Triangle Body Shape: How to dress it

When it comes to how to dress your body type, it’s all about highlighting your assets and downplaying areas you’d rather hide. For ladies with a triangle body shape, that means putting the focus on the top and deemphasizing your bottom half to create body balance. A triangle body type is characterized by a narrow bust and waist, with hips as your widest measurement. Do you fall in this category? Learn how to dress your triangle body shape:

Accentuate the narrow shoulders of your triangle body shape

Your small top is likely where you want to put the focus, especially your noticeably narrow shoulders. For many ladies, this is their favorite feature and they aim to draw eyes to their dare-to-bare arms. Wearing tank tops is a great strategy for summer because sleeveless shirts not only show off your assets, but can also help you beat the heat. However, this strategy doesn’t work as well during the cooler months of fall.

During this season, you’ll need to cover your upper body to keep warm, and plain tees on narrow shoulders and a smaller bust can throw off your body balance. Instantly add volume to your top half with a ruffled neckline blouse. If you widen your top with a detailed neckline or collar, be sure to limit your fashion accessories to earrings and bracelets rather than necklaces.

To broaden your shoulders, look for a jacket or blazer with shoulder pads or other tailored shoulder enhancements. Anything that adds volume around your shoulders will provide balance. Or, draw eyes away from the shoulders with a shawl collar jacket.

Be wary of hemlines

Since the widest part of your body is your hips, you’ll want to draw the focus away from this area. However, the bottoms of most shirts hit right at the hips, and the added horizontal hemline can visually widen them even more. Consider opting for a top with an uneven hemline, such as a billowing tunic, tank top, or blouse. Even when adding another layer with a blazer to keep warm during the chillier months, the main focus will be on the uneven hemline of your shirt underneath because it’s so visually interesting.

Dresses for triangle body shape

If you’re looking for a more feminine look, go with a dress this fall, and wear a pair of tights for an added layer of warmth. Because the dress falls far below the hips, it will serve the same purpose as a shirt with an uneven hemline. Just be sure the dress cinches in at your waist, rather than at the hips.

You can also wear a full skirt, but again be sure it defines the waist at the optimal place. Avoid any style the accentuate fullness at the hips.

Click here to learn how to take body measurements for a dress. Also, learn how to choose the best plus-size dress style for your body type.

Best jeans for triangle body shape

It can be difficult to find an attractive denim jean cut for a triangle body shape. Look for a higher-rise waist band that is tapered tighter at the top. Select either a wide leg or boot-cut leg with a longer inseam. These features will provide balance to your appearance and give you confidence.

Also, as mentioned earlier, match with top styles that add volume and visual interest to draw attention.

Wear darker shades on bottom

Wearing a neutral such as deep brown, black, gray, or navy blue on the bottom is doubly beneficial. First, the darker shade downplays your wider hips, and secondly, having a neutral color on your bottom gives you more color opportunities on top. During the fall, the goal for ladies with a triangle shape is to add volume on your narrow, top half to create body balance and to pull eyes up rather than down. Prints and bold fall colors do that. Pair a bright, patterned shirt or a fun fall-colored top in aubergine, cobalt, red, or orange with neutral jeans, a women’s black pencil skirt, or navy blue pants.

Don’t let your body shape limit what you wear. Instead, use it as an opportunity to be strategic with your wardrobe and create body balance on your triangle shape.

Want to explore the other body types? Here’s more:

• Tips for dressing an oval body shape
• Dress your hourglass body type
• Creating curves on a rectangle body type
• How to Dress Your Body Type Infographic Series