dress for your body type: rectangular shapes
The fourth and final part of this series on dressing for your body type. This entry focuses on the rectangular or athletic shape.
The rectangular shape has the following characteristics:
- Very little curve
- Slim / athletic / narrow / small frame
- Great legs and arms
- Small chest size
- Linear appearance (straight up and down)
- Weight gain evenly deposited over whole body
To dress the rectangular shape, the goal is to create curves and an hourglass shape. The focus is on creating a more obvious waistline. Try to “break up” your silhouette by interrupting clothing lines to create a natural waist. If you are slender, use this to your advantage and show off your lean shape by wearing fitted clothes. Avoid vertical stripes because they will hide your curves. Instead wear busy patterns and florals that add dimension and femininity to your figure. In general, athletic shapes look great in most of today’s fashions and also our collection items. Some famous celebrities with this body type include: Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff and Sheryl Crowe.
Tops / Blouses / Shirts
- Wear halter tops to highlight curves in your figure
- Wear pleated and gathered shirts (especially at sleeves and waist)
- Wear tops with necklines that come below the collarbone to elongate your neck and upper body
- Wear tops that cinch at the waist to define your figure
- Wear tops with ruffles, lace, neck ties, etc to make your waist look smaller and make you look more feminine
- Wear long suit jackets to lengthen your upper body
- Wear shirts with pockets on the bust to emphasize and highlight curves
- Wear layered tops to add dimension to your body
- Wear feminine tops with lots of ruffles
- Wear tops with prints and/or intricate detailing to draw attention to your upper body
- Wear wrap tops to create the illusion of a waist.
- Avoid baggy tops (unless wearing with a belt or some other detailing) — it may seem like the easiest solution but it will not create visual interest!
- Avoid clingy tops as they will highlight your lack of waist
- Recommended Items
- Arianna Summer Halter: This sunny yellow halter plays up your slim arms for the summer! Pair with denim shorts to show off slim legs as well.
- Bethany One Shoulder Top: Rectangular shapes look amazing in this summer’s hot one-shoulder trend. Play up your slim arms with this top and add some dimension with ruffles at the bust.
- Camille Blouse: This white blouse is ruffled at the chest and adds femininity and curves especially when paired with a fitted skirt.
- Cathy Plaid Shirt: This chic workwear shirt has a stylish bow at the chest.
- Erin One Shoulder Blouse: This black one shoulder style top looks amazing paired with a fitted skirt and belt.
- Kelly One Shoulder Top: Pair this black top with a fitted skirt for a lovely chic look.
- Laura Blouse: This white tie-neck blouse is great for wearing to work.
- Mariam Off-Shoulder Blouse: Wear this loose fitting top with a belt at the waist to define and create curves.
- Shawna Top: This halter top is perfect for playing up your slim arms!
- Slanted Button Shirt: This sleeveless white wrap-style shirt will create waist definition (especially with a belt) while highlighting slim arms.
- Veronica Blouse: This ruffled black shirt defines and adds dimension to your bust and is perfect for workwear.
- Wilma Cropped Top: This red cropped top adds dimension to your upper body and looks great with a pair of gauchos.
- Annie Vest & Off-Shoulder Blouse: Layer this cropped vest over a fitted off-shoulder blouse to add feminine detail and dimension to your upper body!
- Boho Vest: This stylish sleeveless black vest is perfect for the rectangular frame.
- Lindsay Denim Vest: This stylish denim vest adds some curve to your upper body.
- Madison Jacket: This feminine cropped jacket is a great piece to layer over a halter top.
- Sonia Jacket: Wear this loose fitting jacket with a fitted tube top and a belt to define your figure.
Skirts / Pants / Bottoms
- Wear skinny jeans and fitting pants to hug your slim thighs and define a curvy bottom. Pair with boots for a chic look.
- You would look great in boot cut and wide leg jeans and pants as well
- Wear jeans with embellishments or flap pockets on the back to add curve to a flat bottom
- Wear stretchy jeans if you have a good, firm shape
- Wear low waisted bottoms to create the illusion of curviness
- Wear drop-waisted a-line skirts
- Wear skirts with feminine accents at the hem to create curves in your lower body
- Wear layered skirts with floral prints and lots of details
- Wear gypsy skirts paired with ruffled blouses or peasant style tops
- Wear jumpsuits! They suit the athletic frame perfectly and are SO in.
- Avoid cuffing your pants and jeans because they will make your legs look short and stumpy
- Avoid baggy jeans because they will make you look too boyish
- Recommended Items
- Antique Black Skinny Jeans: These pocketed skinny jeans highlight slim legs and define a curvier bottom.
- Becky Skinnies: Black satin skinny pants hug your slim lower body. Look great with a loose fitting belted top!
- Donna Playsuit: Check out this belted, playful red jumpsuit for great style.
- Evelyn Playsuit: This blue pocketed jumpsuit adds dimension to your lower body.
- Laura Long Playsuit: This black halter jumpsuit shows off slim arms and legs while defining your figure with a waist tie.
- Danielle Suspender Shorts: These plaid suspender shorts are cute and playful to show off your legs.
- Plaid Linen Shorts: These patterned shorts with pockets add some curve to your hips.
- Sophie Balloon Shorts: These balloon style shorts are cute and perfect for the athletic figure.
- Tamara Pinashorts: This stylish short jumpsuit is perfect for the athletic body shape!
- Andie Skirt: Feminine, bubble style skirt is ideal for adding curves to your lower body.
- Andrea Skirt: Floral, wrap skirt showcases slim legs and creates curves in all the right places.
- Carlotta Skirt: Wear this gypsy style skirt with a simple black top for a wonderful, feminine look.
- Carol Plaid Skirt: This short miniskirt looks wonderful with tights and a tube top!
- Dora Skirt: Wear this flared, layered skirt with a fitted top for a chic look.
- Mosaic Skirt: Stylish, layered miniskirt is a wardrobe staple.
- Polka Dot Suspender Skirt: Red suspender style skirt is wonderful for showcasing slim legs.
- Satin Bubble Skirt: Bubble-style skirt adds dimension to your lower body.
Dresses
- Wear patterned dresses to create curves in the right places
- Wear feminine chiffon dresses to soften your shape
- Wear dresses that draw attention to and define your bust — especially those with beaded necklines or bodices
- Wear empire cut dresses to define your bust and make your chest seem fuller
- Wear ball gowns with a full skirt and fitted bodice to create curves and draw attention to your waist
- Wear dresses with ruched/embellished waistlines (with ornaments, belts, wraps, darts, ribbons, etc)
- Wear dresses with full sleeves
- Wear very feminine dresses, especially with ruffles and frills to increase body shape volume
- Avoid sheath dresses
- Avoid clingy dresses
- Recommended Items
- Alice Trapeze Dress: Loose-fitting printed dress looks wonderful with a belt at the waist.
- Allison Dress: Stylish little black dress adds curves with slim fit and feminine layered ruffles at hips.
- Anastasia Dress: Wear this feminine, ruffled dress with a wide belt at the waist.
- Angie Dress: Feminine, printed dress showcases slim arms and defines your waist with a belt.
- Black Banded Bottom Dress: Black, loose-fitting dress looks wonderful on a slender figure.
- Charlotte Dress: Sleeveless, printed dress has great bust detailing to define upper body.
- Cynthia Dress: Fitted dress has bow at bust to add dimension to upper body.
- Ellen Dress: Stylish sleeveless dress breaks up lower and upper body to create a defined waist.
- Eugenia Plaid Dress: Wide belt at the waist will create curves in your figure.
- Heather Dress: Grey dress is banded at waist to define your waist.
- Ingrid Dress: Loose-fitting printed satin dress showcases slim arms and looks perfect paired with a belt.
- Isabella Dress: This feminine little black dress has stylish ruffles to fill out your silhouette.
- Kathleen Dress: Pleated, flutter-sleeved chic dress is perfect for the rectangular figure.
- Katya Dress: Tie-neck little black dress is color and pattern blocked for creating gentle curves.
- Lucy Dress: Ruffled and layered dress is great for creating some subtle curves.
- Maggie Dress: Layered, feminine dress suits the rectangular figure well.
- Marilyn Dress: Tiered, floral dress creates subtle curves and showcases your slim legs and arms.
- Marjorie Dress: Wrap-style, sleeveless dress with feminine lace details.
- Plaid Cord Dress: Pattern and color-blocked dress showcases curves in a chic style.
- Samantha Denim Mini Dress: Denim mini dress is great for layering over a simple top.
- Scarlett Dress: Pink and black floral dress is stylishly pleated with feminine details.
- Serena Pinafore Dress: Grey pinafore-style dress layers stylishly over simple tops.
- Trinity Dress: Cheongsam-style dress showcases a slim figure in red satin.
- Wilma Dress: Color-blocked mini dress is perfect for slim women.
Shoes / Accessories
- Wear shoes with delicate heels to highlight your slim ankles
- Accessorize with lace, beads and other details to look stylish and feminine
- Wear wide waist defining belts over shirts, cardigans, coats, dresses, etc to define your waist
- Wear necklaces and scarves to draw attention away from your small bust
fashion
thoughtssue on July 24th 2009 in how to dress, sophistix
food
life
random
