Knowing how to dress for your body shape is a game changer that will make you love the person you see in the mirror every single day.

Have you ever stood in front of your wardrobe, sighing because nothing feels right? You have a wardrobe bursting with clothes but there’s “nothing to wear”. You try on outfit after outfit and somehow you still don’t feel or look good.

You’re not alone. How to dress better is one of the most searched fashion questions for a reason. After a big life change (like having a baby, gaining or losing weight, or even just getting older), it’s normal to feel out of sync with your wardrobe.

Dress Better by Working With Your Body — Not Against It

If you want to start feeling better in your clothes, begin with your body shape. Are you choosing outfits that work with your shape or ones that fight against it?

Once you start dressing for your body (instead of trying to force trends or fit into what “used to work”), everything gets easier. You’ll save time, money, and sanity.

Learning your shape means paying attention to your curves, your angles, and how clothes fall on your frame. And yes, it also means accepting that some clothes just aren’t made for you, and that’s okay. There’s still plenty that will look amazing once you know what to look for.

So What’s Your Body Type/shape? 

When you’re trying to dress better for your shape, one of the first questions that comes up is: What body type am I?

There are five main body type categories:

• Apple (or round): fuller in the midsection, slimmer legs, undefined waist
• Pear (or triangle): hips are wider than shoulders, often with a smaller upper body
• Rectangle (or straight): shoulders, waist, and hips are similar in width with minimal curves
• Inverted triangle: broader shoulders, narrower hips, athletic upper body
• Hourglass: balanced shoulders and hips with a defined waist

💡 it’s important to remember that these are just guidelines not labels. You might fall somewhere in between, and that’s perfectly normal.

Can You Change Your Body Type?

Your body type is mostly genetic. You can build muscle, lose weight, or tone up certain areas, but your basic structure like where your shoulders sit or how your hips are shaped is part of your frame which you can’t really change.

What you can do is learn how to work with it and how to use clothes as a tool to create balance, proportion, and ease.

How to dress for each body type

Let’s break down the most common body types and how to dress each one with confidence.

Apple Shape

You carry most of your weight around your middle, and your legs are usually slimmer. You might feel like you don’t have much of a waist.

To dress an apple body:

• Focus on tops that create length, like V-necks or wrap styles.
• Flowy dresses that gather just under the bust are super flattering.
• Add structure with open cardigans or longline jackets.
• Show off those legs – they’re are a great asset

When dressing up, your goal is to gently skim the tummy area and draw attention upward or downward — not directly to the middle.

Pear Shape

Your hips are wider than your shoulders, and your lower half is curvier than your top. You might feel like all the weight goes to your thighs and bum.

To dress a pear body:

• Highlight your upper half with pretty necklines, puff sleeves, or fun earrings.
• Keep the lower half simple with darker jeans or flowy trousers.
• A-line skirts and dresses also work very well to balance everything out. 

When dressing up, your goal is to bring balance by drawing attention upward and keeping things streamlined below the waist.

Rectangle Shape

Your shoulders, waist, and hips are about the same width. You don’t have a super defined waist, and your figure is straight up and down.

To dress a rectangle body:

• Create curves with belts, high-waisted jeans, and wrap dresses.
• Add shape with peplum tops, ruching, or layers.
• Play with texture. You can pull off fitted and flowy pieces with ease.

When you dress up your goal is to add shape and movement to create the illusion of curves.

Inverted Triangle Shape

You’ve got broad shoulders or a larger bust, and your hips are narrower. You might feel top-heavy or boxy at times.

To dress an inverted triangle:

• Soften the top with scoop necks, V-necks, or halter styles.
• Avoid shoulder pads or stiff tops that add bulk.
• Add volume to the lower half with peplum blouses, A-line skirts, wide-leg pants, or light-colored bottoms. Wrap styles work too.

Goal: Balance out your shape by keeping the top simple and making the bottom feel fuller.

Hourglass Shape

Your shoulders and hips are about the same width, and your waist is nicely defined. You’ve got natural curves that already look balanced.

To dress an hourglass body:

• Stick to fitted pieces that show off your shape.
• Bodycon dresses and high-rise jeans or pants always work.
• Avoid anything too boxy or shapeless — it hides your best feature (your waist!).

When dressing up, your goal is to let your curves shine by wearing clothes that follow your natural shape.

Find Your Style Identity (Beyond Body Type)

Once you understand your shape, the next big leap is figuring out your style anchor which are the little details that make your outfit feel like you.

Here’s a quick guide to four common style identities:

Not sure which you are? Look through your outfits and see what you love to wear repeatedly that looks and feels good too. Chances are, your style identity is already obvious — you just need to pay attention.

How to Dress Better Using the Rule of Proportion

Another way to dress better even after figuring your body type and style identity  is by following the rule of proportion.

The rule of proportion is a game-changer especially when you’re standing in front of the mirror thinking “Why doesn’t this look right?”

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: instead of splitting your outfit into halves (like a long top with leggings or a tunic with skinny jeans), aim to split your outfit into thirds.

A few examples:

• A cropped sweater with high-waisted jeans = 1/3 on top, 2/3 on the bottom
• A longline cardigan over a tucked-in blouse and trousers = 2/3 on top, 1/3 on bottom
• A belted dress that hits just above the knee = breaks you into the most flattering thirds

Why does this work? Because the human eye naturally prefers outfits that are broken into uneven sections. It helps elongate your frame, balance your shape, and gives your body more presence — no matter your size or height.

Just as in the illustrations below: many outfits suddenly look more chic when they follow the rule of proportion.

If you’re not a fan of belts and tucking in, even a French tuck of your Tshirt is enough to give you the same effect.

Below is another example. The tucked in model looks a lot more put together than the model to the right whose outfit has been split in half.

Common pain points (and easy fixes)

Dressing to Look Slimmer

If you want to feel more sleek or balanced in your clothes, here’s what helps:

• Go for darker tones on areas you want to downplay, and lighter or textured pieces where you want to draw the eye.
• Use vertical lines to create length — things like V-necklines, open cardigans, long necklaces, or front seams.
• Choose structured fabrics that gently hold their shape instead of thin clingy ones that show everything.
• Avoid oversized everything — one loose piece is fine, but balance it with something more fitted elsewhere.

The goal is to feel smooth and supported, not squeezed.

Dressing to Hide a Big Belly

To dress in a way that feels comfortable and flattering if you have a big tummy:

• Go for high-waisted trousers or skirts with a soft waistband that doesn’t dig in.
• Try wrap tops or dresses that create definition above the belly and draw the eye upward.
• Look for flowy blouses or draped fabrics that skim the stomach instead of clinging to it.
• Tops that fall just below the hip bone help balance everything without chopping your body in half.

Avoid tight elastics, clingy jersey tops, or anything that cuts right across the widest part of your belly. The goal is ease, not restriction.

To Hide Big Arms

If your arms are a sensitive spot, you’re not alone. The trick is to soften and skim.

• Go for three-quarter sleeves, flutter sleeves, or dolman cuts that offer movement and breathability.
• Avoid cap sleeves that stop right at the widest part — they make arms look bulkier.
• Try lightweight cardigans or open shirts as outer layers that keep you cool while adding coverage.
• A statement necklace or bold lip also works wonders by drawing attention upward.

Most importantly, choose fabrics that don’t stick to the arm. A little airflow makes a big difference in both comfort and confidence.

To Minimise Broad Shoulders

For the inverted triangle girlies, here is how to dress to flatter your broad shoulders?

• Stick to V-necks, scoop necks, or halter styles that open up the neckline and draw the eye down.
• Avoid shoulder pads, puff sleeves, or high necks that make the top half feel wider.
• Add volume or interest to the lower half with wide-leg pants, midi skirts, or printed bottoms.
• Layering a soft, unstructured cardigan or coat also helps break up the shoulder line.

The idea is to create softness on top and shape below — not to shrink yourself.

To Flatter Small Hips

Whether you are an inverted triangle or rectangle, If you feel like your lower half lacks curves, you can visually enhance your hips without discomfort.

• Try skirts with movement — like pleated, A-line, or wrap styles.
• Wear lighter colors or prints on your bottom half to make it stand out more.
• High-waisted trousers with a belt create the illusion of curves and give you a waist.
• Look for pants with front pleats or back pockets to add shape.

Avoid anything too tight and straight — it can make hips look flatter. You want flow, not stiffness.

For more recommendations on flattering small hips, check out our popular post here.

What If Nothing in Your Wardrobe Feels Right?

This is a very real (and common) feeling. You might feel disconnected from your clothes, like everything’s either too tight, too dated, or just… not you.

Here is a simple recommendation to help you fix this dilemma:

Start with this checklist:

• Pull out 5 pieces you do like the feel of — color, fabric, fit
• Now build an outfit you love with each piece 

For example, if you have chosen a white T shirt, pick a bottom you look amazing in and try to create a complete outfit with outerwear or accessories as needed. Here are some inspiration:

Make sure the outfits you build look great on you because these few good outfits will be the foundation of your new wardrobe.

•  Now create a pile of what no longer fits, fold them away to revisit later or give them out if you’re certain you will never like them again.
•  Finally, start testing out the 5 outfits you created.  Wear them on repeat this week to confirm they are a great fit. And if they are – That’ll be your personal style. You can then go ahead to buy a few more similar pieces gradually over time so you can build an entire wardrobe of only clothes you look fab in.

That’s it. Hope this post helps you achieve the look you’ve ever wanted.

Thanks for stopping by.