Shopping For Your Body Type

Written by Emily

I sometimes absolutely hate going shopping because it seems like I can never find something that looks right on me. Nothing fits right both in the waist and thighs. Or something will look great around my midsection but not so great up at the chest area. How the heck do you find things that work for your body type?

This will be a 3-part series with this week being tops, next week being bottoms, and the week after being swimwear (I know you want to think about swimwear in the winter. But better to be prepared!)

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There’s generally 4 “types” of body shapes for women. Banana, apple, pear, and hourglass.

Apple (triangle downward)
Apple-shaped women have broader shoulders and bust, and narrower hips.
Look for tops that have a narrow V-neck that flares slightly at the hips. That also helps narrow your upper body. You can also layer a lighter colored shirt below. Also, tops that have banding at the waist help with accentuating the waist line a bit. Dark colored tops are also good for this body type. Shirts with vertical details are also a good choice.

Banana, or straight (rectangular)
Banana-shaped women’s waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hip or bust measurement.
Tops that are good for banana body types are full tops that are flowy towards the top. Some other tops would be wide V or U necks, tops with belted waists to accentuate the waist, off the shoulder tops, and tops that have flutter sleeves. Sometimes you can wear a shirt with a belt to give the illusion of an hour-glass figure. Off the shoulders necklines also give the illusion of a smaller waist and they lengthen your shoulders.

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Pear, Spoon, or Bell (triangle upward)
Pear-shaped women’s hip measurements are greater than their bust measurements.
Look for tops that will balance your lower half. Tops with fitted waists are a good choice for pear-shaped bodies. Also, V-neck and U-neck shirts. Shirts that have embellishments around the waist are also great for pear bodies. Off the shoulder necklines also work for this body type as it draws attention to the slim shoulders and small waist.

Miss Selfridge blouse (see more white shirts)

Hourglass Shape (triangles opposing, facing in)
Here, the hip and bust are almost of equal size, with a narrow waist.
Tops for an hourglass shape really need to accentuate the small waist. Look for tops with belts, form-fitting tops, and tailored shirts and jackets. FItted dress shirts are also great for this body type because it shows off your small waist.

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How do YOU shop for your body type?