Hey there, beautiful queens!
Before you can dress for your body type you need to know what your body type is. Identifying your body type is key to finding styles that will flatter you and highlight your best features.
Remember, though: there is no “right” or “wrong” body type. Your body is what it is. And you want to know what it is? It’s beautiful. So let’s help you feel beautiful by showing off your best self.
Identifying Your Body Type
Here are some of the most common body types:
- Pear Shape. If your hips are wider than your shoulders and your bust is on the smaller side, you likely have a pear-shaped body.
- Hourglass Shape. If your hips and bust are similar in size and you have a defined waistline, your body type is an hourglass shape.
- Apple Shape. You have an apple-shaped body if you carry your weight in your midsection and have narrow hips and legs.
- Rectangle Shape. If your shoulders, waist, and hips are all about the same width with minimal curves, you have a rectangle-shaped body.
You might be able to determine your body type by reading the descriptions we have, but if you aren’t sure, you can always grab a tape measure and find out for sure. Compare the measurements of your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips to find which proportions fit you best.
Highlight Your Best Features
Now that you have a general idea of which body type you have, let’s celebrate your fabulous figure! Dressing for your body type is all about accentuating your best features and creating balance and proportion. Here are some tips tailored specifically to you and your body type:
- Pear Shape. Embrace your curves by drawing attention to your upper body. Opt for tops with eye-catching details like ruffles, embellishments, or bold prints to balance out your hips. Pair them with an A-line skirt or wide-legged pants to create a balanced silhouette.
- Hourglass Shape. Flaunt those curves, sis! Highlight your defined waistline with styles that accentuate your waist, such as wrap dresses, belted tops, or high-waisted bottoms. Bodycon dresses or tailored blazers are another great choice to show off your figure. Avoid shapeless pieces; find pieces that show off your waist.
- Apple Shape. Create the illusion of a slimmer waistline by drawing attention away from your midsection. Opt for tops with V-necks or scoop necklines to elongate your torso, and choose bottoms with a higher rise to smooth and slim your silhouette. A-line dresses, monochrome outfits, and empire waist tops are also flattering options.
- Rectangle Shape. Add some curves to your frame by playing with volume and shape. Look for tops with ruffles, peplums, or asymmetrical hemlines to create the illusion of curves, and opt for bottoms with details like pleats, ruching, or flared legs to add dimension to your silhouette. Girls with a rectangle shape have many options to pull in shape with their clothes, but do your best to steer clear of boxy outfits.
Tips for Success
These rules might seem nice in theory, but it can be hard to translate some tidbits into actual outfits. Here are some tips that can help you:
- Ask a friend. If you aren’t sure which style looks most flattering on you, ask! It can be hard to get a complete sense of how the look lands from just a mirror. Pick one of your sisters who you know will be honest with you to get some feedback.
- Be deliberate. Don’t just go on a shopping spree to go on a shopping spree. Be intentional about the pieces that you bring into your wardrobe. Specifically, look for items that you know will accentuate your body the best, are comfortable, and bring you joy. Don’t just buy something because it’s on the clearance rack.
- Buy for your body now. As a woman, your body shape and size will most likely fluctuate as you go through life. Embrace it. You probably don’t have the same body you did ten years ago, and that’s okay. But right now, dress for the body you currently have. If you think you might lose weight soon, you can replenish what you got rid of from your wardrobe, but don’t hold onto things thinking that maybe they’ll fit again one day. That way of thinking can be hard on your mental health as well as adding clutter to your home.
Dress with Confidence
Above all else, remember that confidence is the best accessory! No matter your body type, the most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident in what you're wearing. Whether you're rocking a power suit for a boardroom meeting or slaying in a statement dress for a night out on the town, own your style and strut your stuff with pride. After all, confidence is what truly makes a queen shine!
We Hear You
We know that everyone feels good in different styles. What looks flattering on one body doesn’t look the same on the next. Everyone has different preferences, too. You might be a colorful girl with a bright and bold wardrobe while your best friend prefers to wear more neutrals and conservative clothes.
This is why we started LNO Greek. We are here because we believe you should have options when you’re repping your colors. No one can design an outfit that will flatter all the different body types, so we wanted to give sorors options. Every sorority sister should be able to choose which DST apparel speaks most to them.