Have you ever ordered clothing online, only to find it doesn’t look as you envisioned? It’s a common experience among women.

When we see a stunning piece of clothing on the runway or elegantly draped on a model in a magazine, it doesn’t always mean it will flatter us when we try it on ourselves.

In my experience styling women with hourglass shapes, nearly all of them tell me that nothing ever fits properly. This is because much of what we see in fashion shows and editorials is tailored for models with an inverted triangle body shape, emphasizing sharp lines that may not suit the proportions of most women.

The clothes seem to hang like they would on a coat rack, hence the famous likening. While this may suit some, most women are not so specific in their proportions.

One of the many things that makes us beautiful is our natural curves, yet we often overlook clothing that complements our undulating figure, instead opting for styles that conceal.

Fortunately, there are easy-to-follow guidelines to follow when building a wardrobe that complements an hourglass shape.

In this article, I’ll outline the perfect formula for selecting clothes that enhance this feminine shape.

Dressing For An Hourglass Body Type

The hourglass body is seen as the most feminine out of all the body shapes. Defined by shoulders and hips of equal width with a gently defined waist, it’s the most in-proportion body shape.

An hourglass body comes in many sizes, but the proportions always stay the same. If this sounds like you, then keep reading!

When trying to figure out what body shape you have, don’t get too caught up in whether you’re an hourglass, a pear or an inverted triangle. Just remember that the hips and shoulders are the same while the waist is tighter, and you are going to nail it. When dressing later on, we can alter certain dimensions that don’t quite match up.

To start with, let’s talk dresses.

The Perfect Dress And Top For An Hourglass Shape

Fabric Type

In the image below, you can see the perfect silhouette of a female body shape, dressed to perfection in a one-piece dress. The shoulders and hips are in equal proportion and the waist has a gentle curve.

What makes this dress work is the stretch fabric.

When choosing dresses, we need to be aware of the fabric we are opting for, as this will ultimately determine the shape of the silhouette. Tight-fitting clothes with flexible fabric will allow the clothing to breathe and shape your curves to perfection.

With the addition of a belt, you can further enhance your hourglass silhouette by emphasizing the waist even more.

Neck and Waist Lines

Consider neckline choices too. A V-neck, like the one shown below, elongates the body and is especially flattering for larger busts, creating a more streamlined appearance.

This subtle choice can make a huge difference, especially if you have a bigger bust. The neckline here provides the illusion of extra length for the body.

One challenge for hourglass figures is finding clothes that fit well without appearing boxy. Without waist definition, the silhouette can look heavy and shapeless.

Wrap dresses are great at highlighting curves and enhancing the waist with a belt detail, ensuring your natural shape stands out.

With these in mind, avoid wearing an empire waist dress or anything that would give prominence to only one single part of your body.

In the below example, the chosen dress is wrapped around, the fabric hugs the body and shows off the narrow waist and the detail of the belt enhances the already prominent curve in the waist.

All of these elements serve to accentuate your waist and put your curves on full display. And this is exactly what you want! Your curves are beautiful and deserve to be shown off.

To put things in perspective, in the below example, you can see the model is perfectly proportioned, with her shoulders matching her hips.

However, the shirt she is wearing is not flattering her body at all. This is because there is no definition of the upper body – the waist and the neckline cuts her off at the top, giving the illusion that her body is boxy and formless.

This can be why it’s difficult for women with an hourglass body type to find the perfect outfit because fashion isn’t necessarily designed with this body type in mind.

Fortunately, if we can remember to nip in at the sides and wear a deep V to elongate the body, we can always flatter our body type by presenting it in all its glory.

READ ALSO: How To Dress For An Apple Body Type

The Perfect Bottom For An Hourglass Body Type

Dressing the bottom half of an hourglass body type can be very tricky, but once you know a couple of super easy tricks, it will be a breeze and you can get it right every time.

Like we do for the top, it’s a good rule of thumb to seek out clothing that has stretch in it, because we are aiming to frame your curves instead of hiding them away behind rigid fabric. This is especially important at the waistband which tends to gape with more shaped fabric.

Skirts

In the below example, the model is wearing the perfect example of a skirt which will suit your hourglass body shape beautifully.

Pencil skirts offer a narrow silhouette while providing adequate shape around the hips.

If you can avoid skirts that hang below your knee, that is ideally what we are looking for. Just above the knee is the sweet spot for an hourglass body type’s hem to stop. Any further below the knee length will be unflattering.

Below is another perfect example of something to keep an eye out for.

The skirt is tight around the waist, supported by a belt which cinches you in. The result is a beautiful flow which will cascade down and shape your hips beautifully for a very fun, feminine look.

Pants and Jeans

When shopping for jeans, you might often find the waistline gaping at the back where it meets your hips.

Your jeans selection needs to have a noticeably smaller waist, like in the example below. Often, high-waisted pants have this silhouette.

These jeans are tailored specifically for an hourglass body type, and this small difference becomes easily noticeable once you know what to look for. If you hold your jeans up, you will be able to instantly see this.

Most jeans you’ll find while shopping are cut straight, so it’s essential to keep an eye out for those designed to fit your curves.

In the below example, you can see the comparison of a straight pair of jeans next to a pair that has a smaller waist.

It all comes down to the cut. An hourglass body type should be looking for either a bootcut or skinny jeans.

READ ALSO: The Art of Mindful Dressing For Women Over 50

Ready to Embrace Your Hourglass Figure?

Shopping for an hourglass figure can be challenging simply because fashion isn’t necessarily geared towards curvy women.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect outfit for your body shape. You just need to keep these guidelines in mind the next time you go shopping! I promise everything you try on will fit you beautifully.

And make sure to choose flexible fabrics that frame your figure to ensure a flattering and feminine look in every outfit.

What do you think? I would love to hear if you were able to put these simple rules to good use. Let me know!

♡ Love ♡,

Schellea