In this part of dressing for your body type series we will have a look at the hourglaas body type.
Characteristics of the hourglass:
- 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 significant boobs. 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. Some celebrities with this body shape include Nigella Lawson, Salma Hayek and Charlotte Church.
The aim of dressing for your 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.
How to dress the hourglass body type
Upper body
- A good bra is essential for this body type. Make sure you get a good supportive bra that will thrust your bustforwards. You will want to wear mostly V-shaped tops or tops with a deep neckline. High necklines will just make your bust area too bulky
- Look for dresses that fit your boobs and elongate your waist. They should fit very snugly.
- If you have some weight around the addomen then make sure your buy your dress in supportive fabric
- T-shirts look nicest when they fit your waist and have some accents on the shoulders
- Get a coat that highlights your waist and featuress 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 on 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
Lower body
- 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, like shoes with rounded toes, peep toes or bows
What not to wear
- Avoid too many thrills on your clothes as they will add extra bulk to places where you don’t need it
- Avoid excess fabric for the same reason
- Often it’s best to avoid obvious waistbands or belts. Let your clothes accentuate your small waist.
- Flat lace-up shoes
- Be careful with casual clothes. They make you look boxy.
If you would like to add to these guidelines, then please let me know. Also, if you are an hourglass shaped body type and are rocking an outfit, I would love to see it. Please send it to me!
P.S.: 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. If you want to find out about your own body type and find the right types of clothes for you, try out My Private Stylist and get your own personal recommendations.
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oops no hour glass figure over here.
brett
Luckily all our feminine shapes are gorgeous!
Perhaps I am an hourglass, since many of these rules definitely apply to me. I’ve never really known how to categorize my shape.
All the main categories are listed on my how to dresss category page: http://40plusstyle.com/category/how-to-dress-after-40/ so you may want to have a look. Please bear in mind though that these are broad categories and we usually have a combination of these types.
I thought I was an “Hourglass” because I am the same size top and bottom. I am not really curvy though. I do have a small waist but I am small all over. Now I am not sure what my shape is. I follow a lot of these guidlines as they tend to make short girls look longer – the V-necks and fitted shirts that don’t button all the way up. I have those in every color. And I have to make sure all of my clothes are fitted or I am lost in them – like I have been sneaking into my big sister’s closet. I am a Petite Petite – that I know for sure. I wear size 0P or 2P and a size 4.5 or 5 shoe. The outfits you show look like the things I wear but I am comfused. I am not an apple or a pear or a rectangle. I am not an inverted triangle. What works best for me is keeping everything balanced – not wearing tops or skirts that hit in the wrong spot – and I know it when I see it. This is making me think.
Hi Suzanne, It sounds like you may be more of a rectangle. Rectangles can still have waists but they are not as defined as the hourglass. In some books you will only get defined as an hourglass if you are really curved and have a considerable bust. In any case the difference between your bust width / hip width and waist needs to be significant to be classified as hourglass. Also you may be a combination of several types. Few women are clearly defined by just one. They are just general categories and can be used as guidelines for dressing. Since you are petite you will probably dress more for your vertical shape. http://40plusstyle.com/how-to-determine-your-vertical-body-shape/ If you are a combination of rectangle / hourglass then you have many options and it sounds that you already have a good idea what suits your petite frame and height!
I just read your post on vertical body shape and that makes much more sense to me.
I do think I have to make sure my proportions are balanced vertically to look my best. Tomorrow I am going to measure the sections that you talk about to see if I am even or if I have long or short legs. This is all great information!
Ok good luck with that. Another good thing to know for you may be if your are long or short waisted, but I have not written about that yet…. You may want to have a look at this simple way of measuring body proportions as well: http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/12/how-to-measure-your-body-proportions.html
I would love to have an hourglass shape! But don’t! Those are great guidelines to go by. Some of those definately applies to me..
As you indicated everyone is different and you don’t half to stick to those general guidelines. Shopping for a new outfit can get overwhelming! In my opinion having the right style,and a well fitted bra is important with any outfit…
Yes, a good bra is definitely a requirement for every outfit and to develop your own unique style!
Love. Love that blue dress in the first photo on the far right. I can feel a new obsession coming on.
That is my favorite too. I think that would look amazing on you!
I’m an hourglass with pear tendencies, i.e. I tend to carry extra weight around my hips and thighs. I find it a bit difficult to dress for my body type, because I don’t care much for some of the styles that are supposed to be “right” for me. Like pencil skirts, for instance, they’re just not my style. I do wear dress trousers on occasions, but I’m a jeans girl at heart and really prefer jeans. As for dresses, I prefer empire waistline or shift dress styles. One of the styles I feel most comfortable in, are long, slightly fitted tunic-style tops, skinny ponte pants or jeans and knee-high boots. I think that it balances my slightly short torso and shows off the narrowest part of my legs:)
These guidelines are very general and everyone needs to find their own style. As you know I also like tunics so I’m sure you will look great in them!
Thank you for this hour glass article, Sylvia. Just love the ideas.
Do you have a listing of where to get these gorgeous clothes?
Thanks Dale. Sorry I did not keep a record of the clothes. The garments were all found at polyvore.com so you should be able to find them there.
I spend a lot of dressing time figuring out how to DE-emphasize my bust. I have enough I don’t need to draw attention to it. I buy shirts bigger which then makes my waist look bigger. Or, with clingier or tighter shirts I wear jackets and blazers. But I do look better in tailored, structured clothes.
Hi Phyllis, Have a look at this article: how to highlight or downplay your bust (http://40plusstyle.com/how-to-dress-when-you-have-a-large-bust/) which you may find interesting as well.
ugh this is driving me crrrrazy! iv been told that i have an hourglass shape, but i am 5 2″ and i weigh 130 pounds. i have DD 36 bra size, and wear 6 in jeans. but because im so short, my waist pretty much doesnt exist! i mean it does, but i cant find ANY dresses that fit me! ANYWHERE!! AT ALL!! driving me absolutly crazy….
Hi Melody, Yes finding the perfect dress for your body type can be tough. Don’t give up though! Do you have a good tailor? They can be really helpful. Perhaps you can find something that comes close and then the tailor can correct so your dress fits perfectly. Good luck!
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