What To Wear When You Have An Inverted Triangle Body Shape

Understanding your body shape is incredibly helpful when it’s time to get dressed. Because when you know which styles and silhouettes flatter you best it’s easier to decide what to wear. Today, I’m talking about the inverted triangle body shape.

Generally speaking, there are five different body shapes of women. But it’s important to note that most of us don’t fall neatly into one type. Often we are a combination which means it’s useful to know the different styling strategies for each shape to figure out what works for you.

For example, I am primarily an hourglass. Yet I also have inverted triangle body shape tendencies. So I like to understand what flatters both an hourglass and an inverted triangle. This way I can take what works for me, and apply it to how I want to dress each day.

If you’re an inverted triangle, but you also don’t like your hips it will be helpful to understand the guidelines for triangles (which I’ll explain next week).

That said, today I am kicking off a new series called What To Wear to help you determine which styles and silhouettes will flatter you best based on your body type. (If you need to know which shape you are, click here to get my free download Dress Better For Your Body which will help you figure it out.) Since most of us aren’t exclusively one shape, understanding the guidelines for each shape will be hugely valuable for you.

Inverted Triangle Body Shape

You have an inverted triangle body shape if your shoulders are wider than your hips. You may have a full bust or not, but overall your top half is bigger than your lower half. When you gain weight, it may go to your upper body or middle instead of your lower half. And when you want to conceal body parts, you may be concerned about your upper arms or back.

Style Goals

Create a balanced look by highlighting specific areas. For an inverted triangle body shape, think about softening your shoulder line and adding interest to the lower half of your body with fashion details like flared bottoms, chunky or statement making shoes and bright or patterned pants.

Also, make sure you’re not suffocating yourself in anything too tight or structured up top. Soft and draping fabrics will be best in helping you feel comfortable while deemphasizing the broadness of your shoulders or upper body.

And lastly, accentuate your waist to create a more feminine silhouette.

What To Wear For The Inverted Triangle
Body Shape

• Single breasted jackets with small and simple lapels
• Collarless jackets
• V necklines
• Scoop necks
• Raglan tops
• Dolman sleeves
• Straight, bootleg, skinny and wide leg pants
• Full or A-line skirts
• Tops that tie at the waist
• Peplums
• Jackets and tops that end at the hip and nip in at the waist
• Belts and horizontal details around the hips and waist

What Not To Wear For The Inverted Triangle
Body Shape

• Boat neck tops
• Shoulder pads or any type of shoulder detail like epaulettes
• Big jacket lapels
• Stiff and thick fabrics on top

**These are just guidelines. Your ultimate style goal is to wear things that make you happy and feel confident. Your personality is the most important aspect to satisfy when styling yourself so make sure you love what you wear.

In the video, I go over the styling details of the inverted triangle body shape, and show you what to wear that will flatter this figure.

One of the first things I do with my clients is show them how to dress better for their body types. We look at what they’re currently wearing, and I show them how to make improvements so their clothes compliment them best. Then we go on to find the perfect fit between their personal preferences and their “right-now” body shapes to set the framework for a flattering style that they love AND that makes them look amazing.

If you want my eyes on your style, join my free private facebook group, Closet Shopping Collective. I share my top tips from my 20+ year fashion styling career so you look more polished and feel more pulled together in your clothes. Click here to join the group.

Not an inverted triangle? Maybe you’ll relate more to the triangle body shape.  Or the rectangle body shape. Or the circle or apple shaped body. Or hourglass body shape.