As always with these guidelines for the body types, you don’t have to follow them. You can look wonderfully stylish just trusting your instinct or ‘breaking’ these guidelines. However, if you like to have some guidance for the inverted rectangle body shape, you’ll find our guidelines below.

Characteristics of the inverted triangle are:

• Top part of your body is larger that your bottom part and you usually wear a bigger size on top
• Shoulders are wider than the hip
• Bust tends to be proportionally large
• Hips are small
• Your legs are likely to be great

What looks good on an inverted triangle body?

In this article, you’ll find all the tips you need for dressing your inverted triangle body type. In general, you’re trying to create a balanced silhouette, which means choosing clothes that downplay the look of wider shoulders and instead add width at the hips.

Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion above (read her style interview here)

Check out these wrap tops from Karmamia and Endless Rose that you can wear with this similar pair of jeans, flats and bag.

Is an inverted triangle body shape attractive?

Of course. All body shapes are beautiful! If you look at the catwalks, you’ll see that lots of models tend to be either rectangles or inverted triangles because lots of clothes look beautiful on this body type.

How do you fix an inverted triangle body shape?

You definitely don’t need to ‘fix’ your body type. But if you want to create the illusion of an hourglass, then wearing wider bottoms like wide pants or a-line skirts to create width on your bottom half and downplay your wide shoulders is a good idea.

What are the disadvantages of inverted triangle body shape?

This is quite a desirable shape as many clothes will look good on you. In fact, many models nowadays have this body shape. However, you do need to dress carefully so you don’t look ‘top heavy’.

The aim of dressing this shape

If you desire to have what is considered to be the most ideal body shape, hourglass, you will want to draw attention away from your broad shoulders or big upper chest and draw attention to your slim lower body and often lean legs.

This will give the illusion of your waist going in before you create volume on your lower half so your hips look shapely.

Marie-Louise @mrsmlmode above shows off a halterneck and a pair of wide jeans, which is a great look for inverted triangles.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top (other options here and here), jeans, sneakers and earrings.

Getting the balance right

As with most things in life, dressing to suit your body shape is all about balance.

For the inverted triangle, you will want to minimize your upper body and create volume on your lower body in order to harmonize your silhouette.

You are basically trying to do the opposite to the guidelines for a pear shape. Women with a pear shape are likely to want to minimize their lower half and add volume to their top half.

You can apply the following guidelines to dressing for the inverted triangle body type.

How to dress for your inverted triangle body type

Upper body

• Create vertical lines with vertical stripes
• Wear open necklines and collars, like halter necks, v-necks and scoop necks
• Wear soft feminine textures to soften the shoulder line
• Avoid extra width and wear single breasted tailored jackets
• Wear jackets open to create a vertical line
• Wear jackets that are well structured at the shoulder
• Look for tops that accentuate the waist, like tops with banding or nipping at the waist or wrap styles
• Wear tops that accentuate a vertical line, so go for V-necks and keep your shirts unbuttoned
• Also find tops that balance the bust with your hips (if you have a large bust)
• Wear tops just below the hip bone
• Wear a darker color on top
• Wear strapless gowns and tops
• Use belts to define your waist even more

Lower body

• Create more width and overall balance below with A-line or full skirts.
• Use bold textures to create more bulk.
• Horizontal stripes will make the lower body wider.
• Fuller leg width in trousers, full or bootleg pants. Culottes will work for you too.
• If trousers don’t fit your waist or bum, get them altered at the tailor.
• Have pockets or embellishments on your trousers or skirts.
• Wear bold and eye-catching shoes.
• If you like to emphasize your lean legs, skinnies will work too when combined with tighter fitting tops or tailored jackets

Melanie @melanie.rae.miller above chooses a slimline halterneck which minimizes the silhouette of the upper body, and adds a flared skirt to create curves on the lower body.

Check out this similar top (another option here), pleated skirt, sandals, clutch, earrings and bracelet.

Celebrities with this body type

Celebrities with this body shape include Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Rene Zellweger, Naomi Campbell and Teri Hatcher, so you’re definitely in good company.

You will also see plenty of professional swimmers who have this body shape as they develop strong shoulders.

Tops for the inverted triangle

When choosing your tops and jackets for your inverted triangle shape, look for pieces which nip in at the waist which are tailored, or which have a waist tie.

Stripes will also flatter your figure, and halter neck tops are particularly good for the inverted triangle because they balance out your wider shoulders.

You will want to make sure that the collars on your jackets aren’t too wide as this will create extra width that you don’t want.

Avoid anything which creates extra width on your shoulders such as shoulder pads, epaulets, embroidery and buttons as these will draw the eye outwards and make your shoulders look even wider.

To make the upper part of your body appear smaller, wear darker colors on top and lighter or brighter colors on the bottom.

Loveappella Faux Wrap Top – Vince Double Layer Tank – MANGO Halter-neck Knitted Top – MANGO Lyocell Halter Waistcoat

Elie Tahari Helena Striped Linen-Blend Blazer – MANGO Halter-neck Knitted Top – Franco Sarto Tilly Cork Platform Sandals – See by Chloé Mini Hana Leather Saddle Bag – Nadri Cubic Zirconia Hoop Earrings

jackets to suit your shape

When choosing jackets, remember to look for single-breasted styles which won’t add bulk to your upper half.

Collarless styles will also work well for you. You can either opt for straight styles or those which nip in at the waist.

Tailored blazers will look perfect on you as it creates more shape for your lower half.

Look for coats in darker or muted tones and avoid detailing such as shoulder pads or epaulets.

Elie Tahari Helena Striped Linen-Blend Blazer – Karmamia Rex Satin Belted Blazer – MANGO Contrasting Trims Blazer – J.Crew Emilie Sweater Lady Jacket

Suzie @suzie.richetti above opts for a striped jacket and wide leg pants. This is a good style for inverted triangles as stripes can ‘mirror’ the angles of your body type while slimming your shoulders, and wide pants create width on your bottom half to give your silhouette more balance.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top, blazer (another option here), pants, sandals, necklace and belt.

Pants and jeans for inverted triangle shape

Opt for wide-legged and bootcut pants rather than skinny styles which will only emphasize your inverted triangle shape.

You might wish to either add some extra emphasis to your bottom half through choosing some volume, or you can do the opposite to a pear shape and choose a darker shade on top and a lighter shade, such as white jeans, or a print on the bottom.

PAIGE Portia High-Rise Seamed Wide Flare Jeans – MANGO Tie Wide Leg Trousers – MANGO Wide Leg Printed Trousers – Mac Duggal Pleated Wide-Leg Pants

Karmamia Rex Satin Belted Blazer – PAIGE Portia High-Rise Seamed Wide Flare Jeans – Tory Burch Howell Court Sneakers – Cult Gaia Estrella Leather Shoulder Bag – Majorica Tender Baroque Pearls Knot Necklace

Dresses, jumpsuits and skirts for inverted triangle figures

The idea of dressing for the inverted triangle is to create some volume on your lower body, so that you balance out your wider shoulders.

The best dresses to choose, therefore, are those which add volume at the hips such as flared styles or peplums.

When choosing skirts, opt for those with some width or volume rather than a pencil style.

The inverted triangle also tends to look fabulous in a jumpsuit, so if you don’t already have one in your closet, it may be time to add one.

Favorite Daughter The Standout Floral Halter Maxi Dress – MANGO Pleated Halter Neck Dress – MANGO Ring Halter Jumpsuit – L’AGENCE Landry Button-Front Midi-Skirt

Tanasha @letsrecreatethelook above wears a halterneck dress which is a beautiful style for inverted triangles, and anyone who loves their shoulders.

Check out these pleated halter dresses from L’Idée, MANGO, Petal & Pup and Amazon, and this similar handbag and earrings.

Shoes and boots for the inverted triangle

Of course, you can wear whichever shoes you like. But, there are certain shoe styles which will look great if you are an inverted triangle.

You can help to draw attention to your bottom half by choosing bright or metallic shoe styles.

You could opt for a pop or color or wear shoes which are embellished in order to balance your bottom half with your wide shoulders.

Rather than emphasize the triangle nature of your body by wearing a pair of stilettos, you could opt for block heels. As you are likely to have slim legs and ankles, you can also wear ankle straps without worrying about making your legs look shorter.

Boots which add some volume, such as slouch and cowboy boots could also be a good option.

Franco Sarto Greene Gladiator Sandals – Franco Sarto Tilly Cork Platform Sandals – Naturalizer Cody Ballet Flats – Tory Burch Howell Court Sneakers

MANGO Pleated Halter Neck Dress – Franco Sarto Greene Gladiator Sandals – MICHAEL Michael Kors Metallic Leather Convertible Crossbody Bag – Michael Kors Statement Link Curb Chain Cuff – Argento Vivo Sterling Silver Oval Stud Earrings

Accessories to wear when you have an inverted triangle body

The old saying goes that opposites attract and this is true when it comes to styling your inverted triangle body.

Choose bag shapes which are curved rather than angular, such as round and hobo bags.

But, you can also choose to mirror the angles of your body and opt for structured styles.

Choosing bags and accessories which feature stripes will compliment your figure and the rest of your outfits.

When it comes to necklaces and scarfs, wear them in a long pendant or loosely-tied style to draw the attention down.

Statement rings and bracelets will also be good for you as they will draw attention to where your hands rest at hip level.

Cult Gaia Estrella Leather Shoulder Bag – MICHAEL Michael Kors Metallic Leather Convertible Crossbody Bag – See by Chloé Mini Hana Leather Saddle Bag – Majorica Tender Baroque Pearls Knot Necklace – Michael Kors Statement Link Curb Chain Cuff – Chan Luu Pearl Drop Earrings – Argento Vivo Sterling Silver Oval Stud Earrings – Nadri Cubic Zirconia Hoop Earrings

Above is another look from Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion who lets her print pants be the star of her outfit.

Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt, pants (another option here), pumps, handbag, necklace and earrings.

What not to wear inverted triangle shape?

• Avoid shoulder pads or anything that accentuates the shoulders
• Boat necks
• Horizontal lines on top
• Oversized collars or lapels on jackets
• Very chunky knits (if you want to wear these, choose a dark color)
• Big bold pattern and graphics on top as these can have a widening effect
• Tapered skirts

9 looks using the clothes for inverted triangle body shape featured above

There are plenty of flattering ways you can wear all of the clothes, shoes and accessories featured here for the inverted triangle.

Here are 9 ideas to get you started.

shop the inverted triangle capsule wardrobe below:

More CAPSULEs for inspiration

Below are some capsule wardrobes we created earlier for the inverted triangle body shape. Although these items are no longer available in stores, these outfits can still provide inspiration for creating your own outfits.

If you like to know more about how to create your unique capsule wardrobe, read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

Want more tips on dressing for the inverted triangle body type?

Continue reading:

1. How To Determine Your Body Shape
2. The Best Dress Styles For Your Body Shape
3. How To Dress The Rectangle Body Shape

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Feature image by Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion

The post How to dress the inverted triangle body shape appeared first on 40+ Style.

If you haven’t, you may be missing out on an easy, everyday solution to give you a smoother silhouette.

Tummy control jeans feature built-in panels and special construction and stitching methods to give you the illusion of a flatter stomach.

You can also find shaping jeans especially designed for curvy women and those which smooth your thighs and behind, or which give you a curvier bottom (if that’s what you would like).

Why shaping jeans could work for you

Let’s face it, ageing can bring with it not only greater wisdom, but also a few lumps and bulges that we really don’t want.

Shaping jeans can help to smooth out the parts of your body you aren’t so confident about.

And, the best thing about them, is no one has to know that your jeans are shapewear.

Read more about the best pants and skirts to fit and hide your belly.

How tummy control jeans work

Tummy control jeans vary from brand to brand, but they all feature special panels to help to smooth out the parts of your figure you aren’t so keen on and to make your stomach look flatter.

Because denim is a heavier material than your usual shaping underwear, you will find jeans can offer more support, while being comfortable as they will also feature stretchy fabric such as lycra.

Plus, they’re definitely more comfortable than wearing your spanx under your jeans.

Read about what are the best body shaper for women over 40.

High-waisted jeans

Another good idea to hold in your tummy, even if you don’t opt for specially-designed tummy control jeans, is to go for high-waist jeans, which will naturally pull your tummy in, rather than those with a low rise.

Find out what other pieces will definitely work for you to hide your belly.

Dark wash jeans

If you want to draw attention away from your tummy and smooth out your figure, choosing a dark wash will be much more forgiving.

It’s much harder to notice any “imperfections” in a darker color such as black or dark blue.

what to look out for when choosing tummy control jeans

Make sure you’re choosing the right size for you. Don’t be too caught up by what the label says as denim sizes differ vastly by brand. Choose opt for the pair that holds you in without being too tight.

You’ll want to look for jeans with stretch, and those that are especially designed to give you a smoother silhouette, whether that’s because of the way they are cut or because they feature tummy control panels.

What jeans are best to hide a tummy?

Generally, darker shades of jeans are more forgiving, and a higher waist will keep you tucked in.

What kind of jeans are best for lower belly bulge?

Choose mid to high-rise jeans with shaping panels to keep your lower belly smooth.

19 best jeans for tummy control

So, which are the best tummy control jeans and the best brands if you are looking for control top jeans? Below are some of our favorites for you to choose from.

Don’t forget to let us know in the comments below if you have your own favorite shaping jeans that you wouldn’t be without. That way we can make this article an even better resource for women looking to streamline their tummy.

1. NYDJ

NYDJ (Nordstrom, Amazon) are well known for creating denim which is designed to fit and flatter women with curves, rather than your teenage daughter.

The Marilyn high waist stretch jeans are a classic style which you will usually always find in stock.

They have lift-tuck technology which is designed to help flatten the tummy and lift up your rear.

NYDJ Marilyn Straight Leg Jeans (NYDJ, Amazon)

2. Spanx

I’m sure you’re well aware of SPANX shapewear given that it’s one of the most famous shapewear brands on the planet, worn by many A-listers when they grace the red carpet.

But, did you know SPANX also makes jeans and leggings? The Spanx jeggings (below) team the power of Spanx with the look of jeans. Wear with longer tunics and boots.

SPANX Jean-ish Leggings

Or, choose the wide leg style jeans (below) for an on-trend option. They pull on, and have built-in hidden “gut check” shaping panels to streamline the tummy.

SPANX Cropped Wide-Leg Jeans

Find out our top picks for the best tummy control leggings and wide leg pants.

3. Levis sculpt jeans

Levis’ Sculpt range is designed to do as it says and sculpt and mold your figure with four-way stretch denim.

The shaping jeans (below) have more than 20,000, largely positive reviews. Women who have tried them say they are extremely comfortable and are figure-flattering without being tight or digging in.

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Totally Shaping Straight Jeans

4. good American

Good American builds its jeans with curves in mind. The straight jeans (below) come with a high waist to keep everything tucked in. They’re stretchy and gap-proof, so you won’t end up with the waistline gaping at the back when you bend or sit down.

Good American Good Icon Straight Super Compression Jeans

5. Wit & Wisdom

Wit & Wisdom has developed ‘Ab-Solution’ technology to slim, shape and lift. The crop jeans (below) have an on-trend raw hem and they are a great length for warmer weather.

Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution High Waist Raw Hem Skinny Crop Jeans

6. commando

Have you discovered Commando jeans yet? They have four-way stretch to keep them super comfortable during the day and the hems have some weight to them to keep them in place so they don’t creep up.

Commando Do It All Stretch Denim Flare Leggings

7. Jen7

From 7 For All Mankind, JEN7 jeans have an enhanceME sculpting panel, which is engineered to slim and sculpt curves. We like the white jeans (below) for summer.

Jen7 Sculpting Ankle Skinny Jeans

8. 1822 Denim

If you’re looking for a pair of skinny jeans to wear with longer tops and tunics, then take a look at the 1822 Denim pair (below) which have a mesh tummy panel.

1822 Denim Ab-Solve Skinny Jeans

9. democracy

Another slim leg option for you, the Democracy jeggings (below) could also be ideal to wear with your longer tunics and shirts. They have flattering Ab-solution technology to help sculpt the tummy. Wearers say they are true to size and are perfect for curvy figures.

Democracy Ab Solution Jeggings

10. wallflower jeans

For a classic bootcut style, the WallFlower jeans (below) are designed to hug and flatter curves. Reviewers say they have the perfect balance of stretch and tightness in all the right places.

WallFlower Luscious Curvy Bootcut

11. Vintage America

With slimming mesh panels for tummy control, the Vintage America jeans (below) also feature a hidden inner waistband for a no-gap waist. One reviewer described these as hands-down the best jeans she has ever owned.

Vintage America Blues F’ab Body Sculpt Bootcut Jeans

12. lee

If you like to wear skinny jeans, perhaps with a tunic top, try the Lee sculpting jeans (below). One reviewer said they made her feel slim and trim, while another described the sculpting high waist as awesome.

Lee Sculpting Skinny Jeans

13. angels forever young

Sitting above the hip, the Angels Forever Young jeans are designed to slim the tummy area. Reviewers say are ideal for bigger bums.

Angels Forever Young 360 Sculpt Bootcut Jeans

14. curve appeal

CURVE APPEAL’s skinny jeans are a great choice to wear with your tunics and booties or to dress up with a blazer and heeled sandals. They feature a concealed elastic waistband together with tummy tuck technology to flatten your belly, and a contoured back to add shape at the rear.

CURVE APPEAL Tummy Tucking High Rise Comfort Waist Skinny Jeans

15. lane bryant

For plus size choices, Lane Bryant is a good go-to. The Lane Bryant jeans (below) feature a no-gap stretch waistband designed to keep you tucked in and to move with you to keep you comfy.

Lane Bryant Tighter Tummy Fit High-Rise Boot Jean

16. everlane

Everlane’s high-waist jeans are designed to feature your true waist, which should be where your waistline is at its slimmest. They have great reviews from women who say they have just the right amount of stretch, making them comfy to wear all day, while still holding you in.

Everlane The Curvy Way-High® Jean

17. old navy

Old Navy’s jeans (below) have clever secret-smooth front pockets to hold you in for a smoothing effect. They have a shug no-gap waist to keep you covered.

Old Navy Curvy Extra High-Waisted Wide-Leg Jeans

18. iChosy

With pull-on styling, the iChosy jeans (below) have a hidden tummy control panel. Reviewers say they are comfortable and flattering, but do run large so size down if you are between sizes.

iChosy Shaping Pull-on Skinny Jeans

19. Plus size option

Many of the jeans above also come in plus size choices. You could also try the body-sculpting skinny jeans (below) which reviewers say they are the perfect fit for curvy women.

Vintage America Blues F’ab Body Sculpt Skinny Jeans

shop the best tummy control jeans in stores now:

What jeans are best for a big belly?

We’re sure this article has given you lots of options for the best jeans for streamlining a tummy. Denim designers have really woken up to the fact that they need to create jeans for all shapes and sizes.

How do you hide a belly bulge in jeans?

To sum up, you’re looking for jeans with stretch, and with built-in slimming technology. It’s also best to opt for a mid or high rise, so you don’t end up with the dreaded ‘muffin top’. Plus, if you do want to create more of a slimming effect, then darker shades of blue, black or gray usually work best.

Do you already have tummy control jeans in your wardrobe? Or might you invest in some?

Continue reading:

1. The Best Fitting Jeans For Women: Choose The Best Jeans For Your Body Type
2. How To Wear Jeans Over 40 – Guidelines And Lots Of Ideas
3. 14 sure-fire ways to hide the belly

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The post The best tummy control jeans to give you a smoother look appeared first on 40+ Style.

Why would you want to hide your belly?

Many women after 40 experience weight gain on their bellies, especially after going into peri-menopause or menopause.

Your waist may disappear and you will start to develop more characteristics of the apple body shape

If you are trying to cover up a tummy, it can be easy to do the opposite and make yourself look bigger than you really are.

Thankfully there are many things you can do to hide your belly, so that it doesn’t get in the way of looking fabulously stylish!

Check out my 15 tips below on how to hide your belly with the right clothes.

Read our article on the best shops for the apple body shape.

Hiding your belly in spring and summer

Many of you will be heading into warmer weather now, which is something to look forward to. It can be easier to hide a belly during the cooler months when it is natural to add plenty of lovely layers too create long, sleek lines.

However, that’s not to say you can’t use many of the tricks below during warmer weather too. You can still opt for draped, asymmetrical styles, wrap styles where you can alter the belt for the most flattering effect, or long cardigans and lighter weight ruanas for an elongating effect.

Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) looks stunning in her print jumpsuit. Wearing a print is a great way to ‘confuse’ the eye and disguise a belly. Wearing colorful shoes is another good tip as that draws the eye in a different direction to the tummy.

Steal her look with this similar jumpsuit (other options here and here), sandals and earrings.

For more inspiration, read our top tips and tricks on what to wear in summer.

Now, onto my 15 tips. Read on for more flattering layering tips.

1. Don’t wear tight or clingy garments over your belly and choose tops with ruching or drape

If you want to look stylish and highlight your strengths, it is best not to wear tight tops.

They will accentuate every fat bubble you have and draw attention away from you and your fabulous clothes.

Rather choose tops that have some draping or ruching.

Hide your belly with the right tops

A crossover top is very effective and this one creates asymmetrical vertical lines which is an extra bonus.

Plus, you can choose a top which comes in new season colors.

Karen Kane is a good brand to look out for to find flattering, layered, crossover tops.

Karen Kane Asymmetrical Crepe Top

Below is a wrap blouse that is also effective at hiding bellies as it doesn’t cling to your tummy. It also has a flattering v-neck which can help to lengthen (rather than widen) your silhouette.

Karmamia Ines Satin Wrap Blouse

2. Wear leggings or skinnies with longer, draped or asymmetrical tops

Leggings or stretchy pants that tuck in the tummy will be your best friend.

They will fit comfortably around your belly and tuck it in a bit.

Also, with so many wonderful tunics and long tops to choose from, you will look fabulous. No-one will notice your belly!

For more tips and examples see how to wear leggings.

Choose the right leggings that tuck in your stomach

A favorite amongst 40+style readers are the Zella leggings.

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings

For a very affordable option that has 1000s of good reviews on Amazon, you can’t beat the Satina high waisted leggings. Wearers say they keep their shape all day.

Find out our top picks for the best tummy control leggings

Choose the right tunics that make you look good in your leggings or jeans!

Look out for long or asymmetrical tops and sweaters.

Wearing leggings underneath can let your hero pieces stand out.

The tunics below can easily be layered with a longer cardigan or shorter jacket and will help to distract the attention from your belly.

Below are some tunic tops you could try.

Ro’s Garden Tokyo Ikat-Inspired Cotton Tunic

Donna Karan New York Rustic Chic Graphic Tunic Shirt

Roamans Asymmetric Ultra Femme Tunic Shirt

Made By Johnny Swing Tunic Top

Susanne @textelle above (read her style interview here) wears a longer top with her slim jeans.

Recreate her outfit with this similar tunic shirt (another option here), jeans, sneakers, bag and sunhat.

Also, check out these recommendations for the best shops for women with the apple body shape.

3. Create vertical lines to hide your belly with long cardigans, jackets and ponchos

Layering is very effective to disguise a belly and is much easier to do during fall and winter, when you will want to use layers to stay warm. You can add a cardigan or a jacket.

However, it is definitely still possible to use this technique during spring and summer depending on where you live. Rather than a coat, you could opt for a lightweight cardigan, a sleeveless vest or a kimono.

Waterfall or straight designs can both work and will create a nice vertical line which will create the illusion of length and distract the eye from your belly.

Or you could wear a block color such as navy, red, black or gray underneath this cardigan style below, thus creating a slimming column effect down the center of your outfit.

Begonia.K Maxi Sheer Duster Cardigan

Misook Long Colorblocked Cardigan

ANRABESS Open Front Jacket

Below are more examples of outfits where you create a long lean line and hide the belly.

Layering for any season – use a long cardigan or a short jacket

Creating vertical lines with cardigans (as discussed above) works really well, but you can also wear shorter jackets to hide a tummy.

If you pop a biker jacket over a longer top, you confuse the eye so that the different hem lengths hide your belly.

Layers are definitely your friend when it comes to hiding a belly.

PAIGE Rowan Cutoff Denim Trucker Jacket – Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Tremarz Asymmetric Top – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Frayed High Waist Ankle Flare Jeans – Söfft Women’s Liv Platform Sandals – Madewell Soft Lid Shoulder Bag – Kenneth Jay Lane Geometric Drop Earrings

Below, the longline cardigan will create nice long lines, drawing the eye away from your belly.

Made by Johnny Draped Cardigan – Vince Crop Muscle T-Shirt – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Slim Straight Leg Jeans – Aerosoles Cosmos Heeled Sandals – Marc Jacobs The Small Tote – Majorica Tender Knot Necklace

The longer your cardigan, the longer and leaner you will appear, although you usually don’t want to go longer than 2/3 from the height of your shoulders to the bottom.

Short straight cardigans will hide your belly too, but will have an overall more boxy silhouette so you need to be more careful when styling these.

You can layer in summer and winter

You can still layer in spring and summer depending on the weather where you are, you just need to choose lighter fabrics.

Instead of a cardigan, you can also choose a vest. A long vest is perfect for creating long, lean vertical lines, but you can opt for a shorter waterfall vest too.

Layer your (sleeveless) top with a sleeveless vest. It work well for all seasons. This vest cardigan from Amazon can be combined with many tops and will look great over skinny pants and jeans. You can also wear with a tank top and shorts for summer. For winter, you could wear over a long-sleeved sweater.

It has the benefit of being asymmetrical too which makes it even more flattering.

Made by Johnny Draped Cardigan

If it’s very warm where you are, or if you’re on a summer vacation, you could look out for a draped crochet cardigan, which could also double as a swim cover-up.

WESURE Crochet Cardigan

For more options on wearing vests you may like to check out this article for lots of options on how to wear a long vest.

4. Dresses that hide belly bulge – Choose dresses that don’t cling and/or have a draping element

Make sure that your dresses don’t cling around the tummy area. Dresses with a draping element around the tummy area often work.

Asymmetrical dresses work well too as they draw attention away from the belly and create a vertical line.

Dresses that don’t cling and which also have patterns are also great to hide the tummy area.

The dress below is draped just right to draw attention away from the belly and creates a flattering vertical line.

If you add a statement necklace at the top, you will further distract the eye from the belly area as the eye will be drawn upwards.

Karen Kane Cascade Faux Wrap Dress (plus size)

Rails Lacey Striped Tie-Waist Midi-Dress

Diane von Furstenberg Dorothee Printed Jersey Wrap Dress

You may also like our article on how cover up your arms if you prefer to wear a dress with sleeves.

Eugenia @theeageofgrace (read her style interview here) wears a belted dress and statement shoes.

Steal her look with this similar shirtdress (another option here), sandals, bag and sunglasses.

5. Don’t emphasize your tummy by adding accessories like belts right on top of them, rather belt higher

When choosing a coat, top or cardigan, you don’t have to avoid belts altogether.

Simply make sure that the belt sits a bit higher, so you aren’t drawing attention to your belly at its widest point.

Again, patterns can help to take attention away from a larger tummy too and in combination this can do the trick.

Play around with where and how you fasten your belt to see what looks most flattering for you.

Below are belted styles you can try.

Toccin Remi Satin Wrap Blouse

ACEVOG Wrap Draped Cardigan

The patterns on the Allegra K top (below) will also help to confuse the eye, which can be another effective technique for hiding the belly.

Allegra K Wrap Peplum Top

6. Wear tops over your skirts and pants and don’t tuck them

Tucking draws attention to your (non-existing waist again) so better to avoid that.

This is because if you tuck in your shirt, you will create a line across your tummy at its widest part.

Instead, leave your top outside of your skirt or pants.

However, pay attention to overall balance and don’t let your top end at the widest point of your hips, as that may also be unflattering.

A short blouse that loosely falls on your tummy will also work really well for many women.

Hope for Flowers Gradient Gathered Blouse

Boden Sienna Viscose Shirt

7. Flattering clothes for big stomach – Don’t wear garments that are bulky around the tummy area

You don’t want to make that area even bigger with pockets or other embellishments.

However, a vertical loose drape like this cardigan below could work as it elongates and does a good job at hiding. Reviewers say it is beautiful, comfortable, and reasonably priced.

Lock and Love Draped Open Front Cardigan

8. What to wear to hide a big stomach – Choose asymmetrical tops to hide your belly

Asymmetrical tops create vertical and diagonal lines and break up your silhouette so they are great for disguising tummies.

Star Vixen Hanky Hem Top

Naadam Asymmetric Patchwork Button-Front Shirt

Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Tremarz Asymmetric Top

You could also add a poncho over the top of your outfit like the one from Amazon (below) which is available in a huge choice of colors. Reviewers say the fabric is soft, and it elevates any outfit.

Fomolom Poncho Sweater

Deborah @deborahgates_ above (read her style interview here) opts for a high-low top and teams it with a statement necklace layered over the top.

Recreate her outfit with this similar tunic (another option here), shorts, sandals, clutch, earrings and necklace.

9. Use tops with prints

Prints are very effective in hiding bellies and you should definitely consider adding a few in your wardrobe.

If you combine a printed top with one of our belly-hiding tips above, no one will notice your tummy!

Elie Tahari Sloane Silk Floral Asymmetric Blouse

Carolina K Peacock-Print Satin Shirt

Masai Copenhagen Becca Printed Blouse

You can find many more asymmetrical tops and dresses here.

10. Use pants that tuck the tummy in

The pants you wear can make a huge difference to how big your belly will appear.

Be mindful of not buying pants that end in the middle of your belly and create a huge bulge.

Instead, you want to wear pants that have a higher rise and that are capable of tucking your tummy in.

Find out what are the best tummy control jeans in stores now.

I already mentioned some of my favorite leggings that are strong enough to do this under #2 above, but skinny pants can do this job too.

You can also consider tummy tucking jeans. Some of these jeans have an elastic waistband, and some have a regular fastening but are made from stretchier fabric with clever control panels. Reviewers say the secret sculpting jeans (below) are classy enough to wear for work but can be dressed down for casual days.

Lee Sculpting Slim Leg Pull On Jean

Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Slim Straight Leg Jeans

Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Frayed High Waist Ankle Flare Jeans

Want more ideas on how to tuck your belly with the right pants, check out the best pants to hide your belly here.

11. Use shapewear

Of course, shapewear like these shorts that tuck the tummy, is very effective too in hiding the belly but, as I personally find it uncomfortable, I only use it for very special events.

Spanx Thinstincts® Breathable Shorts

For options on shapewear please read my article on the best shapewear for women over 40.

12. Highlight something else

When you think about how to hide your belly, it’s easy to become so focused on doing that you forget about everything else.

You may not be confident about your tummy, but what about the parts of your body that you do like?

Could you show off some cleavage, highlight your shoulders or showcase your lovely legs?

The top below for example, shows off the decolletage and draws the attention away from the tummy.

Karmamia Satin Wrap Top

Santorelli Floral Georgette One-Shoulder Twist Blouse

If you like your legs, you could place the focus there instead of your tummy. That doesn’t mean wearing a mini skirt, but you could wear some lovely printed jeans to show your legs and a plain top so that the eye is drawn to your legs rather than your belly.

Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Skyla Zebra Print Pants

Or, rather than drawing the eye up, you could draw it down (or, of course, you could do both). A pair of bright shoes or on-trend booties will put the attention on your feet and legs rather than your tummy.

It’s all about hiding what you don’t like and drawing attention to what you do like.

Aerosoles Cosmos Heeled Sandals

Georgette @grownandcurvywoman above (read her style interview here) looks stunning in her stripe dress. Note that the dress draws the attention to the bust, while the diagonal stripes are slimming. The yellow accessories add a pop of color and draw the attention away from the tummy.

Get her look with this similar dress (other options here and here), handbag (another option here) and earrings.

13. Think about where your sleeves end

When you are thinking about hiding a tummy, you are probably focused on whether your top or dress drapes over your belly area or whether it clings.

However, don’t forget about your sleeves. If your sleeves end right at the point where your belly is at its widest, you will only draw attention to this area.

Look instead for sleeves which end above your belly or below at your hips. The right sleeve length for you will depend on your arm length and where your belly is biggest.

NIC+ZOE Petal Bloom Top (plus size)

14. Choose flattering brands

It goes without saying that some stores and brands are more focused towards women with supermodel-type figures, while others are better at designing for women who want to skim over certain parts of the body.

Some of my favorite brands which create clothes to hide a belly are.

• Chaus
• NYDJ
• Karen Kane
• Alex Evenings
• Eileen Fisher

15. Use accessories to hide your belly

I’m not suggesting you carry a handbag in front of your tummy to hide it! However, accessories can be a great tool to hide or distract from your belly.

You could, for example, wear a colorful scarf to draw the attention upwards to your face. Or, you can leave your scarf loose so it drapes down and creates a column effect to disguise your tummy. Statement necklaces are another good way to draw the attention upwards.

Madewell Soft Lid Shoulder Bag – Marc Jacobs The Small Tote – Majorica Tender Knot Necklace – Kendra Scott Kinsley Drop Earrings – Kenneth Jay Lane Geometric Drop Earrings – Kendra Scott Oliver Hoop Earrings – MK MATT KEELY Newsboy Hat – Millie & Boo 100% Pure Silk Scarf

You could also draw the eye upwards with your earrings or a stylish hat.

When it comes to your handbags, think about where they sit when you carry them. If, for example, you have a shoulder strap bag which ends at your belly, this will draw the attention there.

Choose a bag which sits further up or further down, or a bag that you carry in your hand as you can draw attention to your lovely legs. Don’t opt for a bag which is too small as this will look out of proportion.

Barb @barb_styling above wears her blouse untucked over her pants. A v-neck is flattering as it creates vertical lines, and draws attention to the neckline.

Steal her look with this similar top (another option here), pants (another option here), pumps and woven handbag.

A tummy-hiding capsule wardrobe

Below are some of the clothes and accessories used in this article, together in one capsule wardrobe. You’ll see, there are plenty of ways you could mix and match to create countless outfits.

SHOP the tops to hide a belly below:

More tummy-hiding inspiration

The capsules below are from previous seasons, but will give you lots of outfit idea.You may have many of these items already in your closet.

A winter capsule wardrobe to hide your belly

A capsule wardrobe for spring to camouflage the belly

Last year’s winter capsule wardrobe to hide your belly

Do you want to hide your belly or are you happy to flaunt it? And if the latter what are your best tips to hide your belly? 

Further reading:

1. The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
2. The Best Dresses To Hide Your Tummy
3. The Best Tummy Control Jeans To Give You A Smoother Look
4. How much should I weight for my height and age

P.S.: If you carry most of your weight around your belly, you are most likely an apple body shape. Check our tips for the apple body shape here and download our extensive guide for the apple body shape.

Like this article on how to hide your belly? Save it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Susanne @textelle

The post 14 sure-fire ways to hide your belly with the right clothes appeared first on 40+ Style.

Why it’s important to dress for your pear shaped body type

In our article on how to determine body shape we discuss several general body types.

Knowing which body type you have will help you choose more flattering outfits that will make you feel and look better.

Today, let’s see how to dress for your specific female body type – the pear shaped body.

I’ll be sharing my updated tips for the pear shaped body type, also called the triangle shaped body, with lots of tips on how to create the most flattering shapes for your body shape and ideas for clothes you can buy right now.

We also created a special capsule wardrobe for the pear body shape, which you can see at the end of this article.

What is a pear shaped body?

As a quick recap, you have a pear shaped body when:

• Your hips are wider than your shoulders
• Fat tends to accumulate on your thighs and sometimes the buttocks
• You tend to have an elongated waist and the legs tend to be shorter in comparison to the rest of your body
• You have a defined waist

What looks good on pear-shaped body?

In this article you’ll find lots of inspiration if you’re searching for clothes that look good on a pear-shaped body. As you’ll see, you’re aiming to balance out your silhouette, skim over the parts of your body you aren’t so keen on and show off what you do like. One idea, for example, is to opt for a top with a wide neckline and wear with an a-line skirt.

Mel @curvycartel above adds a belt to her co-ordinated outfit to show off her waist. This is often a great idea for pear shapes as you usually have a nicely defined waist.

Check out this similar shirt (another option here), pants (another option here), sandals (another option here) and belt.

Your aim when dressing your pear shaped body

We are all different and you may like to highlight or downplay different parts of your body. You may like to emphasize your curves and your hips by wearing leggings or brighter colors around your bottom section.

However, many pear shaped women like to downplay their hips. The guidelines in this article will give you some pointers on how to achieve that.

In order to downplay your hips, you will accentuate the shoulders, draw attention to your upper body and waist and elongate the legs.

Again I like to emphasize that these are general guidelines as every body is different. Perhaps you want to celebrate your hips fully and that’s totally fine too.

Always experiment with your unique shape and see what works for you.

How to dress for your pear body shape?

Women with pear shaped bodies tend to store their weight on their thighs and their legs may be heavy.

Often they have a very well proportioned upper body which is why you will see that much of the emphasis in dressing for your pear body shape is on the upper side of the body.

Is a pear shaped body the same as a spoon body shape?

While you are likely to be more familiar with the term “pear shape”, the pear shaped body is also sometimes referred to as a spoon shape.

Think about this shape as if the bowl of the spoon is where your hips are, with the handle being your torso. A spoon is also often used to describe a pear-shape with a little bit of a tummy.

Tips for dressing the pear shaped body in spring

It can be easier to dress during winter and fall for any body shape, because you can use layers in a way you can’t during the warmer months.

However, there are still plenty of ways to dress the pear shape in a flattering way during spring and summer. Read on for lots of ideas as well as well as a capsule wardrobe created especially for the pear shaped body type for this season.

Above is another look from Mel @curvycartel above. Choosing a wide neckline like a boat neck or a bardot style top can be a flattering option for pear shapes.

Steal her look with this similar dress (other options here and here) and shoes.

Famous pear shaped women

If you have a pear shaped body, you are in good company. The most famous pear shaped women include Kim Khardashian, Beyonce and Rihanna. Rather than downplaying their curvy hips, they usually highlight them!

Which garments are good for the pear shaped body?

If your goal is to downplay your hips we have some recommendations for you on the best clothing for the pear body shape.

Further on, you’ll find some specific tops, coats, dresses, skirts, pants, shoes and accessories which will work for the pear shape.

But, first, here are some top tips.

1. Draw attention to your upper body

The idea is to detract from your bottom half and draw the attention to your slim, upper body.

Choose bright colors on your top half and darker shades on your bottom half.

Boden Pom Trim Ruffle Sleeve Top

2. Think about your neckline

Several types of neckline can work for you, but to create width across your shoulders to balance out your hips, look out for boat necks and Bardot styles.

You can see how the J.Crew top (below) for example draws the attention upwards and creates width at the shoulders.

J.Crew Stripe T-Shirt

3. Accessories are your friend

To draw the eye up away from your hips and thighs, choose colorful or print scarves, statement necklaces and hats.

Nordstrom Cashmere Silk Scarf

4. Go for darker shades of denim

When choosing your jeans, opt for a dark wash as these will be most flattering. Choose bootcut rather than tapered.

PAIGE Claudine Kick-Flare Jeans

5. You will look fabulous in dresses

Pear shapes often look beautiful in a fit and flare style dress which nips in at your waist and then skims over your hips. You can see that the Boden dress (below) adds volume at the shoulders, which will balance out the hips.

Boden Joanna Cap Sleeve Wrap Dress

Now, let’s move onto some specific ideas for each individual item of clothing.

Tops for a pear shape capsule wardrobe

• Since your hips are a lot wider than your shoulders you want to emphasize the shoulders and widen them. So it’s actually good for pears when shoulder pads are back in fashion! Puffy shoulders will work too and are on-trend right now. Always make sure that the shoulders are properly fitted.
• To give the impression of longer legs and a shorter torso you can wear a few layered tops with one very short layer, like a short jacket. This will break up your elongated torso and give the illusion of longer legs.
• Wear something catchy on top. Either a catchy color or some nice detail on your top. Breast pockets, big collars or a pattern are also good. Horizontal stripes help to widen your upper body to bring it more into balance with your hips as do (subtle) shoulder pads.
• It’s best that your tops and jackets end either above or below the widest point of your hips and bottom
• V-line tops will draw further attention to your upper half
• Wider necks will also work, as will horizontal strips and tops with puffed sleeves.
• But good necklines for you are also the boat neck and the Bardot style as these will make your shoulders look wider.
• Wear a good bra.

Below, you can see more styles that would work well for the pear shape. Look out for wrap styles, interesting necklines, structured shoulders and puff sleeves which will all draw attention upwards and balance out your hips.

Karmamia Ines Satin Wrap Blouse – Misook Tie-Waist Burnount Knit Tunic – Nation LTD Abana Drape Off the Shoulder Top – RUE SOPHIE Thessa Knot Detail Long Sleeve Knit Top

Misook Tie-Waist Burnount Knit Tunic – Alice + Olivia Dylan High-Waist Wide-Leg Pants – Sam Edelman Bri Ballet Flats – COACH Cassie Crossbody Bag – Kendra Scott Grayson Drop Earrings

Best SWEATERS AND CARDIGANS for the pear shape

Even in spring and summer, you will still need some sweaters to keep you cozy on cool days. And you’ll definitely need some warm sweaters during the cooler months. Colorful styles will work very well, as will stripes, off-the-shoulder and boat or Bardot necklines.

Anything with a tie waist is also a good idea. Plus, you could take advantage of the current trend for voluminous sleeves and shoulders to create balance for your silhouette. You could also try a long cardigan to skim over your hips and create long lines.

Boden Ella Long Sleeve Breton – ZAFUL Drawstring Ruched Knitted Crop Top  – Boden Jacquard Zip Up Cardigan – LL Long Open Front Cardigan

LL Long Open Front Cardigan – J.Crew Stripe T-Shirt – PAIGE Claudine Kick-Flare Jeans – FLY London Yotu Wedge Sandals – MICHAEL Michael Kors Ruthie Small Satchel – Kendra Scott Grayson Drop Earrings

Best jackets and coats for the pear shape

• Wear structured A-shaped coats of knee length. A great coat for you is the trench. Make sure you get one with lots of details on top (like lapels on shoulders) and that it is plain from the waist down.
• Belted blazers are also a good option for the pear shape because they draw attention to the waist. Choose one in a vibrant or paler color to your bottom half.
• You can also use a longer top and then add a shorter jacket to give the illusion that your legs are longer than they are.
• Long cardigans and jackets that end well below the hip can work really well too
• Look out for styles that give the illusion that your top half is wider, to add balance, or that accentuate your waist.

If you want to, you can also think about wearing a longer layer under a shorter jacket. For instance, if you wore a long darker layer under a short jacket, the attention would be on the point the jacket ends rather than your hips.

Misook Crepe Wrap Blazer – Undra Celeste Belted Wrap Jacket – L’AGENCE Wayne Striped Denim Crop Jacket – Sam Edelman Cotton-Blend Belted Trench Coat

Undra Celeste Belted Wrap Jacket – Boden Carla Linen Jumpsuit – Vagabond Shoemakers Adison Patent Mary Jane Pumps – MICHAEL Michael Kors Ruthie Small Satchel – Nine West Silver Necklace

For more inspiration take a look at how to wear short jackets.

Best pants and skirts for the pear body type

Here are a few tips and some examples of good pants for this body shape.

• Wear trousers that are not too tight or light. Bootleg trousers are very good for pear shaped bodies.
• Avoid pants that are too low on your hips. A higher rise is better.
• You will look best if your trousers or skirt are the darkest part of your outfit.

Finding a pair of jeans for the pear shape can be tricky because of your lovely curves.

If you find a pair that fits at the hips and thighs, they can gape at the waist, and if you find a pair that fits at the waist, they can be too tight on the thighs.

It can be best to look for a pair of jeans specifically designed for a woman with curves so that they are tapered in from the hips to the waist.

The most flattering style for a pear shape is a dark wash, bootcut with a high waist.

Some of our favorite brands for jeans include:

• NYDJ
• KUT from the Kloth
• PAIGE

Also take a look at the best jeans for pear shaped women

When choosing skirts, A-line skirts are a pear-shaped woman’s best friend.

When you wear a well-structured A-line skirt that emphasizes your waist, people will not even notice your wider hips.

Good brands for A-line skirts:

• Eliza J
• Ming Wang
• Anthropologie

PAIGE Claudine Kick-Flare Jeans – Hudson Jeans Nico Mid-Rise Barefoot Boot-Cut Jeans – Alice + Olivia Dylan High-Waist Wide-Leg Pants – Maje Knit Maxi Skirt

ZAFUL Drawstring Ruched Knitted Crop Top – Maje Knit Maxi Skirt – Sam Edelman Bri Ballet Flats – COACH Cassie Crossbody Bag – Tagua Handmade Necklace –

Best dresses and jumpsuits for pear shaped body

Women like Kim Kardashian like to emphasize their pear shape with form-fitting dresses and skirts, but most women prefer to downplay their hips and A-line dresses are perfect for doing that.

A-line dresses which fit and flare will always look good on you. Dresses with defined shoulders and a good A-line are particularly good.

Below are some of our current favorite dresses and also jumpsuits.

Misook Contrast Striped Midi-Dress – MICHAEL Michael Kors Satin Faux-Wrap Midi-Dress – Boden Joanna Cap Sleeve Wrap Dress – Boden Carla Linen Jumpsuit

Also, take a look at the best dresses for your body shape.

Here is another look from Mel @curvycartel above wears a jumpsuit that would flatter any body shape. For pears, the v-neck draws attention to the neckline and away from the hips.

Recreate her outfit with this similar jumpsuit (another option here), pumps and head wrap.

Best shoes and accessories for the pear shaped body

• Use accessories to further emphasize the top part like necklaces and scarves.
• Waist belts may look good on you as they emphasize your small waist.
• High boots are very flattering for your legs
• Be careful with high shoes or shoes with ankle straps as they will shorten your legs
• Wear medium to chunky heels with a bit of height to further elongate the legs.
• Avoid handbags that sit on the hips.
• You may wish to avoid big bracelets as, when you have your arms by your sides, they will draw the eye to your hips.

Marc Fisher LTD Quessa Heeled Sandals – FLY London Yotu Wedge Sandals – Sam Edelman Bri Ballet Flats – Vagabond Shoemakers Adison Patent Mary Jane Pumps

MICHAEL Michael Kors Ruthie Small Satchel – COACH Cassie Crossbody Bag – Nine West Silver Necklace – Tagua Handmade Necklace – Kendra Scott Grayson Drop Earrings – Nordstrom Cashmere Silk Scarf

RUE SOPHIE Thessa Knot Detail Long Sleeve Knit Top – Hudson Jeans Nico Mid-Rise Barefoot Boot-Cut Jeans – Vagabond Shoemakers Adison Patent Mary Jane Pumps – MICHAEL Michael Kors Ruthie Small Satchel – Kendra Scott Grayson Drop Earrings – Nordstrom Cashmere Silk Scarf

General tips on how to dress for the pear shaped body

Let’s recap on some of the most flattering options for a pear shape:

• Belted jackets and bootcut jeans are the perfect combination.
• Put a lot of emphasis on your top part with colorful jackets, stripes and bold accessories.
• The A-line skirt and dress is your best friend!
• Put emphasis on the waist if you are a pear shape.
• Create a column of color. A long vest worn over the top of this column. can make your hips disappear.

What not to wear?

You are always able to wear anything, but if your goal is to downplay your hips, you may want to avoid the following garments. Of course if you like to highlight your curves (as Kim Khardashian does), these are the items to choose.

• Skinny jeans (however these can be worn with some tunics, A-line long tops or long cardigans).
• Pencil or straight skirts
• Very short skirts
• Tops with narrow shoulder lines
• Pleats and pants with a lot of details
• Shoes and booties with ankle straps, very delicate footwear and kitten heels

If you have anything further to add, let me know in the comments’ section below!

below are 9 looks featuring the pieces we used above

You can combine the clothes, shoes and accessories in myriad ways, but here are 9 ideas to get your started. All links to the items were shared above in the relevant sections.

SHOP THE ITEMS ABOVE HERE:

More pear shape inspiration for you

Do you need inspiration for winter outfits or want to see lots of other examples of outfits for the pear shaped body?

Below are a few older capsules we created which should provide extra inspiration for you. Please note though, that these clothes are no longer available for purchase.

Want to know more about how to create your own unique capsule wardrobes? Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

How do you even out a pear-shaped body?

To recap, you want to create a balanced silhouette. That is all about streamlining your bottom half so you downplay the width of your hips and thighs, and adding width to your top half. In this way, you can create the illusion of a more balanced hourglass figure.

Is pear-shaped body attractive?

Of course. Just look at Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, for example. It’s really up to you how much you want to show off your pear shape curves and how much you want to downplay them. And, of course, you can choose to do that differently on different days, depending on your mood.

How do you dress modestly for a pear-shaped body?

If you want to cover up, then good ideas for the pear shape are to wear dark colored wide or bootcut pants or jeans, and then add a more colorful top with a wider neckline.

Need to discover your body type?

Want to know more about women’s body types, you can discover your body type here.

From there you can browse all the other body types: apple, rectangle, hourglass, and inverted triangle

All these articles are regularly updated with helpful videos and looks for the season you are in.

How do you prefer to dress your pear shaped body?

Continue reading:

1. How To Determine Your Body Shape
2. Best Tops To Hide Your Belly
3. How To Wear Wide Leg Pants
4. How To Dress The Apple Body Shape

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Feature image by Mel @curvycartel

The post How to dress a pear shaped body appeared first on 40+ Style.

In this updated article, adapted for spring and summer, we are going to look at the apple shaped body and how to dress in the most flattering way for you.

AS A QUICK REMINDER YOU HAVE AN APPLE BODY SHAPE WHEN:

• You have no defined waist
• Weight tends to form on the stomach
• You have an average to large bust size

This is a body shape that often develops after 40 when you start to experience symptoms of (peri)menopause and may gain weight around your waist.

WHAT IS FLATTERING FOR THE APPLE SHAPED BODY?

To be honest this is not the easiest body shape to dress as many women with this shape will be well aware of.

Some women tend to cover it all up with loose garments which, in most cases, is not the right thing to do as this can simply make you look larger than you really are.

Winter and fall can be the easiest seasons to dress the apple shape because you can play with layers to create long, lean lines and skim over your belly.

However, thankfully, you can still add lovely layers in spring and summer too. In this article you will find out how to dress the apple body shape, no matter what the season.

Georgette @grownandcurvywoman above (read her style interview here) looks fabulous in her pink belted dress.

Recreate her outfit with this similar shirtdress (other options here and here) and flats.

YOUR AIM WHEN DRESSING THE APPLE BODY SHAPE

What you DO want to do is to create the nicest silhouette possible.

For many apples, you can do that by creating the illusion of a waist, highlighting your cleavage and creating nice vertical lines.

I also like the look of a straight silhouette, but with the use of lots of vertical lines for a long and lean silhouette.

You may also like to check out the best shops for the apple body shape.

APPLE SHAPED CELEBRITIES

You probably assume that most celebrities aren’t an apple shape, as this can be a tricky shape to style.

But, the fact is there are lots of female celebrities with the same body shape as you.

They have just learned tricks – or their stylist has taught them – about how to dress to flatter their shape.

These women tend to carry their weight around their middle, but have great legs, so you will often see them choosing an outfit which shows off their legs for red carpet events.

For inspiration, you can look at celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Amy Schumer and Kate Winslet.

GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLE SHAPE

Below are some rough guidelines of what will and will not work for many apple shaped women over 40.

1. ARE YOU DEFINITELY AN APPLE SHAPE?

First of all, check that you really do have an apple shaped body.

Many women put on a little weight around the tummy area as we age, for all sorts of reasons including menopause.

But, you can have a little bit of weight around your tummy and still be a pear shape, or an hourglass, for example.

If you aren’t sure, you can check with out body shape calculator.

2. DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOUR TUMMY

As with dressing for any body shape, the idea is to create balance, so you will want to draw attention away from the widest part of your belly.

You can do this in two ways. Either you can skim over your tummy area completely.

Or you can redefine where your mid-section is. You don’t have to tie your belt at your widest point, for example. You can just belt a little further up where you are slimmer.

The Karen Kane blouse (below) flows across the tummy area in a flattering way.

Karen Kane Asymmetrical Crepe Top

Above is another look from Georgette @grownandcurvywoman. Drawing attention to another part of your body (in this case the shoulders) is a great tip to draw the eye away from your tummy.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top (another option here), pants, sandals and earrings.

3. EMPHASIZE YOUR CLEAVAGE

Okay, you don’t have to emphasize your cleavage if you don’t want to. But my general point is you should draw attention somewhere else other than your tummy.

If you are happy with your cleavage or decolletage, you could draw attention upwards. A v-neck top will be super-flattering on you. If you don’t want an open neckline, you could use a bright, statement necklace.

Nation LTD Caprice Twist T-Shirt

4. EMPHASIZE YOUR LEGS

If you prefer your legs – and lots of apple shape women have great legs – you could draw the attention downwards instead.

That doesn’t necessarily mean wearing a mini skirt, but you could go above the knee with your hem length.

Or you can wear a longer plain top, but choose patterned jeans or pants.

Vince Camuto Abstract Floral Print High-Low Midi Skirt

5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT MATERIAL

Don’t opt for clingy materials which will just draw attention to any lumps and bumps.

Instead, opt for textured materials or draping and ruching. The Karen Kane faux wrap dress (below) is a timeless classic that tends to be available in black, navy and red.

Karen Kane Cascade Faux Wrap Dress (plus size / Amazon)

NOW LET’S GO INTO MORE DETAIL – WHICH GARMENTS ARE GOOD FOR AN APPLE BODY SHAPE?

I’ve already given you a few simple guidelines, but now let’s go into much more detail on what will look good on you if you are an apple shape.

Below, you will find a capsule wardrobe which will work for the spring and summer season for the apple body type.

I’ve been inspired by some of the spring and summer color trends for 2023 including the blues, pinks and greens.

TOPS FOR THE APPLE SHAPE

• First of all, since a lot of attention is going to be drawn to the top part of your body, get yourself a well-fitting bra. You don’t want your bust and your tummy meeting each other!
• Tops that highlight your body at the slimmest point, which is often just underneath your bust are often very flattering. They should have enough space for your belly but not be too wide.
• Buy t-shirts that are ruched in the middle. This will confuse the eye and you can’t tell that there’s a tummy underneath.
• Get tops with a V-neck to break up the size of your chest and create a vertical line.
• Look for tops with a thicker texture that don’t cling so much. Woven tops can be great.
• The best hem-length for tops is just below your hipbone (when worn with pants)
• Patterns tend to look very good on an apple shape body as they flatter and camouflage.
• Tops that draw attention to your arms with e.g. flares, a slit or embroidery will draw attention from your belly
• Asymmetry in your tops helps to create vertical and slimming lines.

As you are likely to have a larger bust size, also take a look at this article on the best bras for large breasts: bras which are supportive AND stylish.

The tops below use a number of these techniques. There’s ruching, asymmetry, and modern prints and colors.

Weekend Max Mara Silver Wrap Blouse – rag & bone Indiana Striped Twisted Shirt – Caroline Rose Reflection Knit Swing Tunic – JW Anderson Asymmetric Draped Top

For more shoppable ideas, check out this article on the best tops to hide a belly, which features plenty of inspiration.

Susanne @textelle above (read her style interview here) opts for a long flowy shirt and coat. She keeps her look balanced by choosing slim pants.

Get her look with this similar tunic shirt, shirtdress, pants and sneakers.

Sweaters and cardigans

Unless you live somewhere super hot you’re likely to need a cardigan or sweater for cooler days or evenings.

The sweaters below are good examples for the apple shape. The draped options will skim over any lumps or bumps, while the asymmetrical sweater and long cardigan create vertical lines that minimize the tummy area.

AllSaints Lock Rolled Neck Asymmetric Sweater – A.W.A.K.E. Mode Asymmetric Wool-Blend Blouse – PULI Knitted Poncho – ANRABESS Open Coatigan

PULI Knitted Poncho – JW Anderson Asymmetric Draped Top – ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo Palazzo Pants – Söfft Liv Leather Block Platform Heels – Kate Spade New York Knott Color-Blocked Crossbody Tote – Oradina Gallery Drop Earrings

COATS AND JACKETS FOR THE APPLE SHAPE

• You can layer with a long cardigan or a long sleeveless vest.
• Make sure the top underneath is not too short.
• Try to have v-necklines with your long long jumper or tops underneath the layering piece.
• Longer tops and jackets that skim the body can be worn with leggings or skinny jeans.
• As an apple shape, you will find a number of jackets can work for you as you can layer to draw attention away from your belly. Just make sure that your jacket does not end at your widest point.
• Make sure that the jacket fits the shoulder perfectly, so choose the size for your shoulders, not your belly. If you can’t close the jacket, you can always use a scarf to fill the gap if you like.
• Choose tailored jackets that have a nice v shape at the top.
• Opt for a single-breasted rather than a double-breasted style.

You can use the clothes you wear to create the illusion of a leaner waistline.

Below, we’ve included coats with a flattering drape, or which you can create long lines with. A moto jacket is also a good option as you can wear longer tops underneath and then layer with your leather jacket.

A blazer is a classic option for any body shape, while open coats are perfect for layering.

Weekend Max Mara Ellisse Wool-Blend Belted Coat – Eileen Fisher High Collar Long Open-Front Jacket – Lamarque Ciara Leather Cropped Biker Jacket – Favorite Daughter The Satin Juniper Duster

Favorite Daughter The Satin Juniper Duster – Weekend Max Mara Silver Wrap Blouse – Isabel Marant Joella Ruched Midi-Skirt – Söfft Liv Leather Block Platform Heels – Tory Burch Reva Clutch – COS Organic Shaped Pendant Necklace

bOTTOMS FOR THE APPLE BODY TYPE

• Get trousers that have zippers at the side to avoid adding extra bumps on the front.
• Trousers should be flared or straight and not cling to tummy or thighs unless you are opting to create the long and lean silhouette using vertical lines. Avoid pleats.
• Also choose jeans that are tailored and either straight or flared. Trouser jeans are ideal.
• Pants with a high rise will create a nice silhouette.
• It’s best to get trousers with some stretch for extra comfort and a good fit.
• Choose skirts that have their zippers at the side.
• Structured pencil skirts work well, but keep them at knee length. Make sure to add the focus to the top with the tips above.
• Make sure that any pleats of skirts start below the belly to avoid adding extra volume.

Although you probably have lovely slim legs, choosing a pair of skinny jeans is not always the way to go. This is because you might end up creating a top heavy silhouette.

Instead, you may find a better balance by opting for a bootcut or slim style. However, If you are using the technique of slimming layers on your top half, then you can wear skinny jeans on your bottom half.

Also take a look at this article on the best jeans for your body shape.

Can women with an apple shape wear jeans?

Of course. In fact, we have a whole article about that. Take a look at the best jeans for apple shape figures.

A bootcut shape will create balance in your figure, with the flared hem balancing the tummy area. Or you could opt for a pair of slimmer leggings or pants with your tunics and dresses.

Pencil skirts also tend to be flattering for the apple shape. The skirt (below) comes in a good choice of colors, has ruching to disguise lumps and bumps.

PAIGE Genevieve Flared Jeans – PAIGE Cindy High-Rise Ankle Straight Jeans – ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo Palazzo Pants – Isabel Marant Joella Ruched Midi-Skirt

Lydia @birabiro above (read her style interview here) opts for an asymmetric style that draws the attention vertically downwards.

Check out this asymmetrical top that you can wear with this similar pair of jeans, flats and bag.

DRESSES FOR APPLE SHAPE

• Dresses should have their waistline just below the bust or at your thinnest point.
• You can also choose shift style dresses which skim over your waist rather than emphasizing your thickest point.
• Another idea is to look for dresses which have ruching, draping or layers.
• You can also try wearing a shorter tunic style over a pair of skinny pants or leggings. You’ll find tips in this article on how to wear leggings.

You can see some examples (below) of flattering dresses for the apple shape. If you choose a belt with a tie waist, you can alter exactly where you tie the belt for the most flattering effect. A graphic pattern works to confuse the eye, and draw attention away from the tummy area.

The navy dress (left) has subtle asymmetry, and would look great worn for work or evening. Wear shorter styles, like the animal print over your leggings or coated jeans.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Collared Wrap Dress – Boden Joanna Jersey Midi Wrap Dress – MANGO Belt Shirtdress – MANGO Printed Satin Dress

DRESSES FOR APPLE SHAPED PLUS SIZE

You will find that the tips in this article can work for an apple size no matter whether you are petite, tall, or plus size.

Below are some dresses for the apple shaped plus size that you could wear either alone (in the case of the dresses with a waist) or to layer over leggings (the looser shift style dresses).

Nordstrom Tie Waist Midi Dress – Chelsea28 Flutter Plissé Midi Dress – Standards & Practices Nimah Maxi Dress – Estelle Alani Floral Print Midi Dress

ANRABESS Open Coatigan – MANGO Belt Shirtdress – Cole Haan Grandpro Topspin Sneakers – MICHAEL Michael Kors Kensington Large Shoulder Tote – Oradina Gallery Drop Earrings

SHOES FOR THE APPLE BODY

You don’t have to worry about your shoes fitting your belly, but you can use your shoes to detract attention away from your tummy area.

Many apple shapes have fantastic legs, so how about opting for colorful shoes to draw the attention to your legs and slim ankles?

Because you are likely to have great legs, you can wear strappy sandals to show off your ankles. Or choose a pair of statement boots.

Söfft Liv Leather Block Platform Heels – Vince Camuto Bivenya High Heel Sandals – Tory Burch Jessa Loafers – Cole Haan Grandpro Topspin Sneakers

MANGO Printed Satin Dress – PAIGE Cindy High-Rise Ankle Straight Jeans – Tory Burch Jessa Loafers – Tory Burch Reva Clutch – Oradina Gallery Drop Earrings

ACCESSORIES TO GO WITH YOUR APPLE BODY SHAPE CLOTHES

Of course, you can choose whatever accessories you love as you don’t have to worry about how your accessories fit your waist (apart from your belt!).

But, thinking strategically about your accessories can help you to draw attention from the area of your body you aren’t so keen on (your belly or waist) and either upwards or downwards.

Choosing a statement accessory (scarf, necklace or a pair of earrings) can draw the attention up to your face, while opting for colorful or patterned shoes can draw the eye to your legs.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Kensington Large Shoulder Tote – Kate Spade New York Knott Color-Blocked Crossbody Tote – Tory Burch Reva Clutch – COS Organic Shaped Pendant Necklace – NEST Jewelry Statement Necklace – Oradina Gallery Drop Earrings

Above is another look from Susanne @textelle who tucks her shirt into her satin shirt.

Steal her look with this similar shirt, skirt, pumps, bag, earrings and belt.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR IF YOU HAVE AN APPLE BODY SHAPE

I’ve talked a lot about what to wear if you have an apple shape, but how about what you should avoid?

Here a a few items that you may like to avoid when you have apple body shape.

• Big puffa jackets – these will only make your midriff look wider.
• Big shapeless garments that don’t show any waist. You can, however, use tunic dresses as a base to create long, lean lines with layers.
• Bulky trousers with lots of pockets and zippers at the front.
• High necklines. A V-neck will be more flattering.
• Tight, clingy T-shirts that show every lump and bump.
• Avoid wearing everything in one solid color. Better to mix color with a texture or to use several layers in different colors to create vertical lines.

A CAPSULE wardrobe for the apple shaped body type – 9 unique OUTFITS USING THE PIECES ABOVE

If you aren’t sure how to put together the individual pieces for the apple shape that we’ve featured, then below you will find some inspiration on how to put the outfits together.

These outfits feature lots of tricks which can provide a more flattering silhouette for the apple.

You can see layering, asymmetry, the use of cardigans to create long columns, and the use of accessories to draw your eye upwards or downwards.

You can easily mix and match to create different outfits for the season.

Also read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

Shop THE items above here:

What does an apple-shaped body look like?

Remember that an apple body shape is one that tends to carry weight around the tummy area. Your shoulders and bust are likely to be wider than your hips.

What clothes look good on an apple shape?

We’re sure you now have lots of ideas about what to wear for your apple shape. A couple of classic examples that tend to look great on apple shapes are tunic tops with slimmer pants or a flattering wrap dress with a v-neck.

How should an apple shape over 40 dress?

However you want to, of course. Taking on board the tips and ideas in this article will help you to dress in a way that is flattering and makes you feel more confident.

MORE INSPIRATION FOR APPLE SHAPED WOMEN

Below are capsules we created earlier. These exact items are no longer available in stores but you can use these as inspiration to put your outfits together whilst you are shopping your own closet.

Apple body shapes usually find it a bit easier to dress in colder weather as you can make ready use of layers to conceal your belly or draw the attention away from your tummy.

Many of these outfits can be adapted for any climate.

Continue reading:

1. 14 Sure-Fire Ways To Hide Your Belly With The Right Clothes
2. The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
3. The Best Shops For Women With The Apple Body Shape

Do you have an apple body shape? What styles do you find fit and flatter your apple shaped body?

ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE ON HOW TO DRESS THE APPLE BODY SHAPE? SAVE IT ON PINTEREST!

Feature image by Georgette @grownandcurvywoman

The post How to dress the apple body shape appeared first on 40+ Style.

In this article we show you how to dress the rectangle body shape and give you lots of ideas on how to create more shape with your clothes.

You have a rectangle body shape when:

• You have no defined waist
• The hips tend to have a similar width as the shoulders
• You do not have a lot of curves
• Your bust tends to be small or average
• Your bottom tends to be flat
• This is one of the easier body types for dressing.

Rectangle is my most dominant body shape (with pear shape being my secondary).

Still not sure about your own shape? Find out how to determine your body shape

Why you’re in good company

Many models tend to have this body shape or the inverted triangle shape.

A lot of clothes will usually suit you and fit you well, although some of the taller women may have trouble finding clothes that fit properly.

Dress and blouse Adolpho Dominguiz, shoes Russel & Bromly, Sunglasses Burberry – similar striped tee, shirt (other option here and here), dress (another option here), tights, boots, bag (another option here), earrings, hat and sunglasses

Dressing the rectangle body can still be a challenge

Still, many rectangles will find dressing a bit more of a challenge as they are likely to get extra weight around their tummies as they age (usually after menopause).

Discover how to hide your tummy with fabulous clothes.

As a rectangle, you will want to create more curves and a pleasing silhouette. You can do this by defining the waist and creating curves on the bottom or top.

On the other hand, you can also get away with a straight look and surrender the waist line altogether, which is a look that I’m quite fond of.

Above is one of my favorite outfits. You can see that the wide leg pants add shape to my body and create a flattering silhouette.

Asymmetric styles are great for the rectangle body type. Check some of the best asymmetric clothes here.

What looks best on rectangle body shape?

Mel @bagandaberet above (read her style interview here) shows how you could add curves with a cap sleeve t-shirt and wide leg pants.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top (another option top), pants and pumps.

Is the rectangle body shape attractive?

Definitely! We love all body types at 40+ Style. One of the great advantages of a rectangle body shape is that clothes are often designed with your shape in mind so it can be easier to find outfits that fit properly. Plus, you can be a style cameleon with a rectangle body shape. It really is up to you whether you embrace your angular shape, or you create curves with the clothes you choose.

Can you be curvy with a rectangle body shape?

Because your hips, bust and waistline tend to be a similar width, your body shape doesn’t go ‘in-and-out’ in the same way that the hourglass does, for example. But, you can create a curvy silhouette if you want to by choosing clothes that give you a defined waistline.

How do you slim a rectangle body shape?

The rectangle body shape tends to be athletic and lean. If you want to create a slimmer appearance on certain days, then our article on how to look taller and slimmer has good tips.

What jeans suit a rectangle body shape?

You’re lucky if you are a rectangle, as any jeans suit you. Bootcuts and wide jeans are particularly flattering.

Similar tops here and here, and wide jeans

What should I avoid if I have a rectangle body shape?

• Avoid totally shapeless clothes
• If you want to add curves then avoid straight dresses, but you can also opt for the waistless look!

Two main strategies

There are two main strategies for dressing your body if you have a rectangle shape.

1. The first is to forget about adding curves and to play up your long, lean lines

You could do this by wearing a shift dress with a long cardigan over the top, for example.

Dayle @artfulcitystyle above (read her style interview here) shows how you can create a flattering column effect by wearing one color, and then adding a long cardigan or duster coat in a different color.

Get her look with this similar jumpsuit, kimono, shoes and earrings.

2. Another option for the rectangle body type: Create some curves

The second option is to actually create some curves.

You can do this through the clothes you wear and the details they have on them.

For example, you could wear a boat neck top with a pair of wide legged pants and a belt. That way, you will look like you go out, in and out again like an hourglass.

Which garments are good for a rectangle body shape?

Now, onto which specific clothes, shoes and accessories will be good for you if you have a rectangle body shape.

Tops for the rectangle body shape

• Use strong blocks of color to help define your body. For more tips take a look at how to color block.
• As for most body types, be sure to wear a good bra to define what bust you have. Also take a look at how to dress if you have a small bust.
• Wear tops and jackets that emphasize the waist.
• You can use some shoulder padding (don’t overdo it though)
• Medium to high necklines usually work well, especially if you have a small bust and long neck
• If you like to create the illusion of bigger breasts, choose tops with pockets, rushes, pleating and other front details
• Halter necks will also give the appearance of a bigger bust and show off your back and shoulders.
• Accessorize with belts around the waist. Heavy belts can be really good if you’re also long-waisted
• If you have no waist at all, then a belt is best avoided
• 3/4 sleeves usually work really well for a rectangle
• Blouses can look really good if they are tucked in

Loveappella Faux Wrap Top – Alexander Wang Oversized Belted Cotton Shirt – Boden Long Sleeve Wrap Top – Karmamia Satin Wrap Top

Suzie @suzie.richetti above chooses stripes, which are a good option for the rectangle, because they mirror your natural straight lines.

Steal her look with this similar shirt, leather pants, pumps, belt and necklace.

Sweaters and cardigans for the rectangle figure

No matter what your body shape, you will still need a cozy sweater for cool evenings.

You’re lucky in that you can choose any shape of sweaters – you can either choose fitted to add more shape or a looser style. Stripes or a sporty style will play up your athletic figure, while a wrap style will add curves.

COS Striped Wool Sweater – A.W.A.K.E. Mode Asymmetric Wool-Blend Blouse – Naadam Pointelle-Knit Alpaca-Blend Wrap Sweater – HOUSE OF CB Alaia Wrap Cardigan

Jamie @moreturquoise above (read her style interview here) shows how you can add shape if you’re a rectangle by choosing an off-the-shoulder sweater and a wide belt.

Check out this similar sweater (another option here), skirt, boots, belt and sunglasses.

Max Mara Leisure Milano-Stitch Belted Jacket – HOUSE OF CB Alaia Wrap Cardigan – J.Crew Cropped Kickout Sweater Pants – Boden Iris Snaffle Ballet Flats – Tory Burch McGraw Small Leather Bucket Bag – Kendra Scott Lee Drop Earrings

JACKETS for a rectangle body shape

Choose a coat with a good waist or that is belted at the waist. Any jacket tailored around the waist will look great.

You are lucky as you can wear pretty much any coat. You can choose to create a waist with tailoring or a belt. Or you can opt for a jacket like a moto or denim jacket to layer over your outfits, or choose to forgo your waist with an open coat.

Max Mara Leisure Milano-Stitch Belted Jacket – Boden Bloomsbury Interest Blazer – Boden Holly Knitted Jacket – Boden Colour Block Trench Coat

Judith @stylecrone above (read her style interview here) shows off slim ankles with her leopard print shoes. You can see that the pockets on her blazer create curves at her hips.

Get her look with this similar blazer, jeans, pumps. necklace and head wrap.

There’s more inspiration in this article on how to choose a coat.

Pants and jeans for the rectangle shape

You can wear a tight skirt or pants to highlight the curves that you DO have or you can choose a looser style.

You can wear almost any shape trousers but slightly flared trousers will look great on you as it will add more shape to your body. Low to mid waisted pants are usually best. Stripes will look good on you as they mirror your figure.

Boden High Rise Wide Leg Jeans – Boden Westbourne Ponte Pants – Boden Westbourne Stripe Pants – J.Crew Cropped Kickout Sweater Pants

Boden Long Sleeve Wrap Top – Boden High Rise Wide Leg Jeans – J.Crew Metallic Colorblock Trainers – Tory Burch McGraw Small Leather Bucket Bag – Panacea Crystal Pavé Geometric Hoop Earrings

Dresses, skirts and jumpsuits for the rectangle body shape

Again, you’re very lucky to have a wide choice of dresses and skirts which will look fabulous on your rectangle shape.

• Shift dresses and empire line dresses work well, but I also like to break the rule with dropped waist dresses!
• You can create a waist with a belt.
• Or you can skim over your waist completely, disguising the fact your waist isn’t much slimmer than your bust and hips.
• As well as dresses, jumpsuits will look great on you. Try a halterneck style to show off your shoulders.
• You can wear shorter shirt dresses over jeans or skinny pants.
• A-line skirts also work really well for this shape.
• A knee-length pencil skirt that tapers in at the side will also add some curves and look good.
• If you like the waistless look, you can opt for straight skirts and shirt dresses.

J.Crew Tie Wait Denim Dress – J.Crew Striped Cotton Poplin Shirtdress – Donna Karan New York Cowl Neck Belted Jumpsuit – All in Favor Satin Midi Skirt

Similar dresses here, here and here

Take a look at how to wear tunics or short dresses over pants for further inspiration.

Shoes to go with your rectangle body shape outfits

Of course, you have a huge amount of freedom when it comes to your shoe choices.

It really depends on where you want to draw attention. If you want to add a pop of color, you could choose bright shoes.

You are also likely to be able to wear shoes with an ankle strap if you have slimmer ankles and calves as you don’t need to worry about visually cutting a line across your legs.

SOREL Joanie Heel Ankle Strap Sandals – Boden Iris Snaffle Ballet Flats – Boden Ankle Strap Point Flats – J.Crew Metallic Colorblock Trainers

Below is a dress I like because of the asymmetrical elements and the unusual print.

Similar dresses here and here, sandals from Fly London.

J.Crew Striped Cotton Poplin Shirtdress – SOREL Joanie Heel Ankle Strap Sandals – Madewell Mini The Essential Convertible Top Handle Crossbody Bag – Madewell Coin Layered Necklace

Accessories

Again, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the accessories you team with your outfits

You can opt for classic styles or add some femininity with your bag choices and colors.

You can also choose feminine jewelry to contrast with what may be an athletic figure, or you can go for modern, geometric pieces, like the ones I am wearing in the photo below.

Tory Burch McGraw Small Leather Bucket Bag – Madewell Mini The Essential Convertible Top Handle Crossbody Bag – Madewell Coin Layered Necklace – Panacea Crystal Pavé Geometric Hoop Earrings – Kendra Scott Lee Drop Earrings

Similar top (another option here), pants, booties, necklace, earrings and sunglasses

Please note that the guidelines above are for general guidance only. Everyone is different and you certainly don’t have to stick to the above guidelines to dress well.

Outfits For The Rectangle Body Type Using The Pieces Above

Below is a complete capsule wardrobe for the rectangle body shape from many of the items we featured above.

You can see you could switch the clothes around to get many different looks. For example, you could wear the cream sweater with the red pants, the blue sweater with the jeans or striped pants, or the blazer with the jumpsuit.

shop the BEST PIECES FOR THE RECTANGULAR SHAPED BODY:

Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

More Inspiration For The Rectangle Shape

While the capsule below is past season, all the looks are timeless so they should still provide you with ideas for your next outfits.

P.S.: To find out more about your unique style and what would suit your body type and personality I highly recommend our style course.

How do you dress your rectangle shape? Let us know!

Continue reading:

1. How To Determine Your Body Shape
2. How To Dress When You Are Tall And Where To Buy The Best Clothes For Tall Women
3. How To Dress The Apple Body Shape

Like this article On How To Dress The Rectangle Body Shape? Save It On Pinterest!

The post How to dress the rectangle body shape appeared first on 40+ Style.

Now we’re going to specifically look at the best tops to hide your tummy.

Many 40+ women develop a tummy and they would rather not show too much of that to the world.

And why would you, when you can easily hide it with the right tops?

I’m keeping track of the ideal tops to buy right now to hide your belly.

Many of these tops to hide your tummy will look good on all women over 40.

As you may know, I’m a great fan of draped and asymmetrical tops myself. And, that’s definitely one option you can choose to hide a tummy.

Video: how I wore my kimono top

Why you might develop a tummy

Of course everyone is a different shape and size. However, many women, no matter whether they are naturally smaller or larger tend to develop a tummy during peri-menopause or menopause.

So, you’re definitely not alone if you want to cover up your tummy.

How can I hide my belly in tops?

There are plenty of ways to hide a belly in the right tops. In this article, you’ll find lots of suggestions for top styles that will work to disguise a tummy and focus on the parts of your body you like.

What tops should you wear if you have a big stomach?

Many top styles will work for you. It’s about experimenting, trying them on and seeing which ones work well for your silhouette. Some good choices are longer style tunics, draped tops, peplum, empire, and asymmetric styles.

Strategies to use when choosing a top to hide your tummy

Below are some quick tips on what to think about when choosing tops to hide your belly.

There are reasons why I’ve chosen the tops in this article and that is because they do one of two things (or both) to disguise your tummy area.

Strategy 1: Draw the attention away

The first tactic you can use to “hide” your belly is not to hide it at all, but instead to make sure that everyone focuses on a different part of you.

So, when you’re looking for tops to hide your tummy, you could do this by ensuring that you have a flattering neckline, or that the neckline has some embellishment. For example, the Lucky Brand top (below) draws the eyes upwards. Reviewers say it goes well with any pair of pants.

Lucky Brand Lace-Up Cotton Peasant Blouse

You can also do this through the use of asymmetry, which confuses the eye.

Another way to do this is to look for patterned tops.

These draw the attention away from your belly as the eye doesn’t know where to focus on a pattern, so tends to dot around rather than looking at your tummy.

The Loveappella top (below) is also a good choice as the v-neck and flutter sleeves draw the eye upwards, while you can create draping with the tie waist.

Loveappella Flutter Sleeve Jersey Wrap Top

Strategy 2: Look for flattering fabrics and styles

The second thing you can do when choosing a top is to make sure that it drapes across or flows over your belly in a flattering way.

Make sure the material in your top isn’t too thin or clingy. Instead, look out for draping and ruching.

The below top is like a top within a top, as it features a tank style underneath with draping on top.

Cinq à Sept Louella Draped Silk Top

The best tops to hide your belly

Now that we have talked about what you are trying to achieve or find when choosing a top to wear to disguise your tummy, below is a full list of all the best tops that will do a great job at hiding a belly.

You’ll see we’ve updated these tops for spring and summer as many of you are now heading towards the warmer months of the year, but there are plenty of options for winter and fall too.

You’ll notice that these tops all use at least one of the techniques described above – they either draw the eye away from the tummy area, or they use clever draping and ruching to disguise a belly.

Silk kimonos

A kimono top can be a very versatile item when you want to hide a belly. If you choose a silk material it will not cling and will hide any bulges. Most kimonos can also be worn unbelted and worn as a jacket. This will create a long vertical line (watch the video on this page to see what this looks like).

I’m belting my kimono slightly higher than my natural waist which creates a flattering silhouette.

Kimono Dries Van Noten (vintage) similar – similar dress, pants Mango,, booties from Russell & Bromley (similar)

Patterned and printed tops to camouflage your belly

Another good tip is to look for a top which is still dressy, but which has some pattern.

This confuses the eye so that the shape of your tummy isn’t so defined.

Prints are very effective in hiding bellies and you should definitely consider adding a few in your wardrobe.

The abstract print top (below) is great to wear on its own, and can easily be layered with a jacket or cardigan too. The v-neck draws the attention upwards and takes the focus away from the tummy.

Isabel Marant Étoile Zilen Abstract-Print Cotton T-Shirt

Below are more print options for you to choose from.

DKNY SPORTSWEAR Abstract Print Chiffon Shirt

AllSaints Mara Sanibel Floral Print Tie Neck Top

Farm Rio Toucans Scarf Printed Blouse

Reiss Tora Animal-Print Pussy-Bow Blouse

Anne Klein Floral Print Wrap Top

Jona @the50plusgirl above opts for a print blouse tucked into her skirt.

Get her look with this similar blouse, skirt, boots, tights, handbag and sunglasses.

Embellished tops to hide your tummy

You can use embellished tops to draw attention away from the belly.

Look out for tops with some embellishment close to your face and neckline.

That way, you draw the eyes upwards and away from your belly, putting the focus on your face and decolletage instead. The Michael Kors blouse (below) draws attention to your face and bust, while the draping helps to disguise a tummy.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Chain-Embellished Satin Blouse

Sandro Rhinestone Teardrop T-Shirt

This embroidered top below doesn’t cling and does a great job focusing the eye upwards to the bust and neckline rather than to the belly.

Elie Tahari The Shae Embroidered Lace Silk Shirt

tops that show off the shoulder

Another good way to take the focus off your belly is to put it elsewhere!

You could choose cold shoulder, or off the shoulder tops to place the attention on the parts of your body you like and away from those parts that you aren’t so keen on.

Below, this one-shoulder top will draw attention upwards, and would look lovely styled with jeans for a casual look, or with a midi skirt.

SIMKHAI Alice Off-The-Shoulder Top

Nation LTD Abana Drape Off the Shoulder Top

A.W.A.K.E. Mode Asymmetric Wool-Blend Blouse

V-neck

A V-neck is a good option for disguising a tummy. the v-neck will show off your neck and decolletage while creating a elongating effect.

rag & bone Phillipa Draped Blouse

Tops that don’t cling

Woven fabrics usually don’t cling and can be very useful in hiding bellies.

Make sure your tops don’t cling. Clinging is enemy number one if you don’t want to show your tummy. Instead, you want fabrics and tops that loosely drape over your belly.

To avoid clingy tops, make sure that you don’t buy your tops too tight.Also, be careful with a lot of synthetic fabrics. Natural materials like cotton and silk are often better.

If you want to look stylish and highlight your strengths, it is best not to wear tight tops. They will accentuate every fat bubble you have and draw attention away from you and your fabulous clothes.

Rather choose tops that skim over the belly and/or have some draping or ruching.

Halston Kavita Handkerchief Halter Top

COS Oversized Shirt

Anne Klein Popover Tunic Top

Josephine @chicatanyage above (read her style interview here) opts for a white shirt that drapes rather than clings. Her scarf draws the eye upwards.

Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt (another option here), pants, sandals and scarf.

Tops that drape in all the right places

A draped top can be very effective in hiding bellies.

This is also a very useful method in dresses.

So rather than plain soft tops that show every bubble on your body look for draped tops instead.

3.1 Phillip Lim Draped Cotton Jersey T-Shirt

Trina Turk Concourse Draped Knit Blouse

HOTGIFT Front Twist Tunic Top

Asymmetrical tops to hide your tummy

Asymmetrical tops are very effective in hiding bellies.

Not only are asymmetrical tops hip and timeless they also do a great job in creating very flattering vertical lines.

Especially those tops that start on the left and then go vertical down to the right.

This asymmetrical top below is a flattering style. The asymmetric hemline helps to take the focus away from the tummy area. It comes in lots of colors, and reviewers say it is the perfect leggings companion.

Made by Johnny Swing Tunic Top

LARACE Tank Top

When the weather cools down, you could look out for a sweater with an asymmetric style.

AllSaints Lock Rolled Neck Asymmetric Sweater

Deborah @deborahgates_ above (read her style interview here) chooses a long asymmetric top with her denim.

Check out this similar tunic top (another option here), jeans, sandals, handbag and earrings.

crossover

Or, you could try a crossover style like the Karen Kane top (below), which is super flattering and comes in a choice of colors.

Karen Kane Asymmetrical Crepe Top

Layered tops

Layering in general is super effective to hide bellies.

This makes hiding a belly during winter and fall much easier than during summer.

But, if you are in part of the world that is heading into summer, or you are going on vacation, you can still use layering.

Layered tops to the rescue. Very good at hiding bellies, they look super hip too and can be easily layered with a sleeveless vest, cardigan or jacket.

A layered blouse will enable you to create many outfits.

You can easily layer it with a cardigan, jacket or sweater, but it can also be worn very stylishly on its own.

The advantage of this top (below) is that it does the layering for you.

Chaus Embellished Asymmetric Overlay Top

Lotusmile Double-Layered Chiffon Top

Neineiwu Chiffon Blouse

Kimba @kimbalikes above wears a layered top with her maxi skirt.

Steal her look with tis similar layered tank top, maxi skirt, sandals, necklace and earrings.

pleated

A top with pleats like the ones from Vince Camuto (below) could be another good choice. The pleats create a draped effect and add extra material which drapes over the belly area. You’ll see that this top has one pleat in the center that creates a draped effect, but you could also choose tops with a series of pleats across the front.

Vince Camuto Print V-Neck Top

Ming Wang Pleated Colorblock Crêpe de Chine Top

Zadig & Voltaire Pleated Satin Blouse

Don’t be afraid of adding a waist

You can think about hiding your belly by skimming over it, or by creating a waist for yourself at your slimmest part to give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

You could do this with a top which has some elastic to create a waistline or a tie.

Just make sure it doesn’t tie at the widest part of your tummy.

The tie waist option from Amazon (below) features a v-neck and draping. To add a little extra glamour, you could add a lace camisole underneath.

GRACE KARIN Cap Sleeve Tie Waist Blouse

Karen Kane Metallic Drape Front Top

Max Mara Leisure Jersey Belted Blouse

Tops with vertical stripes

I’m not someone who thinks vertical stripes are a magical solution when it comes to hiding a belly.

In fact, you can find that a long cardigan in a block color worn over a top with horizontal stripes works very well too.

But there’s no doubt that vertical lines can draw the eye up and down rather than across if you choose a flattering style.

Madewell The Oversize Straight Hem Signature Poplin Shirt

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Malorie Striped Cotton Top

Misook Striped Knit Turtleneck Sweater

Ruffled or peplum tops

This is one you have to be careful with.

Choose the ruffle in the “wrong” place and it can emphasize your belly rather than disguise it.

You can either opt for a ruffle that skims over your belly to disguise it, or a ruffle in a different place altogether to draw the eye away from the tummy.

If you choose a peplum which dips in at your narrowest point and then skims out, or ruffles which are in strategic places to divert the attention from your middle section, they can work.

Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Poppy V-Neck Peplum Top

Lilly Pulitzer Blakelynn Satin Peplum Top

Lucky Brand Beaded Embroidered Pintuck Top

Empire waist

These work for some women but not for others.

An empire waist is what is traditionally thought of as pregnancy wear and, if you do have a round tummy, it can be an unflattering option.

But, if your belly is wider – so kind of a muffin top – rather than sticking out at the front, it can definitely work.

That’s because an empire waist will generally highlight the area just below your bust, which tends to be the slimmest point on your torso if you have a bit of a belly.

Harshman Monnier Draped Cotton Blouse

GRACE KARIN V Neck Tie Front Top

LOTUCY Tie Front Top

Choose tops that emphasize your bust

Do choose tops that emphasize your bust rather than your waistline.

That way the eye will be drawn upwards rather than to your tummy, and often you find if you have a bit of a belly, you have a great bust.

Just make sure you wear a well-fitting bra.

DKNY Ruched Zip Front V-Neck Top

Tankaneo Knotted Top

Ulla Johnson Elli Pleat Satin Top

Georgette @grownandcurvywoman above (read her style interview here) opts for a beautiful yellow top with her brown pants.

Recreate her outfit with this similar blouse (another option here), wide pants, sandals and earrings.

If you have a bigger bust take a look at the best bras for large breasts that are stylish and supportive.

Tops that create long vertical lines

1. Long cardigans

If you find asymmetry is too edgy for you or you prefer a more traditional way to hide your belly, opt for vertical lines.

These can be very effectively created with long (sleeveless) vests and cardigans.

Not only do these hide bellies, but they are also very effective in lengthening and slimming too.

GRACE KARIN Open Front Long Knitted Cardigan

Misook Long Colorblocked Cardigan

Also read our article on how to dress if you are petite.

Extra inspiration on using layering to hide a tummy

Below, you can see more outfit ideas on how to you can hide a tummy with layers or patterns.

A sleeveless cardigan can be a good option during warmer months, while you’ll want sleeves when it’s chillier.

The longer your cardigan or jacket, the longer and leaner you will appear, although you usually don’t want to go longer than 2/3 from the height of your shoulders to the bottom.

Misook Long Colorblocked Cardigan – KOBI HALPERIN Mila Sleeveless Stretch Silk Blouse – Marella Turku Stretch Canvas Crop Chino Pants – Fly London Yefi Wedge Sandals – Mansur Gavriel x Apparis Mini Candy Leather Hobo Bag – Swarovski Millenia Ruthenium-Plated & Crystal Necklace

Short jackets and cardigans will hide your belly too, but will have an overall more boxy silhouette.

Cinq à Sept Zoe Biker Jacket – KOBI HALPERIN Nellie Stretch Silk Georgette Top – PAIGE Genevieve Flared Jeans – Sam Edelman Tenny Sneakers – Aimee Kestenberg Bleecker XL Leather Tote Bag – Kenneth Jay Lane Goldtone & Glass Cabochon Earrings

2. Sleeveless vests

Instead of a cardigan or coat you can choose a vest, which is a good option when the weather is warmer.

A long vest is perfect for creating long, lean vertical lines, but you can opt for a shorter waterfall vest too.

Even if the weather is a little warmer where you are, you can still layer a sleeveless vest over a sleeveless vest to benefit from tummy-hiding layers.

The sleeveless cardigan below can be combined with many tops and will look great over skinny pants and jeans.

It has the benefit of being draped too which makes it even more flattering.

A2Y Open Front Vest

For more options on wearing vests, you may like to check out this article on how to wear a long vest.

3. Jackets for layering

Layering is one of the most effective tools to hide a belly so it’s essential to have a good jacket or blazer in your wardrobe.

Jackets can make many casual looks just a bit chicer and they are an easy layering piece.

GTSQ Sheer Button-Up Tunic

MELIFLUOS DESIGNED IN SPAIN Wrap Poncho Ruana

Or, you could choose a draped or asymmetrical poncho like the options below.

Fomolom Knitted Poncho

PULI Large Cross Front Poncho

Fonda @savvysouthernchic above wears a poncho, which is a perfect cover-up to hide a tummy.

Steal her look with this similar sweater, ruana, jeans, booties, earrings and necklace.

4. Try a shapewear camisole

When you think about shapewear, you tend to think about the kind of thigh-slimming Spanx worn by celebrities on the red carpet.

But, you could wear a camisole underneath your tops to smooth out your tummy.

SPANX Thinstincts^® 2.0 Shaping Camisole

Honeylove SuperPower Thong

The best brands for tops that hide the belly

When you are looking for tops to hide your tummy, it can be easiest to have some brands in mind.

Here are some of the best.

J.Jill has a large variety of tops. This layering top will look good on its own in summer and be used as a first layer in winter.

Eileen Fisher: Beautiful long tunics and (sleeveless) vests in natural fabrics that create long and lean lines. They have a special line for petites too!

Vince Camuto: makes a variety of draped, layered and asymmetrical tops that are really flattering.

Karen Kane: usually has a good range of draped and cross over tops.

City Chic: A good option for evening wear as well as tunic-style tops.

shop the best tops to hide the belly here:

What is your favorite top to hide your belly? Do you have any favorite brands for tops to hide your tummy? I’d love to hear your own recommendations.

Continue reading:

1. How To Hide Your Belly With The Right Clothes
2. How To Look Taller And Slimmer
3. How To Dress For The Apple Body Shape

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Feature image by Deborah @deborahgates_

The post The best tops to hide your tummy appeared first on 40+ Style.

Characteristics of the hourglass body

• Well defined (narrow) waist
• Hip and bust tend to be almost the same and quite big

The hourglass is seen by many as the ideal body shape, although it may also present some challenges if you have a significant bust.

You may also have gathered some weight around the abdomen area in which case you will have some characteristics of the apple body type as well.

You can see tips here on how to dress the apple body shape.

Runway looks for inspiration on how to dress the hourglass

While many designers cater for the rectangle or inverted triangle because a lot of models are build this way, there are others who celebrate the hourglass shape and don’t shy away from dressing women with a larger bust and hips.

If you’re looking for inspiration on the catwalks on how to dress the hourglass, then the runways of Max Mara, Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior are good shows to look out for as they tend to design with curves in mind.

Christian Dior –Max Mara – Alexander McQueen

Celebrities with the hourglass body shape

Some celebrities with this body shape include:

• Marilyn Monroe
• Raquel Welch
• Nigella Lawson
• Salma Hayek and
• Christina Hendricks

So, if you have an hourglass figure, you’re certainly in good company!

How should i dress if i have an hourglass body shape

Nikki @40notfrumpy above opts for leopard print and booties. A v-neck dress that shows off the waistline is a great option for hourglasses.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress, booties and shoulder bag.

Is hourglass the most attractive body shape

Well, some studies suggest that men prefer hourglasses. And, the hourglass is a great shape because of the balance in your silhouette as your bust and hips are around the same size. But we love every single type of figure at 40+ style because each shape has its own beautiful attributes.

The aim of dressing for your hourglass body type

You will want to accentuate your very feminine body so fitted clothes (at the right places) are key. Another objective may be to elongate your legs.

You are lucky in that your body is already balanced. Your bust and hips are around the same size. Other body shapes will find that they need to add balance.

So you will want to keep the balance that you have and avoid adding any “bulk” with your clothing.

If you add ruffles or extra width to your bust, for example, you will lose your ideal hourglass shape and end up looking “top heavy”.

If you add extra width to your waist with boxy styles, you will look heavier than you really are because you will hide your lovely shape.

Adding a belt to your dress like Claudia @beafitmom.nl above is a great idea if you’re an hourglass.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress (another option here), loafers, handbag and belt.

How to dress the hourglass body shape

So, now we’ve looked at what you shouldn’t do – ie, not to add extra bulk, what should you do?

Upper body

• You will want to wear mostly V-shaped tops or tops with a deep neckline. High necklines will just make your bust area look too bulky
• Look for dresses that fit your boobs and elongate your waist. They should fit very snugly around that area.
• If you have some weight around the abdomen then make sure your buy your dress in supportive fabric.
• T-shirts look nicest when they fit your waist, have a V-neck and have some accents on the shoulders.
• Get a coat that highlights your waist and features a V-neck.
• Wear single-breasted jackets that are tailored. They will often look best when left open to create a nice vertical line, which elongates
• Choose shirts that accentuate your boobs and that don’t have buttons all the way to the top.
• Tops that flare just below the boob area and go to below your crutch can be very flattering with trousers.
• Little fitted jackets that tuck in your boobs will look great on you.
• Use light scarves in winter to cover your open V-neck.
• Wear darker colors on top to make your boobs appear smaller, if you want to.
• A good bra is essential for this body type. Make sure you get a good supportive bra that will thrust your bust forwards.

Wacoal Elevated Allure Full Coverage Underwire Bra

Lower body

• A pencil skirt is a good shape on you as it will go in and out with your curves.
• Bootcut and flared styles will look great on you when it comes to pants as they compliment your curves.

Erica @ericabunker above (read her style interview here) shows off a good pair of pants for the hourglass, as these will emphasize a slim waist before flaring out at the hem.

Check out this blouse (another option here) that you can wear with this similar pair of pants (another option here), sandals, necklace and earrings.

Top wardrobe tips for the hourglass:

• Pencil skirts that fit well are ideal for the hourglass as they accentuate your wonderful curves.
• Other skirts can work too but will usually look better when they end around the knee.
• Opt for flat front boot cut trousers, preferably with stretch for a snug fit.
• Choose shoes that accentuate your curves, such as shoes with rounded toes, peep toes or bows.

LK Bennett Ellie Chain Print Drawstring Top – Elie Tahari The Gavi Denim Midi-Skirt – Tory Burch Claire Cap-Toe Ballet Flats – See by Chloé Mara Leather Saddle Bag – Monica Vinader Nura Freshwater Pearl Drop Earrings

What not to wear for an hourglass figure

We’ve looked at what you SHOULD wear to fit and flatter your lovely curves. But, how about what not to wear?

Here are a few tips on what to stay away from.

• Avoid too many frills on your clothes as they will add extra bulk to places where you don’t need it.
• Avoid excess fabric for the same reason.
• It can sometimes be best to stay away from obvious waistbands or belts. Instead, you can let your clothes accentuate your small waist.
• Flat lace-up shoes can be unflattering to your shapely legs.
• Be careful when choosing casual clothes as they can make you look boxy.
• Also, take into account the width of your belt. If you are fairly short-waisted, don’t choose a style which is too wide as this will reduce the space between your bust and your hips.

A capsule wardrobe for the hourglass

If you have an hourglass figure and want to put together all of the tips in one capsule wardrobe, read on for tops, pants, skirts, dresses, shoes and accessories, which are all flattering for your figure, as well as having a nod to this season’s trends.

Also take a look at how to create a capsule wardrobe.

Tops for the hourglass

When looking for tops, you will find that scoop neck styles look good on you as they will show off your collar bone, and the curve of the neck will mirror your own curves.

The other style to look out for is a v-neck. This cuts the width of your top half visually in half by drawing the eye down instead of across.

If you aren’t keen on your upper arms, then look for tops which have slanted sleeves, or where the sleeve ends at a slim part of your arm rather than the widest part.

Peplums, fitted waist styles, wrap tops and belted styles will also look great on you.

Loveappella Faux Wrap Top – LK Bennett Anabella Lenzing Ecovero Viscose Blend Top – LK Bennett Ellie Chain Print Drawstring Top – Cinq à Sept Abrielle Tie Hem Shirt

above wears a wrap top with ties at the waist. Wrap styles tend to be flattering for hourglass shapes.

Misook Side Tie Blazer – LK Bennett Anabella Lenzing Ecovero Viscose Blend Top – Joe’s Flawless – Hi Honey High Waist Bootcut Jeans – LK Bennett Signature Leather Trainers – LK Bennett Dominica Suede Clutch Bag – Bony Levy 14K Gold Pendant Necklace

Jackets and coats for the hourglass

As with the rest of your clothing, your jacket or coat should show off your waist.

Boxy styles won’t do you any favors as they will actually make you look larger than you are, and they will hide your lovely waistline.

The most flattering shapes for you will be those which either go in at the waist which are tailored, or which are belted at the waist.

You could also think about the kind of retro-style bomber jackets that were popular in the 50s (seen on the Pink Ladies in the movie Grease!).

You could look for a classic trench style, a swing coat, a peplum jacket or a tailored blazer. Trench coats featured heavily on the fall and winter catwalks this year.

LK Bennett Sky Lenzing Ecovero Viscose Blend Crepe Jacket – Misook Side Tie Blazer – Good American Belted Cargo Denim Jacket – Mango Belted Coat

Rita @ritapalazzi above (read her style interview here) opts for a trench style. Trenches are ideal for the hourglass as they show off your waistline.

Steal her look with this similar coat, wide pants, pumps, shoulder bag and sunglasses.

Dresses and jumpsuits for the hourglass figure

As a general rule, hourglass shapes look fantastic in dresses. A wrap style in a knee-length or midi length is a very good shape for you.

A wrap dress has a flattering v-neck as well as coming in at the waist and then flaring out over your hips.

Choose a style with a tie or a belt so you can draw attention to your waist. Retro styles tend to be a good option too. Fifties-style dresses are made to flatter the hourglass figure.

You could also opt for a jumpsuit. Choose a style which is either fitted at the waist, or which you can draw in with a belt. Look for a v-neck or a wider neck style like a boat neck.

Black Halo Joan Turtleneck Long-Sleeve Dress – Chelsea28 Sleeveless Corset Bodice Dress – Mango Wrap Shirt Dress – Tahari ASL Peak Lapel Belted Blazer & Pants Set

LK Bennett Sky Lenzing Ecovero Viscose Blend Crepe Jacket – Mango Wrap Shirt Dress – LK Bennett Mindy Patent Leather Ankle Strap Courts – LK Bennett Jamie Croc-Effect Leather Tote Bag – Monica Vinader Nura Freshwater Pearl Drop Earrings

Best jeans, pants and skirts for hourglass figures

A slightly flared or bootcut style will be the most flattering for your figure as it balances out your curves. Look out for a stretch denim with a high waist.

You can also wear skinny jeans if you want to show off your curves. But make sure to get a stretch denim for a better fit.

Joe’s Flawless – Hi Honey High Waist Bootcut Jeans – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Sky Rise Flare Jeans – LK Bennett Soni Button-Detail Tailored Trousers – Elie Tahari The Gavi Denim Midi-Skirt

A pencil skirt is the best shape for an hourglass as, even though it is straight in style, it will go in and out in all the right places with your curves.

Choose a knee-length to show off your shapely calves. Or, you could opt for a midi-style.

But if you do go for the longer option, you are likely to look best if you choose to wear a little heel with your pencil skirt, whether you opt for a pump or a bootie, because hourglasses, as a general rule, can be shorter in the leg than other body shapes.

Take a look at the most comfortable heels to wear.

Patricia @patriciaafricaiglesias above (read her style interview here) opts for a pencil skirt, which is a great option for hourglass shapes. She wears her jacket over her shoulders, which makes sure her waist is still visible so her jacket doesn’t add extra ‘bulk’.

Check out this similar tee, denim jacket, skirt (another option here), pumps, bag, earrings, necklace and sunglasses.

Shoes for the hourglass

If you are an hourglass body shape, you are all about beautiful curves. Look out for shoes which mirror your curves.

A round toe is likely to be most flattering for you. Think about ballet flats and pumps you can wear with jeans and pencil skirts.

You are likely to have lovely shapely ankles, so you could draw attention to them with an ankle strap, but if you do have shorter legs, be aware that a strap across your ankle can make your legs look even shorter.

Tory Burch Claire Cap-Toe Ballet Flats – LK Bennett Blakely Patent Snaffle Pumps – LK Bennett Mindy Patent Leather Ankle Strap Courts – LK Bennett Signature Leather Trainers

Good American Belted Cargo Denim Jacket – Loveappella Faux Wrap Top – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Sky Rise Flare Jeans – LK Bennett Blakely Patent Snaffle Pumps – See by Chloé Mara Leather Saddle Bag – Monica Vinader Nura Freshwater Pearl Drop Earrings

For more style inspiration, see our article on how to wear short dresses with pants.

Accessories for the hourglass

When it comes to accessories, retro style scarves will flatter your style. But, as hourglasses do tend to be busty, you probably won’t want to add too much bulk to your top half.

As with your shoes, look out for jewelry and handbags which have a rounded shape. This will flatter your figure rather than working against it (as can happen if you choose more angular shapes).

When you choose a handbag, look out for the strap length. If you opt for a style which sits at your bust, you will end up adding width there. Instead, choose a bag which either ends at your slim waist to draw attention there, or a bag which you hold so that it ends on your shapely legs.

If you do feel that a style looks a little bulky or boxy on you, you can wear a belt over the top.

Belts will be your favorite accessory as they draw attention to your waist.

You can simply pop a belt over a coat, a cardigan, a dress or a top to show off your shapely waist. Look out for stretchy styles so you have the flexibility to wear your belt over anything.

LK Bennett Jamie Croc-Effect Leather Tote Bag – LK Bennett Dominica Suede Clutch Bag – See by Chloé Mara Leather Saddle Bag – Kate Spade New York Snow Dot Bandana Scarf – Bony Levy 14K Gold Pendant Necklace – Monica Vinader Nura Freshwater Pearl Drop Earrings – Burberry 52mm Cat Eye Sunglasses – Tory Burch Miller Reversible Leather Belt

Julie @stylishparadox above (read her style interview here) adds a belt to her colorful suit.

Check out this blazer set (another option here) that you can wear with this similar pair of pumps, handbag, belt, earrings and sunglasses.

9 outfits for the hourglass shape using the pieces above

Below are 9 outfit ideas on how to dress the hourglass for you using the pieces from above.

But, there are obviously lots more ways you could mix and match all of these pieces to create dozens more outfits. You could wear any of the tops with any of the bottoms and change the shoes to make your outfit more casual or formal.

Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

SHOP the pieces perfect for the hourglass shaped body here:

More hourglass inspiration for you

Below is an earlier hourglass capsule we created. You can see that all of the items may be past season but they are timeless so should still provide you with plenty of inspiration.

How do you dress your hourglass shape? What are your favorite pieces and brands when it comes to how to dress the hourglass? Let us know!

Continue reading:

1. How To Determine Your Body Shape
2. How To Dress The Apple Body Shape
3. How To Dress A Pear Shaped Body

P.S.: Please note that the guidelines for the hourglass body shape above are for general guidance only. Everyone is different and you certainly don’t have to stick to the above guidelines on how to dress the hourglass to dress well.

Like this article on how to dress the hourglass body shape? Save it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Nikki @40notfrumpy

The post How to dress the hourglass body shape appeared first on 40+ Style.

Finding the best pants to hide your belly

A challenge many women experience is finding pants to hide your belly and skirts that fit perfectly when your hip and waist are drastically different sizes or you have a larger tummy.

Another desire is to find pants and skirts that tuck the belly in.

The challenge is to find the best pants that fit. If you have a belly, that often means looking for pants with an elasticized waist.

There are TWO different, but just as effective options you could select.

1. Pants with an elastic waist
2. Pants that help tuck the tummy in

First, let’s look at pants and skirts which are comfortable and which fit well because they have an elasticated waist.

Second, I will show you some stylish options which actually help to tuck your tummy in and give you a smoother silhouette.

How do you wear trousers with a stomach?

We have lots of tips for you below. Apart from the obvious of making sure that your pants fit and aren’t digging into your tummy, you really have two main choices in terms of the silhouette you opt for. Choose a pair of pants that are tighter fitting in the legs, and then hide your belly with a longer, loose top like a flowy tunic. Or, make sure your pants aren’t too clingy around the stomach area, and choose wider pants with a top you can tuck in.

How do you hide a stomach bulge in pants?

A pair of high waisted pants can be a great option as they can keep everything tucked in and held in place. They can help you hide any belly fat because they can smooth your tummy over.

Getting the right fit for your skirts and pants to hide a belly

There are a few approaches you can take.

First, an option to get the fit right is to have your pants and skirts tailored. This is certainly a great option for pants you already own (or those without an elastic waistband).

When buying new pants to hide your belly it’s usually best to buy pants that fit the widest part. That way you can ask your tailor to fit the part that is too loose.

A second option (and the one which this post is centered on) is opting for pants and skirts with an elastic waistband.

Comfortable pants with elastic waistbands

Let me show you the extensive options you have when it comes to selecting pants to hide your belly with elastic waistbands that create flattering and chic looks.

From on-trend cropped jeans to wide leg black trousers, mostly every kind of pants you can imagine comes in elastic waistband styles these days.

An extra benefit of selecting pants and skirts with elastane is that they also help you tuck your tummy in.

Similar top, pants, shoes and hat

Elastic waistband skirts and women’s elastic waist pants can be super stylish and flattering!

Don’t automatically think that an elastic waistband means severely limiting your styling options or that you have to settle for a pair of very, very unflattering pants.

Whereas once, these may have been seen as a styling option only for the very old, and they were made in rather unflattering man-made materials such as polyester, elastic waist pants have come a long way in the style stakes.

Some quick guidelines to keep in mind when looking for pants to hide your belly

Keep your body shape in mind

Just because you are opting for a pair of elastic waist pants, don’t forget about what styles flatter your body shape.

You will find elastic waist pants in every style from skinny to bootcut.

Also take a look at how to wear printed pants.

Try a longer top

If you pick a dressy pair of pants that has a drawstring, it might be best to select a longer top to keep your look appropriate. Look out for draped or asymmetric styles, or tops with a print.

Anne Klein Nehru Tunic Shirt

Johnny Was Braemar Kita Paisley Silk Tunic

NIC + ZOE Sweet Dreams Jersey Long-Sleeve Shirt

Eileen Fisher Funnel Neck Tunic

Misook Cozy Striped Knit Asymmetric Turtleneck Tunic

Kimba @kimbalikes above shows how you could wear a long, plain color shirt with a pair of print pants. You could also add a necklace to draw attention to your face and neckline.

Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt (another option here), pants, sandals and necklace.

Or a TIGHTER TOP

Keep the style rule in mind that it’s usually best to combine a loose fit with a tighter or more tailored top. If your pants have a tighter fit a wider top may look better. If you do choose a tighter top, some ruching and draping will help to hide a tummy.

Loveappella Faux Wrap Top

Style appropriately

Treat elastic waist pants the same way you would any other style. They might be more comfortable and fit better, however, you should still strive to style them appropriately.

Women’s elastic waist pants

Typically, if you are going for a dressier option in a style with an elastic waist, you should aim for pants that do not have those scrunchy type of hems.

As mentioned above, there are a number of great elastic waistband options.

These can be a challenge when going for an office-appropriate look, and can be more appropriate for casual or after-work hours looks.

A good style to look out for can be pants which look like regular pants at the front, but with an elasticated waistband at the back.

You can still opt for a belt if your pants are elasticated. Just make sure the belt doesn’t draw attention to any problem areas.

Many pants come in a style where they look like “regular” button-fastening pants from the front, but they have an elasticated waistband at the back.

As well as traditional elastic waist pants, another option is a stretchy pull-on pants.

There are also a number of casual options with elastic waistbands.

Some styles even create very flat waistband looks that almost appear to be button closure pants.

You will find that drawstring pants with cuffed hems look best styled casually.

There are also plenty of elastic waistband pants which are very versatile and which could be dressed up or down.

Pants with an elastic waistband can also be a good option for travel.

NZT by NIC+ZOE French Terry Drawstring Pants

Caslon Drawstring Wide Leg Linen Cargo Pants

Vince Pintuck Pull-On Crop Flared Pants

Helmut Lang Wool-Blend Pull-On Suiting Trousers

Jones New York Wide Leg Linen Blend Drawstring Pants

Sharryn @thestylishwoman above (read her style interview here) opts for a pair of drawstring pants that would be perfect for warmer weather. She matches her headscarf to her pants.

Check out this similar top (another option here), pants (another option here), sandals, necklace, earrings, sunglasses and head scarf.

Elastic waist jeans

Jeans are wonderful but the heavy buttons and thick zippers can sometimes enlarge your belly. Instead opt for elasticized jeans.

You will find that elastic waist jeans come in every style that “regular” jeans do, but jeggings tend to be the easiest style to find.

Wash Lab Denim Lola Elastic Waist Frayed Soft Wide Leg Jeans

Liverpool Los Angeles Gia Glider Pull-On Crop Flare Jeans

Chic Classic Collection Elastic Waist Pull-On Jeans

Lee Relaxed Fit Side Elastic Tapered Leg Jean

GRAPENT Elastic Waist Wide Leg Jeans 

Karen @styledbykaren above opts for black pants with her shirt. If you are trying to hide a tummy this would be a good outfit to try as leaving the shirt open helps to create a column effect and disguises your mid section.

Steal her look with this similar tank top, shirt, jeans, loafers and sunglasses.

Effective belly hiding elastic waistband skirts

Just as with pants, you can find plenty of styles of skirts which feature an elastic waistband.

Skirts too can be very effective in hiding bellies and stretchy skirts are very easy to fit.

If you add a print in the mix, they can be really flattering as they highlight your curves and the elastan sucks in your tummy.

This means you can dress to suit your body type as well as being stylish and comfortable.

Loveappella Roll Top Maxi Skirt

Vince Pull-On Midi Skirt

Halogen Cargo Pocket Drawstring Skirt

Boden Isabella Cotton Sateen Skirt

Kate Kasin High Waist Pleated Skirt

Similar tee, skirt, jacket, hat, earrings and Fly London Bani sandals

Another option is to choose a skirt with some ruching which can help to cover up any lumps or bumps. Look for ruching in the areas you want to ‘disguise’.

VERO MODA Kanva Sparkle Ruched Skirt

Kate Kasin Pencil Skirt

EARKOHA Ruched Midi Skirt

Pants that tuck the tummy in

Some of the examples above in the sections on elasticated waist clothing may have good tummy tucking capabilities, but in this second section, I will specifically talk about pants and jeans that can smooth out your tummy.

Here are a few that I and 40+Style contributors have personal experience with.

Of course, you don’t have to choose an elasticated waist to make sure that your pants or skirts fit your tummy.

Another good option is to look for clothes with “tummy tucking” technology or with a high-rise.

I love my cropped legging pants below from UNIQLO (similar here) which I have in a dark and light wash.

Although my bootcut PAIGE jeans do have buttons and a zipper, the elastized fabric is so good that they do a great job at sucking the belly in.

If you choose jeans that have a high rise, they will do an excellent job at tucking the tummy in.

I’m loving these brands:

• NYDJ
• KUT from the Kloth
• PAIGE

Below are more tummy control options you could choose.

Rekucci Ease Into Comfort Tummy Control Straight Leg Pant

Lee Instantly Slims Straight Leg Jean

Rammus Stretch Dress Pants

ZTN Tummy Control Pull-On Dress Pants

Sunzel Tummy Control Flare Pants

Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) wears a blazer over her burgundy pants.

Recreate her outfit with this similar tee, blazer, pants and booties.

Leggings

Leggings can do an excellent job at hiding the belly.

Commando Control Top Leggings

1822 Denim Butter Jeggings

SPANX Faux Leather Leggings

Democracy Ab Solution Jeggings

Read more about this in our article on how to wear leggings – an extensive guide.

Melanie @melanie.rae.miller above wears leather-look leggings with her raw hem top.

Steal her look with this similar tunic (another option here), leggings, slip-on sneakers and earrings.

Tummy tucking jeans

Some of these jeans have an elastic waistband, and some have a regular fastening but are made from stretchier fabric with clever control panels.

Below are some more tummy control options for you.

NYDJ Marilyn Straight Leg Jeans

1822 Denim High Waist Pull-On Slim Bootcut Jeans

WallFlower Luscious Bootcut Insta Stretch Juniors Jeans

Lee Sculpting Slim Fit Pull On Jeans

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Totally Shaping Skinny Jeans

Find out what more what are best tummy control jeans in stores now.

Georgette @grownandcurvywoman above (read her style interview here) shows off a fabulous way to print mix with her striped top and floral jacket.

Check out this similar top, blazer, wide jeans, pumps, clutch and sunglasses.

shop some of the pants to hide the belly below:

What are some your biggest challenges when it comes to finding the best pants to hide your belly?

Continue reading:

1. How To Hide Your Belly With The Right Clothes
2. The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
3. The Best Tummy Control Jeans To Give You A Smoother Look

Like this post on the best pants to hide your belly? Share it on Pinterest!

The post The best pants and skirts to fit and hide your belly appeared first on 40+ Style.

Today let’s go into detail on how to dress when you are short or petite, ie., below the average height of 1.65 m (5’4”).

How to dress when you are short or petite – what you need to know

In principle, these guidelines, which are now updated for the upcoming season, will work for anyone who is short in height, or for those who want to appear longer or leaner in their appearance.

These ideas also work well for those whose upper body is almost the same length as their lower body. In that case, the aim is to make the lower body appear longer so that you look like you have longer legs.

This is the ultimate guide for dressing when you are short or petite. In this article, you will find

• Lots of tips on how to dress to make yourself look longer, leaner and slimmer as well as what not to wear.
• a capsule wardrobe and style guide for petite women after 40
• The best stores to shop in if you are petite
• stylish petite celebrities to give you some extra inspiration

How should a petite person dress?

However you want to is definitely the answer! But if your goal is to elongate and streamline your figure, then there are all sorts of tips that we cover below, including using layers, accessories and the right prints and patterns to flatter your petite figure.

What clothes to wear if you’re petite?

Read on because we’ve created a capsule wardrobe especially for petite figures, with tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes and accessories and outfit ideas for how you can put them together.

How can I look good if I’m petite?

All the tips in our article are designed to flatter petite shapes and make you look and feel good about what you’re wearing. Kylie @kylish_aus (above), for example, looks fabulous. She tucks in her blouse for a leg lengthening effect. Larger prints can be tricky to wear if you are petite, but a good tip is to ensure that you incorporate some of the colors from the rest of your outfit, as Kylie does here.

Get her look with this similar blouse (another option here), wide pants and sneakers.

What is the best dress style for petite figures?

Dresses are fantastic for petites, because they don’t ‘break’ your figure up horizontally like separates can. Any dress style can work wonderfully. Just be sure to choose a dress to suit your body shape. Because being petite is just your height. You also need to consider the type of figure you have.

How to dress for all seasons if you are petite

You can wear elongating layers in winter and fall, which can make it easier to dress during colder seasons when you are petite.

However, dresses are fabulous for petites and you can create a lengthening effect with a one color dress during warmer weather. You can also try lighter-weight layers such as sleeveless vests.

How to dress when you are petite – what to think about

Petite doesn’t necessarily mean small and slim. It simply means that you are 5′ 4” or below.

You can be any size, which makes it even more important to keep your outfits in the right proportion.

When you are short in height you will usually have the following objectives with your dressing:

1. Appear longer, taller and leaner
2. Create a flattering silhouette (using the rule of thirds, so you don’t split your body in half)
3. Avoid boxiness which will only make you look wider rather than taller.

Most short women will want to appear taller and leaner.

You may also want to take a look at this article how to look taller and slimmer no matter what your height.

How to dress when you are short – general guidelines

This is relatively easy to achieve if you stick to the following guidelines:

1. Stick to monochrome outfits or outfits with few color variations

You would look perfect in simple shift dresses, with little color accents here and there.

Monochromatic looks will create a vertical image and instantly create the illusion of height.

Dark colors are a great choice to create this illusion as they make the wearer look thinner furthering the perception of height. But essentially this tip will work for any color.

Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) demonstrates a useful technique to creating the illusion of height. Note that she creates a column of color by wearing the same color from top to toe, then she adds a layer on top, which breaks those vertical lines down even further.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top, denim jacket, pants, booties and necklace.

2. Petite dresses: Wear a dress!

Dresses will look great on many short women, as they automatically create the much desired 2/3 – 1/3 look.

If you opt for a form-fitting slim silhouette then this will make you look even taller.

A knee-length sheath dress is a great option for a petite frame as the tailored silhouette avoids unwanted bulk.

The end result is a lean look that makes the wearer appear taller. Polish off the look with slingback kitten heels, for a little-added height.

The knee-length of the knit dress (below) is a good option to look out for if you are petite.

Petite Studio Saffron Knit Dress

3. Petite clothing: Get the right fit

Getting clothes with the right fit and size is even more important for short women. Ill-fitting clothes will add extra bulk.

Avoid oversized clothes (even if they are on trend).

If you do really want to wear oversized clothes, make sure to create a good silhouette and that the balance between fitted and oversize is correct.

Make sure not to have both wide on top and below. A belted dress in one color is perfect for petites.

4. Wear shoes that keep your ankles free

Avoid straps around the ankle as ankle straps can make your legs look shorter. Instead opt for shoes that elongate. Mules are a great option for petites.

If you want to wear flats rather than heels, pointed toes can also create the illusion of extra height.

SARTO by Franco Sarto Tracy Half d’Orsay Flats
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)

5. Wear heels with your petite outfits

An obvious way to gain height is to wear a heel. However, don’t go overboard with these. Getting heels that are too high will make you look out of proportion.

For examples on how I wear heels and a full list of recommended comfortable shoes, also check my article on the best arch support shoes.

Below are more heels you could wear to add some additional height. You could add any type of heel you are comfortable with, from stilhettos and kitten heels to wedges and block heels.

Bandolino Candy Pump
(Amazon / Zappos)

Sam Edelman Vienna Pumps
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)

Lucky Brand Joal Pump

Abi @stealmystyle40 above opts for classic black pumps with her leather pants.

Steal her look with this similar shirt, blazer, leather pants, pumps, belt and earrings.

6. Wear accessories in proportion

Go easy on the oversized accessories as these may overwhelm you.

Choose accessories that are in proportion with your face and the rest of your body

The bigger you are the bigger your accessories can be.

Choose a handbag that fits your physique. In many cases, oversized handbags are not your best choice as they will make you look smaller.

Marc Jacobs The Small Metallic Leather Tote

7. how to dress when you are short – Be smart with belts

For many petites your legs will be relatively short.

To make those appear longer you can wear the same color belt as your pants or skirt, making your legs look longer.

SANSTHS Set of 4 Skinny Leather Belts

8. Find your ideal skirt length

Although a short dress can be very effective for short people when they are young, I would advise against a very short hemline over 40.

Instead, opt for styles that fall just below or on top of the knee. A high-waisted skirt or pants would make your legs appear longer.

Kate Kasin Wrap Front Pencil Skirt

You may also like: what is the right skirt length for women over 40.

9. Vertical patterns are your friend

Vertical patterns will always elongate and would be especially good for your pants or skirt.

Horizontal stripes are best avoided as they draw the eye across rather than up and down.

Ramy Brook Anahi Dash Stripe Pants

10. Create a vertical line with a buttoned shirt dress

Buttoned shirt dresses that stop just above or on top of the knee will create a nice vertical line as well.

Most wrap dresses work really well for petites too.

The striped dress below could be worn on its own, as a tunic over skinny pants or leggings or you could wear a shirt dress unbuttoned as a sleeveless vest.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Veronica Striped Cotton Tie-Waist Shirtdress

11. Create vertical lines in your outfit

You don’t necessarily need to feature vertical lines as a print such as a stripe to have vertical lines in your outfit.

Create nice vertical lines with open straight jackets and cardigans.

A great look is to have a cardigan or jacket the same length as your dress.

Long straight cardigans or sleeveless vests are perfect for petites!

The J.Crew jacket below has a vertical stripe running down it which will help with creating your vertical lines. It comes in lots of different colors so you should find your favorite and reviewers say the longer length is stylish and youthful.

J.Crew Emilie Lady Jacket

11. Create vertical lines with a sleeveless vest

I added below one of my own outfits. Even though I’m not petite this could have been worn by a petite woman.

The column of color (the black) creates a lengthening vertical line for the red vest.

You can see a similar long vest from Amazon, which comes in a variety of colors.

MessBebe Sleeveless Long Vest

similar cardigan, jumpsuit, booties, tote, necklace and sunglasses

13. avoid double breasted

As a general rule, avoid a double breasted style, as these will add width rather than length. Instead, choose a slimline single-breasted blazer like the ones from J.Crew (below). Wearers say the fit is flattering and it comes in a choice of colors.

J.Crew Stretch Linen Blend Helena Blazer

14. WEAR V-LINE TOPS TO FURTHER ELONGATE YOUR LOOK

These open up the neckline and create additional vertical lines.

Zimmermann August V-Neck Tank Top

15. How to dress when you are short – avoid contrasting tops

Avoid wearing tops which are in very different colors to your skirt or pants.

This will draw more attention to the fact that your upper body is almost the same length as your lower body.

16. Make sure that your tops stop at the hipline or above

Longer tops may cut you in half and you will not achieve the golden ratio or rule of thirds (see above). They will also make your legs appear even shorter.

However, you can wear longer tunics over skinny pants or leggings. make sure they are about 2/3 from shoulder to shoe.

17. keep patterns in proportion

Wearing larger prints can be tricky when you are petite because they can overwhelm your petite frame. If you want to choose prints, look for more delicate options to make sure you are wearing the pattern, rather than the other way around.

Lands’ End Cotton Modal Dress

Shauna @chicover50 above (read her style interview here) chooses a small print for her pants and adds heels underneath. You can see that the wide flare of her pants balances the shoulder detailing on her top.

Get her look with this similar top (another option here), pants, earrings, necklace and sunglasses.

18. Pay attention to boot length

Choose boots that stop just below the knee and avoid boots that end on the mid part of your shins.

We already discussed the importance of creating a great silhouette and paying attention to the rule of thirds. Here are a few more tips.

For more tips also see our article on how to look taller and slimmer.

Naturalizer Rena Knee High Riding Boots
(Nordstrom / Zappos)

19. Embrace high waisted pants and skirts

High waist pants paired with heels work together to create a long vertical image. Worn with a short top, the outfit creates the illusion of height.

They will make your legs appear longer. Wide pants with tucked in tops work really well. If you can’t tuck in your top because you want to hide your belly consider getting an asymmetrical top.

Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution High Waist Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans

20. BE careful with cropped PANTS

Avoid short trousers and pants that stop at the ankle. Best to wear pants with straight pipes or wide legged ones with heels, preferably high-waisted.

If you do wear cropped pants be sure to wear a shorter top to give you a nice 2/3 – 1/3 silhouette.

To read more about the rule of thirds, check out our article on how to wear cropped pants.

21. get a good bra

You want to create as much space between your waist and your bust line as possible. Choose a good, supportive bra to make sure your bust sits where it should.

b.tempt’d by Wacoal Future Foundation Wireless T-Shirt Bra

22. Be Careful With Tucking Pants Into Your Boots

Best not to tuck in your pants into your boots as it will break up the lengthening line. Or keep the rest of the outfit in the same color as that will create a 2/3 – 2/3 effect.

You can also select the boots in the same color as your pants to make your legs look longer.

23. Choose the right size for tops and bottoms

Your size is not necessarily ‘petite’ top and bottom, so you may need a bigger size on top or vice versa. Making sure you opt for the right sizes for your shape will give you a balanced look.

24. avoid boxiness

You want to create fluid lines in your looks and create a 1/3 – 2/3 silhouette whenever possible.

Lydia @birabiro above (read her style interview here) opts for a tie waist jumpsuit. The 1 piece jumpsuit is lengthening and creates a long lean line. She adds extra height with her sandals.

Steal her look with this similar jumpsuit (another option here), sandals, necklace, earrings and sunglasses.

25. Test what the right belt width is for you

Belts are often best kept narrow, unless you belt them very high up your waist, or they are the same color as your pants.

Ralph Lauren Collection Leather Logo Belt

26. Fit is everything!

If you can’t find clothes that fit properly, find a good tailor.

You may also like: how to fit a blazer.

how to dress when you are short – creating your capsule wardrobe

Now let’s take a look at how to put together outfits if you’re petite, with all the best options to choose.

petite tops

When looking for tops, anything with vertical stripes or a v-neck will help to elongate your figure. You can also look at showing off your waistline with a cinched in waist as this will make your legs look longer. Shorter tops will also make your torso look shorter and your legs longer, which can make you look taller overall.

Banana Republic Bliss Silk Dolman Top – Petite Studio Davina Blouse – Banana Republic Galena One Shoulder Top – PUWEI Tie Front Denim Shirt

Eileen @eileenternullo above shows how wearing the same color shoes and your pants can make your legs look longer.

Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt, trousers, flats, necklace and sun hat.

sweaters and cardigans

As the weather gets colder, you’ll definitely want to add a few warm sweaters to your petite capsule. As with your tops, v-necks can help elongate your figure. Another option is to choose shorter or crop styles and wear with high waist pants to make your legs look longer.

Or, you could look out for long line cardigans. Wear these open to create an elongating column effect.

ZAFUL Cropped Turtleneck Sweater – Petite Studio Evaline Sweater – Petite Studio Paisley Mohair Sweater – Petite Studio Blaise Wool Cardigan

Petite Studio Evaline Sweater – Petite Studio Alix Pants – Lucky Brand Joal Pump – CECILE Mini Crossbody Bag – Jenny Bird Small Le Tome Hoop Earrings

coats and jackets

Keep your coats in proportion to your figure. Shorter styles worn with high waisted pants and jeans will look good on you. Or, cinch your waist to ensure your coats don’t overwhelm you. As with the rest of your outfit, vertical lines will look good.

Cinq à Sept Kylie Notched Satin Single-Button Blazer – COS Double-Faced Cropped Hybrid Jacket – Lamarque Chapin Reversible Leather Bomber – Banana Republic Isola Melton Hourglass Topcoat

Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above opts for a long coat and adds some height with her booties.

Check out this similar coat, shirt (another option here), wide jeans, booties, bag and sunglasses.

bottoms

When it comes to your bottoms, choosing the right length is key. If you opt for bootleg or wider pant styles, you can wear heels underneath them and make your legs look super long.

Vertical stripes will also elongate your figure. For your skirts, make sure you choose a length that sits where it should. If the skirt should be knee-length, that’s where it should be. You may need to look for petite brands or try a few different brands to find the ones that fit best on your figure.

Lands’ End Boyfriend Jeans – Lands’ End  Starfish High Rise Flare Pants – Petite Studio Alix Pants – MICHAEL Michael Kors Vintage Stripe Straight-Leg Pants

PUWEI Tie Front Denim Shirt – Lands’ End  Starfish High Rise Flare Pants – Blue by Betsey Johnson Sidny Sneakers – CECILE Mini Crossbody Bag – Chan Luu Chandelier Earrings

dresses & jumpsuit

Dresses look great on petites as they are one column of color and they don’t break up your figure. Choose well-fitting, belted styles. If you want to try a pattern, try a subtle one that won’t overwhelm your petite figure. A jumpsuit will also work well for petites as long as you get the fit right, as it is one color from top to toe.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Striped Cotton-Blend Shirtdress – Undra Celeste Tammy Linen Wrap Dress – Black Halo Van Tapered Jumpsuit – Elie Tahari Ellis Colorblocked V-Neck Sleeveless Jumpsuit

Eugenia @theeageofgrace above (read her style interview here) opts for vertical stripes, which are an ideal print for petites.

Steal her look with this similar shirtdress (other options here and here), boots, bag and sunglasses.

shoes

Of course, you can choose any shoes you love. But if you want to add some height, you could try a small heel or a wedge. Another trick is to choose pointed toes as they make your legs look longer without having to wear super high heels.

SARTO by Franco Sarto Tracy Half d’Orsay Flat – Naturalizer Faith Pumps – MICHAEL Michael Kors Corrine Sandals – Blue by Betsey Johnson Sidny Sneakers

J.Crew Stretch Linen Blend Helena Blazer – Banana Republic Bliss Silk Dolman Top – Ramy Brook Anahi Dash Stripe Pants – Naturalizer Faith Pumps – Kate Spade New York Manhattan Martini Embellished Fabric Small Tote – Chan Luu Chandelier Earrings

accessories

When it comes to your accessories, don’t choose anything too big that will look large against your petite frame. If you want to, you could add a little height with a hat.

Kate Spade New York Manhattan Martini Embellished Fabric Small Tote – CECILE Mini Crossbody Bag – Tory Burch Eleanor Leather Clutch – Chan Luu Chandelier Earrings – Jenny Bird Small Le Tome Hoop Earrings

Cinq à Sept Kylie Notched Satin Single-Button Blazer – Undra Celeste Tammy Linen Wrap Dress – MICHAEL Michael Kors Corrine Sandals – Tory Burch Eleanor Leather Clutch – Jenny Bird Small Le Tome Hoop Earrings

Putting together your petite capsule

Take a look below the capsule wardrobe we created for petite women. You could mix and match the tops and bottoms around to get different looks.

Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

Shop some of the outfits for petite women here:

More petite inspiration

Famous petite women

If you ever felt that being shorter than average stands in your way of looking absolutely fabulous, think again!

Many celebrities you know and love are under 1.60.

Madonna

Madonna is a spectacular woman (over 60 already) short on height. She is 5’3” (1.63  meters) high.

She increasingly favors tight dresses just below the knee which she has no problem pulling off with her svelte figure. You can also see that she wears heels under her wide-legged pants, as well as wearing shoes in the same color as her skirt.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham measures 1.63 (5’3”) meters.

She prefers to dress in clothes that are lengthening. High-waisted pants, a tight fit, heels and one-color dresses. Check some of her outfits here.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker is 5’2.75” (1.59 meters) and has really embraced the high heel shoes as her weapon of choice to appear longer.

As a woman over 50 she increasingly uses mid-length dresses which I think suit her the best. Check some of her outfits here.

Other celebrities below 1.60

For more inspiration on how to dress your short physique, check out other celebrities who measure under 1.60:

• Mary Kate Olsen who is 5’0″ (152 cm),
• Rachel Bilson who is 5’1.5″ (156 cm),
• Hayden Panettiere who is 5’0.25″ (153 cm),
• Nicole Richie who is 5’1″ (155 cm),
• Kristen Bell who is 5’1″ (155 cm),
• Shakira who is 5’2″ (155 cm),
• Eva Longoria who is about 5’2″ (153 cm),
• Fergie, who is 5’1.75″ (157 cm) and A
• lyssa Milano, who is about 5’1.5″ (156 cm).

Petite clothing stores: Where to shop when you are petite?

Many shops now have special sections for petites. Here are just a few.

• Nordstrom: one of the best online shops with multiple brands has a special section for petites
• J.Crew: many petite options for casual and office wear
• Eileen Fisher: high quality fabrics and  great design
• Loft: comfortable and affordable clothing
• Banana Republic: good quality clothing that covers all basics
• Eddie Bauer: offers great outdoor wear
• Marks and Spencer: Timeless classics
• Boden: great quality and fashionable everyday wear

More outfit examples

The below capsules, while past seasons, should give you extra inspiration.

I hope these guidelines will be useful to you. Remember though that they are not written in stone.

I feel that petites can wear almost anything so long as you create the right balance within your outfit and create a great silhouette.

If you are petite and have some tips that I did not cover here, please let me know in the comments below!

Continue reading:

1. How To Look Taller And Slimmer
2. How To Choose The Perfect Little Black Dress For Your Body Type
3. How To Dress When You Are Tall And Where To Buy The Best Clothes For Tall Women

Like this post on how to dress when you are short or petite? Share it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Shauna @chicover50

The post How to dress when you are short or petite? appeared first on 40+ Style.

Also, don’t forget to check out our articles on dresses to hide a tummy and how to look taller and slimmer.

Do you need to look slimmer to look good?

Before we dive into this article on flattering dresses that are slimming, I want to emphasize that this is not a requirement for style. You don’t have to be slim to look stylish. You don’t have to dress in a flattering way. You can show off your body any way you like.

So why do this article then you may wander? It’s my experience that many women prefer to look slimmer when they dress. Unless I consciously choose to wear an edgy, voluminous dress, I usually prefer something that highlights my best assets. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with choosing clothes that are flattering on you and show you off in your best light.

What dresses are slimming?

There’s no ‘one’ answer to this one. But you’ll find lots of ideas below. You’re looking for dresses that elongate through clever draping or patterns, color blocking, sleek styles, v-necks, and darker colors.

Do long dresses make you look thinner?

They definitely can do, because they create a ‘column’ effect. But, there are dresses of all lengths that are flattering. We take a look below at dresses of all lengths.

What style of gown is slimming?

If it’s a gown that you’re looking for – a dress that you are more likely to wear to a special occasion – then make sure you invest in quality fabrics and a style that you will be happy to ‘wear’ on photos for many years to come. Choose a fabric that doesn’t cling (silk is always a good option) and easily flows around your body.

Don’t try to ‘hide’ your figure to look slimmer

Don’t go big and billowy because you want to ‘hide’ your figure. You’ll simply add unwanted bulk. Instead, choose your dress to skim over any ‘imperfections’ and highlight the slimmest parts of your body.

Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) chooses a dress that is slimming and flattering. A v-neck tends to be slimming, and note how her dress highlights her slim waist. Because the arm length ends at the bust, the attention is drawn there before the dress nips in, helping to create an hourglass silhouette.

She s wearing a dress from Tanya Taylor. Check out this similar pair of sandals, clutch and necklace.

Dresses that are slimming

Let’s look at some slimming dresses we’ve spotted in stores now, and why they could work for you.

Darker colors

Darker colors tend to be slimming. Black is classic, although it can also drain some skin tones. You can also look for other dark shades like navy, gray or burgundy. The shirtdress (below) works well as it has a v-neck, as well as a slit at the front. Plus the belt will help to emphasize or create a waist.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Lucy Utility Shirtdress

Quality material

Choosing high-quality material is essential if you want to create a slimming effect. Flimsy or clingy synthetic materials will emphasize every lump and bump. Instead, look for natural materials or a natural blend, that will hug and skim where you want them to.

ARGENT Crosby Blouson Bodice Long Sleeve Dress

Vertical lines

Dresses with vertical lines are a good choice to create a slimming effect. Avoid horizontal lines. But, you don’t necessarily have to opt for straight up-and-down vertical lines. We love the diagonal stripes on the knit maxi dress (below).

Staud Katie Striped Knit Maxi Dress

The blazer dress (below) hugs the figure in the right places, creating subtle sex appeal. Add pumps and a clutch for dinner.

Norma Kamali Pinstriped Fishtail Blazer Dress

We also love the diagonal stripes on the maxi shirt dress below. The stripes and the color-blocking effect help to create a long-column effect. You can unbutton the top of the shirt collar to create a v-neck, and the slits at the legs also help to create flattering vertical lines.

CIEBON Jynai Long Sleeve Shirtdress

Karen Kane is often a good starting point for flattering, slimming clothes, including the shirt style dress (below), which features vertical lines of studs down the center.

Karen Kane Studded Sheath Dress

Barb @barb_styling above shows how a striped shirtdress can be a super flattering choice. Create a v-neckline by opening the buttons at the top.

Get her look with this similar dress (another option here), sandals, handbag, earrings and belt.

Structured

Don’t choose baggy dresses to hide your figure. You shouldn’t be afraid to wear figure-hugging dresses, as these can create a slimming column down your body. Just be sure to choose quality fabrics that keep everything tucked in as you want it.

Dress the Population Ivy Sheath Midi Dress

The GRACE KARIN dress (below) is well-reviewed by women who say it is lined and the material is thick, helping to camouflage areas that you aren’t so keen on while showing off curves in a classy way.

GRACE KARIN Cross Over Fishtail Sheath Dress

If you’re looking for a gown for a formal occasion, the clever paneling in the beaded maxi dress (below) creates long columns that slim the body.

Xscape Keyhole Beaded Cap Sleeve Gown

A long column of color

Creating a long-column effect by opting for a dress in a shade that contrasts with your skin tone is a great slimming technique. You could easily dress the blue shift dress (below) up or down. A halterneck style works particularly well for inverted triangle body shapes.

MELLODAY Fringe Hem Shift Dress

Tanasha @letsrecreatethelook above opts for an olive maxi dress and adds a pop of color with her accessories.

Check out the pleated dress options from Amur, COS, Loveappella and Amazon, similar satchel and earrings.

Choose a dress that emphasizes your slimmest point

While there are some universal guidelines about what dresses will look most slimming, what is slimming for one woman isn’t necessarily slimming for you. Choose dresses that are fitted at your slimmest point. We love the stripes and asymmetrical styling of the shirtdress (below).

Cinq à Sept Marcella Belted Stripe Shirtdress

The print shirtdress (below) will also work well if you want to show off (or create) a waist. Unbutton some of the top buttons to create a slimming v-neck.

Reiss Tabitha Belted Animal-Print Twist-Front Shirtdress

Try clever color blocking

Color blocking is another clever technique to create a slimming effect. Choose dresses that ‘break’ up your figure, creating slimming lines and columns.

Staud Shoko Colorblocked Midi-Dress

The Desigual dress (below) breaks up the figure because of the graphic print, drawing attention to the top of your figure and away from the tummy (if that’s an area you aren’t so keen on).

Desigual Poppy Floral Rib Long Sleeve Midi Sweater Dress

The cream and black panels on the BOSS dress (below) create long, slimming panels. Wear with other neutrals, or add a pop of color with red shoes and accessories.

BOSS Slim-Fit Dress With V Neckline

Robbie @robbiesue1970 above opts for a pink and red cardigan dress.

Recreate her look with this similar dress, flats, necklace and fedora.

Avoid lots of volume

Lots of frills and ruffles are likely to add unwanted bulk. So, as a general rule, choose more streamlined dresses.

Choose a slimming neckline

Generally, a v-neck is the best neckline to choose to create a slimming effect. That’s because the v-neck draws the eye inwards and down rather than across the body.

Fraiche by J Wrap Front Long Sleeve Dress

Strategic silhouettes

Another strategy to think about when looking for slimming dresses is to carefully consider the silhouette of your dress. For instance, the shirtdress (below) draws attention to the bust and hips, nipping in at the waist to make your waistline look slimmer and give an hourglass effect.

J.Crew Contrast-Trim Cotton Poplin Shirtdress

Eugenia @theeageofgrace above (read her style interview here) chooses a coral-colored shirtdress that would be perfect for vacations.

Check out these dresses from Pari Passu, Du Paradis and MELLODAY that you can wear with this similar pair of sandals (another option here) and micro bag.

If in doubt, choose a wrap dress

If you aren’t sure what will look slimming on you, then a wrap dress with a v-neck tends to be universally flattering for all figures. The v-neck points the eye up and down, while the wrap style drapes and slims.

Black Halo Joan Turtleneck Long-Sleeve Dress

Karen Kane Karen Kane Cascade Faux Wrap Dress

We’re sure that’s given you lots of inspiration when looking for dresses that are slimming to help you feel at your most confident.

Do you have a favorite among the dresses below. What is your favorite slimming dress? Let us know in the comments below.

shop flattering dresses that are slimming below:

Continue reading:

1. The Best Dresses To Hide Your Tummy
2. How To Look Taller And Slimmer
3. The Best Dress Styles For Your Body Shape

Like this article on dresses that are slimming? Share it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Tanasha @letsrecreatethelook

The post Super flattering dresses that are slimming appeared first on 40+ Style.

In this article, you’ll find the best little black dresses for you as well as how to style your LBD, whether you’re treating yourself to a new one or shopping your closet.

The perfect little black dress – a history

Of course black dresses were around before this, but Coco Chanel is credited with creating the perfect little black dress as we know it when one of her designs featured in Vogue in 1926.

Coco Chanel said:

“The little black dress is a uniform for all women of taste.”

Effortless and polished, the LBD reached a style pinnacle when it was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Since then, the little black dress has continued to cement its iconic status, in all sorts of guises.

Remember Liz Hurley in her safety pin Versace number, Angelina Jolie in her split-to-the-thigh dress at the Oscars or Jennifer Aniston in just about every type of little black dress you can think of.

The reason for its enduring appeal is that the little black dress flatters anyone, no matter what shape or size you are.

One of the reasons for its timeless allure is not only does the LBD flatter all body shapes, but it is perfect year round, whether for a winter party or a summer vacation.

How to choose the perfect little black dress for you

I’ve put together some tips on how to wear a little black dress and choosing the best LBD for your shape so you can feel comfortable and look fabulous all year.

If black is too harsh for you, feel free to replace black with navy blue which is softer for most women.

Another fabulous color to consider this year is burgundy or dark green.

You will find more inspiration here in the best colors for fall 2023.

Another way to wear a black dress even if the color is too harsh for you is to use colorful accessories in a shade that flatters your skin tone close to your face.

You may also like or article on how to find the best dresses to hide your tummy and also how to wear black over 40.

Some tips for choosing the perfect little black dress

The little black dress knows no bounds when it comes to shapes, styling and versatility.

That can be a blessing because there are so many black dresses to choose from, so there is bound to be one out there which is perfect for you.

But it can also be a curse because – how do you know where to start when there are so many options?

Below are some initial tips to get you thinking about how to wear a little black dress that will work for you.

1. Consider when you will wear it

Are you looking for the perfect little black dress for daywear or for evening (you can of course use it for both).

If it’s mainly for eveningwear, you can think about luxe fabrics like lace or velvet.

But if you mainly want it for daytime, you could look at a more casual fabric such as jersey.

Kimba @kimbalikes above shows how you could style your black dress for warmer seasons.

Recreate her outfit with this similar maxi dress (another option here), sandals and necklace.

Also take a look at our article on the best midi dresses in stores now.

2. You probably want more than one little black dress

Although there are definitely plenty of black dresses that will take you to any occasion, you probably want to invest in more than one.

I would choose one that is more suited to daywear and one that is your go-to LBD when you have an unexpected evening event.

3. What do you want to show off?

More on this later! But, as with any item in your closet, think about how it will flatter your body type, disguise your “flaws” and show off the parts of your body you like.

You might want a dress with sleeves to cover your upper arms, or you could opt for a one-shoulder number because you love your shoulders. You may want to look for a dress with some ruching around the tummy area to hide a belly.

The choices are endless.

4. You may need to wear more make-up

While black can be universally flattering to your figure, it is not always so flattering for your skin tone as it can wash you out.

Bear in mind that you might want to add more make-up or wear a brighter scarf or jewelry near your face.

5. Change your look with accessories

The beauty of a black dress is it is often a blank canvas.

No one will remember whether you’ve worn it to countless events because you can make it look different each time with the accessories you choose.

Jess @elegantlydressedandstylish above (read her style interview here)

Get her look with this similar midi dress (another option here), sandals, handbag, scarf and earrings.

Little Black Dresses for Curvy Women

If you’re curvy, a little black dress is one of your best friends.

Black is naturally slimming and the right dress can create a sexy look that shows off your best assets.

Here are some more tips for selecting the right LBD:

• Pick one that brings attention to your chest with a sexier cut or v-neck.
• Wear a good, supportive bra to lift.
• Add a belt to your LBD.
• Or pick an LBD with a belt or waist-cinching detail.
• Choose a length either right below the knee or slightly above the knee.
• A sheath or wrap dress is the perfect LBD choice for curvy women.

We love the Theia dress (below) which has asymmetric detailing and beautiful draping.

Theia Rayna One-Shoulder Gown

For more tips, read our article on how to dress when you have a large bust

Little Black Dresses for Petite Women

Petite women are known as anyone under 5’4″.

And just because a woman is petite in height, that doesn’t mean all shorter women are one size. Many petite women are busty or curvy or plus size.

But there are some rules all petite ladies can use when choosing a LBD:

• Choose an LBD with vertical details that will make you look longer.
• Add sheer black stockings to lengthen your legs, or wear nude shoes.
• Avoid large details like ruffles which may overpower you.
• A three-quarter length sleeve elongates your arms.
• Go with a shorter dress or one two to three inches below the knees.
• If you’re a big-busted petite, a higher, empire waist dress will lengthen your body.
• Have your LBD fitted perfectly by a local tailor.
• Keep your accessories small and simple.

The little black dress remains a wardrobe staple. You could also dress it up a bit with some statement tights. For more inspiration on how to wear tights you can refer to this article.

Karen Kane Scalloped Lace Cocktail Dress

For all our tips check our article on how to dress when you are petite.

Little Black Dresses for Plus-Size Women

There is no reason that a plus-size woman needs to wear oversized, flowy clothing. Think about which assets are your favorite and emphasize them.

How?

If you love your legs, wear a shorter LBD.

If your legs make you self-conscious, wear a longer black dress.

Love your butt? Find a little black dress with a sexy, pencil-skirt cut.

Use boldly colored and patterned accessories, bags and shoes to avoid looking too somber.

The most important tip for plus size women in search of the perfect little black dress is that you find the best quality material that flatters and supports.

Avoid thinner, tight and shiny materials that will accentuate ‘flaws’.

A wrap dress is a timeless classic that will flatter all figures.

Kiyonna Whimsy Wrap Dress

Little Black Dresses for women – for hiding those parts that you want to downplay

I like to use this as its own category because we all, regardless of body shape, have something we want to downplay while accentuating something else.

Most of us will want to conceal is our tummy, while accentuating a smaller waist.

To flatten the tummy and accentuate your waist more, you’ll need an LBD with some good, built-in support.

“Bandage dresses” are nice and tight in the tummy area. Kimono dresses are forgiving.

Another idea is to go with a panel waistband and flared skirt.

Good shapewear underneath your LBD will make all the difference in the world in smoothing and tucking the waist and tummy area. Or you could try a dress that incorporates tummy control like the option below which reviewers say is stylish, comfortable, and washes and travels well.

Rekucci Fit-and-Flare Crossover Tummy Control Dress

Also see our article on how to look taller and slimmer.

Black dresses for your individual body shape

Now, let’s take a look in more detail at some little black dresses that may suit your body shape.

LBD for the apple shape

If you are an apple shape, you’re likely to want to skim over your tummy area. Opt for a dress which drapes over your figure rather than clings. A shift style dress is a good idea.

COS Plissé Midi Dress

Eileen Fisher Silk Notched-Collar Shirtdress

Pear shape

If you have a pear shape figure, you are likely to want to downplay your hips and thighs. Look for a dress which draws attention to your upper half and swings out from the waist.

Misook Pleated Fit & Flare Maxi Dress

Mac Duggal Feather-Trimmed Cape Maxi Dress

Rectangle

As a rectangle shape, you may want to make the most of your athletic figure or you might want to create some curves through the dress that you choose. For example, a belt will create the illusion of a waist.

Many models are rectangle shaped, so you may want to experiment and choose a LBD which is a bit different to the norm.

COS Asymmetric Sleeve Draped Midi Dress

COS Asymmetric Satin Midi Dress

Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion above (read her style interview here) opts for a shirtdress and green accessories.

Check out this similar shirtdress (another option here), sneakers, handbag, earrings and necklace (another option here).

Hourglass

Creating a great outfit is often about creating balance. If you’re an hourglass, you’re lucky, your figure is already balanced. You can make the most of that by choosing a dress that nips in at the waist to show off your lovely curves.

Kay Unger Brynn Stretch Crepe Sheath Dress

Laundry by Shelli Segal Square-Neck Trumpet Gown

Inverted triangle

As an inverted triangle, you will want to create balance in the opposite way to the pear shape. Therefore, you’ll want to downplay your shoulders. A halterneck can do that because the eye is drawn to the lines of the dress.

COS Pleated Halterneck Midi Dress

J.Crew Collection Slip Dress

Proenza Schouler White Label Lucy A-Line Tie-Waist Midi Dress

More perfect little black dresses to flatter your figure

Now that you’re thinking about the shape of the dress that will look good on you, let’s look at some more of the most stylish dresses in stores you could choose.

Black cocktail dress

If you have a party or special dinner to attend, a cocktail dress is perfect. The embellished dress (below) gives you coverage as well as some subtle sex appeal. Because of the structured shoulders, this is a good choice if you have narrow shoulders.

Mac Duggal Embellished Midi-Dress

asymmetric dress

We love asymmetry at 40+ Style! The dress (below) features an asymmetric hemline that would add interest to your party looks.

Teri Jon by Rickie Freeman Asymmetric Peplum Minidress

Black wrap dress

The wrap dress is an icon of style that is flattering for most women, no matter what your body shape.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Satin Faux-Wrap Midi Dress

Black dress with sleeves

A little black dress doesn’t have to be sleeveless. You can opt for an LBD with sleeves if you aren’t so keen on your upper arms.

If you prefer to cover your upper arms, you don’t have to have sleeves that go all the way down to your wrist.

You could opt for sleeves which end above the elbow, or for three-quarter length sleeves if you prefer.

BOSS Long Sleeved Square Neckline Knitted Dress

Tamera @tamerabeardsley above (read her style interview here) shows how you can add color next to your face while wearing your black dress.

Steal her look with this similar dress (another option here), boots, handbag, necklace and fedora.

Also take a look at the best dresses with sleeves.

Black formal dresses

For formal occasions, a longer-than-the-knee black dress can be the perfect option. Choose a classic style and you’ll be able to wear it year after year. Or look out for on-trend details such as voluminous sleeves.

Sho Sequined Off-The-Shoulder Gown

Black midi dress

Midi lengths are particularly on trend right now and can show off the slimmest part of your calves. The J.Crew dress (below) would be ideal for any season.

J.Crew Short Sleeve Slip Dress

Black mini dress

If you’ve pushed your mini dresses to the back of your closet, it could be time to think again. A black mini dress can look fantastic worn over leggings, skinny jeans or slim pants.

COS Asymmetric Mini Dress

Black long dress

A maxi dress will always create drama, in the best way possible. You could choose from a formal option for an evening event or a summer maxi dress for a vacation. The maxi dress (below) features mesh panels which add a point of difference.

Helmut Lang Mesh-Paneled Maxi Dress

Black sweater dress

For daywear when the weather is cooler, you could try a sweater dress. Wear with your leggings or tights and knee boots.

Saks Fifth Avenue Contrast Rib-Knit Midi Dress

Line & Dot Sylvie One-Shoulder Sweater Dress

Jamie @moreturquoise above (read her style interview here) adds gold boots to her black dress.

Get her look with this similar dress (another option here), vest, boots, belt bag and earrings.

Black shirt dress

A shirt dress is a flexible option you can wear throughout the year. You can wear it as it is, as a cover-up, or unbuttoned as a lightweight duster jacket.

COS Pleated Wool-Blend Shirt Dress

Black maxi dress

The belted shirt dress (below) could be worn casually for winter with a moto jacket and boots. Or you can wear it as it is styled with a long necklace and sandals for summer.

Staud Millie Satin Belted Maxi Shirt Dress

Black off the shoulder dress

If you feel self-conscious about other parts of your body but you love your shoulders, then you could opt for a stylish off-the-shoulder dress.

Tanya Taylor Quincy Wool Off-The-Shoulder Midi Dress

preppy

Preppy looks are particularly on trend right now. The blouse and dress combination (below) has a stylish preppy feel and could easily be worn for work or an evening out.

Cinq à Sept Ambre Bishop-Sleeve Midi-Dress

Black blazer dress

A blazer dress could be another versatile option to consider. You could wear it as it is, or layer it over a long-sleeved sweater.

If you choose a shorter style, you can wear it with leggings or leather-look leggings underneath.

Liv Foster Crepe Single-Button Blazer Dress

Dorrie @seniorstylebible above (read her style interview here) looks both timeless and edgy in her blazer dress worn with on-trend pattern tights and chunky heels.

Check out this blazer dress (another option here) that you can wear with these similar tights, pumps, handbag and earrings.

Black sequin dress

To really make an impact, you could choose a dress with sequins. You can keep your jewelry to a minimum and add a slick of red lipstick. There is more inspiration in this article on sequin dress outfits.

Mac Duggal Sequined Long-Sleeve Sheath Dress

Black velvet dress

Luxurious and decadent, velvet is always a good option for winter, giving your festive event wear some drama.

Donna Karan New York Main Event Ruched Velvet Midi-Dress

Black satin dress

Satin can be a tricky fabric to wear because it can show every lump and bump if it is too thin.

Look out for dresses with thicker fabric. Also, for a vintage style, you could choose a fit and flare dress.

If you’re worried about satin showing up any “flaws” on your hips and thighs, look for a dress with satin on the top and a different material on the lower half, or invest in some shapewear.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Satin Midi Dress

Black silk dress

Silk is always a beautiful option for any season. If you find a flowy dress, you can create different looks by cinching it at the waist or leaving it loose. Or opt for a more structured style with a belt.

Frances Valentine Lucille Wrap Dress

Black lace dress

Lace is great for adding texture, glamour and interest to your LBD. The lace dress (below) is an overdress, so choose a slipdress to wear underneath it.

L’AGENCE Frida Lace Dress

Black slip dress

Slip dresses were on trend in the 90s, and they’re back in style now. However, given that most slip dresses have spaghetti straps, they can be unforgiving. You could stay on-trend by wearing a sweater over the top, or a t-shirt underneath. Look for a style with wider straps so you can still wear a supportive bra underneath.

Vince V-Neck Maxi Slip Dress

Diane @fashiononthe4thfloor above (read her style interview here) wears her slipdress with a t-shirt and sneakers.

Recreate her outfit with this similar tee, slip dress (another option here) and sneakers.

Black summer dress

The LBD looks just as beautiful for summer as it does during the cooler months. Style with metallic accessories for a stylish vacation.

Hill House Home The Anjuli Nap Dress

shop the black dresses above here:

How about you? Have you found the perfect little black dress for your body shape?

Continue reading:

1. The Best Dresses With Sleeves For Women Over 40
2. The Best Dresses To Hide Your Tummy
3. The Best Dresses For Your Body Shape

Like this article on how to find the perfect little black dress for your body shape? Share it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Dorrie @seniorstylebible

The post How to choose the perfect little black dress for your body type appeared first on 40+ Style.

Whether you’re looking for a formal belly-hiding dress or a day dress that flatters the tummy area, you will find plenty of options and ideas below.

Of course, while this article concentrates on tummy flattering dresses, there are many garments that can be used to hide your tummy.

Be sure to also check all our tips to hide your belly with the right clothes.

Lingerie and undergarments to go under your dresses

First of all, while they are nothing to do with the dress itself, the lingerie and undergarments you choose to go under your dress will make a huge difference to the way it looks. Even the best dresses to hide your tummy will work better with the right lingerie.

Depending on whether you’re dressing casually and want to be comfortable, or whether you are heading out for the evening, this might mean anything from making sure the bra and panties you wear fit well and create smooth lines under your dress to choosing shapewear for a special occasion.

In general you don’t need shape wear (I don’t use it) but you do need to choose underwear that doesn’t show any ugly lines. It also helps if your underwear covers your tummy.

Also take a look at the best bras for the large bust and the best bras for small breasts and our article on no show underwear.

Shapewear is an option

Of course, while you won’t want to wear it everyday, you may wish to wear some shape wear for a special occasion.

It definitely does help to tuck your tummy in.

These Spanx body shaping shorts tuck in the tummy as well as slimming thighs and providing some uplift for your rear.

SPANX Higher Power Shorts

Also check our article on the best shapewear for women over 40.

The best dresses to hide tummy areas

However, there are plenty of dresses that you can wear that hide the belly without the need of shapewear.

The best dresses to hide your belly are those that skim (and not cling) over the areas you don’t want to highlight.

So, let’s think about what style of dress is most slimming, and look at what style of dress hides a tummy. You’ll find plenty of ideas below.

wrap dress

A wrap dress is a style that will suit the vast majority of women, no matter what your shape or size. The v-neck on the Boden (below) is flattering and you can alter how you tie the belt hide a little bit of a tummy. It comes in a good choice of colors, and reviewers say it fits and flatters.

Boden Nina Jersey Midi Dress

Or for an evening look, try the satin faux wrap dress (below) which has a v-neck and draping around the tummy area. It will draw attention to your bust while downplaying your tummy.

Michael Kors Satin Faux-Wrap Midi-Dress

Hide your tummy with dresses with prints

Choosing a patterned dress is a great way to disguise a belly because the patterns confuse the eye, drawing the gaze up, down and around, and away from any belly bulge.

The print and high low hem on Vince Camuto dress (below) could help to disguise a tummy. A great choice if you have a bohemian style personality.

Vince Camuto Patchwork Print Long Sleeve High-Low Chiffon Dress

Another option is the Mango dress (below) which has a flattering v-neck and comes in a graphic pattern, which will help to draw attention away from a tummy.

Mango Pleated Wrap Dress

Jas @thefashionstylefile above shows how you can wear your print dress with a moto jacket.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress, moto jacket, boots, tote and earrings.

Hide your tummy with a tunic and legging combo

Layering has always been a good option when you want to camouflage or hide something. And wearing a dress over pants can be a great option.

A flowy tunic or trapeze dress can work wonders when it comes to hiding a belly if you wear it over leggings.

The loose material of the tunic will drape over areas you aren’t so keen on, while if you choose the right leggings or pants (check our recommendation for the best tummy control leggings), they will help to tuck in your tummy and create a more streamlined silhouette.

We love the shorter dresses (below) for wearing over leggings.

Marie Oliver Velma Cotton-Silk Twill Wrap Minidress

FRAME Draped Knit Minidress

Mango Satin Buckle Wrap Dress

Need new leggings? Then be sure to check our article on the best leggings for women over 40. 

Vertical pattern dresses are great at hiding the tummy

Vertical stripes have a slimming effect, drawing the eye up and down, rather than across your tummy.

The stripes on the dress below could be useful for hiding a tummy. Stripes running horizontally will give the illusion of width, whereas vertical stripes should draw the eye up and down rather than across the belly.

Michael Kors Striped Tie-Waist Shirtdress

Boden V-Neck Satin Midi Dress

Shift dress

A shift dress in the right fabric (natural fabric is best) won’t cling in all the wrong places. It will skim over your midsection and show off your legs.

Eileen Fisher Pima Cotton Stretch Jersey Tank Dress

You could also try a print shift dress like this one from Boden (below) which you could team with red accessories. Short dresses like the one below also look great as tops over pants.

Boden Ivy Jacquard Jersey Dress

Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion above (read her style interview here) wears her shift dress over colored tights.

Check out this similar dress, long sleeve top, tights, boots, shoulder bag and earrings.

Draw attention to your neckline

By drawing attention upwards to your neckline, and therefore your face, you will take the attention off your middle section.

This dress from R&M Richards (below) features embellishment which draws attention to the neck and shoulders and away from your tummy. Of course, plain dresses also work well when you add a (colorful) statement necklace on top.

R&M Richards 2 Piece Mesh Panel Beaded Neck Jacket Dress

Shirt dress

A shirt dress can be a good option to hide a belly. Some shirt dresses can also do double duty as a coat, which can be a great layering option. Wearing a jacket (open shirt dress) over a dress or top and bottom in the same color, creates a great vertical line over a column of color, which is lengthening and flattering.

Shirt dresses can be worn with or without a belt and you can alter exactly where you tie the belt for the most flattering effect.

Boden Kate Midi Shirt Dress

J.Crew Drapey Shirt Dress

Mel @curvycartel above wears a shirtdress and makes sure she belts it at her slimmest part but below the bust.

Get her look with this similar shirtdress, pants, booties, belt and necklace.

Try a dress with asymmetrical elements

We love asymmetric clothing in 40+style.

Opting for an asymmetric dress is a great way to draw attention away from your belly. A dress with asymmetry can create vertical and diagonal lines, giving a slimming illusion. It usually also looks a bit hipper.

Depending on how much of a belly you feel you need to hide, you can opt for a dress that is more fitted or looser.

Asymmetric clothing is very flattering for your body. Even if you don’t want to downplay your tummy but another area of your body, consider adding asymmetrical pieces to your wardrobe.

The COS asymmetric dress (below) would look great with a statement necklace.

COS Asymmetric Wool Shirt Dress

Meanwhile, the dress below features asymmetry at both the neckline and the hem. You can see that the asymmetrical neckline draws the attention upwards and away from the belly.

Maggy London Long Sleeve Asymmetric Neck and Hem Dress

If you have parties to attend, the asymmetric dress on the gown (below) is beautiful and it comes in a choice of four colors.

Theia Rayna One-Shoulder Gown

Of, you could opt for a maxi dress that skims over the tummy like the asymmetric tiered dress below, which comes in a choice of 13 colors. Wearers say the fabric is soft and comfortable, and it can be dressed up or down. Perfect for vacations.

ANRABESS Asymmetric Tiered Maxi Dress

Be sure to check my recommendations for the best asymmetric clothing.

Hide your tummy by layering your dress

It’s easier to think about layers in terms of separate tops and bottoms.

But, you can definitely still add a stylish layer over a dress.

Choose a long sleeveless vest to add style (and tummy camouflage) to your outfit. This creates a slimming effect of a column of color in the middle, and two columns on either side, breaking up your silhouette so your belly is not as noticeable.

This sleeveless cardigan can easily be layered over a dress. For instance, if you popped this over your favorite little black dress, you would create a flattering column of color down the middle of your outfit.

Isaac Liev Sleeveless Cardigan

The Eileen Fisher vest (below) should hit just below your knee and is perfect to wear instead of a coat over your dress.

Eileen Fisher Lightweight Boiled Wool Vest

Empire waist dress

What works for one woman will not necessarily work for the next, so really this is about playing around with what works for you. Some women report that these kinds of dresses make them look pregnant, while others find them the ultimate tummy-hiding dress.

An empire waist dress could work for you by drawing attention to the slimmest part of your torso, which can be the part directly underneath your bust, and skimming over your belly rather than clinging.

You can also opt to emphasize your breasts with an empire dress if this is a part of your body you like to emphasize.

One empire dress you might wish to try is the Boden dress (below) which emphasizes the bust, and then cuts in just below the bust line.

Boden Long Sleeve Jersey Tea Dress

Kimba @kimbalikes above is a flattering shape and has on-trend voluminous sleeves.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress and shoes,

Frills or ruffles can hide tummies too

Just as with the draping, you can choose frills or ruffles which create a number of effects.

You can, for example, draw attention away from your tummy by having ruffles on the arms. Just make sure, if you do, that the sleeves don’t end at the same place as your belly.

Or, you can find a dress which has a frill or ruffle drawing the eye upwards and downwards rather than across.

The ruffle dress (below) draws attention to the shoulders and bust.

PRETTYGARDEN Wrap Ruffle Dress

Drapes are a tummy’s best friend!

Depending on the way a drape falls on you, it can either emphasize or disguise a belly.

It may be a question of experimenting a little until you find one which works for you.

Look for a dress that has a flattering draped effect, but does not add extra bulk around the tummy area, or draw attention to it. The drape front dress (below) is likely to be flattering on most figures and is a great option for special occasions.

Kay Unger Leena Draped Midi-Dress

COS Draped Cap-Sleeve Midi Dress

Use layers to hide your tummy

Layers are always good for camouflaging any parts of your body that you aren’t keen on.

Some dresses already come with clever layers built in, like this overlay dress (below) which would be perfect for any formal events you are invited to, for going out to dinner or for wearing more casually with flat sandals during the warmer months.

S.L. Fashions Split Front Halter Neck Dress

Trapeze

A trapeze, or a swing-style dress skims over the tummy area without clinging to any lumps or bumps.

HOTOUCH 3/4 Sleeve Flare Midi Dress

Suzie @suzie.richetti above shows how you can layer a long scarf over a dress for a tummy disguising effect.

Steal her look with this similar dress, sandals (another option here) and scarf.

Puff sleeve

Puff sleeve dresses are particularly on trend right now. Be careful where your sleeves end.

This dress from Hill House Home (below) has sleeves that end at the bust line drawing the eye there rather than to the belly.

Hill House Home The Matilda Dress

belted dress

We’ve featured a number of belted dresses above already as you shouldn’t shy way from trying a belted style. Just be sure that you try different places to belt your dress, and settle on emphasizing your slimmest point.

The Boden shirtdress (below) will help to hide a tummy and you can play around with where you tie the belt for the most flattering effect. You can open the top buttons to create a v-neck, or wear the top button closed and add a statement necklace.

Boden Laura Jersey Midi Shirt Dress

Pleated dress

Pleating can have a lot of advantages when it comes to hiding a belly.

The pleats mean that the dress is not close-fitting. Plus, pleats naturally create a series of vertical lines. The Misook dress (below) also comes with a matching long duster cardigan.

Misook Ombré Pleated Midi-Dress

Deborah @deborahgates_ above (read her style interview here) chooses a pleated dress with an asymmetric hemline. The straps on her shoes draw attention to her ankles.

Get her look with this similar pleated dress, pumps, earrings and bracelet.

Blouson dress

A blouson dress is another option which can work for some women but not for others. The blouson top can create the illusion that your top half is a little larger as well as draping over the tummy, which makes your waist look smaller.

Bodhi Overlay Pencil Dress

formal dress

If you have events to attend this year, you’ll want a more formal tummy-hiding option.

The jacket dress below overs the tummy because of the flattering overlayer.

S.L. Fashions Embellished Tiered Jacket Dress

Party dresses that hide belly bulge

If you have party invitations and you’re looking for party dresses to hide your tummy, you’ve already seen some formal options in our round-up above, and we have more for you below.

Wear an embellished mini dress with a pair of leather or coated leggings for a party look.

Karen Millen Crystal Embellished Cady Blazer Woven Mini Dress

Line & Dot Lizzy Satin Draped Minidress

For a longer option, we love the long sleeves and tie waist on the deep green dress (below). Keep the neck closed and wear a statement necklace over the top, or open the neck and create a v-neck.

SIMKHAI Samba Draped Midi-Shirtdress

The lace on the Karen Millen dress (below) draws attention just below the bust rather than to the tummy.

Karen Millen Jersey Lace Thigh Split Midi Dress

The v-neck on the velvet gown (below) is flattering and the empire shape cuts in just below the bust before skimming over the belly.

Kiyonna Verona Velvet Surplice Gown

Sweater dress

A sweater dress is a good idea if it is cool where you are.

Sweater dresses can either be very flattering or they can look boxy and cling to every lump and bump. Choose a dress in a soft knit that drapes rather than clings. It’s best not to choose knitwear which adds unwanted bulk such as cable knits. Wear with your leggings or with skinny pants.

The sweater dress (below) is relatively loose-fitting and would look good worn over leggings with boots for winter. You can alter how you tie the waist for the best look for you.

R.Vivimos Tie Waist Sweater Dress

Julie @stylishparadox above (read her style interview here) wears her v-neck sweater dress with similar color boots.

Check out this similar wrap sweater dress (another option here), high boots, tote, earrings and beret.

Summer dresses

Perhaps you’re heading into summer where you live, or you’re lucky enough to be vacationing in warmer climes. In that case, you’ll find inspiration below:

Boden Maxi Empire Kaftan Dress

The one below is quite short, so you may want to wear leggings underneath.

Invug Swing T-Shirt Dress

One easy way to hide this belly bulge is to choose a dress that’s wide and drapy like the dress in the picture above.

Since the dress fits snugly at the top and is supposed to go wide, it’s still very flattering and no one needs to know that you have a tummy.

Naggoo Short Sleeve Split Dress

HUSKARY Summer Maxi Dress

Good brands to look out for when choosing dresses to hide your tummy:

• Alex Evenings 
• Eileen Fisher
• Karen Kane 
• Boden
• COS
• Massimo Dutti

shop the best dresses to hide your tummy below:

What do you feel are the best dresses to hide the tummy? What has worked for  you?

Continue reading:

1. 14 Sure-Fire Ways To Hide Your Belly With The Right Clothes
2. The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
3. The Best Pants And Skirts To Fit And Hide Your Belly

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Feature image by Julie @stylishparadox

The post The best dresses to hide your tummy appeared first on 40+ Style.

The ideal shoulder line is almost equal to your hips as in the hourglass figure. Not too square and broad and not too narrow and sloping. But if you don’t have it naturally (most of us don’t) then we can always create the illusion of this ideal with our clothes.

Why dressing to suit your narrow shoulders is so important

Narrow or sloping shoulders can be aging, as they can give the illusion that you are hunched over. You’ll see that many models have a rectangular shape, with broad shoulders as clothes hang well from them. So, your posture is important. Stand tall, and keep your shoulders back!

Natalia @odin.stylish.me above wears a top with drop shoulders, which can also be effective in making it look as if your shoulders are wider. She creates balance in her outfit with wide-leg jeans.

Get her look with this similar blouse, wide jeans, mules, bag, necklace and sunglasses.

What to think about when you have narrow shoulders

With narrow shoulders your main aim is to broaden the look of the shoulders. There are several ways to do this:

• Make sure that your shoulder seams are at the right place and fit perfectly, which means that the seam extends just past your natural shoulder. This may be tricky as one size down may be too tight and one size up may be too big for your shoulders. In that case there is no other good solution, but a good tailor.
• Choose an off the shoulder top or dress
• Puffy sleeves also work really well
• Boat and square necks give a widening effect too
• On shirts, the bigger the collar, the better!
• Cap sleeves also work well.
• A wide v-neck also leads the eye to the side which has a broadening effect
• Have accents on the shoulders
• Any horizontally placed details on your shoulder and neckline will also widen
• Use shoulder pads to widen shoulders (subtly of course)
• Opt for wider straps instead of smaller ones (avoid halter tops altogether)
• You can scrunch your sleeves a bit and blouse up your upper arm area, which draws attention up and away
• Although raglan sleeves are usually advised for broad shoulders, they can also work well for narrow shoulders, since you don’t have to worry that the seam is at the correct place of your shoulder.
• A trench coat with epaulettes is also great to add volume to the shoulders.

Cathy @themiddlepageblog above (read her style interview here) shows how you can create the illusion of wider shoulders with the style of top you choose.

Check out this similar blouse (another option here), jeans, sandals, shoulder bag, belt and sunglasses.

Should you wear shoulder pads?

Subtle shoulder pads can be a great option if you want to create the look of wider shoulders.

• Look for natural rounded shoulder pads
• Choose them in skin colour
• Make sure they are not too thick. You want them to widen your shoulders, not make them bigger and higher.
• You can just wear them underneath your bra and pull them as far wide as necessary to balance your hip
• Make sure your shoulders pads are not visible through your fabric

What to wear if you have narrow shoulders

Now, let’s take a look at a capsule wardrobe that would work well for you if you have narrow shoulders.

tops

The tops below feature details at the shoulder that visually widen the shoulder line, such as ruffles and cap sleeves. Another good choice if to look out for horizontal stripes that cut across the body and sleeve.

Loveappella Flutter Sleeve Jersey Wrap Top – CeCe Ruffle Sleeve Crepe Blouse – FRAME Puff Sleeve Cotton Crop Top – Zadig & Zoltaire Tchao Sequin Stripe Top

Melissa @melissabultburns above opts for a top with volumnious sleeves.

Recreate her outfit with this similar blouse, pants and sandals.

jackets and coats

Choose jackets and coats with strong shoulders, stripes, shoulder details and epaulettes.

Naked Wardrobe Bossed Up Oversize Blazer – J.Crew Emilie Sweater Stripe Sequin Lady Jacket – Kedera Rivet Pearl Denim Jacket – COS Classic Belted Trench Coat

Naked Wardrobe Bossed Up Oversize Blazer – Loveappella Flutter Sleeve Jersey Wrap Top – PAIGE Cindy High Waist Ankle Straight Leg Jeans – Söfft Carleigh Peep Toe Bootie – Vince Camuto Saly Canvas Tote – Ettika Set of 4 Crystal & Chain Link Necklaces

jeans and pants

The bottoms you choose will depend on the balance you want to create for the rest of your figure. If you have wider thighs and hips, you will want figure skimming pants that slim your lower half. If you have a slimmer lower half, you will be able to choose any style of pants.

Also take a look at how to dress the pear shape – as the aim there is to create balance by focusing on the top half.

PAIGE Cindy High Waist Ankle Straight Leg Jeans – AG Saige High Waist Ankle Wide Leg Jeans – Halogen High Waist Side Slit Straight Leg Pants – Anne Klein Stripe Flare Leg Pants

Marie-Louise @mrsmlmode above shows how you could wear your jacket over your shoulders rather than as you would usually.

Steal her look with this similar striped top, tweed jacket, wide jeans, sandals and handbag.

dresses and jumpsuits

Onto good dresses and jumpsuits for narrow shoulders. Again, puff sleeves will really help to create width at the shoulders. Another great option is an off the shoulder dress, which draws the eye across ad makes the shoulders look wider in comparison to your lower half.

Nobody’s Child Darcie Puff Sleeve Dress – Charles Henry Puff Sleeve Dress – Vince Camuto Popover Cocktail Dress – Julia Jordan Sequin Bodice Puff Long Sleeve Jumpsuit

Charles Henry Puff Sleeve Dress – Fttpdeaus Chunky Heel Strappy Sandals – COACH Crossgrain Leather Convertible Shoulder Bag – MEDWISE Long Drop Earrings

shoes to go with your outfits for narrow shoulders

Given that the aim is to widen the look of your shoulders, you can choose any shoes you love that go with your outfit.

Fttpdeaus Chunky Heel Strappy Sandals – Jack Rogers Debra Kitten Heel Slingback Pump – Söfft Carleigh Peep Toe Bootie – Converse Chuck Taylor^® All Star^® Platform Sneaker

Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above chooses a puffed sleeve dress.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress (another option here), sandals, handbag, earrings and sunglasses.

accessories

Below, you can see accessories that go with your outfits for narrow shoulders. A bag you wear at the shoulder line can create extra width there. Or, choose a tote if you have lots of essentials to fit in.

Vince Camuto Saly Canvas Tote – COACH Crossgrain Leather Convertible Shoulder Bag – Marc Jacobs The St. Marc Convertible Clutch – Ettika Set of 4 Crystal & Chain Link Necklaces – MEDWISE Long Drop Earrings – Jennifer Zeuner Jude Hoop Earrings

Vince Camuto Popover Cocktail Dress – Jack Rogers Debra Kitten Heel Slingback Pump – Marc Jacobs The St. Marc Convertible Clutch – Ettika Set of 4 Crystal & Chain Link Necklaces – Jennifer Zeuner Jude Hoop Earrings

Your outfits for narrow shoulders together in one capsule

Below, you can see all the outfits from above together in one capsule. You can easily change the tops and bottoms around to create different looks.

shop the best pieces to buy if you have narrow shoulders:

These are just some of our ideas. If you have narrow shoulders, let us know what works for you!

Continue reading:

1. How To Dress A Pear Shaped Body
2. How To Cover Your Upper Arms While Staying Stylish And Cool!
3. How To Fit A Blazer – A Comprehensive Guide On How To Select The Right Blazer

 Feature image by Cathy @themiddlepageblog

The post How to dress when you have narrow shoulders appeared first on 40+ Style.

So how do you cover your upper arms while still staying cool? We share lots of strategies and products on how to cover your upper arms in this article.

Do you even need to cover your upper arms?

Well, it depends…

As you age, you may find myself wanting to cover up more and more parts of your body.

You may prefer presenting yourself in the most flattering way possible and that implies covering up some parts, hiding loose skin, wrinkly parts, belly fat and so on.

It’s a personal choice and certainly not something you have to do. If you’re happy to show your arms, go for it!

There is no need to cover up at all and I personally believe that arms are beautiful, no more matter how discolored or wrinkly they may be, or if they have some loose skin.

Deborah @deborahgates_ above (read her style interview here) shows how you could cover your arms with loose-fitting sleeves.

Check out this wide sleeve top that you can wear with this similar pair of jeans and flats.

You may also like our article on how to hide your belly with the right clothes.

How to cover your arms

However, if you, like many women, prefer not to show your naked arms anymore but still want to stay cool in spring and summer, you will like my ideas on how to cover your upper arms.

Does that mean that from on you can only wear full length sleeves?

No, not at all.

That would not be comfortable in summer and a shorter sleeve is actually more flattering in most cases.

Fortunately, there are lots of other ways to cover your upper arms apart from just long sleeves.

Strategies for covering up your arms

To cover up your arms you can:

Wear something with sleeves, a no brainer

There is a lot of variation in sleeves though. In the length, the shape and the material.

The linen shirt (below) comes in a variety of colors and is easy to dress up or down. Plus, even though it has long arms, the linen material should keep you cool.

Massimo Dutti Linen Shirt

Kimba @kimbalikes above chooses a lightweight shirt with her check pants.

Recreate her outfit with this similar blouse (another option here), pants and sandals.

Opt for light or sheer fabrics

If you go for full length sleeves you may want to try to look for certain fabrics like light material, (semi-)transparent and lace. All of these are relatively cool and airy. You hardly feel transparent material on your ams and it is often good enough to mislead the eye of people.

The Massimo Dutti top (below) is made from ramie which, like linen, is extremely absorbent and will stay comfortable on hot, humid days.

Massimo Dutti Ramie Shirt

Look for ‘airy’ kind of sleeves

Choose sleeves that aren’t too tight as these will drape over your arms and ensure you stay cool. The Massimo Dutti linen top (below) will be a good choice for summer.

Massimo Dutti Wide Sleeves Linen Shirt

bell sleeve

The bell sleeve blouse, is a long sleeve that is fitted from shoulder to elbow and flared out at the bottom of the arms.

The print blouse below could be worn with your shorts, pants or jeans.

Reiss Laura Floral Bell Sleeve Blouse

Melanie @melanie.rae.miller above chooses a flared sleeve blouse with her jeans.

Get her look with this similar blouse, skinny jeans, pumps, handbag, earrings and belt.

puff sleeve

Puff sleeve tops are particularly on trend at the moment and can be ideal for covering up the top of your arms. Because the sleeves are voluminous, this can help to make your lower arms look slimmer. The puff sleeve top (below) has a square neck which tends to be a flattering look if you have a big bust.

Chaus Floral Smocked Puff Sleeve Cotton Top

flutter sleeve

The flutter sleeve top (below) would be a good option for summer or vacation. Women who have worn it say they got lots of compliments.

Vince Camuto Flutter Sleeve Tunic

Above is another perfect example on how to cover your arms by Deborah @deborahgates_. She opts for a beautiful flutter sleeve top that would go with everything from skirts to jeans.

Get her look with this similar top, maxi skirt, sandals and earrings.

Split sleeve

A split sleeve style is a good choice to look out for, as it is cool and airy, while easily covering your upper arms. The chiffon top (below) comes in a wide choice of colors and has fantastic reviews from wearers who say it is flattering, doesn’t show your bra through, and is good to dress up or wear with your jeans.

Neineiwu Chiffon Top

batwing sleeve

The batwing sleeve top, a long or mid-length sleeve with a deep armhole, tapering towards the wrist or elbow. The top below is available is super airy and available in all kinds of colors and prints. Reviewers say they have this top in multiple colors.

Lock and Love Dolman Top

Dayle @artfulcitystyle above (read her style interview here) shows how you could style a batwing top.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top (another option here), wide pants, booties and necklace.

butterfly sleeve

The butterfly sleeve top, a short sleeve that gets a lot wider from the shoulder onwards.

The blouse (below) should flatter most body shapes, particularly if you want to hide both your upper arms and your belly. It comes in a choice of colors, and reviewers say it feels nice to wear. Many say it fits a little on the large side so you may want to order a size down.

Anyally Print Blouse

bishop sleeve

The bishop sleeve top, fuller at the bottom than the top and gathered at the wrist in a cuff.

The blouse below comes in neutral shades, and the square neckline is good for hourglass figures and fuller busts.

The Drop Square-Neck Top

Jona @the50plusgirl above chooses a floral blouse with wide, cuffed sleeves.

Steal her look with this similar blouse (other options here and here), denim skirt, sneakers and sunglasses.

cold shoulder

The cold shoulder top, a sleeve that opens down the side or front to allow the arm to pass through. This has the advantage of showing off your shoulders, if this is a part of your body you like, while covering up your upper arms.

Chaus Print Cold Shoulder Knit Top

Lace

Because lace naturally has little holes in it, it can be a cool option to cover your arms. You could wear the lace blouse below with a camisole underneath.

Boden Fitted Lace Shirt

off the shoulder

These tops are absolutely perfect for women who prefer to cover (part of their) upper arms yet still want to feel cool and sexy. Right now this is a HUGE trend so this is the time to stock up on these kinds of tops as they can sometimes be hard to find.

COS Smocked Off The Shoulder Top

Eugenia @theeageofgrace (read her style interview here) pairs her off-the-shoulder top with her maxi skirt.

Get her look with this similar off the shoulder top (another option here), skirt, sandals and bag.

Wear 3/4 sleeves

If you want to cover up, a 3/4 or half arm sleeve is a great solution. It has the extra benefit that’s it’s super flattering too.

As the sleeves end at your waist, you tend to focus your eye there. The Karen Kane asymmetric top (below) is also a great style for covering your belly.

Karen Kane Asymmetrical Crepe Top

Wear sleeveless, and wear something with sleeves over that

You can also start building your outfit with a sleeveless top like a short or long camisole.

Then you can add many kinds of toppers like cardigans, vests and boleros, but also the sheer blouses we mentioned above.

Another option is a shawl or pashmina, but they take a bit more effort to keep them in place

Eileen Fisher Bateau Neck Linen Crop Poncho

Below, you can see how you could wear a ruana over a camisole.

wear sleeveless and wear something with sleeves under that

You can also take your sheer blouses or other tops with cool sleeves and wear something on top of that.

Another advantage of wearing an outfit like this is that you’re creating a long lean line in your outfit which makes you taller and slimmer and hides your belly too!

The example below shows how you could wear a sleeveless vest over a summer ruana or kimono.

Kate Spade New York Floral Print Ruana – Treasure & Bond Button-Up Linen Blend Camisole

You could also wear a longer sleeved top, and then a sleeveless vest over the top, as shown below.

Made By Johnny Sleeveless Draped Open Cardigan – Amazon Essentials Classic-Fit 3/4 Sleeve T-Shirt

For many more ideas, check out this article on how to wear a long vest.

Cover up with a sheer cardigan or jacket

Another great way to cover up your arms is to use a sheer cardigan or a cool jacket.

You could add several of these sheer cardigans in a variety of colors to your closet. Not just to cover your arms but also to stay warm. They’re super easy to pop into your bag as they don’t wrinkle.

You can wear these loose or tied with a knot as in the example below. Reviewers say it is ideal as a cover-up for summer events and parties.

SHU-SHI Sheer Shrug Knit Cardigan

A sheer bolero could be another good option, particularly if you want a dressier evening choice.

Alex Evenings Short Bolero Shrug Jacket

Get separate sleeves to cover arms

If you love many of the sleeveless blouses and dresses you already have in your closet but want to cover up your arms, use a separate sleeve or arm cover up.

Sheer sleeves to cover arms

Lace sleeves

A popular brand to cover arms that’s of higher quality is Sleevy Wonders. They offer both sheer but also lace arm covers that are perfect for sleeveless dresses.

Sleevey Wonders Basic 3/4 Length Slip-on Lace Sleeves

Jersey arm sleeves

If you like to cover your arms with a sold color then a jersey sleeve is perfect for you. These are from Sleevy Wonders too and will be perfect to add under your sleeveless tops or dresses.

Sleevey Wonders Basic 3/4 Length Slip-on Jersey Sleeves

As you have seen there are many ways to cover up your arms in a stylish way. Now all you have to choose is whether you want to cover up or not. Both options are equally good!

shop more items here:

Do you want to cover up your upper arms in Summer? If yes, how do you do it?

Continue reading:

1. The Best Dresses With Sleeves For Women Over 40
2. 14 Sure-Fire Ways To Hide Your Belly With The Right Clothes
3. Shrugs And Boleros For Evening Dresses: 10 Stylish Party Cover Up Ideas

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Feature image by Deborah @deborahgates_

The post How to cover your upper arms while staying stylish and cool! appeared first on 40+ Style.