So, you have discovered why that dress looks so odd on your frame. If you are here, then you have likely realized that the reason is because of your body type.
Through a little research and careful measuring, you will likely have found that you fall under the inverted triangle body shape.
Now that you know what your body shape is, you will know that there are certain articles of clothing that simply do not work as well on your body.
If you want to create a whole wardrobe that is tailored, to flatter your shape, this article is going to be perfect for you.
We know a little about body shapes and what clothing will accentuate your natural features. You can follow this article to the letter, or you can ignore every word.
At the end of the day, your body is a stunning work of art, and you can celebrate it however you like.
Following fashion based on your body shape does pander to the idea that you want to present a typical female figure. But not everybody wants this.
So, pick and choose your clothing based on what YOU like and what makes you feel good.
But, understanding some of the fashion tips that could help bring your fashion game to the next level is not a bad idea.
If you want to learn more about how to build a wardrobe, for this unique and beautiful body shape, you should absolutely read on.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!
A Bit About This Stunning Body Type
A woman that has an inverted triangle body shape will typically have broad shoulders with narrower hips. There will also be almost no waist definition.
The main goal when it comes to clothing a person with this body shape is to create a more balanced silhouette.
The goal is to balance out your upper body and your lower body by adding emphasis to your hips and waist area.
You will also be trying to make your shoulder line less defined. It is also a good idea to emphasize your waist and bust area through fashion.
What Features Does This Body Type Have?
There are a few characteristics of a person that has an inverted triangle body shape that stands out.
In this section, we are going to take a look at the main features that you need to look out for. We have listed them below:
- The back and shoulders will be broader than the hips.
- Your broad shoulders may look kind of square and prominent.
- Your waist definition will be almost nonexistent.
- The bust area can vary in size all the way from very big to very small.
- Your hips might be narrow in comparison to the shoulders.
- Your butt may be quite small and flat.
- The legs tend to be long and toned.
- The overall silhouette tends to look quite athletic.
So, a person with an inverted triangle body shape will typically have a silhouette that is top-heavy, and they may not be very curvy. Especially in the waist and hip area.
The arms and legs of people with this body type have a tendency to be muscular and toned. This is something that many people with this body shape are quite proud of, and who wouldn’t be?!
The proportions you have will differ from person to person. This means your waist could be narrow, straight, broad, or wide. It all depends on the unique proportions that you were born with.
People with the inverted triangle body shape have the fortune of being able to hide any weight loss or weight gain that has occurred over the years.
As you are gaining weight, you may notice that your back and shoulders will become almost disproportionately bigger than other areas of your body.
Your bottom half will not grow in equal measure. So, you may end up looking a little out of balance.
It is for this reason that understanding how to work with your body shape is so important and beneficial for your own confidence.
Tips To Enhance This Body Type
People with this body shape will look best in outfits that give the illusion that they are more curvy than they actually are.
Giving the illusion that you have more curvature in the hips as well as a more defined waist can bring your silhouette to life.
We have listed some of the best rules of fashion that you should follow to help create the illusion that you have a balanced silhouette:
- Clothing that is skin tight or has a straight fit should be avoided. Instead, go for clothes that drape on your frame and flow off the body. This is especially essential around the shoulder area. At the end of the day, what you are trying to do is soften the width and harshness of your broad shoulders.
- Do not underestimate how significant the balance of color is in your outfits. Pairing a light top with a dark pair of slacks or the opposite can do a lot to create the illusion that you are wider or narrower in some areas. Create balance using different colors.
- Clothes that have detailing around the waist area can do a lot to give the illusion that you have a more defined waist. A wrap dress or pants with a belt for example are good options that help cinch in the waist and give the illusion that you are more curvy.
- Take care to go for tops that do not have a wide neckline. Tops like this will make your shoulders look even broader. This goes against the goal of creating a softer, more balanced figure.
- If you like wearing patterned clothing, we recommend taking it easy. Wear outfits that focus on the hips. As such, you need to make sure that the outfit you are wearing is not too busy. This will keep attention on the waist and lower body and make you look a little more balanced.
- It might be a good idea to try wearing some clothing that is a little voluminous at the hips. This can help to create the illusion that your figure is a little more balanced. This creates a look that is more balanced between your hips and shoulders.
- It is generally thought that skinny pants or bottoms are not a good idea for you. Anything that is tight against your hips does not do a lot to create a more balanced silhouette. Doing this can make you look more top-heavy.
As you might have guessed, the key to getting the most out of this body shape is to create a look that makes your frame look balanced.
Going for outfits that balance your top half and your bottom half while drawing more attention to your legs is the best way to achieve this balanced look.
How To Build A Wardrobe For This Body Type
So, now the question is, how do you create a whole wardrobe that takes in these fashion rules for this stunning and feminine body shape?
As we have said time and time again, it is important that you try to create a silhouette that emphasizes your lower body.
While also trying to balance out your shoulders and creating the illusion that you are curvier than you are.
We have found that clothing that minimizes the broadness of your shoulders will work best to create a look that is overall better balanced.
It is a good rule of thumb that you do not wear tops that are too structured or over-embellished. Instead, try to create more volume on your lower body.
In this section, we are going to take a look at different articles of clothing and what styles you should go for, and which styles you should avoid.
Necklines
Getting a top with the right neckline for this phenomenal body shape is the key to creating a strong wardrobe that is designed to complement your natural shape.
The aim of a good neckline for this body shape is to minimize the horizontal line of your shoulders.
Necklines that appear too wide or have a low dip can make your shoulders look wider. The best options are as follows: V-neck, scoop neck, U-shape, asymmetrical, halter, fitted crew, and high neck.
All of these options will help to make your shoulders look less wide and create a look that is overall just better balanced.
It is essential that you steer clear of necklines that give the impression that your shoulders are very broad.
As such, you should not wear clothes that have the following necklines: Sabrina necklines, cowl neck, bateau, off-the-shoulder necklines, boat neck, and square necklines.
You might find that your unique shape will mean that a strapless top will compliment your frame.
But if you work out a lot and your shoulders are muscular, these kinds of tops will make your shoulders look even more prominent.
Sleeves
The best sleeves for this body shape are fitted sleeves that are quite slim. Even better if they are short. Try to avoid shirts that have puffed sleeves, or shirts that have a lot of shoulder embellishments.
Both of these features will bring attention to your shoulders and steal the show.
The best sleeves for this body type are as follows: Raglan, bell, cape, kimono, butterfly, dolman, and long sleeve not tapered.
The worst sleeves for this body type are short-fitted sleeves or any tops that have padded shoulders. Rather, go for something that will draw attention away from your shoulders.
Give your hips the chance to carry the cross.
Tops
There are several things that you need to bear in mind when it comes to getting the perfect op for someone with an inverted triangle body shape.
Firstly, you need to keep an eye on your hemline. It is important that the shirts you go for drop at the widest portion of your hips.
This will make your figure look more balanced and give the illusion that you have fuller hips than you do.
On the flip side, you should avoid wearing tops that are cropped, as they can make you look more top-heavy. The next feature to keep an eye out for is the volume of your tops.
Shirts that have more definition at the hip or waist area can give the illusion that you are more full-figured.
The best tops for this body shape are as follows: Peplum, fitted blouses, fitted t-shirts, wrap tops, halter blouses, trapeze, shoulder cutouts, and fine gauge knits.
You should take care to avoid tops that are chunky knits, or tops that are very embellished around the shoulder area.
Jackets
The best jackets for this body type include ones that are voluminous below the waist while also defining your waist area.
We also recommend that your jackets are longer and have a wide lapel, which can help your silhouette to look more balanced.
A lot of jackets will look great on this body type, but at the top of the list are the following: Belted blazer, long-length straight, wide lapel, peplum jacket, long cardigan waterfall, cutaway, and hip details.
You should not go for jackets that are cropped or moto-style jackets, as they do not help with the balancing of this body type.
Dresses
You can actually wear dresses as someone with this body shape without looking top-heavy. There are some dresses that will look phenomenal on this body type.
The best of these are as follows: A-line, sheath, 1-shoulder, wrap dress, maxi dress, tent dress, peplum dress, fit and flare, and finally, a pleated skirt dress.
As for the dresses that you should avoid, we do not recommend body con dresses or spaghetti strap dresses.
Jeans
There are quite a few types of jeans that will look fantastic on this body type, the best of which are as follows: straight-leg, flared, boyfriend jeans, wide-leg crop jeans, bootcut jeans, wide-leg, and balloon.
On the list of no-no jeans, we do not recommend wearing skinny jeans or slim first jeans, as they will likely throw off the balance of your silhouette.
Trousers
The aim of bottoms for this body shape is to create more volume. As such, we recommend the following styles: Flared, wide-leg, palazzo, wide-leg culottes, harem, sailor button, straight leg, and pegged.
On the other hand, you should avoid trousers that are skin-tight, such as cigarette trousers or stirrup trousers.
Skirts
Once again, the skirts on this body type need to be adding more volume to the hip area.
As such, the best styles are as follows: Pleated skirts, A-line, circle skirts, layered skirts, tulip skirts, paneled skirts, and high-low skirts.
All of these options will look gorgeous on your frame and give your hips a little more volume.
You should avoid wearing pencil skirts, or stretch knit skirts, as they cling a little too much and can make your hips look more unbalanced against the rest of your frame.
Shorts
Everybody needs to wear shorts on a hot summer day, but what kind of shorts look best in the inverted triangle shape?
Well, the best options are as follows: Pleated, patterned, A-line, cargo shorts, sailor-front shorts, and boxer shorts. Any slim-fitted shorts should be avoided as they make the hips and bottom look more narrow.
Jumpsuits
Although they are stunning, jumpsuits are not for everyone, but if you like them, there are a few styles that will work well with the inverted triangle body shape.
Your best options are as follows: Culotte jumpsuit, flared-leg jumpsuit, boiler jumpsuit, overall jumpsuit, wide-leg romper, and the non-fitted playsuit.
All of these styles will look fantastic on your frame and really draw attention to all the right places.
Which Celebrities Have This Body Type?
Just in case you were you wanted to check out some stunning celebrities with peerless fashion and the inverted triangle body shape, we have listed a few of the most well-known ones below:
- Angelina Jolie
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Charlize Theron
- Demi Moore
- Naomi Watts
- Renée Zellweger
All these women are absolute legends and rock their bodies in different ways.
If you want to get some fashionable inspiration, check out some videos or photos. You will certainly learn something from them!
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about what kind of clothes work best for your inverted triangle body type.
At the end of the day, you should only wear clothes that make you feel confident and happy in your own skin.
While these tips can help enhance your natural features and bring balance to the unique shape of your body, they are merely guidelines.
If you absolutely love your broad shoulders, wear clothes that make them stand out. It is your body and your choice. You are gorgeous regardless of how you dress.
If you have enjoyed this article and learned something about how to dress in a way that enhances your natural features, take a moment to check out some of our other articles.
We have a range of interesting articles available that cover a lot of different fashion-related topics. There is sure to be something there that will pique your interest.
You never know, we might have the perfect article that will bring your fashion game to the next level. Just take a look!
Thanks for reading!
My whole life, I have always been a little bigger than my friends. I was always a bit taller, wider and just bigger built. From my late teens, I would say that I was curvy. I really struggled to find clothes that fitted me, as my hips went out, but my chest didn’t really.
I created WarningCurvesAhead.com because I wanted other women to feel the sense of empowerment I have felt since changing up my wardrobe and finding out what clothes suit my body shape, skin tone and style.
I hope that you too can join me on this journey, and start making some amazing fashion choices that celebrate your beautiful body- instead of hiding it!
- What Is A Figure 8 Body Shape? - June 7, 2023
- How To Dress For Your Body Shape When You’re Plus Size - June 7, 2023
- What Not To Wear With Leggings - June 7, 2023