The hourglass shape is known for being the most desired body type, but like all other body types, it is important to find wardrobe pieces that flatter your specific body features. Shoes are especially critical, as it can complement, or otherwise, your entire outfit. In this detailed guide, we’ll first help you understand your body fully, and then find the most suitable shoes for your hourglass figure.
MAIN CONSIDERATION
When we think of visually tweaking our body proportions, we tend to overlook the fact that our choice of shoes influences our look a lot. In order to make sure that you choose the right pair of shoes for your hourglass body type, you have to fully understand what features of your figure you should pay extra attention to.
Curvy Silhouette
From the name “hourglass” itself, it’s already apparent that your figure boats of feminine curves – just like the exact same shape of an hourglass. These graceful traces of curves on your body should always be accentuated, so you need to go for a pair of shoes that won’t distract the eyes from this aspect.
Sloped Shoulders
Your shoulders are nicely rounded on the edges, which adds to your curvaceous stature. They are also very well balanced with the width of your hips.
Prominent Bust
This is one of the most defining features of an hourglass body shape so it’s quite essential that your full and prominent bust should be taken into consideration whenever you’re shopping for apparel – including shoes! Your breasts tend to lean towards the bigger side, so it’s ideal to choose shoes that will complement this weight.
This fullness creates a distinctive curve and a horizontal visual line. Shoes that feature angular details can neutralize this.
Narrow and Very Defined Waist
This part of your body is the key to perfectly balancing your prominent bust and wide hips in order to not make them look too heavy. The narrowness of your waist is your hourglass figure’s defining point, therefore you should keep in mind that choosing shoes that won’t grab the attention away from your waist is quite important.
Wide Hips
Your hips are also relatively wider and they boast very curvy slopes on the side that fully defines your shape. Just like how prominent your bust line is, your hips also tend to lean on the heavier side so you have to be mindful not to opt for shoes that add too much bulk and volume to your overall look.
Shapely Legs
Your legs are neither thick nor thin so they perfectly complement your overall silhouette. They are usually quite visually muted so they don’t overwhelm your hourglass figure.
With this mentioned, you should opt for shoes that will keep your legs streamlined and not too attention-grabbing. Shoes that don’t have many dramatic details or extremely thick heels will help maintain balance in your legs.
Height
Well obviously, not all hourglass shapes share the same height, but I felt the importance of mentioning this under styling considerations because a flattering pair of footwear may also vary depending on one’s height. You have the freedom to wear heels or flats regardless of your height, but the goal should be to balance out your curves without adding too much visual volume to your lower body.
Now that we have discussed our main styling considerations in detail, let’s talk about what to look for when choosing the right pair of shoes for your hourglass figure.
COLOR
Nude or Skin-tone
Nude or skin-tone shoes create the illusion of longer legs by extending their visual line. This helps you achieve a longer and leaner silhouette, which seamlessly complements the balanced proportions of your hourglass figure.
Nude shoes have a subtle and understated quality, so they are less likely to draw attention away from your body’s natural curves. Instead of competing with or overpowering your outfit, they allow your hourglass shape to take center stage and create an uninterrupted visual flow.
Neutrals
It’s undeniable how neutral colors will always be an effortless and versatile fashion choice. They give your frame a sense of continuity which helps elongate your legs and maintain a cohesive look overall.
In addition to this, the absence of bold and contrasting colors in your footwear ensures that attention is drawn to your curves rather than having your lower body visually fragmented. Just like nude colors, they also tend to be less attention-grabbing compared to shoes in vibrant or bold colors.
DETAILS
Subtle Prints
While striking prints give an edgy impact to one’s ensemble, subtle prints on shoes may be a better choice for hourglass figures because they help create a sense of balance and proportion. The gentle patterns on the shoes add a touch of visual detail that complements your voluptuous features without overwhelming or competing with them.
Minimal Embellishments
Some shoes feature big monogram details or a cluster of beads that sometimes make the shoes too bulky. Such bulky details can disrupt your visual balance by attracting too much attention and therefore veering the eyes away from your body shape’s best features.
Shoes with minimal embellishments have a clean and streamlined design that works very well with the curves of your body without adding excessive visual distractions. Opting for minimal embellishments will have the focus remain on the natural shape and proportions of your hourglass figure.
BEST STYLES
Pointed Toe Heels
Pointed-toe heels are a great choice for hourglass shapes because they feature a shape that makes your legs look longer, as well as highlights your curves in a flattering way. The slender, tapered point of this particular style of heels effortlessly draws the eyes downward to visually extend the line of the leg and gracefully create an illusion of length.
This style also exudes an elegant appeal, which makes it a sophisticated choice for formal and business ensembles.
Ballet Flats
Not a fan of heels? Well, that’s no problem because here’s a great option for someone who loves extremely comfortable footwear.
Ballet flats are not just comfortable, but also very minimal-looking as well. Their charms rely on their simplicity, which means they won’t steal the attention away from your other prominent hourglass features.
Black Ankle Boots
Ankle boots are quite effective in highlighting the slimmest part of your leg, which is the part just right above the ankle. Additionally, the snug fit of ankle boots emphasizes the beauty of your shapely legs, which is one of the charms of your hourglass shape.
Having your ankle boots in the color black also helps create a visually elongated leg line to make your legs appear longer and leaner. Black also makes the ankle boots incredibly versatile and so they can be easily paired with a wide range of outfits, from casual to formal.
Wedges
Wearing shoes or sandals that feature wedge heels is a very comfortable way to give yourself a bit of height lift without overwhelming your features. This is because wedges typically have an ample height of heel that’s evenly distributed all throughout the sole.
Due to this evenness, it gives you more balance and support to allow you to walk with ease. It also creates a sense of elevation without looking too bulky like chunky or platform shoes.
Peep-Toe
Being an hourglass-shaped girl is all about flaunting your curves! Did you know that you can also efficiently bring your curvaceous shape out even with the subtle details of your shoes?
One example that can do this would be peep-toe heels, which draw attention to the delicate and feminine curves of the feet to create an alluring focal point. The opening at the front of the shoe reveals a glimpse of the toes, which subtly adds subtle curves to enhance the beauty of your toned legs.
Round Toe
Round-toe shoes have a gentle and curved structure that adds to the natural curves of your hourglass figure. The rounded shape creates a softer and more balanced aesthetic to help enhance your femininity and the contours of your body.
In addition to its visual style benefits, round-toe shoes are exquisitely comfortable because they tend to provide more room and comfort for the toes compared to narrow or pointy-toe styles. This extra space allows your toes to move naturally and reduces the likelihood of discomfort or pinching.
Block Heel
They can also be a good option when you’re looking for shoes to give you additional height while maintaining a streamlined silhouette. The beauty of block heels is that they give enough support and balance without the additional bulk that some very thick or chunky heels give.
Block heels also give your frame a sense of verticality as it draws a neat visual line on your lower body, particularly your legs. This results in a more elongated and polished overall look.
COMFORT
Proper posture is highly crucial in order to bring the best out of your hourglass body type. Poor posture such as slouching can greatly impact the appearance of your curves and well-defined waistline.
As proper posture is very important, it is worth noting that comfortable shoes allow you to move with ease and confidence. When your feet are provided with support and you’re free from discomfort, you can walk with poise and maintain good posture.
Proper posture not only enhances your overall appearance but it also gives you the chance to fully showcase the natural curves and proportions of your hourglass shape. Shoes that are comfortable to wear are also helpful for you to enjoy walking for longer periods without discomfort or pain.
STYLES TO AVOID
Chunky Shoes
Chunky shoes, such as trainers that have thick and bulky soles, are not the best choice when you have an hourglass-shaped body. They may be unique and trendy, but the bulkiness they possess will completely overwhelm your natural curves.
Due to their unique look, they might attract too much attention and therefore steer the gaze away from your figure’s best features.
Strappy Sandals
Strappy sandals are generally not the most flattering choice for hourglass body shapes because of their design and visual impact. Your hourglass figure has a well-defined waist and voluptuous curves that always need to be in complete balance, however, strappy sandals tend to draw too much attention to the feet and lower legs, which leads to disrupting the overall balance and symmetry of your figure.
Moreover, strappy sandals usually cause a cut right off the ankle, which can visually shorten your legs. This can be particularly problematic for your hourglass body due to the fact that you have well-proportioned legs that contribute to your balanced figure.
Extremely Thick Heels
We previously discussed how certain heels such as wedges and block heels can be flattering for hourglass shapes. While these ones may lean towards “thick” heels, they are not too bulky to cause balance disruption.
What you have to avoid are those that feature heel shapes that are too wide and chunky. This also includes platform shoes in which the structure of the heels does not have a gradual curve, but instead a straight, horizontal line.
Such designs can make you look wider and therefore result in a bottom-heavy look. This will overshadow the prominent features of your upper body such as your prominent bust and narrow waist.
