Flattering Fashion: Essential Tips and Tricks on How to Dress for an Inverted Triangle Body Type

Are you an inverted triangle body type and struggle with finding clothes that flatter your figure? Do you often find yourself feeling self-conscious about your broad shoulders and narrow hips? Well, worry no more! In this article, we’ll be sharing essential tips and tricks on how to dress for your body type, so you can feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. From choosing the right neckline to creating a balanced silhouette, we’ll cover everything you need to know to enhance your curves and accentuate your best features. So, whether you’re dressing for work, a night out, or a casual day out, our guide to flattering fashion for inverted triangle body types will have you looking and feeling your best in no time. So, let’s dive in!

Understanding the Inverted Triangle Body Type

Before we dive into the tips, it’s important to understand what an inverted triangle body type is. If you have an inverted triangle body type, your shoulders are wider than your hips, and you may have a straight waistline. This body type is often characterized by broad shoulders, a large bust, and a straight body shape. While this body type can look athletic and strong, it can also be challenging to dress in a way that flatters your figure. If you’re still not sure from the description, check out the body type calculator below.

Benefits of Dressing for Your Body Type

When you dress for your body type, you can enhance your best features and create a balanced silhouette, which can make you look and feel more confident. Dressing for your body type can also help you save time and money by avoiding clothes that don’t flatter your figure.

Dressing for Your Body Type: Do’s and Don’ts

When it comes to dressing for an inverted triangle body type, there are some do’s and don’ts you should keep in mind. First, avoid clothes that draw attention to your shoulders and upper body. Instead, focus on creating a balanced silhouette by accentuating your hips and adding volume to your lower body. Second, choose clothes that create a vertical line, such as V-necklines and long jackets. This can help elongate your torso and create the illusion of a more proportionate figure. Third, avoid shoulder pads and puffy sleeves, as they can make your shoulders look even wider.

Essential Fashion Tips for an Inverted Triangle Body Type

Now that you know the do’s and don’ts of dressing for an inverted triangle body type, let’s dive into some essential fashion tips. First, choose tops that have a defined waistline, such as peplum tops and wrap tops. These tops can help create the illusion of a more proportionate figure by accentuating your hips. Second, opt for A-line skirts and dresses, which can add volume to your lower body and balance out your figure. Third, choose pants that have a wider leg, such as bootcut or flared pants. These pants can help balance out your figure and create a more proportionate silhouette.

Silhouette

When choosing a silhouette for the inverted triangle type women, look for silhouettes that do the opposite of the inverted triangle. Silhouettes that add width around the hips like mid to low rise jeans, pants, skirts are good choices. Also look for bottoms with added fullness like pleats, tucks, and gathers. Unlike the triangle that wears shoulders that are extended, the inverted triangle should wear tops that cut into the shoulder like halter tops and racer backs. Flattering dress shapes for the inverted triangle shape include styles that fit at the waist and flare out at the hip or have some other volume adding detail in the hip location.

Best Clothing Styles for an Inverted Triangle Body Type

When it comes to clothing styles, there are some styles that work particularly well for an inverted triangle body type. First, opt for dresses that have a defined waistline and a flare skirt. These dresses can help create the illusion of an hourglass figure by adding volume to your lower body. Second, choose tops that have a V-neckline or a U-neckline, which can help elongate your torso and create a vertical line. Third, opt for jackets that have a defined waistline, such as peplum jackets and belted jackets. These jackets can help create the illusion of a more proportionate figure.

Line

​Women with strawberry shapes should wear horizontal lines at the hips to add width to the area. This can be done with a lower and/or wider waistband. The women with inverted triangle shapes should avoid having vertical lines on the lower half and should avoid horizontal lines at the shoulders. Shirts that have lines that cut the shoulder width into sections will be ideal. A shirt hem that hits at the widest part of the hip will add visual weight there to balance the shoulders.

Pattern

​For an inverted triangle, patterns used on the torso should be on the subdued side. If the pattern has a direction, it should go vertically or at a diagonal. Patterns worn from the waist down should be horizontal if they have a direction. The strawberry shape can get away with a lot when it comes to patterns in pants, skirt, shorts and the like. Loud patterns can be worn to balance with the shoulders.

Texture

Textures with pile or sheen are great for pants, shorts, and skirts for an inverted triangle. In fact, velvet or velour, corduroy, and tweed make the perfect bottom weight fabrics. Even silks and satins with a sheen are good fabrics for skirts, shorts and the like. Blouses and other tops are better out of matte fabrics that are not as dominant.

Color

​Inverted triangles get to have a lot of fun with the color of their pants using bright colors (or at least the bright colors for their season). They can even make them the star of the show with a neutral or darker colored top. Feel free to refer back to my Style Recipe post on color, if you’re not familiar with identifying these. Deep, dark colors recede, as well as tints that have been lightened with white. Rich and bright colors tend to “come at you”. Warm colors are more dominant than cool ones.

Proportion

Don’t wear tops that have excess volume, however, a top that flares out at the hip is nice. Slim leg pants are a go, but keep an eye on them, you don’t want to look like you have popsicle sticks for legs in comparison to your torso. Lower waists on pants or dresses with dropped-waist are a good choice.

Now let’s look as some recommendations for different garment types that will flatter your figure.

Shopping for Clothes When You Have an Inverted Triangle Body Type

When shopping for clothes, keep in mind the do’s and don’ts of dressing for an inverted triangle body type. Look for clothes that create a balanced silhouette by accentuating your hips and adding volume to your lower body. Try on different styles to see what works best for your figure. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and colors until you find what makes you feel confident and comfortable.

Kim’s Recommendations

Outerwear

Have you ever thought about using your sleeves to add width to the hip? Here is a great example of a leather jacket with a simple, clean cut shoulder and neckline, zipper detail to emphasize the waist and elegantly flared sleeves that add just the right amount of width at the hip to balance a strong shoulder. I only wish it came in colors other than black. If you’re not a Winter, maybe you can find a similar style in one of your colors.

The narrow width between the buttons on this double-breasted coat is ideal for an inverted triangle. Because the buttons are not wide set, it doesn’t add any visual width. The collar can be worn up sort of like a mock turtleneck or rolled down as shown. I personally like it down because it divides the width of the shoulders. It has zipper detail pockets at the hip and it’s perfectly flared from the waist to add the illusion of hips.

Dresses

The v-neck and the racer-back of this dress divide up the width of the shoulders. Furthermore, the neckline, paired with the horizontal stripes starting at the dropped waistline is a sure win for the inverted triangle body shape.

Halter necks are a sure showstopper for the inverted triangle. They show off the beautiful shoulders. This dress perfectly balances the shoulders of the figure with pleats and fullness in the skirt. Also look for similar dressing to this style with a longer length as well.

Tops

What I really love about this comfy tee is the bright guava-like color. It is brighter than the sleeves so it draws the eye in instead of to the shoulder tips. Look for raglan tops where the body color is more dominant than the shoulder/sleeve color. Because the inverted triangle body shape has wider shoulders, we want to make them look smaller by cutting them up with blocks of color. If the dominance was reversed, it would have an opposite effect.

This top is great because the armhole creates a vertical line that divides the shoulders. It has a fitted waist and it has added volume and width at the hip which is great for balancing the width of the shoulders. If you remember from the line post of my style recipe, if you want to make something look wider, make a horizontal line around it.

Pants and shorts

These casual pants have a lot of design elements going on that will go to work for you. First, the ties at the waist adds visual interest in the lower hemisphere of your body. They hit at the waist too, so they accentuated your small waist. Second, there is added volume at the hips. Not only are the pockets functional, they also add visual interest and width at the hip. These are just interesting enough, I think you could dress them down with a t-shirt and some sneakers or dress them up with a chiffon blouse and some heels or pointed toe flats.

In addition, when balancing your bottom half, don’t forget to use patterns and prints. Yea for patterned shorts! They are a go-to staple for an inverted triangle body shape. Aren’t these cute? Make your shorts the star of your outfit with a fun print like these. If prints are not your thing, go for a super bright color (within your seasonal palette, of course), then tone down the upper portion of your outfit with a subdued color top.

Skirts

Am I overdoing it with the horizontal striped bottoms, yet? I hope not. I love these bold stripes like this. The controlled fullness of this skirt is just perfect with the three pleats in front. There are a lot of other really fantastic prints available in this style skirt so if you’re not a winter, don’t feel left out. Just click on the picture and it will take you to Amazon.

Similarly, I thought this was an interesting find. It’s perfect for an inverted triangle body shape. Though the waist of the skirt is actually at the natural waist the horizontal stitching details hit more on the hip, your target zone. The stitching and placement of the pockets is also a win.  I would love to see this skirt on someone. If any of my inverted triangles get this skirt, snap a pic and email it to me. I would love to see it. This skirt would also work amazingly for a rectangle body shape or an hourglass that really wants to play up their curves.

Accessorizing for an Inverted Triangle Body Type

Accessories can also play a role in enhancing your figure. When it comes to jewelry, opt for long necklaces that create a vertical line. These necklaces can help elongate your torso and create the illusion of a more proportionate figure. When it comes to bags, choose bags that sit at your hips, such as crossbody bags and bucket bags. These bags can help create the illusion of a more proportionate figure by drawing attention to your hips.

Flattering Hairstyles for an Inverted Triangle Body Type

Hairstyles can also play a role in enhancing your figure. When it comes to hairstyles for an inverted triangle body type, opt for hairstyles that add volume to your lower body, such as long layers and curls. These hairstyles can help balance out your figure and create a more proportionate silhouette. Avoid hairstyles that add volume to your upper body, such as big hair and updos, as they can make your shoulders look even wider.

Makeup Tips for an Inverted Triangle Body Type

Makeup can also help enhance your figure. When it comes to makeup for an inverted triangle body type, focus on creating a balanced look by accentuating your eyes and lips. Avoid heavy contouring that can make your face look wider. Instead, opt for a natural-looking blush that adds warmth to your face.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dressing for an inverted triangle body type can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. By understanding your body type and following these essential tips and tricks, you can enhance your best features and create a balanced silhouette that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Remember to choose clothes that accentuate your hips, create a vertical line, and add volume to your lower body. Accessorize with long necklaces and bags that sit at your hips, and choose hairstyles and makeup that enhance your figure. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to dress for your body type with ease and confidence. You can click on any of the pictures or links above and it will take you to the product page. Thanks for shopping the links. You can also follow the inverted triangle section of my body shape Pinterest board.