Women's bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Everyone is different, with their unique features and here at Kit and Kaboodal, we celebrate that – and we know how important it is to wear clothes that make you feel good, whatever your body type.
Clothing can also be a great way to experiment with your style and show off your personality. Wearing the right clothes can affect your confidence and mood throughout the day.
Whether you have wide hips, broad shoulders, or straight up and down, like a rectangle, knowing how to dress for your specific body shape is an important and useful skill.
What is a rectangular body shape?
The main characteristics of a rectangular body shape are that the shoulders are usually the same width as the bust and the hips, thus creating a fairly straight up and down, rectangle look.
Women with this body shape are often tall and skinny but usually have less defined waists and bums. This lack of curves can mean that if you wear the wrong garment, it can sometimes feel like the clothes are hanging off your body which doesn’t make anyone feel good. But fear not! You can easily avoid it with the right knowledge, and dressing for a
rectangular body shape is ultimately empowering and fun.
What Clothes To Wear For A Rectangular Body Shape
There are so many options for dressing a rectangular body shape. We have a huge range of subtle tips and tricks that can help to make the clothes you already have, look, and fit better.
Whether you prefer feminine one-piece outfits like dresses and jumpsuits or you enjoy creating a whole new look by pairing separates like tops and skirts, it is very easy to create curves and give yourself a different silhouette.
Don’t be afraid to use your sense of fashion to show off your unique style and best physical features.
Tips For Dressing A Rectangular Shape Body
Bring attention to the waist
With quite a balanced figure up and down the torso, it is a good idea to
focus on bringing attention to the waist when looking to create some
shape and definition on a rectangular body shape.
Accentuate your waist.
Adding a belt to your waist will cinch you in the middle to highlight your
waist. Try this tip with floaty dresses, smart jumpsuits, and mid-rise
trousers (as long as they already sit at your waistline). Having a classic black or brown leather belt in your wardrobe is a fail-safe way to add some shape to any outfit. They simply and subtly draw attention to your waist and look good as an accessory in most styles.
Consider tucking your shirts in.
If you want to add more shape to your waist, wearing trousers or a skirt and tucking your shirt in is a very quick, simple, and inexpensive way to do it. Tucking in your shirt pulls the eye down toward the waistband, making it another great way to define your waist and draw attention to the area. Try it with a bigger, loosely fitting top to create more of a contrast when tucking it in. As a bonus, wearing mid to high-rise garments like trousers or skirts also give the illusion of longer legs, which will create a taller silhouette.
Choose fitted clothes.
Avoid shapeless or oversized clothes. Instead, opt for garments that are well fitted to your body. You could even take some of your favourite outfits to a tailor to help you achieve this. Having clothes fitted to your body helps create curves and defines your shape. Skinny jeans are a great example of how fitted trousers help accentuate your body's shape
and show off your figure.
Showcase what you have
A rectangular body shape has many desirable features, so there are always opportunities to show off your best assets, and it's important to take advantage of this.
Opt for low necklines.
Women with this body type are often slender, which means rectangular body shapes often have prominent collar bones. Pick tops and dresses with either low necklines or off the shoulder styles like a sweetheart
neckline to show off your decolletage and emphasise your collar bones.
Wear long skirts and dresses
As mentioned, rectangle bodies also usually have long legs, so make the
most of them in maxi skirts and dresses. These are perfect for summer evenings and a great way to wear pretty floral prints.
Creating a different shape
Add shoulder pads.
It may come as a surprise, but there are ways to make your waist look
small that don’t involve the waistline. Shoulder pads give the illusion
of broader shoulders, which gives the illusion of a smaller waist. Try
this tip with puff sleeves as they add volume to your upper half.
Choose flared hemlines.
The same can be said for clothes that give the illusion of larger hips. For example, ruffle or skater style skirts help add volume to the hips, which again gives the illusion of a smaller waist. Bright colours and prints also help here.
Pick wrap dresses
Much like wearing a belt, one of the features of a wrap dress is that it
ties up around the waist. When paired, this works incredibly well at
giving the impression of a smaller midriff and a more hourglass shape.
Wrap dresses also look great in bold prints and are perfect when paired
with open-toe sandals for the summertime.