The rectangle body is known for its straight up and down shape and little natural waist definition. This detailed guide on wardrobe essentials for the rectangle shape will teach you all about emphasizing your strengths and using the right styling techniques to create a curvier silhouette.
Characteristics
- Lean but nicely shaped legs
- Small hips
- A straight body silhouette
- Little to no natural waist definition
- Shoulders, waistline, and hips have similar width
The plan is to accentuate your curves and visually add more length to your body, so your shape can undergo a remarkable transformation to an hourglass-like silhouette.
Tops
Belted tops
As a rectangle shape woman, you have a naturally straight silhouette. Therefore, you have to wear tops that can help you create a curvier figure. Top on the list is belted tops as they can help you create a more defined waistline since they make your waist appear narrower.
Extra points for belted tops with details around the bust and hips as they are very useful in creating a feminine hourglass figure.
Meanwhile, the best types of belts to look out for are the wide ones that place further emphasis on your waistline. You can top this up with a padded bra that draws attention to your curves.
Wrap tops
Versatile, stylish, and sophisticated, you can’t go wrong with a wrap top. The focus of women with rectangle body shapes is to make your waist become more defined. It’s not complicated to achieve this with the right top. The beauty of wearing the right clothing for your body shape is that you can modify the outlook to give you an even more elegant appearance. For women with a rectangular body shape, that would be a wrap top that has a relaxed fit. Even better, you can adjust this until you have a comfortable fit.
Sweetheart neckline tops
A sweetheart neckline typically has the shape of the top of a stylized heart and that makes it a wide neckline that shows off your neck and collarbone. Showing off this region of your body is a great idea as the wide opening with curves will give a lovely subtle feminine touch to your outfit.
Also, this is the ultimate hack to elongate your body frame while ensuring that you recreate the illusion of curves. The last thing you want to do is encourage a straight silhouette.
There are different designs of tops with a sweetheart neckline. Therefore, look out for those with floral prints, and attention-grabbing colors that complement your figure.
Jeans
Jeans with small back pockets
Adding some extra details to your jeans is necessary to redefine the structure of your rectangle body shape. An effortless way to do this is by wearing jeans with back pockets that can add more width visually to the lower half of your body.
However, the position and size of the back pocket matters.
It’s best to go for a small-sized pocket as bigger ones will throw off your body figure. They should also sit high on your backside as it won’t be flattering on your rectangle body shape if it’s too lower. The higher, the better.
Wide leg jeans
One lovely feature to admire in wide-leg jeans is how they have a clean cut that encourages a straight line from the hip to the hemline. This is perfect for balancing your silhouette, transforming your figure from a rectangle shape to a curvier hourglass-like one.
Wide-leg jeans are also incredibly flattering on your body frame, so you look twice as elegant when you rock this with the right top. This score is high based on comfort level as the loose-fitting design gives your hips and legs sufficient room while de-emphasizing your naturally straight silhouette.
Straight leg jeans
Just as the name suggests, the straight-leg jeans move straight from your hips to your ankles while following the natural flow of your body figure.
However, despite being a straight style, it’s comfy enough as it doesn’t hug your body tightly and this depends a lot on the size you choose while shopping.
So, be sure to pick one that’s not tight-fitting. Meanwhile, the impressive benefits of straight-leg jeans include elevating your overall look and giving you a slightly different body structure when you have curves added to your silhouette. This style of jeans can be worn to a wide variety of events.
Pants
Bootcut pants
This simple yet stylish pant style is another amazing pant that creates the illusion of curves on the body of women with a rectangle body shape.
Rather than wear pants that draw attention to your straight silhouette and give a non-flattering appearance, spice up your wardrobe with bootcut pants that are fitted around your hips and waist.
The gradual flare from your thighs helps to add definition to your hips, and that’s great for encouraging a curvy silhouette. Therefore, this completely eliminates your straight shape while visually elongating your legs to make you appear taller.
Pants with wide waistband
Give your figure impressive detailing by choosing pants that come with a naturally wide waistband. The focus here is your waist as this is the area to emphasize a curvy silhouette that will give you a more feminine structure.
Therefore, with wide waistbands on your waist, you can deemphasize attention on less flattering parts of your figure and add more volume to the lower half of your body. This is great for cinching your waist, unlike thin waistbands that will draw attention to your straight silhouette.
Also, they are incredibly stylish and you’ll find out that it’s so easy to fall in love with wide waistbands.
Mid-rise pants
Mid-rise pants are great for your rectangle body shape because they are known to be one of the least restrictive styles of pants for this body type. Rather than hug your body tightly, mid-rise pants are super comfortable around the waistline and help to reduce attention on your straight silhouette.
Therefore, you can transform your body type with mid-rise pants that don’t make your square body shape the highlight of your look. This is one major reason why you should completely avoid low-rise pants.
Dresses
Mermaid-style dresses
Everyone knows what a mermaid silhouette looks like with the curvier waist definition that flows seamlessly with the body shape towards the hips. This is replicated in the mermaid-style dress which is great at effortlessly looking flattering on women with a rectangle body shape.
If you want to look curvier and really emphasize a feminine silhouette, you should consider wearing a mermaid-style dress.
This is one of the most feminine dress styles out there as they have never failed to add curves to the rectangle body type. Mermaid-style dresses also don’t restrict your legs, so you won’t be sacrificing your comfort for some curves.
A-line dresses
This universally flattering style of dress works for almost every body type, especially the rectangle body shape. It comes highly recommended in the fashion world as the A-shape brings your best features to life and emphasizes a flattering feminine silhouette that will make you the star at any occasion.
All it does is simply define your waistline and draw attention away from your midsection area. So, if you happen to have a tummy bulge which is not too common with this body type, all you need is an A-line dress for the perfect camouflage.
Princess line dresses
This is a fitted dress style that hugs your bust before flowing into a flared skirt with panels. These long panels have an amazing effect on your waistline as they are incredible at making this area appear more defined.
So, if you’re looking for an easy and stress-free way to add curves to your straight rectangle shape without struggling into shapewear, this is the ultimate solution. Even better, the seamless line around the waistline makes your body look slimmer and elongated without disrupting your figure. You’ll be glad you tried this out.
Skirts
Asymmetrical hem skirts
These are simply skirts that don’t have a straight hemline. Instead, they are quite uneven in length and the direct effect of this on your body type is more amazing than you can imagine.
Naturally, the eyes will be drawn towards the details in the hemline of this skirt and that’s what helps to create the illusion of a feminine silhouette on your rectangle body shape.
With this, you appear to have curves that balance your upper and lower body, giving you an almost hourglass shape.
While you effortlessly look elegant, you can benefit from the extra inches that this skirt adds to your height, thanks to an illusion that helps to maintain your body balance.
Wrap skirts
You should definitely check out wrap skirts with an uneven hemline that can also become the center of attention on your body while creating a defined waistline. Rather than rocking a straight look, you can encourage the ultimate transportation with a simple yet stylish wrap skirt.
This super flattering skirt style is one of the best at creating the illusion of curves on the lower half of your body, a move that immediately transforms your silhouette. With a defined waistline and a balanced body outlook, you’ll stand out.
Pleated skirts
Pleated skirts are a loose-fitting style with excess fabric running from your waistline to your hemline. However, this makes your body appear bottom-heavy, which is a great thing in this case.
The extra volume on the bottom half of your body serves as a balancing mechanism where the straight vertical line of your body is transformed into a curvier silhouette.
Of course, your best assets are your legs and pleated skirts can help to elongate them visually. The loose-fitting style gives your legs a lot of room for comfort while being that seamlessly classic style that takes your elegance up several notches.
Sweaters
Long belted cardigans
For the rectangle body shape, you’ll look breathtaking in long cardigans with belts as they are perfect for creating a waist-cinching effect. This is way better than boxy or tight-fitting cardigans that draw attention to your straight silhouette.
Similar to belted tops, you should choose cardigans with medium to wide belt styles to ensure that it creates curves that will give your silhouette an hourglass-like look.
V-neck sweaters
The plunging look of the v-neckline helps to play up your curves as it draws the eye vertically. This will add shape to your body that necklines like square and wide boatnecks won’t help you achieve.
Therefore, be sure to look out for this neckline when shopping for necklines. Other flattering choices are bateau and cowl necklines.
Coats & Jackets
Peplum coats
Peplum coats are fitted at the waistline which comes in handy for all body types that lack waist definition, especially the rectangle body shape.
From the fitted waistline, it flares out towards your hips to create more volume around this naturally small region of your body. Of course, it helps that these coats are warm enough to keep you comfortable in cool weather without drawing attention to the less-flattering aspects of your body.
The combination of the fitted waistline and flare creates the illusion of curves so the bottom half of your body appears more feminine. This amazing coat style is also not bulky on your frame, so you won’t feel overwhelmed.
Wrap coats
Similar to the amazing benefits of wrap dresses and wrap tops for the rectangle body shape, it’s also an excellent idea to add wrap coats to your list.
Wrap coats are perfect for drawing attention to your bust which is usually full and a great asset to emphasize on the rectangle body shape.
Through their flattering neckline, this helps to create more waist definition as the wrap around your waist has a cinching effect.
Thanks to their relaxed fit, you can determine how loose or tight you want your wrap coat to be. Comfort is an important thing in the fashion world and wrap coats help you look good without sacrificing this. Overall, this is a top coat style for accentuating your body frame and waistline.
Coats with wide lapels
These are coats with wide and mostly large collars that are quite attention-grabbing. Naturally, the eyes will be drawn upwards as this coat adds more volume to the top-half of the body, this diversion is perfect for drawing focus away from the straight silhouette of your rectangle shape with your bust and neckline being a better area of interest.
Ultimately, this eliminates the straight nature of your rectangle body shape and gives your body a more feminine outlook. It’s okay to draw attention to your beautiful neckline, especially when it helps to balance your overall frame.
Shoes
Boots with straps
Ready to add a nice bit of feminine touch to your outfit while also balancing the lean nature of your legs with the rest of your body?
Boots with straps can help you achieve this effortlessly.
Go for ankle-length styles to ensure that the boot highlights your slim legs and gives it an elegant outlook.
Boots with straps are not bulky and they tone down the edginess of your rectangle body shape. With this, you can easily sneak in a more feminine vibe that flatters your hips and legs.
Loafers
This style of shoe exposes more of your feet, especially the top, since they have no heels or laces. It usually has an element of roundness that creates more curves on your overall body frame.
Shoes are very influential in determining the structure of your body and that’s what makes loafers one of the most recommended for the rectangle body shape. They help to create a balanced look that breaks the straight lines of this body type.
Since they are flats, you can also wear them comfortably for a very long time, especially if you plan to be on your feet all day. This is the perfect alternative for women who are not fans of heeled shoes.
Ballerina shoes
This is another top choice due to its classification as a round toe shoes. As you may have guessed, any shoe that has a round outlook is great for your rectangle body shape as this contributes to the illusion of curves on your lower body.
Rather than emphasize your straight silhouette, ballerina shoes can help to minimize this as much as possible so you have better waist definition and a curvier outlook. This style of shoes works great for various outfits including bootcut jeans and wrap dresses.
Building your wardrobe with the right clothing styles for your rectangle body shape just got easier. Knowing and embracing your body type introduces you to a world where you can enhance your best features. Now, you can focus on defining your waist and creating the illusion of curves without sacrificing your comfort and sense of style.
