Inverted Triangle Body Shape
We have arrived to the last but, not least shape in the body shape series the inverted triangle. The inverted triangle body shape is characterized by broad shoulders and / or bust that narrow down to the slim hips. In order to create a balanced look with this shape the key is to add volume to you lower half while minimizing your upper body. If you are not sure what your body shape is check out the body shape and how to measure guide here.
Note to remember these are guidelines and if you find yourself in between shapes that is completely normal. This is to help you understand your body and how to create different visual effects to create a balanced look. The simple difference in the height of a waistline creates two completely different silhouettes on the same person. Neither are bad it really boils down to what look you are wanting to achieve. So with that said let’s jump into the inverted triangle!
Characteristics of the Inverted Triangle
Shoulders are noticeably wider than the hip-line
Shoulders may be straight, squared, and strong-looking
Bust can range from small to big
Little to no waist definition
Hips look straight and flat compared to broad shoulders
Bottom is less defined or round
Great legs often come with this body shape
The goal for dressing this shape is to balance the broader shoulders, chest and back with the narrower lower body to create a balanced silhouette. You want to add curve and fullness to your hips and bottom. This will give you a more defined waist and minimize the fullness of your upper body. Simply put you are creating a triangle shape on your bottom half to balance out the inverted triangle shape of your upper body.
What To Wear
Soften
The goal is to soften the strong lines of the upper body.
Drop shoulders, kimono, and dolman sleeves soften the shoulder points
Use vertical stripes and prints to lengthen the torso
Keep your upper body clean and uncluttered no embellishments or bulk
Add softness to the shoulder line using soft or weighty fabrics, narrower necklines, and solid colors
Steer away from busy print patterns on your tops and scarves around your neck and shoulders
Avoid wide necklines, shoulder pads, skinny jeans, tight trousers, scarves
Avoid wide necklines that broaden the shoulders and other strong shoulder details (eg shoulder pads)
Create Curve
You want to add volume and interest to your hips and bottom to make them look curvier and your shoulders smaller.
Select clothes that add volume and curve to the lower body to widen the hips
Draw attention to your legs by wearing lighter, brighter colors or adding details such as oversized pockets
Avoid skinny and tight-fitting pants these a will only accentuate the width of your upper body
Draw attention to your lower body with bold prints and light colors
Create the illusion of curves with wide-leg pants and flared skirts
Use vertical stripes to create vertical lines
Accentuate The Waist
Create the look of a defined waist with interesting cut outs
Pants that cinch in the waist such as high rise and paper bag waist
Look for prints or cuts that draw the eye in at the waist
Use belts and ties
Play around with color blocking and using texture
Hopefully now you have some useful tools to take to your closet! Set some time aside and play in your closet try things on. Do you see how different colors, texture, and shapes create different shapes on your silhouette? How do you feel when you wear them. What are the pieces that make you feel amazing and what are the ones that don’t?
Celebrity Inverted Triangle Shapes
Zendaya | Angelina Jolie | Naomi Campbell | Renee Zellweger | Jill Scott | Lalisa Manobal
Tops
Necklines should be slim and long or open up the decolletage to reduce the width of the upper body visually. Think deep v, scoop or u necklines. Things that open up the visual space on the neck and chest creating a disruption in that strong horizontal shoulder line.
Asymmetrical styles are a great way to add drama without adding bulk drawing the eye in vertically. If you have a small bust, halter necks can help elongate your silhouette.
Avoid wide and low necklines - such as off-shoulder, bateau(or boat neck), square, and princess styles, that would add to the width of the shoulder line.
Avoid cropped shirts that end at the waist and details or embellishments around the upper body and shoulder area.
Sleeves like necklines, sleeves are an important factor in contouring or highlighting your upper body. They should make the upper body appear slimmer. If the sleeve is short, choose a slim fit tapered sleeve. Anything with dropped shoulder points, shoulder slits and cut-outs soften the shoulder line.
The opposite is true for long sleeves here you want to think big, to add volume around your hips.
Opt for soft sleeves that add volume such as peasant, raglans, kimono, or dolman sleeves.
Choose wide straps they will make your shoulders appear smaller avoiding thin straps that will make your shoulderrs appear wider.
Pants + Skirts
Volume is your friend when it comes to pants. You want to add fullness with wider leg silhouettes. Some examples are baggy trousers, turn-ups, combat, palazzo, flares, culottes, wide legs, and harem pants.
Use color to add dimension and draw the eye to your lower half. Play around with bold prints and color to draw attention to your legs. Avoid adding embellishments on your upper body, this will only add volume. The flip side is you can turn up the volume on your lower body! Look for fun design elements like pleating, oversized pockets, embellishments, patterns and prints, to add volume to the hips.
Don’t fret if you love your skinny fit pants and want to have options other than wide leg pants, opt for straight and cigarette-style trousers. They balance out your silhouette better than skinny fits.
Skirts should add volume to the hips and balance out the shoulders. Any type of skirt style that flares from the hips and/or adds visual width to the hips is best for an inverted triangle body shape. Straight, full, A-line, ballerina, bias-cut or tulip skirts are great. Tiered, volume or dropped waistlines also work well.
Look for details such as panels, box pleats or vertical lines at the top ending in a full skirt are good to add dimension and interest to the hip area. Use color, print, and pattern to add dimension and fullness to your hips. Skirt lengths can be extreme, from very short and flared to long and flowing.
Dresses
The perfect dress for the Inverted T shape adds volume to your hips while reigning in those shoulders! The almighty wrap dress of course (which truly flatters really all body types everyone should have one in their wardrobe). Think volume with flare and ruffles details that add movement and volume. Bold prints and color that draw the eye down and away from the shoulders to create balance.
Keep in mind the necklines, strong shoulder details, and anything that accentuates the upper body. Steer clear of body con type dresses fitted at the bottom, which don't add any volume to the hips.
Blazers + Coats
Same concept applies to blazers and coats. You are looking for shapes that contour your upper body and highlight your lower body. Look for shapes that cinch in the waist and add fullness to your hips. Play around with adding volume with oversized pockets or unique draping at the hip. Choose single breasted blazers that extend beyond the hip line to lengthen the torso.
Use color blocking and prints to lengthen the body
Details such as princess seams create curve and define the waist
Steer away from crop length, they will add width to the upper body
Avoid adding too many elements such as shoulder pads, big lapels, and double-breasted coats.