Celebrities with Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Supermodel Naomi Campbell
Canadian model Winnie Harlow
Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones
Hollywood actress Reneé Zellweger
90s supermodel Cindy Crawford
Actress and model Elizabeth Hurley
Actress Demi Moore
French actress Sophie Marceau
Traits of the Inverted Triangle
So, what exactly is the inverted triangle body shape? Here’s a quick and easy checklist that will answer your question:
- Athletic figure
- Wide shoulders that look broader than the hips
- Breast size is on the scale of full to delicate
- The hips look narrower compared to the shoulders
- The butt is usually petite in size
- V-shape silhouette
- Long, beautiful legs are as striking as the shoulder line
Measurements
- Shoulders: it’s best if you can get a hand with this one. Place one tip of the measuring on one shoulder and take it all the way around the back. Note that the tape should be as high up your shoulders as possible. Jot down the results when ready.
- Bust: if you are wearing a bra at the moment of measuring, it’s advised that you take it off for a more accurate result. Wind the tape around your bust, but don’t pull too tight! We don’t want to squash your beautiful curves. Put down the result as well.
- Waist: wind the tape around the waist, aim for the line above the belly button. Ready? Just one more left!
- Hips: place the tip of the tape below the hip bone on one side, and wrap all the way around the butt.
Styling ABC’s: Do and Don’ts
- Complement your natural lines! Nature has gifted you a striking shoulderline, so no need to pump it up with ruches or shoulder pads. You may want to avoid wide necklines that make your shoulder line look broader, as well as patterned scarves and tops. Complement your beautiful shoulderline by adding volume in the lower body by highlighting your waist, hips and legs!
- Don’t be afraid of patterns or bold details! If you feel like flaunting your most extravagant self – go for it! Just remember that details create accents, and for those who have the inverted triangle body type this can be a wonderful chance to define the waist and hips. Simple rule: minimalistic top and eccentric bottom.
- Highlight the waist. Play with cuts, volumes, draping, details and accessories to add definition to the waistline. Your body is your canvas, so feel free to experiment with different styling tips to paint a new picture every time.
- A-line is your perfect cut! While looking for the right dresses, you might want to pick the ones that gently wrap around your waist and broaden towards the hips to highlight your complexion.
How to create your dream outfit
How to choose the perfect top for the Inverted Triangle body
Deep and narrow necklines, as well as slim and long ones will highlight your neck and shoulders without overpowering them.
Asymmetric lines will break up the chest, balancing your features. And if you want to elongate your upper body to complement those great legs – pick a halter neck!
Best necklines: V-neck, U-neck, Halter, Asymmetric, Scoop, High Neck
Actress Katie Holmes
English model Rosie Huntington
Emily Ratajkowski
Amal Clooney
90s supermodel Claudia Shiffer
Give your arms a moment to shine in short sleeves that gently, but tightly wrap around them. Although you may feel tempted to knock people’s socks off with extravagant puffy sleeves and lush embellishments – your shoulders are your most prominent feature by nature! Additional accents may be overpowering.
If the weather outside is saying “cocoa by the fireplace”, it’s time to unpack the elegant long sleeves! An open volume sleeve or soft sleeves that flare, like kimono or raglan are the definition of comfy chic. Softer, flowing fabrics work best for your shoulder line.
Best sleeves: Dolman, Kimono, Raglan, Drop Shoulder, Wide Straps, Butterfly, Bell
Dolman sleeves
Kimono sleeves
Drop shoulder
Raglan sleeves
Butterfly sleeves
Who said shirts were only about the upper body? This piece is a jack-of-all-trades that can accentuate your waist and hips, too. That’s why it’s so important to consider volume and accents when picking your ideal match.
Short hem skirts, for example, can make the torso of someone with inverted triangle type broader. Fitted blouses from soft fabrics, as well as wraps and shoulder cut-outs are your perfect go-to’s.
Best shirts: Fitted blouses from soft fabrics, Wrap-shirts, Shoulder cut-outs
Wrap-shirt
Soft fabric shirt
Cup shoulder
Best T-Shirts: Fitted models from soft fabrics
Fitted T-shirt
Crop top trend may still be very much alive, but we say it’s time to say goodbye. Especially, if your body shape is inverted triangle, because these short pieces take away from your lower body. Luckily for you, we’ve got a few tips on how to choose your perfect top.
Keep it simple with halter tops, trapeze/circle tops, or, if you like something a little more exciting – a peplum top will accentuate your beautiful hips and add flair to the look.
Best Tops: Halter tops, Trapeze/circle tops, Peplum top
Halter top
Trapeze top
Chunky & top-heavy sweaters will add prominence to your shoulders and take away from the lower body. If you’re looking for a way to balance out your look, stick to tight-fitting sweaters/ jumpers.
You may want to avoid excessive embroidery and embellishment around the neckline so as not to add volume to your shoulder line..
Best knitwear: Slim-fitting sweaters, Straight-cut sweaters
Slim-fitting sweater
Straight cut sweater
Got your eye on the classy and chic look for the day? Pick an elegant jacket to project confidence wherever you go! As someone with an inverted triangle body shape, your complexion will shine in blazers that accentuate the waist and hips.
A great pick would be the peplum jacket, the cutaway jacket and waterfall cardigans. Want to rock a straight cut jacket? Sure! Just make sure to pick a longer one that goes down below your hips to lengthen the silhouette.
Best jackets: Single-breasted, Belted blazers, Long straight jackets, Wide lapel jackets, Peplum jackets, Waterfall cardigans, Cutaway jackets
Single breasted jacket
Belted blazer
Long blazer
Wide lapel blazer
Peplum jacket
The athletic inverted triangle body boasts a gorgeous shoulder line and delicate hips. The right coat will also make sure that these two features exist not in contrast, but in absolute harmony. For example, coats in darker colors will lengthen your silhouette and draw attention to your long legs. Minimalistic collars work best for the neckline!
Dreaming of a stylish trench coat? We say – go for it! Just make sure that it doesn’t have epaulets which are bound to overpower your silhouette.
Best coats: Single-breasted coats, Trench coats, Trapeze, Cocoon (soft fabric, curved shoulders), Cape Coat, Car Coat, Princess Coat
Trench coat
Cocoon coat
Single-breasted coat
Cape coat
Princess coat
Car coat
If you’re looking for a way to accentuate your hips, there are some gorgeous dress cuts that can do just that! Choose the ones that flare from the waist down, because they will emphasize the lower body. You will look captivating in simple cuts like the A-line. Opt for intricate patterns on the skirt to channel lightness and chic!
Dresses with belts will define the waist, while the strapless ones will give your shoulders a moment to shine without overpowering the silhouette.
Mix & match these designs to create your dream look!
Best dresses: Wrap dress, Sheath dress, A-line dress, One-shoulder dress, Apron Dress, Peplum dress, Fit and Flare
Wrap-dress
Sheath dress
A-line dress
Fit and flare dress
Off-shoulder dress
Styling the lower body
One word: volume. Palazzo, wide-leg, harem, sailor pants, flared bottoms will add dimension to your lower body, highlighting the legs and hips. Or, if you prefer skinnier pants, opt for a straight leg. The bottom of your body is also the place where you are completely free to experiment with embellishments and other intricate details!
Best pants: Flare, Palazzo, Wide-leg culottes, Harem, Sailor Pants, Straight-leg, Pegged
Palazzo pants
Wide-leg culottes
Harem pants
Sailor pants
Straight-leg pants
Pegged pants
No style guide is complete without the ultimate jeans guide! Bootleg, wide, boyfriend style, baggy jeans – all these flared options will do wonders to draw attention to your legs & hips. And just like with pants, you can always opt for a slimmer option with straight cut jeans!
You can go to town with rips, embellishments, washes and other details to spice up the look! The lower body is where your outfit truly stands out, so don’t shy away from all things flamboyant.
Best jeans: Baggy, Bootcut, Boyfriend, Flared, Wide
Boyfriend jeans
Baggy jeans
Flare jeans
Wide jeans
Bootcut jeans
Voluminous and flared skirts are taking the runaways by storm, and no one can rock them better than the inverted triangle body type! A-line, pleated, tulip, ballerina in bold colors are your perfect go-tos. Stick to the skirts that widen from the waist down to complement your athletic body. The same rules apply to mini skirts – opt for the volume and flair, not for the straight cut.
Best skirts: Pleated skirt, A-line skirt, Circle skirt, Layered or ruffled, Tulip, Paneled
Pleated skirt
A-line skirt
Circle skirt
Layered skirt
Ruffled skirt
Tulip skirt
Paneled skirt
Want to make your wardrobe more versatile? Printed and pleated shorts may be just the thing you’re looking for! Bright colors, peculiar details, patterns, and, of course, volume – these are the key things to consider while picking your new pair. For the inverted triangle body type, wide-legged shorts will harmonize the hips and shoulders.
Best shorts: Pleated, Patterned, Flare, Cargo shorts, Sailor-front shorts
Pleated shorts
Patterned shorts
Cargo shorts
Flare shorts
Sailor shorts
If there’s a fashion match made in heaven for the inverted triangle body type, it’s the jumpsuits and playsuits! These beauties fall gently along your silhouette and emphasize the best features of your body. Just remember to check for the shoulder pads and keep our tips for the neck in mind. Stick to simple, straight cuts or, if you are feeling a little playful, choose the jumpsuits that have intricate details on the waist and around the hips.
Best Jumpsuits & Playsuits: Two-color jumpsuit (upper part in the lighter shade), Wide leg, Wrap, Flared leg
Wide-leg jumpsuits
Wrap jumpsuits
Flared-leg jumpsuits
Your FAQs
While discovering your true body shape, the places where you usually gain weight may serve as major clues. Inverted triangle bodies tend to add up in the upper body and around the waist.
When it comes to discovering your unique style, there are quite a few things to keep in mind. To create a look that complements your natural lines, you may want to avoid pieces that add volume to your shoulders and pick flared clothing for the lower body.
However, there’s a great number of different styles and looks that work perfectly for this body type. Remember, fashion is a game – and all games should be about fun and self-expression. So, whatever tips you decide to follow – the most important thing is that you learn to feel confident in your own skin! If you want to get a personalized style guide, check out Style DNA.
As far as modern science goes, there is no direct link between your body shape and health.
First of all, every body shape is beautiful and unique. Each one has its own strengths and attributes that make it special. Here at Style DNA, we believe it’s important to appreciate and celebrate your body for what it is, rather than wishing it was something else.
While you can’t change your body type, you can embrace it and accentuate its features. Inverted triangle body shapes are characterized by broad shoulders and a narrow waist and hips. This can create a strong and athletic look that is powerful and confident. If you’re looking to enhance your curves and create a more hourglass silhouette, there are plenty of fashion tips that can help
