

Inverted Triangle

For you to dress to flatter your inverted triangle body shape, your main style aims are to create the illusion of the perfect hourglass body shape by balancing your lower body to your upper body and to draw attention away from your upper body.

Do wear:

• flowing fabrics
• V-necklines
• three-quarter length sleeves
• well-adjusted bra
• tops and dresses that flow through the waist
• A-line skirts
• flared pants
• skirts with satin, denim and tweed fabrics, because they create interest to your lower body

Don't wear:

• bulky fabrics and styles that will emphasize your shoulders
• high necklines
• big collared shirts
• tapered skirts and pants

Rectangle

For a rectangular-shaped woman, your main style aims are to add curves by defining your shoulder, hips and your waist.

Do wear:

• shoulder pads to emphasize your shoulders and give you a feminine body figure (but please don’t do it in excess)
• semi-fitted clothes
• short-sleeved and sleeveless tops and dresses if you don’t have a very small upper arm
• medium to high neckline dresses
• dresses that wrap or flow through the waistline
• straight to gently flared flat-fronted pants
• A-line shirts

Don't wear:

• clingy fabrics and fitted clothes, because they will make you look very straight
• low necklines will emphasis your flat bust so avoid them
• baggy tops and baggy pants are not good choices
• narrow skirts will emphasis your flat bottom and are not flattering (avoid them)

Hourglass

Your main style aims are to emphasize your curves, especially your waist, without adding bulk.

Do wear:

• fitted and semi-fitted clothes
• soft, clingy, flowing fabrics
• low to medium-low necklines
• dresses with defined waistlines
• straight and gently flared pants
• straight and gently flared shirts
• accessorise your waist with belt to flatter your figure
• anything comfortable for you

Don't wear:

• bulky fabrics or baggy styles, because they will hide your figure

Round/Oval

Rounded/oval shaped women's main style aims are to draw attention upwards towards your shoulders and face.

Do wear:

• earrings, necklaces and other focal points designed to draw an observer's eyes up towards your shoulders and face
• semi-fitted and loose fitting clothing
• very fitted bras and support underwear to minimise your stomach
• tops and bottoms in the same colours are better worn together
• low necklines
• un-tucked tops that do not emphasise the rounded stomach
• tops and dresses that flow through the waistline
• straight pants in soft, flowing fabric are a good choice

Don't wear:

• clingy fabrics
• tight fitted clothes
• fabric with large patterns
• high necklines
• tucked-in tops
• pleated skirts, because they add more volume to your figure

Diamond

The diamond-shaped female's main style aims are to create the illusion of a longer, inverted triangle body shape and to draw attention upwards towards their shoulders and face.

Do wear:

• earrings, necklaces and other focal points designed to draw an observer's eyes up towards your shoulders and face
• semi-fitted and loose fitting clothes
• good fitting and well-adjusted bras and support underwear
• tops and bottoms in the same colours
• low necklines
• un-tucked tops
• tops and dresses that flow through the waistline
• straight flat-fronted pants in soft, flowing fabric
• straight and slightly flared skirts

Don't wear:

• clingy fabrics
• fitted clothes
• fabric with large patterns
• high necklines
• belts
• tucked-in tops
• pleats
• narrow or tapered skirts/pants