The inverted triangle shaped women come in all height, and it is quite common if you happen to be someone with short legs. Because of your unique body shape, it is important to wear the clothing styles that can balance your inverted triangle shape and at the same time elongate your legs. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through your most noticeable body features and how to dress to flatter your unique shape.
Traits
- Your shoulders are the broadest point of your body. Just like professional swimmers or volleyball players, your broad shoulders are very distinct and sharp on the edges.
- You may have a small or large bust. You could be flat-chested and busty as this varies from one individual to another.
- You have an athletic figure. You have lean and well-toned limbs which muscles you can further tone by working out.
- You have short legs. You may look short in height because your lower body, legs in particular, are shorter than your upper body.
- Your waist and hips are relatively narrower and smaller. This is why you look more top-heavy because your broad shoulders tend to overpower your less pronounced waist and hips.
- You have very little to almost no waist definition at all. The width of your waist and hips are nearly similar so it’s hard to see your waist curve.
- You most likely have a flat bum. Because you don’t gain much weight in your lower body, your buttocks may not look too round and plump.
TOPS
Ribbed One-shoulder Tops
The asymmetry of the one-shoulder neckline effectively and subtly breaks up the harsh horizontal line drawing your broad shoulder line so this way, you’ll be able to downplay your top-heavy appearance. As this is also a type of open neckline, it can draw attention away from your shoulders and evenly distribute the focus to your entire decolletage.
Additionally, the ribbed texture of the top also creates vertical lines that can instantly elongate the entirety of your frame. This is especially helpful when you have shorter legs because the ribbing can create the illusion of a longer upper body, making the legs appear longer as well in comparison.
Cotton Wrap Tops
Wrap tops are universally flattering wardrobe pieces that are almost a foolproof fashion choice for almost everyone, including inverted triangle shapes with short legs. This design just ticks all the right boxes to flatter your figure as it cinches the waist, features adjustability, and has the right length to give your frame a more proportionate look.
Also, for those with shorter legs, wrap tops can be a game-changer particularly because of the V-neckline that can help elongate the upper body, also creating the illusion of an extended frame. This sense of elongation is especially helpful in offsetting shorter leg lengths by making them appear longer and more proportionate to your upper body.
Tailored Peplum Blouses
The dainty and feminine silhouette of a peplum blouse creates a flattering emphasis on your waist while also giving your hips enough volume to make your less prominent lower body look more shapely. The flared hem gives a nice amount of width at the hips, helping to balance out the broader shoulders and this visual effect can create a more hourglass-like silhouette.
Also, drawing attention to your waist and hips will also divert the focus away from your shorter leg length. If you pair your peplum blouse with a proper skirt or pants, you can visually elongate your lean legs further.
JEANS
High-rise Bootcut Jeans
High-rise bootcut jeans can help balance your top-heavy silhouette by adding just the right amount of volume and flare at the lower leg to give the illusion of a more even distribution of body proportions. This jeans style’s flared shape creates a balanced and continuous line from the thigh to the ankle to visually elongate the legs.
In addition to this, the high-rise design of these jeans sits higher on the waist and this makes your legs visually longer. The vertical lines created by the outer seam of bootcut jeans draw the eye up and down to give you the appearance of length and this particular visual effect is further emphasized by the slight flare at the hem.
Light-washed Jeans
Light-washed jeans have a bright, attention-grabbing color that can give your less pronounced lower body more dimension and prominence. When paired with a darker top, they can naturally draw the eyes downward to give your hips more depth and your legs the illusion of length.
Additionally, they have a softer, less harsh appearance compared to darker denim so this can create a more balanced and less imposing overall look to nicely complement your overpowering broader shoulders. Some designs feature fading or whiskering that can visually but subtly widen the appearance of your hips while also distracting the vision from your shorter leg length.
Boyfriend Jeans
Boyfriend jeans typically have a looser and more relaxed fit through the hips and thighs, which is perfect for your figure as you most likely lack volume in your hip and thigh area. This relaxed fit is both comfortable and visually flattering as it doesn’t cling too tightly to the body.
Another reason why boyfriend jeans make a great style option for inverted triangle girls with short legs is the fact that they are usually designed with a mid to high rise, which sits higher on the waist. This higher waistline extends the length of your legs so that they look more proportionate with your upper body.
PANTS
Pleated Light-colored Trousers
Light colors tend to reflect light so they naturally add visual prominence to your smaller lower body. With the help of pleats, you can create longer-looking legs thanks to the sense of verticality these pants details incorporate into your frame.
Pleats are a type of very intricate detailing that adds proper texture and detail to your trousers, effectively drawing the gaze downward. This can help shift attention from your overwhelmingly broad and heavy upper body to give you a more proportionate look.
Flowy Wide-Leg Pants
Flowy pants have a soft and graceful drape that subtly softens the angular lines of your inverted triangle body shape to make you look more feminine and visually balanced. Apart from this style factor, it also creates a sense of movement that can help make your legs longer while also showcasing their naturally toned shape.
Moreover, the long, vertical lines that come with the silhouette of wide-leg pants, will visually elongate the legs and create the illusion of added height. If you opt for a mid-rise or high-rise style, you can further maximize these style benefits to really make your overall ensemble polished and balanced.
High-waisted Pants with Pinstripes
Pinstripes in pants run along the length of your legs, so they instantly create an optical illusion that elongates your lower body. This can visually add height to your frame, which is something you’d definitely want when you have shorter legs.
Because of the natural imbalance you possess, with your upper half being relatively more prominent than your lower body, the subtle visual distraction pinstripes offer can help lead some of the focus to your now-elongated lower body. This will make your visual weight and heightened frame look more pleasingly proportionate.
SKIRTS
Flared Mini Skirts
The flared silhouette of this particular skirt visually creates the illusion of fuller hips and thighs, which inverted triangle body shapes lack. This additional volume will counterbalance the broadness of your upper half for you to achieve a more balanced silhouette, similar to hourglass proportions.
In addition to the shape of the skirt, the length of a mini skirt is also a great way to elongate your legs by exposing an ample portion to attract attention. This will evenly distribute the attention all throughout your silhouette and prevent the gaze from focusing solely on your heavier upper half.
Above-the-Knee Tulip Skirts
Choosing the proper length is the key to tweaking the length of your short legs to make them look longer and leaner. With this said the above-the-knee length of a tulip skirt will allow you to show off more of your legs to give them a lengthier look.
Moreover, the distinct look of a tulip skirt gives your overall ensemble a unique and feminine touch that can help offset the masculinity you may have in your athletic inverted triangle figure. They are great for more formal occasions or business/corporate events.
Skirts with Asymmetrical Hemline
Asymmetrical hemlines, due to their distinctive look and unique high-low length, naturally attract attention to draw the focus away from the broad shoulders. This sense of asymmetry can make your legs appear longer in a strategic way as the longer side creates a continuous vertical line and the shorter side exposes more of your leg to create the perception of added height.
If you opt for an asymmetrical skirt that features a fitted waist (ideally mid-rise to high-rise), this gives you the perfect opportunity to highlight your waistline to give it more definition. It will also draw attention to the narrowest part of your body, which can further elevate your elongated frame.
DRESSES
V-Neck Dresses with High Slit
There’s no denying that V-neck dresses will always be a wardrobe essential for inverted triangle body shapes because of how it effortlessly balances out your top-heavy figure without too much detailing. Combined with the tailoring detail of a high slit, V-neck dresses can work in complete synergy with this detail to give you a visually compelling height and more proportionate stature.
The V shape of this particular neckline creates a sense of balance in a way that it draws attention towards your decolletage, shifting the focus away from your broad shoulders. Meanwhile, the high slit (especially that goes high up to the mid-thigh), not only gives a sultry appearance to your style ensemble but is also an effective way to flash a portion of your legs to make you appear taller.
Structured Fit and Flare Midi Dresses
Fit and flare dresses are extremely flattering and versatile to style, especially for women who have inverted triangle body shapes and shorter legs! The silhouette and structure of this particular dress design bring numerous benefits to make your body proportions look more even and visually pleasing.
First of all, they perfectly cinch at the waist so it perfectly accentuates the narrowest point of your body, highlighting your waistline and giving your legs a visually longer appearance. Additionally, the structured fit and the flared silhouette of the skirt of the dress give your overall ensemble a more polished look and a more pronounced hip appearance.
OUTERWEAR
Princess Seam Coats
Princess seam coats feature vertical seams that run from the shoulder line, all the way down to the hem of the coat, which effectively draw the eyes in a continuous vertical visual line that makes you look more balanced and taller. These seams also nip in the waist, letting you achieve a more defined waistline.
Your figure will also greatly benefit from its tailored fit, so you can give your entire look a more structured and polished appearance.
Belted Coats
A waist cinch is essential for inverted triangle body shapes, as well as for those with a shorter leg length. This is why coats that feature a belt detail are considered a wardrobe essential for your body shape because it can totally help you balance your proportions out in an instant!
The belt also creates a distinct separation between the upper and lower body, which can help promote a more elevated appearance. Since inverted triangle shapes have very little to almost no waist definition at all, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish the length of your legs, making them appear shorter so belted coats can easily address this problem.
