Women’s Plus-Size Fashion Guide: How to Flaunt Your Curves

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• • Identifying your body type (hourglass, apple, pear, or rectangle) can help you choose clothing that best complements your natural proportions.
• • Dressing for your shape is about emphasizing your favorite features, whether that's defining the waist, adding curves, or balancing the silhouette.
• • Each body type benefits from specific cuts and styles.
• • These guidelines are flexible; if you don’t fit perfectly into one category, focus on the tips that best align with your shape and personal style.

Cue up unapologetic fits that flaunt and flatter your body type. Whether you’re headed out for a night downtown or want to own every day with your bold style, follow the plus-size styling tips from this guide for dressing like a fashion-forward curvy girlie.

FIRST: WHAT’S YOUR BODY TYPE?

Curves come in different shapes and sizes. There are four general “body types.” While no one body can be perfectly squeezed into any of these four boxes, identifying the shape that best aligns with you can help you identify the best pieces for your figure and address them accordingly:

• • Hourglass: You’re busty on top and have curvier hips. Your hips, shoulders, and chest are close in width, and your narrowest is at your waist.
• • Apple (Triangle): You tend to carry your curves in your mid-area, and your shoulders and hips are similar in width.
• • Rectangle: Your frame is consistent throughout, with your shoulders, bust, and waist similar in measurement.
• • Pear (Triangle): Your curves are concentrated at your hips, and your waist, bust, and shoulders are more closely aligned.

HOW TO DRESS FOR YOUR SHAPE

Now that you’ve gotten to know yourself a little bit more, it’s time to dress to stun. Here’s how to dress as a plus-size woman, according to your shape:

APPLE BODY SHAPE

For those with apple or inverted triangle-shaped bodies, style to draw volume to your legs, hips, and bust.

TOPS

• • Opt for low neck-lines, like V-necks, scoop, square, and strapless necklines to elongate the chest. Avoid high and narrow collar necklines which can create a bottom-heavy appearance.
• • Choose flared, detailed sleeves to draw attention to the arms and shoulders.
• • Styles that wrap around the waistline, have embellishments near the neckline, and flare at the hips look great.
• • Avoid clingy knits and details and embellishments around the midsection that might accentuate it, like horizontal stripes.
• • Choose single-breasted, structured jackets and outerwear that finish at the hipbone and have buttons that rest below the bust line.

BOTTOMS

• • Bootcut, wide-leg, and flare-style jeans are the most flattering for apple types. They accentuate the legs to balance out the upper body. Go for darker colors.
• • Low-rise and mid-rise jeans look great on apple curves. When choosing a pair of mid- or low-rise jeans, pick a wide waistband that lies flat on the body. High-rise jeans can work, too, but some may draw attention to your mid-area if they're too tight.
• • Choose skirts that hit right above the knee or down to the calf with a flared bottom. Flowy styles, A-lines, and pencil skirts look stunning.
• • Pick high-rise or mid-rise denim shorts with a loose fit around the midsection, preferably with hemlines that hit at the knee or stylish wide-leg shorts, which help elongate the lower body.

DRESSES & JUMPSUITS

• • A-line, empire-line, and wrap dresses are your best friends and divert attention away from the mid-area. Flowy dresses, in general, flatter most.
• • Go for shoulder and neckline details to highlight the areas away from the torso.
• • Diagonal lines and textures can help minimize the appearance of the tummy.
• • Choose lower or scoop necklines, avoiding high necklines.
• • Choose jumpsuits that are wide-legged and are loose in fabric. Steer from tight-fitted belted waists and peplum shapes and opt for a flaring hemline.

PEAR (TRIANGLE) BODY SHAPE

If you’re pear-shaped, your killer hips deserve to shine. However, you may want to strike a balance when styling your outfits, which means focusing on highlighting the waist, bust, shoulders, and arms.

TOPS

• • Broaden the upper body with wide necklines, or off-shoulder tops—embellishments like collars, ruffles, and lace can also add more volume to the bust and shoulders.
• • Go for wide and embellished short sleeves to balance the hips and upper-body., like bell sleeves. For longer sleeves, choose tapered sleeves to avoid contributing to the lower body.
• • Choose fitted tops and cropped tees to highlight the waist. Bold patterns, colors, and details work in your favor by emphasizing the upper body.
• • Avoid tops that flare or have embellishments and details around the hips, like peplums.
• • Chunky, oversized, loose sweaters that go well past the hips look great for pear-shaped bodies.
• • Pick jackets that highlight the bust and shoulder areas, avoiding ones that hit right at the hip. Opt for details around the neckline, like collars.

BOTTOMS

• • High-rise jeans help define the waist. Low-rise jeans, on the other hand, accentuate the hips more (but they still look great).
• • Pick straight, bootcut, or flared leg jeans in relaxed fits and darker colors. Skinny jeans, on the other hand, can draw too much attention to the hips.
• • Fitted and flared skirts, like A-lines, help balance the hips. Choose styles that hit between the knee and mid-calf.
• • Elongate the legs with knee-length shorts and accentuate your waist with high-waisted shorts. Pick loose fits aren’t super tight to the hips.

DRESSES & JUMPSUITS

• • If you want to balance your curves, swap the tight, body-con dresses that accentuate the hips in exchange for dresses that highlight the waist and are wider at the bottom. A-line and wrap dresses look wonderful.
• • Do not choose straight-cut dresses, as this downplays your waist, or pick ones with embellishments at the hips.
• • Opt for jumpsuits with flared tops or details that add volume to the upper body and skim over the hips and thighs.

HOURGLASS BODY SHAPE

If you have an hourglass figure, you’ll want to wear styles that honor your proportions. That means finding fits that don’t weigh down the top, but ones that capture your curves equally and define your waist.

TOPS

• • Pick a balanced neckline in styles like off-the-shoulder, square, scoop, and V-neck. Avoid wide necklines and high, narrow neckline embellishments, which can make outfits more top-heavy.
• • Fitted sleeves define your silhouette. Wide, detailed sleeves can draw attention to the upper body, so it’s best to stick to slimmer styles.
• • Avoid boxy-style tops and large ruffles and bows. Instead, choose fitted tees, cropped, wrap, belted, and peplum tops.
• • Go for fitted-style sweaters, steering away from boxy and chunky knit styles.
• • Opt for single-breasted, form-fitting jackets that hit above or at the end of your hips rather than straight and boxy styles that minimize your waist.

BOTTOMS

• • Styles like bootcut, flare, wide, slim, and straight leg jeans, flatter hourglass figures well.
• • Opt for wide-waist band jeans that are mid or high rise to lengthen the legs and highlight the waist.
• • Low-rise jeans can make your hips look bigger and shorten the appearance of your legs.
• • High-rise shorts flatter the waist, whereas low-rise shorts may throw off your proportions.
• • Avoid boxy, straight, low-waisted skirts or those with big pockets or details at the hips.
• • Choose flattering skirt styles like high-waisted, A-line, and pencil skirts.

DRESSES & JUMPSUITS

• • Pick dresses that hit no lower than the knee, because this can weigh down the lower half.
• • Choose a flattering, structured dress that defines the waistline, highlights your bust, and has minimal embellishments to avoid overwhelming the figure, like wrap, bodycon, belted, and peplum dresses.
• • Ditch boxy, straight-cut, drop-waist, and oversized dresses that dull curves.
• • Belted, form-fitting, and minimalist jumpsuits look best for an hourglass shape.

RECTANGLE BODY SHAPE

For those with rectangle-shaped bodies, strive to emphasize the hips and bust when styling your outfits, taking care to avoid boxy clothing.

TOPS

• • Wear a push-up bra to add volume to your chest area and choose well-structured tops.
• • Choose tops with lower, wider necklines to lengthen the shoulders and bust, or opt for a narrow neckline like a turtle or halter neckline for a slender look. Avoid square necklines that may make you more blocky. Off-shoulder, scoop, and V-neck necklines look fantastic.
• • Pick tops with loose and wide sleeves that have shape or details, like flared sleeves, steering clear of shapeless ones.
• • Swap your boxy tops and knits that end at the waist for relaxed, detailed styles that hit at the hips. Belted, ruffled, button-down, and wrap tops work well.
• • Stay away from tops and jackets with embellishments around the midsection that may accentuate that area.

BOTTOMS

• • Bootcut jeans help accentuate your lower half to give you more shape and flare. However, don’t pick jeans that flare too much, as they might throw your proportions out of balance.
• • Slim and skinny jeans are also great for rectangle bodies by hugging the hips and outlining the silhouette.
• • Opt for flared skirts over straight styles that may emphasize the rectangular shape.
• • Choose low or mid-rise jeans and shorts, as high-waisted shorts can add volume to the midsection.

DRESSES & JUMPSUITS

• • Choose wrap dresses and empire waist styles to create the illusion of curves by drawing attention to the bust and defining the waist.
• • Opt for jumpsuits with belts or drawstring waists to break up a straight silhouette and add shape to your figure.
• • Avoid shapeless or boxy dresses and jumpsuits, as they can make your figure appear flat and undefined.
• • Skip styles that flare excessively at the bottom or add volume only to the hips or shoulders, as they can throw off your body’s balance.

PLUS-SIZE STYLING TIPS, AT A GLANCE

Body Type	Description	Key Styling Goals	Styling Tips: Dos	Styling Tips: Don’ts
Hourglass	Bust and hips are similar in width; waist is defined	Highlight curves and define the waist	• Fitted sleeves, tops, jackets, and sweaters • Off-shoulder, square, scoop, and V necklines • Bootcut, flare, wide, slim, and straight leg jeans • Mid or high-rise jeans and shorts • Dresses in bodycon, wrap, belted, and peplum styles	• Wide or high necklines with embellishments • Boxy or oversized tops and sweaters • Ruffles, bows, or bulk around the bust • Low-rise jeans or shorts • Skirts with bulky pockets or low waists • Straight, drop-waist, or shapeless dresses • Loose, unstructured jumpsuits
Apple (Triangle)	Curvier upper body; waist less defined	Draw attention away from the midsection, elongate chest, and add volume to hips and legs	• V-necks, scoop, square, and strapless necklines • Flared sleeves and shoulder details • Wrap, A-line, and empire-line dresses • Bootcut, wide-leg, and flare jeans in darker colors • Low- and mid-rise jeans with wide waistbands • Structured jackets that hit at the hip • Loose-fit jumpsuits with wide legs	• High, narrow, or collar necklines • Clingy knits and horizontal stripes on the midsection • Boxy or drop-waist dresses • Peplum or belted jumpsuits that cinch the waist • Tight jeans or shorts that accentuate the belly
Pear (Triangle)	Curves mostly at hips; narrower upper body	Balance proportions by highlighting bust	• Off-shoulder, wide, and embellished necklines • Fitted or cropped tops that highlight the waist • Bold patterns or colors on upper body • High-rise jeans and relaxed-fit bootcut or flared pants • A-line and wrap dresses • Flared skirts that hit knee to mid-calf • Jumpsuits with volume on top and flow at the bottom	• Peplum tops or embellishments at the hips • Skinny jeans that over-emphasize hips • Straight-cut dresses without waist definition • Jackets or tops that end at the hipline • Super-tight shorts or low-rise styles that highlight hips
Rectangle	Shoulders, bust, waist, and hips are similar in width	Create the illusion of curves	• Off-shoulder, scoop, and V-neck tops • Tops with structure or detail, like belts and ruffles • Belted, wrap, or empire-waist dresses • Skinny, slim, and slight flare jeans • Flared skirts and detailed bottoms • Jumpsuits with belts or drawstrings at the waist	• Square necklines that emphasize blocky proportions • Boxy tops and shapeless pieces • Straight-cut dresses and skirts • Overly flared bottoms that unbalance the silhouette • High-waisted shorts that add volume to midsection

Knowing and owning your body is key to crafting killer fits that not only steal the show but also flatter your curves. Take the next step to a more fashionable you by shopping the Plus Shop at True Religion.