The inverted triangle shape is known as the body type of the super models because many typically come across as lean and athletic. It is critical to find the right clothing styles that accentuate your toned body features and in the meantime create a balanced silhouette for your narrow hips and wide shoulders. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the most flattering styles for your unique body features.
Traits
- Strong and toned muscles – You share the same athletic build as swimmers and volleyball players! You also have the ability to tone your muscles whenever you work out perfectly.
- Slender and muscular arms and legs – You barely gain weight in your limbs so they tend to always look slim and very well-toned.
- Prominent and very broad shoulders – Your shoulders are the broadest point of your body and so this is also the most distinctive part of your inverted triangle frame.
- May lack feminine curves – Because of your athletic build, you may seem to have more masculine features as they may overwhelm your natural curves.
- Very little to almost no waistline definition – Your narrow waist and hips are almost similar in width so there’s not much indentation in your waistline.
- Hips that are relatively narrower than the shoulders – The narrowness of your hips gets more obvious because of how drastic the width difference is between the hips and shoulders.
- Flat and less pronounced buttocks – You don’t have much volume in your rear and it’s not naturally plump.
TOPS
V-Neck Shirts
V-neck shirts may be simple and very casual, but athletic inverted triangle shapes can find this very visually beneficial in terms of flattering your figure. It can work wonders in your figure with its versatility and universally flattering neckline shape that draws attention towards the center of your body, where your feminine features are most apparent.
It opens up space in your upper half to highlight your decolletage and give more emphasis to your elongated neck. This results in a laid-back but nicely well-balanced silhouette that can also equally distribute attention to your every athletic feature.
You can pair them up with jeans for the ultimate casual vibe or layer them with a sleek tailored blazer to give you that business-appropriate look.
Dark-Colored Wrap Tops
The combination of the slimming nature of dark colors and the figure-defining silhouette of wrap tops can be an athletic inverted triangle body-shaped girl’s newest favorite go-to piece! This top style can help you work around your proportions in a way that it can help tweak your edges and curves for a more flattering silhouette.
Dark colors have the ability to absorb light so clothes in darker hues make excellent pieces in making you appear visually slimmer. This can be particularly helpful for inverted triangle shapes who would like to downplay the overwhelming appearance of their broader upper half.
Meanwhile, wrap-style tops feature a cinched waist wherein a tie is secured. This overlapping detail also creates a V-shaped neckline that further enhances your decolletage while causing a visual break in the broad horizontal line that traces your shoulders.
Structured Peplum
You can definitely flaunt your athletic inverted triangle figure while still adding a touch of femininity to your ensemble, and this is exactly what peplum tops can help you out with! This particular style can help you achieve the illusion of hourglass curves by defining your waist and adding the right amount of volume to uplift your hips.
Peplum tops feature a flared detail wherein an overskirt is seamed along the waistline. This seam is what cinches the waist to make you look curvy, while the flared overskirt is what adds volume to your narrow and less pronounced hips
Asymmetrical Neckline
Go make a statement with an asymmetrical top! Whether it’s for an everyday casual ensemble, athleisure outfit, or even semi-formal events, tops that feature an asymmetrical neckline can absolutely make your athletic inverted triangle body shape extra stunning!
The asymmetry that this type of top creates helps divert attention from your broad shoulders by softly breaking up the straight horizontal line that contributes to your broad upper half appearance. A great example of this would be one-shoulder tops, as they feature one strap that gently dips down to the other side around the armpit level, resulting in a curvier overall appearance.
As it also fully bares half of your shoulders, this is also a perfect opportunity for you to show off your slim and toned arms! Definitely a very good way to celebrate your athletic frame!
JEANS
Bootcut Jeans
Bootcut jeans will always be a classic choice when it comes to types of bottoms that can instantly add shape and curves to your look! They perfectly complement your athletic inverted triangle body shape by adding volume to your lower half, thanks to its leg shape that slightly flares at the bottom.
The way it nicely hugs the thighs while gradually widening out to the hem also helps elongate your legs to further enhance their slimness. The sense of elongation and additional lower body volume can instantly bring better balance to your top-heavy silhouette.
Classic Straight-Leg
If you’re aiming for something more simple, discreet, and beautifully classic, a pair of straight-leg jeans should complete your athletic inverted triangle shape wardrobe! These jeans have a simple and streamlined look that can help give more shape and balance to your less pronounced lower body.
Classic straight-leg jeans don’t really give much volume, but the consistent width they have from the hip to the ankle. This clean and balanced silhouette can help bring more depth to your toned legs to catch up with the prominence of your upper half.
Flared Jeans
If you love how bootcut jeans look on you, you’re most likely going to adore the visual effect of flared jeans on your figure as well. Just like bootcut jeans, they also provide volume to the lower part of your legs by flaring from the knee to the ankle.
The difference is that flared jeans may come in different degrees of flare, mostly wider and more dramatic – reminiscent of the retro flair of the 70s! Choose a pair that fits perfectly on the waist to make sure that you get the snug cinch you need for added definition, and pair it with a minimalistic top to neutralize your upper and lower body proportions.
Boyfriend Jeans
The laid-back and slightly slouchy fit of boyfriend jeans makes them a perfect choice for athletic inverted triangle body shapes who lack lower body prominence. The design of boyfriend jeans offers a relaxed fit that complements your athletic build, whereas its loose silhouette adds a touch of comfort and shape to your smaller lower body.
The androgynous aesthetic of boyfriend jeans is perfect for inverted triangle body shapes who would want to rock their athletic shape while still keeping the ensemble look feminine. If you go for boyfriend jeans that feature some slight distressing details, you can further enhance the volume of your lower body to make it look more proportionate to your upper half.
PANTS
Sailor Pants
The nautical details of sailor pants can be a fashion gem for your wardrobe as they can help bring better definition to your waist and more depth to your narrow hips. Sailor pants typically come in high-waisted designs, which helps cinch your waist to achieve a curvier indentation that inverted triangle body shapes lack.
Additionally, sailor pants also have a distinctive button detailing at the front just along the pockets that can visually extend the width of your hips. With these eye-catching details, you’ll be effectively steering a significant amount of attention away from your overpowering broad shoulders and therefore neutralizing your top-heavy frame.
Tailored Pleated Pants
The strategic placement of pleats along the waistband of your pants can be a very effective but subtle way to bring more volume to your hips and thighs. These pleats also contribute to the seamless fit of the pants in order to snugly hug your waist, resulting in better waist definition.
Well-tailored pleated pants not only effectively add more depth to your lower half, but also nicely conform to your legs to enhance your athletic and slender legs. Tailored pleated pants also make a great casual and formal wardrobe piece as they are quite versatile in terms of styling.
Flowy Palazzo Pants
For that mesmerizing effortless glamour, palazzo pants should be something you need to try out to flatter your athletic inverted triangle body shape. The wide leg structure of these pants will give your less pronounced lower body its much-needed volume boost without completely overwhelming your frame.
They can help your lower body catch up with the larger size of your upper half while its flowy nature can help create a sense of movement in your frame, resulting in the illusion of curves. Imagine pairing them with your dark-colored tops or a tucked classic V-neck blouse – you’ll surely love the symmetrical balance these style coordinates can give you!
Khaki Cargo Pants
Khaki cargo pants feature the perfect combination of color and structure to work around the weaknesses of your inverted triangle body shape. The light color of khaki can visually expand your less prominent lower body while the pocket details of cargo pants can balance out your top-heavy frame with the additional volume it can provide.
The pockets and detailing on cargo pants add dimension and balance to your lower body while also giving your ensemble a rugged yet trendy vibe that pairs well with a variety of tops. If you go for a pair of cargo pants that have a slightly tapered fit, you can even highlight your toned thighs and legs as the pocket details will also draw attention to these areas.
DRESSES
One-Shoulder Dresses.
One-shoulder dresses can give your look a flirty and dainty vibe while also giving you the chance to showcase your very lean arms! The asymmetrical neckline can neutralize the broadness of your shoulders while also leading the gaze to the best athletic features of your upper half such as your decolletage, neck, collarbone, and arms.
Dresses with Flounce Hem
Dresses that feature a slight flare at the hemline give your outfit a sense of movement that promotes the illusion of curves. This sexy flared hemline can also add more volume to your lower body in order to look more proportionate with your broad shoulders.
When choosing a dress that has this flounce detail, don’t forget to also look for something that cinches the waist to help you achieve better upper and lower body balance. The length of the dress is also important so always take your height into consideration so you can opt for something that features a flattering length.
Structured A-Line
A-Line dresses are universally flattering so it’s not really difficult to pull them off. For your athletic inverted triangle frame, you can benefit from this silhouette as it defines the upper body, cinches the waist, and adds volume to your lower body.
Structured A-line dresses are your secret weapon for achieving an hourglass-like balance as the fitted bodice and flared skirt create a beautifully proportionate silhouette. These dresses can effectively enhance your natural curves while diverting attention from your shoulders.
OUTERWEAR
Long Blazers
Long blazers can compliment your frame in a way that gives you a more elongated silhouette that features more consistent measurements from top to bottom. Because they are longer (usually past the hips), they help blur out the obvious size difference between your bigger upper half and smaller lower body.
Additionally, these long blazers create a continuous vertical line that visually lengthens your figure to maintain a streamlined silhouette.
Single-Breasted Blazers
Single-breasted blazers can be your easy go-to outerwear choice to embrace your athletic inverted triangle figure! They feature neat lines, seams, and a precisely tailored fit to give your ensemble a more polished and put-together appearance.
Single-breasted blazers don’t have the additional fabric and overlapping panels unlike those with double-breasted styles. This can avoid putting extra bulk to your already top-heavy appearance and instead, keep your body lean and proportionate.
