The hourglass figures are usually deemed as one of the most desirable body shapes out there, which might lead some to think that it’s a body shape that can basically pull off anything. However, just like every other body type, the hourglass has its own set of challenges, and not every skirt style looks equally good on your shape. This is a detailed guide to help you understand your body features and take you through the most flattering skirts for your shape.
MAIN CONSIDERATION
Small and Defined Waistline
Your waistline is so defined that you will be able to highlight it with or without cinching details! Its small size creates a highly flattering contrast with your voluptuous upper half and hips.
With that said, you need to look for skirts that don’t bunch up or gather too much around the waist as this will obviously blur out your beautiful waist definition.
Wide and Curvy Hips
Your hips are very much in proportion with the width and roundness of your shoulders. This natural balance creates a silhouette that’s graced with feminine curves, which makes them visually pleasing.
Your hips gently curve outwards from the waist which allows the contrast between your narrow waist and voluptuous hips more distinct and apparent. The hip bones are not overly prominent but they rather blend harmoniously with the rest of your hourglass figure’s curves and therefore create the appearance of accentuated waist and hips.
Toned and Shapely Legs
Your legs are not too thin or too thick as they come in a nicely sculpted shape that looks very well balanced with the rest of your body. Your legs gradually slim down towards the knees and calves, creating a flattering sculpt.
Choosing skirts that won’t downplay this feature should have a dedicated space in your fashion wardrobe.
STRUCTURE
The structure and shape of your skirt play an important role in keeping your lower body in complete balance with your torso. Each specific structure may greatly vary from one another in terms of style, but the following I listed should all flatter your best features.
A-Line
This particular skirt structure is definitely worth mentioning first, as this style is universally flattering to many feminine shapes – most especially hourglass body types. One of the key reasons an A-line skirt beautifully embraces an hourglass figure is due to its ability to cinch in at the waist.
The structure of the skirt is fitted at the waist and then gradually flares out towards the hemline, which helps make your well-defined waist your ensemble’s focal point. Also, the flare of the fabric that creates an “A” shape gives significant room to your wide hips, therefore giving your body a balanced look overall.
Mermaid
You can showcase and celebrate the curves of your hourglass figure by wearing mermaid skirts! Mermaid skirts work in complete harmony with your body shape’s best features because of their form-fitting nature and ruffled hemline.
The fitted nature of the skirt starting from the waist down to the mid-thigh level highlights your small waist and voluptuously curvaceous hips. Meanwhile, the gradual flare of the skirt adds dimension and an element of elegance, which creates a remarkable contrast between your cinched waist and the flared lower portion.
Pencil
Pencil skirts can also flatter hourglass body shapes by bringing emphasis to your waistline, hugging the curves in a streamlined manner, and providing a leg-elongating effect. They are usually made from structured fabrics with a bit of stretch, which makes them very effective in bringing out an hourglass girl’s best features!
Its slim and fitted silhouette contributes to gently hugging the curves of your body, particularly around the waist, hips, and thighs. This close fit draws the eyes to your narrow waistline while also softly contouring the curves of your lower body without the unnecessary volume of extra fabric.
Tulip
The name is pretty much self-descriptive, so imagine the shape of a tulip flower – that is what this particular skirt style possesses. Due to this unique shape that rocks a fitted waist and a slightly flared or pleated hemline, they make your small waist more accentuated and your pronounced hips well-balanced.
Tulip skirts often feature a cinched waist, which draws attention to the narrowest part of your hourglass figure. In addition to its ability to bring definition to your waist, tulip skirts also give off volume and movement to the lower portion of the skirt to create harmonious overall proportions.
Full
Full skirts, which are also at times referred to as ‘circle’ skirts, feature a generous amount of fabric and create a circular or semi-circular shape when worn. They help balance and complement the natural curves of the hips and thighs.
The skirt falls gracefully from the waist and skims over the hips to give an appealing contrast between your narrow waist and the fuller lower portion of the body. Just remember to look for ones that feature neat lines to prevent additional bulk from forming.
FIT
Choosing the right fit when selecting a skirt for hourglass shapes is crucial to enhance and flatter the figure. The right fit ensures that the skirt properly accentuates the waistline and complements the curves of the hips and bust.
It is preferable to opt for skirts with a tailored or contoured fit as these types of fits emphasize the waistline while skimming over the curves of the hips and thighs. Wearing skirts with the wrong fit can lead to several disadvantages for hourglass body shapes because a skirt that is too loose or ill-fitting can result in a lack of definition at the waist, which makes you instantly lose your body contour.
Additionally, they tend not to drape or hang properly, and this can disrupt the overall balance and harmony of the hourglass figure. It should not be too tight or clingy because this can create unflattering bulges and emphasize areas that one may want to downplay.
LENGTH
Considering the length when choosing a skirt is important because it can greatly influence the overall proportions and balance of your hourglass figure. The length of a skirt can either enhance or detract from your best features which is why selecting the appropriate length is essential to create a flattering look.
Skirt lengths can greatly vary and there are no specific measurements to say which exact length is flattering. This is because choosing the right length can depend on your height and leg shape.
For you to come up with the right choice, assess your height and legs to see if a particular skirt hits a point where your silhouette gets broken up. May it be the above-the-knee or maxi length, just remember that the goal is to keep the vertical visual line consistent and enhance the beautiful shape of your legs.
FABRIC
Of course, just like choosing every other clothing piece, the right fabric is crucial in terms of comfort, visual effect, and structure. This allows the skirt to mold to your body shape and highlight the waistline and accentuate your proportions.
One of the main factors to consider is the fabric’s ability to drape and flow from the waist to the hem. Going for fabrics that have a flattering drape, such as silk, chiffon, georgette, or lightweight cotton, can produce a soft and fluid look that skims over the curves of your hourglass figure.
Flowy fabrics are great if you’d like a bit more room for your lower body, but if you really want to showcase your exquisite curves, choosing fabrics with a bit of stretch or flexibility can be beneficial. Some examples of such fabric materials are stretchy blends and jersey as these fabric types provide a comfortable and form-fitting fit that contours to the curves without feeling restrictive.
DETAILS AND PRINTS
The details and prints you can find in the designs of many different skirt styles are endless! These endless choices may be too overwhelming so I’m here to guide you out by specifying which details and prints you should go for as an hourglass-shaped woman.
Pleats
Pleats draw the eyes up and down, resulting in creating a sense of verticality to your figure. This is a subtle way to elongate your figure without too many details gracing your skirt.
The intensity of the pleats can go from minimal to dramatic, but whether you go for one or the other, it’ll give the same flattering effect. Some hourglass body shapes tend to lean on the heavier side so if you want to visually slim your figure down, you can go for more dramatic pleats such as electric pleats.
Vertical Prints
Vertical prints can help enhance the proportions of your figure by drawing attention to your narrow waistline and creating a visual connection between the upper and lower parts of the body. This can significantly highlight your hourglass shape and showcase your curves in the most flattering way.
Vertical prints, such as stripes or vertical patterns, also have an elongating effect on the body. So if you’re looking into achieving the illusion of a taller and leaner silhouette, skirts that have vertical prints can absolutely help you out!
Belt
Going for belted skirts is one of the best ways for you to cinch your waist, whether it’s built-in or worn as an additional accessory. Since your narrow waistline is one of your defining features, it’s ideal to go for skirts that have waist details.
Just one quick fashion tip: be mindful of the thickness of your belt. If you’re petite, try to go for belts that aren’t too thick as they might cause an unflattering horizontal break in your frame.
STYLES TO AVOID
Knowing which specific styles to avoid is part of the process of choosing the best fit. To save you from the journey of trial and error, I have already listed the skirt styles you should avoid as an hourglass-shaped girl.
Bulky Flounces of Fabric
Bulky fabric flounces such as dramatic ruffles placed all over the skirts can really overwhelm your hourglass figure. These heavy cascades of fabric can add unnecessary volume and bulk to areas that are already well-defined, such as the hips and thighs.
They also hide your waistline by obscuring its natural definition, which is very contradictory to an hourglass body type’s style goal to enhance your small waist.
Tight-fitting Mini Skirts
It may sound like a sexy silhouette that flatters hourglass curves, but the combo of the tight fit and short length can instantly disrupt your proportions.
Tight-fitting mini skirts can sometimes exaggerate your curves and having this fit together with a skirt length that hits just a little lower than your hips can lead to overall imbalance. It is because the short length of the skirt combined with a tight fit may draw too much attention to the hips and thighs.
Tiered
Tiered skirts feature multiple cascading layers of fabric, which makes them very voluminous. Because of this specific characteristic, they are not advisable for hourglass shapes because they will obviously hide your curves.
Its dramatic layers of fabric (particularly if they start higher up on the waist) can mask the natural waist curve and diminish the emphasis on this area. This can result in blurring the appearance of your narrow waist and a complete loss of the desired hourglass shape.
