Shopping for clothes and trying new trends is all well and good, but knowing what body type you are and how to dress for your body type is the real key to amazing style.
This guide will help you understand the different body types for women and what clothes suit each one – from trousers tailored for your shape to blouses with buttons that actually close, knowing your body type means you’ll know exactly what works for your shape.
Read on to find our top tips for getting to know your body type and how to dress for it.
What are the main body types?
The different body types for women are usually split into four key shapes:
- Pear shaped body type
- Hourglass shaped body type
- Apple shaped body type
- Athletic shaped body type.
Within those types you might also want to know about clothing for a fuller bust, smaller boobs or a bigger bum. But don’t forget that women’s bodies have so much variation – everyone is different, and you might find your body type is a bit of a mix of two or more categories. All bodies are valid, and you can mix and match the tips in this guide to make them work for you.
Here's a breakdown of the four main body types and the features they typically have.
Pear body type
- Your waist is wider than your bust
- You have fuller hips
- Your shoulders are narrow compared to your hips
- You have a bigger bum
Hourglass body type
- You’re curvy all over
- You have a defined waist
- Your bust and hips are about the same width
- You have a fuller bust, hips and thighs
Apple body type
- You’re well-proportioned all over
- Your shoulders are broader than your hips
- You have fewer curves in your hips
- Your waist is less defined
Athletic body type
- Your shoulders and hips are about the same width
- Your waist is quite straight
- Your weight is distributed quite evenly across your body
- You have fewer curves
Remember, your body probably won’t match every single feature in just one body type, and that’s ok! This is a rough guide to help you identify the features that feel familiar to you.
How do I find clothes that suit me?
If you’ve identified your shape and you’re now wondering ‘what should I wear for my body type?’, this is where our guide gets even more useful!
Here we break down each of the four main body types and look at the clothing styles that flatter every frame. You’ll find options for work, play and formal occasions in each section, so you’ll never (or almost never) have that what to wear panic again!
What to wear if you’re a pear body type
For pear shapes, it’s all about proportions. You want to elongate your body by drawing the eye upwards and highlighting your waist and neckline. Think statement tops, oversized jewellery and block colours.
Our top fashion tips for pear shapes…
- Pay close attention to necklines – plunging v-necks, cowl necks and scoop necks will highlight your decolletage to perfection.
- Tops that are more fitted or structured add definition to your shoulders and draw the eye to your waist.
- Try a waist-length cropped jacket or a winter coat that stops mid-thigh.
- Dresses are your fashion-go to. From a-line to maxi, plunging back or belted waist – they all look fab on your body type! Dresses that skim your figure and flare out in the skirt are your staple pieces.
- Jeans can be tricky if you have a smaller waist and fuller thighs – to balance your proportions, go for trend-led flares or a classic straight leg. Concentrate the fit on your thighs – you can always cinch the waist in with a belt.
What to wear if you’re an hourglass shape
Dressing your hourglass figure focuses on defining your waist – which doesn’t have to mean lots of bodycon dresses and crop tops! Form-fitting pieces will flatter your shape but can be teamed with oversized shirts and masculine blazers to give your look that edge.
Our top fashion tips for hourglass shapes…
- Fit is really important for hourglass figures. Wrap tops, peplum styles and v-neck and round-neck tops will flatter your shape much more than buttoned-up blouses.
- A sharp, tailored blazer will skim over your curves and highlight your waist.
- Wrap dresses and fit-and-flare dresses are the way to go for hourglass shapes – they pull in at the waist and float out over the hips, making them super flattering.
- High-waisted skirts and trousers are your friends, too – especially paired with a statement belt that draws the eye in.
- Go a little flirty with a pendant necklace that sits just below your collarbone – again, it’s all about drawing the eye to the bits you love most!
What to wear if you’re an apple shape
As an apple body type, you likely have limbs for days, so focus on your long legs and arms in the pieces you choose. Avoid clothes that draw in at the waist, instead choosing cool floaty styles with shorter hemlines.
Our top fashion tips for apple shapes…
- From relaxed boyfriend shirts to flowy tunics and slouchy tees, apple shapes look great in unstructured fits. If you do want a bit more shape, go for a thicker fabric like denim or tweed to give you those clean lines.
- When it comes to dresses, the higher the hemline the better, we say. Mini styles will accentuate your legs, but strapless pieces are perfect for giving your arms some glory.
- A-line jackets and longer trench coats are great options for apple shapes.
- Trousers are an apple shape’s best friend and you can basically wear them all. Skinny jeans, bootcut flares and tailored trousers will emphasis your legs – just keep the silhouettes balanced, so fitted bottoms with a floaty top or vice versa.
- Mix and match your accessories across your whole body – earrings paired with a bracelet, belt and cute clutch bag keep the focus on your outfit as a whole.
What to wear if you’re an athletic shape
Athletic shapes will benefit from beautifully balanced silhouettes – the general rule of thumb is if you’ve got volume at the top, keep it fitted on the bottom.
Our top fashion tips for apple shapes…
- Highlight your defined shoulders in halternecks, racerbacks and scooped necklines. Strapless pieces are fantastic, too.
- High necks and open backs are the name of the game and will work well with loose-fit trousers.
- Lean into your athletic figure with masculine outerwear like peacoats, boxy jackets and sharp blazers.
- Think about your favourite features and play these up with your dress styles – strapless dresses will draw attention to your arms and shoulders, while a plunging neckline will accentuate your decolletage.
- Not a dress fan? Athletic shapes were made for jumpsuits! Halter styles will show off your back and if you want to add a little definition at the waist, go for a skinny belt in a contrasting shade.
Hopefully this guide has given you some useful tips for how to dress your body type. We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again – all bodies are different, there’s not a perfect one-size-fits-all description and you’ll probably recognise your features in a couple of different types. It’s all about knowing what you like, understanding what suits you and dressing to feel your very best, every day. You’ve got this!
