Understanding the different body shapes in women
What body shape are you?
Knowing your body shape can make a huge difference when styling yourself or when deciding what pair of jeans to buy next.
It's not a matter of comparison between body types, as we're all beautiful in our own way, but more of a mindful understanding of your body features and how to use them in your favour so that you're always looking fabulous.
Next, we’ll guide you through discovering your curves and body shape.
First step...Let's observe ourselves without judgment.
Stand in front of a mirror and observe if your shoulders and hips are in line, from there we will see what kind of silhouette you have.
TRIANGLE OR SPOON BODY SHAPE
If your shoulders are narrower than your hips, this is your body shape.
Velvety’s Fashion Tip: Balance your silhouette by enhancing your shoulders or softening your hips.
Build Your Spoon Body Shape Outfit
TOP: Wear structured garments on the shoulders, with sinuous lines and shapes / It is recommended to use volume on your shoulders / You can use all kind of prints including stripes and squares / Avoid very large jackets and thin fabrics without structure.
BOTTOM: Wear garments with straight lines to soften your hips / Avoid adding volume around your hips or very tight garments. Also avoid prints, especially very large prints with squares.
INVERTED TRIANGLE BODY SHAPE
If your shoulders are wider than your hips, this is your body shape.
Velvety’s Fashion Tip: You will need to soften your shoulders or enhance your hips. Your choice!
Inverted Triangle Body Shape Ideal Outfits
TOP: Wear garments that are not very structured on the shoulders, using curvy or rounded lines and shapes / Avoid straight or boxy jackets and focus on curvy shaped lines / All kind of sleeves are welcome, but avoid any kind of shoulder pads / It is recommended to wear light fabrics with a fall / You can wear all kind of prints including stripes and squares, however they should be small and the colours should be in harmony.
BOTTOM: Wear pants or skirts with curvy or rounded shapes to add volume and width / You can use thick and textured fabrics and also light ones, but always with volume / You can wear all kind of prints including stripes and squares, even with colours in contrast / Avoid very straight and fitted garments.
RECTANGLE OR STRAIGHT BODY SHAPE
If your shoulders are in line with your hips, but without having a defined waist, this is your body shape.
Velvety’s Fashion Tip: The goal is to soften lines and define your waist.
Rectangular Body Shape Outfits
TOP: Wear garments that are not very structured on the shoulders, using curvy or rounded lines and shapes / We recommend the length of the jackets to sit just above the hip / Avoid thick and rigid fabrics / Do nor wear bright colours and prints in colour contrast.
BOTTOM: You can wear any kind of garment, but as long as it has sinuosity around the hips / It is recommended to wear fabrics with a fall.
OVAL BODY SHAPE
Your shoulders, waist and hips are rounded. Your bust will probably be larger than the rest of your body, with narrow hips.
Velvety’s Fashion Tip: Your body is quite curvy, your goal is to add structure and slenderness.
How To Dress An Oval Body Shape
TOP: Wear structured garments on your shoulders with a lineal shape and a bit sinuosity / We recommend you to wear thin fabrics with a fall / Wear colours in range of the same intensity and harmony, avoid contrast / Avoid curvy lines.
BOTTOM: Wear garments with a straight shape / We recommend you to wear fabrics with a fall / Wear small prints in colour harmony.
HOURGLASS BODY SHAPE
If your shoulders are in line with your hips and your waist is defined, we can say that your body is proportionally well balanced. Your shape looks sinuous.
Velvety’s Fashion Tip: You will look great wearing any kind of garment, print or fabric.
Many times, we can be a combination of two female body shapes. If you think that’s your case, just follow the advice by recognising which shape you are at the top and which shape you are at the bottom.
Is your body in proportion?
To know if your body is in proportion, the distance between your head and your hips should be the same as the distance between your hips and your feet.
If the end of your fingers reach the middle of your thighs, it means that your body is in proportion with your torso and extremities.
