The hourglass body shape is one of the most beautiful body types out there. With a full bust, slender waist, and curvy hips, this is the body shape coveted by every woman. That said, not all the styles will equally look good on you. In fact, there are styles you should probably stay away from because they can make you look bulky and heavier than you are.
Here are the top dressing rules for the women with the hourglass figure.
Always Cinch the Waist
For hourglass women, your waistline is a distinctive feature that makes you stand out. This is what gives you the curvier outlook, and it’s only fair that you emphasize this as naturally as possible. So, how can you emphasize your well-defined waist and take advantage of this asset with your clothing choices?
You should choose styles and accessories that cinch the waist. This includes adding belts to your skirts, dresses, and even blazers. However, a rule of thumb is to ensure that you avoid large belts as these can be too bulky instead. Simple yet classy belts define your waist while adding a touch of elegance to your entire outfit. Find a balance with medium or slightly small belts. With medium belts that sit comfortably on your natural waistline, you will have amazing results.
Fitted dresses can help to achieve the waist-cinching effect since they also highlight curves. This is a much better alternative to loose clothing. With fitted dresses, you can show off your curvy frame without looking uncomfortable. This includes styles like wrap dresses that naturally help you pull off the waist-cinching effect. Some wrap dresses have belts that you can easily adjust to a fit that works for you. These belts help to cinch the waist as well.
Wear open necklines
Another great asset for women with hourglass body types is your neckline. The goal is to wear tops and dresses that don’t hide this neckline, as it won’t give you a balanced outlook. Therefore, you should wear more of open necklines as these draw more attention to your upper body, adding more balancing effect to your hips and bust.
To really enhance your assets subtly and elegantly, choose necklines like sweetheart, scoop necks, and v-necks as these are the most flattering for the hourglass body type. These necklines showcase your collarbone without being too excessive. However, you should completely avoid high-neck tops or turtlenecks as they create an unbalanced look. They also make your bust appear fuller.
Ultimately, a sophisticated combination would be a V-neck wrap dress and you can accessorize this with a belt. Complete this look with the right pair of shoes and you’re ready to attend a wide range of events looking your best. This ensemble is great for both formal and informal occasions.
Avoid Crop Tops
As amazing as crop tops can be, especially when paired with high-waisted pants, this is not for the hourglass body type. Your hourglass body shape doesn’t fit well with crop tops, despite how trendy they are. Why? Well, the position of crop tops is not designed to flatter your curves. Since they usually end just above the waist or exactly at the waist, this disrupts the natural flow of your curvy body.
With this, your torso would instead appear shorter than it actually is. So, if you have an hourglass body shape and a naturally short torso, this makes your appearance worse. The best option for hourglass women is a longer top. Opt for tops that skim over your hips without being too loose. Alternatively, you can tuck your long tops into high-waisted pants.
Overall, these will give you more flattering results as they maintain your feminine silhouette without disrupting the appearance of your shape. Crop tops can also give a less-than-flattering appearance to your bust area as these are not designed to complement your upper body as n hourglass-shaped woman.
Avoid Skinny Bottoms
Do you like to wear skirts or pants that show off your slender legs? This is not a bad idea but you shouldn’t do this with skinny bottoms either. There are lots of amazing ways to show off your legs but it’s best for hourglass-shaped women to completely avoid skinny bottoms as these are not flattering for your body shape.
The downside to skinny bottoms for the hourglass body shape is that they tend to make your thighs and hips appear larger. Since this won’t look proportionate to your upper body, it throws off the balance of your hourglass shape and gives awkward results. Skinny bottoms can also be quite uncomfortable to walk around in, especially if you plan to be on your feet for a long time.
Better alternatives are straight-leg bottoms and bootcut jeans, which fall straight from the widest part of your hips without being too tight. These styles of pants give your legs an illusion of being elongated and ultimately create a more proportional look. For skirts, look out for styles that flow naturally over your thighs and hips rather than clinging to them in a tight-fitting way.
Avoid High Neck Anything
Remember our tip about wearing more open necklines? Well, this is the direct opposite of that. Regardless of the neckline styles you choose, you should completely avoid anything high-neck, including tops, dresses, and jackets. High-neck styles are not great for the hourglass figure because they make your bust appear larger.
So, if you have a naturally full bust, high-neck styles will make this more prominent and draw more attention to this area than you would be comfortable with. This style also creates an unbalanced look, where your upper and lower body is not proportionate. While some people give advice on how you can rock high-neck styles as an hourglass-shaped woman without looking awkward, we fully recommend avoiding them completely instead.
You should wear more tops and dresses with necklines that show off one of your most beautiful assets, your collarbone. The effects are always stunning for your entire body frame and you’ll stand out in style no matter the occasion.
Avoid Baby Doll Dresses
Baby doll dresses are very feminine and stylish. This style of dress is usually loose-fitting and short, sometimes referred to as a nightie due to its appearance. However, this is exactly why it’s not a good idea for hourglass-shaped women to wear baby doll dresses. The loose-fitting style of baby doll dresses doesn’t complement this body type.
Instead, it has voluminous skirts and an empire waistline that would make you look frumpy and shapeless. This is not the look that anyone would be going for. For hourglass-shaped women, it’s always best to wear dresses that highlight your natural shape. Apart from this, baby doll dresses have a high waistline which is perfect for hiding your natural waist. This high waistline is not flattering for your torso.
Combine this with the unnecessary bulk that the full skirt adds to your hip and you have a dress that doesn’t suit the hourglass body type. Therefore, you should avoid baby doll dresses and instead, shop for dresses with defined waistlines. These are dresses like wrap styles that skim naturally over your thighs and hips.
Avoid Double Breasted Anything
Double-breasted blazers and coats are quite common in today’s fashion world. It’s so easy to fall in love with this style as it generally gives off an air of sophistication. However, not every body type can wear this double-breasted clothing style, especially the hourglass body shape. So, one of our favorite recommendations is to avoid double-breasted anything if you have an hourglass body.
Double-breasted jackets, blazers, and coats are known to add extra bulk to your torso. So, instead of highlighting your natural curves and drawing attention to flattering aspects of your body, this style makes you look less curvy and boxy. In other words, it conceals your curves and gives you a square-like outlook.
A better alternative is to opt for single-breasted jackets and coats, as these streamline your silhouette perfectly to give you a feminine outlook. They also have a waist-cinching effect that adds more to your elegance. With this, you’ll be wearing styles that don’t overwhelm your body figure and make you look boxy.
Avoid Anything Low Waist
Low-waisted styles are another clothing choice that hourglass-shaped women should avoid. Top on the list is that they are quite uncomfortable as they ride low when you sit or move around. No one wants to wear clothes that don’t make you feel confident or comfortable. However, here’s another reason why they are specifically not great for hourglass figures.
Low-waist styles tend to create a muffin top effect on women with hourglass shapes. So, if you have a little tummy bulge, a low-waist skirt or pants will make this more visible, and even bigger than it actually is. This also applies to women with no muffin tops as low-waist styles will give the impression that you have one.
This is not flattering for the hourglass body shape and can also be very uncomfortable. Your clothing choices should create a sleek effect on your body, and one way to achieve this is with high-waist bottoms. These sit at your natural waistline and create a smooth line that enhances your hourglass shape. They also give the illusion of elongated legs, which is great for flattering your torso.
Pick Flattering Skirt Silhouette
Choosing the right skirt can work wonders for hourglass-shaped women. Flattering skirts help you embrace your unique figure and you can easily incorporate your personal style into this with a few accessories. So, what style of skirt are great for you? Pencil skirts and A-line skirts always work. A-line skirts have that gentle flare over your thighs and hips that flows naturally with your curves without being too loose.
They also cinch at the waist, highlighting the smallest part of your waist and making your curves more visible. Overall, A-line skirts don’t add extra bulk to your frame, hence the effortless way they create a balanced feminine silhouette. Another great choice is the pencil skirt. Although it clings to your body, this is not tight-fitting as it stylishly hugs your hips and waist before moving towards your knee.
Don’t choose pencil skirts that are too tight, as you need room to move around comfortably. However, pencil skirts are perfect for creating that sophisticated and sleek look that’s always a win. Remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but you can experiment with these skirts to finally find the style that makes you feel fabulous and confident.
Favor Wrap Style
Wrap styles will always look good on hourglass body types. Wrap dresses and tops are a great hack for hourglass-shaped women who are a bit confused about what to wear. This style is always a win as it’s an effortless way to showcase your curves, while the neckline style complements your upper body. These should be open necklines just as we discussed earlier, as these are perfect for drawing attention to your collarbone.
Dressing your hourglass body shape is all about maintaining balance between your hips, waist and bust. This also includes accentuating your natural curves as much as possible. However, we’re big on comfort and these dressing rules also take note of that. Therefore, these top dressing rules for the hourglass body type will have you shopping for stunning outfits that tick all these boxes. By following these rules, you can showcase your unique shape and brighten up every room you step into with your elegance. You’ll be glad you did.
