The distinguishing feature of the hourglass body shape is the nearly equal symmetry between the size of the shoulders and hips (hips and shoulders nearly equal in size) and a narrower waistline, resembling an hourglass. Therefore, the hourglass is a balanced shape, as if we took the upper part of the inverted triangle and the lower part of the triangle body shape.
As the hourglass body shape is balanced naturally with a defined waist, the key to dressing this body shape is to proportionally dress the top and bottom of the body and put emphasis on the waist. Wearing belts or fitted clothes draws attention to the waist and helps bring out the body’s balanced proportions.
Best Clothes for the Hourglass Body Shape
Tops and Shirts: sweetheart neckline top, more
As the hourglass body shape is balanced naturally with a defined waist, the key to dressing this body shape is to proportionally dress the top and bottom of the body and put emphasis on the waist. Wearing belts or fitted clothes draws attention to the waist and helps bring out the body’s balanced proportions.
Best Clothes for the Hourglass Body Shape
Tops and Shirts: sweetheart neckline top, more
V-neck top, oval neckline top, round neckline top, fitted shirt, belted shirt, fitted wrap shirt, peplum top.
Opt for tops and shirts that will accentuate your waist, and avoid extra bulk on the waist, which would hide your waist’s natural slimness.
Jackets: fitted vegan leather jacket, fitted blazer, belted cardigan, belted blazer.
Stick to fitted and belted short jackets that stop just above your hips to accentuate your curves if you are medium or tall. If you are petite, opt for shorter jackets that end at your waist.
Coats: single-breasted belted trench coat, belted wrap coat, princess coat, A-line coat.
Opt for coat lengths that fall past the widest part of your hips, ideally ending at or below the knee.
Trousers: slim-fit trousers (jeans), straight-leg trousers (jeans), wide-leg trousers (jeans), bootcut trousers (jeans).
Opt for mid-waisted trousers, as low-waisted styles would create an unbalanced shape and widen the hips.
Skirts: tulip skirt, full-circle skirt, pencil skirt, A-line skirt.
Opt for mid-waisted or high-waisted skirts that are accentuating the waist. The best hemline is knee-length or longer.
Dresses: wrap dress, belted dress, A-line dress, peplum dress, bias-cut dress (evening dress), mermaid dress (evening dress).
The hemline should be no shorter than knee length for day dresses.
Make sure that you follow your natural silhouette and don't unbalance the body shape by making it either top- or bottom-heavy. Opt for feminine styles which bring out the body's balanced proportions, and stay away from straight cuts and boxy styles that hide the waist.
Opt for tops and shirts that will accentuate your waist, and avoid extra bulk on the waist, which would hide your waist’s natural slimness.
Jackets: fitted vegan leather jacket, fitted blazer, belted cardigan, belted blazer.
Stick to fitted and belted short jackets that stop just above your hips to accentuate your curves if you are medium or tall. If you are petite, opt for shorter jackets that end at your waist.
Coats: single-breasted belted trench coat, belted wrap coat, princess coat, A-line coat.
Opt for coat lengths that fall past the widest part of your hips, ideally ending at or below the knee.
Trousers: slim-fit trousers (jeans), straight-leg trousers (jeans), wide-leg trousers (jeans), bootcut trousers (jeans).
Opt for mid-waisted trousers, as low-waisted styles would create an unbalanced shape and widen the hips.
Skirts: tulip skirt, full-circle skirt, pencil skirt, A-line skirt.
Opt for mid-waisted or high-waisted skirts that are accentuating the waist. The best hemline is knee-length or longer.
Dresses: wrap dress, belted dress, A-line dress, peplum dress, bias-cut dress (evening dress), mermaid dress (evening dress).
The hemline should be no shorter than knee length for day dresses.
Make sure that you follow your natural silhouette and don't unbalance the body shape by making it either top- or bottom-heavy. Opt for feminine styles which bring out the body's balanced proportions, and stay away from straight cuts and boxy styles that hide the waist.
While choosing fabrics and patterns for the hourglass body shape, the main purpose is to keep the balance and enhance its characteristic curves. For this reason, flowing (but fitted), light or medium-weight fabrics that caress the lush curves of your body are particularly suitable, including those with a little bit of Lycra or elastane. The fabrics for the top and bottom of the body are of the same thickness (as are the balanced proportions of the hourglass body shape) in order to keep the balance of the entire silhouette.
There’s a lot of freedom when it comes to patterns, but they should always be in line with the proportions of your body that you want to enhance. Any pattern (horizontal or vertical stripes, animal print, polka dots or floral) will accentuate the curves of the hourglass body shape. more
There’s a lot of freedom when it comes to patterns, but they should always be in line with the proportions of your body that you want to enhance. Any pattern (horizontal or vertical stripes, animal print, polka dots or floral) will accentuate the curves of the hourglass body shape. more
Therefore, in order to keep the balance of this body shape, opt for a patterned one-piece garment like a dress which has the same top and bottom pattern, rather than only an upper or lower body garment. Don’t forget to highlight the waist with a belt. As the hourglass body shape is characterized by a curvy, rounded silhouette, polka dots, swirls and floral patterns will add softness and femininity to your silhouette.
At the same time, you can check your best patterns based on your sub-season after taking our Seasonal Colour Analysis Quiz, choosing our professional Online Seasonal Colour Analysis or performing a self-colour analysis at home with the help of our Self-Seasonal Colour Analysis Guide.
At the same time, you can check your best patterns based on your sub-season after taking our Seasonal Colour Analysis Quiz, choosing our professional Online Seasonal Colour Analysis or performing a self-colour analysis at home with the help of our Self-Seasonal Colour Analysis Guide.
As mentioned before, the hourglass body shape is by nature very balanced between the upper and lower body and has a very slim waist. Therefore, if you have an hourglass silhouette, you just have to keep your proportions in balance when choosing a swimsuit (bikini). The easiest way to achieve this is by wearing matching sets, because mixing different bikini tops and bottoms can throw off the balance. There are no bikini types to avoid when shopping for swimsuits for an hourglass silhouette. For a thin body, almost anything is allowed, while for a curvier one, the panties will have more coverage and the bras will have solid cuts for more hold.
The bikini is ideal for proudly showing off your silhouette, whether it’s more or less loose. Both retro-style swimsuits with high-waisted culottes and shaped bras, more
The bikini is ideal for proudly showing off your silhouette, whether it’s more or less loose. Both retro-style swimsuits with high-waisted culottes and shaped bras, more
and Brazilian-style bikini types showing off more of your balanced body are effective.
When it comes to bras, you can highlight your full bust with a classic breast-enhancing triangle bikini top with adjustable cups or a balconette bra, which gives a comfortable lift. As for bottoms, high-waisted briefs will draw the eye to your narrow waist, while Brazilian style bikini bottoms will show off your lush hips.
If you prefer something more covering, the one-piece swimsuit is still a valid alternative for every hourglass woman. The best option is a belted one-piece swimsuit that can highlight your defined waistline. This is your biggest asset, and it’s okay to draw attention to it with a belt.
When it comes to bras, you can highlight your full bust with a classic breast-enhancing triangle bikini top with adjustable cups or a balconette bra, which gives a comfortable lift. As for bottoms, high-waisted briefs will draw the eye to your narrow waist, while Brazilian style bikini bottoms will show off your lush hips.
If you prefer something more covering, the one-piece swimsuit is still a valid alternative for every hourglass woman. The best option is a belted one-piece swimsuit that can highlight your defined waistline. This is your biggest asset, and it’s okay to draw attention to it with a belt.
The hourglass body shape is very fortunate when it comes to shoes, as the peculiarities of this silhouette make this accessory free of choice and adaptable. If you are full-figured or petite, opt for shoes with pointed or elongated ends and medium heels. If you are medium height or tall and thin, then almost everything is allowed.
The real secret to choosing the right shoes is to know what effect you would like to achieve. Shoes of the same colour as your bare legs (nude shoes) in summer and boots of the same colour as your trousers or tights in winter would lengthen your legs, while two-toned pumps will shorten your legs. The same applies to shoe straps: it’s always better to opt for thinner straps in nude colours, as they don’t create a bold contrast with your skin and will lengthen your legs, more
The real secret to choosing the right shoes is to know what effect you would like to achieve. Shoes of the same colour as your bare legs (nude shoes) in summer and boots of the same colour as your trousers or tights in winter would lengthen your legs, while two-toned pumps will shorten your legs. The same applies to shoe straps: it’s always better to opt for thinner straps in nude colours, as they don’t create a bold contrast with your skin and will lengthen your legs, more
than for wide and brightly coloured horizontal straps that will shorten your legs. However, if you like brightly coloured shoes, you can wear them with a high-waisted belted dress or skirt. Thus, by taking some centimetres from your legs, you add some at your waist level and balance the length of your torso with the length of your legs. At the same time, a high-waisted flared skirt (dress) or A-line skirt (dress) can hide the starting point of the legs and add even more centimetres to your legs from your torso, balancing your silhouette in length.
A balanced body shape in length means your upper and lower body halves are in proportion, or your torso and legs are roughly equal in length, creating a harmonious vertical balance. This can be identified by checking if the distance from your head to your crotch matches the distance from your crotch to your ankle. If yes, you have a balanced body shape in length, while if not, you can balance it by either adding the missing centimetres to your legs with a high-waisted skirt (dress) and/or shoes of the same colour as your bare feet or adding the missing centimetres to your torso with a pair of low-rise jeans (trousers) and/or brightly coloured shoes with wide straps. As for the style, it's always better to wear pointed or slightly tapered shoes and stay away from gladiator sandals that might break up the leg. For the same reason, the mid-height boots of the same colours as your trousers should be worn under your trousers.
When it comes to bags, the hourglass body shape has a lot of choice, but small or medium handbags, and especially shoulder-carried ones, work particularly well, drawing the eye to the waist. A shoulder pouch, with an adjustable shoulder strap, that hits at your waist level works amazingly for the hourglass body shape. This especially works for a full-figured or petite woman, who should avoid bags on the upper or lower body. If you are tall and thin, then almost anything goes.
A balanced body shape in length means your upper and lower body halves are in proportion, or your torso and legs are roughly equal in length, creating a harmonious vertical balance. This can be identified by checking if the distance from your head to your crotch matches the distance from your crotch to your ankle. If yes, you have a balanced body shape in length, while if not, you can balance it by either adding the missing centimetres to your legs with a high-waisted skirt (dress) and/or shoes of the same colour as your bare feet or adding the missing centimetres to your torso with a pair of low-rise jeans (trousers) and/or brightly coloured shoes with wide straps. As for the style, it's always better to wear pointed or slightly tapered shoes and stay away from gladiator sandals that might break up the leg. For the same reason, the mid-height boots of the same colours as your trousers should be worn under your trousers.
When it comes to bags, the hourglass body shape has a lot of choice, but small or medium handbags, and especially shoulder-carried ones, work particularly well, drawing the eye to the waist. A shoulder pouch, with an adjustable shoulder strap, that hits at your waist level works amazingly for the hourglass body shape. This especially works for a full-figured or petite woman, who should avoid bags on the upper or lower body. If you are tall and thin, then almost anything goes.