One of the most popular body goals among women is to achieve that curvy hourglass figure. And who can blame them? It’s arguably the most highly coveted body shape that has been immortalized by countless celebrities and influencers like Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Sofia Vergara, Bella Hadid, and Marilyn Monroe.
The hourglass body type has become the baseline for sexiness because it gives you the curves in the right places. It provides that almost perfect and classic silhouette for a woman. The hourglass shape is the baseline by which all other body types strive to reach by creating a balanced silhouette.
If you have this body shape, make the most of it by learning how to style it with outifts for the hourglass body shape that flatter your figure.
Characteristics of an Hourglass Body Shape
The hourglass figure can be best described as a very feminine and proportionate body shape. Women with this body shape have a bust and hip with almost exact measurements, complemented by a narrow and defined waist.
This proportion paved the way for its name since it is directly likened to an hourglass.
Hourglass-shaped bodies also feature a relatively rounded shoulder and have curvy and wide hips that are rounded and paired with slightly bigger thighs. Your legs and your upper body are also considered proportionate.
The stereotypical hourglass figure can be described as the figure of Jessica Rabbit — a very full bust, super narrow waistline, full hips with shapely legs. The body type clearly leans towards defined curves.
It should also be noted that the hourglass figure is quite rare, with a study showing only 8% of women have this body shape.
So, if you’re among the very few who sport an hourglass figure, dressing and styling yourself shouldn’t be too difficult. However, it’s still best that you learn about all the styles and trends that will and won’t flatter your curvaceous form.
Styling Tips for the Hourglass Body
The good news for women with an hourglass body shape is that they have a naturally balanced and proportionate figure, thanks to their smaller waist. So, dressing is a tad easier because they can easily follow their natural curves and form by wearing proportional tops and bottoms while finishing off the look by accentuating their waist.
However, styling the hourglass silhouette can get a bit tricky if you don’t know how to dress to draw attention to your curves.
Your small waist is your natural and most apparent divider, and since you have a more defined waist, you should use it to your advantage. You have the ideal proportions, so you don’t need to work more on the bottom or further highlight your bust area.
Your primary focus is to balance your upper and lower body and let your natural shape show through your waist.
With this in mind, you can further invest in your natural silhouette by:
- Making sure that you choose outfits that lift your bust as well as accentuate your bottom.
- Selecting clothes that can make your curvy and natural silhouette show through.
- Investing in clean-cut, simple, and no-frill clothing that won’t put on additional volume on your body.
- Avoiding clothes that will draw the eye to your shoulders or hips so you can consistently showcase the natural balance of your silhouette.
- Getting rid of straight-cut clothing and even boxy styles
- as they can conceal your waist and make you look bulky or frumpy.
- Avoiding loose clothing like oversized shirts and shapeless garments as they will make you look shapeless unless you wear an accessory like a belt to emphasize your waist.
Dressing and Styling the Hourglass Body Shape
Now that you know the essential styling hacks for your hourglass figure, you can look more closely through your closet to figure out the best clothes to highlight your best features. It will also help you be more careful and mindful when you go shopping next!
Here’s a rundown of the best tops, bottoms, skirts, and dresses that can complement your hourglass body shape more. Learning about the most suitable clothes for your body shape will help you be more confident with your style as you can make these clothes work to your advantage!
Choose Tops That Highlight Your Bust and Waist
It’s best to choose tops and shirts that will flatter and highlight your narrow waist. The goal is to emphasize the top-bottom balanced look of your hourglass figure.
Go for fitted blouses and shirts. The fit should nicely nip in at your waist so that it won’t add bulk to your bust area. Blouses that wrap around or are belted are good choices because they can define your narrow waist more. Wrap tops are a great choice for highlighting your figure.
If you want to draw attention away from the hips, you can do so seamlessly by choosing longer tops that fall right to your hip bone. The length of these tops can also skim over your hips and provide a slimmer silhouette.
Skip the ruffles and bows as well as tops that have too many or over-the-top details and designs on your bust area to minimize adding too much volume on your top. However, if you like that style, make sure you balance it by adding extra volume to your hip area, too. And remember to always highlight your waist.
As far as the necklines go, you can wear round, scoop necks, oval, and sweetheart necklines effortlessly. These are all flattering because they will help soften your bust area, so not all attention is on your waist. But avoid tops with square necklines and turtlenecks since they will make your top half look bulkier.
Additionally, steer clear of blouses with wide sleeves or flared, bell-like sleeves since they will highlight your upper body more and may cause you to look bigger than you are.
Opt For Bottoms that Define Your Waist and Hips
The challenge with an hourglass body glass is that you must never forget to keep your top and bottom outfits coordinated to achieve that balance.
A few good pieces that you can invest in are wide leg and flared trousers that go all the way down to your ankles and even sweep the floor. These pants provide a perfect silhouette for your body. At the same time, slim cuts and straight leg styles can also work, provided you work on a fitted and well-cut top.
Bootcut and flared jeans that are mid or high-waisted are a better choice than low-rise pants because the latter can make your hips look wider. Embellishments around the waist and hip areas are also not recommended because they will highlight your waist but not in a flattering way.
Pick Skirts To Accentuate Your Hourglass Body
Skirts offer one of the easiest ways to style an hourglass figure; the right skirt style can help highlight the waist without adding unnecessary volume to the hips and buttocks area.
A pencil skirt is incredibly flattering for the hourglass body shape because they cling to your thighs and then gather at your waist. A-line, bias, and flip skirts can also work as these styles take shape on your hips. Other flattering skirt styles include high waist, tulip, and voluminous skirts since they create the illusion of a smaller waist.
And although almost all hemlines work for this body shape, knee-length to maxi skirts are best, because you can actually see how it naturally hangs from a hugged hip to a graceful flair.
Select Flattering Dresses to Balance Your Curves
Hoard as many wrapped and shift dresses as you can; these are simple dress styles that will look fantastic on an hourglass figure.
Wrap dresses give you an almost perfect silhouette by drawing attention to your narrow waist where the wrap is tied. They hug your chest and waist while allowing your hips and thighs to move comfortably.
Shift dresses, on the other hand, will follow your body’s natural curves effortlessly. Keep the hemline of your dresses at knee level for a flattering and feminine vibe.
Fit and flare dresses are a good choice too.
Outfits for Hourglass Body Shape
Blouse + Pencil Skirt + Ankle Boots
For an hourglass body shape, it’s essential to choose clothing that accentuates your naturally balanced proportions by highlighting your small waist while showcasing your curves. Here’s an outfit featuring a blouse and pencil skirt that works beautifully for an hourglass body shape.
Ensure that the blouse is well-tailored to your body without being too tight. This fit helps define your waist and complements your curves. This blouse features a slight puff sleeve but it shouldn’t create too much extra volume up top.
A pencil skirt is an excellent choice for an hourglass figure as it emphasizes your curves and highlights your waist. Choose colors and patterns that suit your personal style and skin tone. Solid colors, subtle prints, or vertical stripes can work well for an hourglass figure. Darker shades for the pencil skirt can be particularly slimming. This subtle plaid creates a classy look.
Finish this look with pointed toe sock booties to keep the look sleek and balanced. Minimal jewelry is also recommended. Simple hoops help keep the top half in balance and does not draw too much attention to the top half.
V-neck polo sweater + straight leg jeans + boots
A soft cotton V-neck polo sweater and straight-leg jeans can create a stylish and flattering look for an hourglass body shape.
The V-neck of the sweater draws attention to your well-proportioned bust while creating a vertical line, which elongates your torso and complements your hourglass figure. Look for a polo sweater that offers a slightly tailored fit. It should gently follow your body’s contours without being too tight or too loose, maintaining the hourglass shape.
The straight-leg cut of the jeans provides a balanced and proportional look, maintaining the harmony of your figure without exaggerating the curves or making you appear boxy.
Finish the look with ankle boots and minimal earrings that keep balance to the look.
Sweater Dress Outfit
A tie-waist sweater dress paired with tall boots and a moto jacket is a chic and flattering choice for an hourglass body type, as it emphasizes your well-balanced proportions, highlights your waist, and enhances your curves.
The tie-waist sweater dress cinches at your natural waist, drawing attention to the narrowest part of your body and accentuating your hourglass shape.
Top your sweater dress with a moto jacket. A cropped moto jacket hits at or slightly above the waist, which further accentuates your hourglass shape by highlighting your waistline. A well-tailored moto jacket with defined shoulders and a cinched waist provides a structured look that enhances your figure while adding a touch of edge to the outfit.
Knee-high boots elongate your legs, which can help balance your figure by adding height and creating a long, lean line.
Opt for boots with a fitted calf, as they provide a streamlined look that complements the dress and doesn’t overwhelm your proportions.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Styling the Hourglass Body Shape
Yes! Do These:
- When in doubt, go for wrap dresses and wrap-around tops.
- Tops with three-fourth sleeves can showcase your arms without making your top look bulky.
- V-neck and scoop-necked tops can highlight your bust without exposing too much skin.
- Tops in lighter colors and bottoms in darker hues make a perfect color combination.
Better Skip These:
- Empire waist dresses can make your waist look unflattering.
- Double-breasted jackets can add unnecessary volume to your chest area.
- Short skirts can make you rounder and your bottom heavier.
- Heavily embellished shorts can make you look more bottom-heavy.
- Oversized and baggy clothes will only add extra weight, making you look shapeless.
Conclusion
The hourglass body shape is perhaps the most coveted figure among all body shapes. Those with this body type often feel more confident trying different fashion styles, since the proportionate and balanced curves can make any clothes look flattering.
Celebrate and accept your body shape! Learning what to avoid and what to invest in when it comes to clothing can help you make the most out of your hourglass figure and let your curves do the talking!
