5 tips to dress a triangle shape for summer
When bringing you my fashion escapades on Style With Cindy’s social media pages, I tend to showcase looks suitable for most shapes other than a triangle.
No need to be offended, I love all body shapes but quite simply I do this because this shape is not as common as you may think!
Many ladies who focus on their bottom and thigh areas as being their problem area, are not necessarily a triangle, they may actually be an hourglass body shape who received some saddle bags for Christmas or have just slowly gained a little extra padding in the bottom area from enjoying the scrumptious things in life.
If you’ve been to my workshops, or read my book you’ll know how to accurately define your body shape. So firstly head over to a full-length mirror and let’s cover some of the key elements of a triangle:
1. Your shoulders and torso will be narrower than your hip area
2. You have a well-defined waistline (keep this enhanced with a belt)
Thurley $99.99
3. You are quite shapely around your bottom area
If this is you, then dressing for your triangle shape is quite easy when it comes to summer dressing, as it’s when dresses and skirts are most readily available. However, it can be a challenge to buy jeans, slacks or trousers for a triangle as this is the area you need to flatter most.
Quiet often, a strong triangle will also carry weight to the knees so buying dresses with extra length or finding longer shorts can be tricky to say the least. Fortunately, the last few years of summer fashion have welcomed the midi and maxi length in skirts and dresses along with 7/8 length pants, all of which will indeed help you with any knee concerns.
So today’s blog post is designed to support my triangle ladies for the rest of summer and a little into autumn where dresses and skirts will be your favourite fashion companion.
My Top 5 Tips:
1. If you can see you are narrower in the shoulders then you can afford detail. Consider a higher neckline, ruffles, prints, puffed shoulders, bolero cardigans and double-breasted jackets. A side note that this will all depend on your size and body features, e.g. – bra size.
French Connection $69.95
2. Detail including horizontal lines, pattern and print should be avoided on the lower half of your body ONLY.
3. Keep away from pockets on the hips as this will only widen your lower half.
4. If you wear patterns, prints or stripes, make sure they run right through the body to streamline and create the effect of a balanced shape.
Cue $339
Review $269.99
5. If your bottom, hips and thighs are a real concern to you, please don’t put them on display, so avoid tight pencil skirts or fitted fabrics, instead opting for clothing that floats over the area. i.e. An A-line skirt.
Please also remember that a triangle should never lose their shape through the waist – highlight yours, no doubt it is gorgeous!
Love Cindy
Grateful for the wonderful tips, as always, Cindy.
It’s great to refresh and revisit the “rules.”
Terrific photos too….visuals are so much more revealing than just the theory behind it all..
Thank you
Nikki
Thanks Nikki, glad you always enjoy my blogs! xo
Thanks Cindy – so great to re-visit the rules & know what I can wear to accentuate my goods 🙂
That’s great Sharon! This is basic but sometimes that’s all we need! xx
great blog cindy
i hope you’ll help the inverted triangle too!!!
Maria, I sure will! Triangles don’t get as much attention as the inverted as the Inverted triangle is more common! Inverted Triangle blog will come soon 🙂
Fantastic visuals, they really reinforce the advice. It reminds us to really ‘look’ at the garment and see how it can ‘work wonders’ on the right shape.
Many thanks
Glenda
Thanks Glenda, glad that this helps!! xo
Sigh… Extra plum pud… that’s me… 🙁 I’ve just purchased a couple of fit and flare dresses to hide my misdemeanors xxx
Love it Vicki! Bet you enjoyed eating your way there. 🙂
Thanks Cindy – always love reading your blog
How do I determine if I’m a true triangle or an hourglass?
I’ve always thought of myself as a ‘pear’ but when I look closely I think my shoulders and hips are the same width. Waist is definitely there but I have a short torso – with the smallest part of my waist being around 4″ -10cm above my belly button (sorry if too much info)!
I’m going to attend a workshop or shop with you just trying to get rid of the extra weight 3 children have given me before I book in!
I find tops/dresses that fall from under the bust are great ONLY if they have some box style pleating otherwise they make me look pregnant & accentuate my stomach
AND bottoms – always have trouble with those !
Thanks in advance
Carla Armytage
Carla, without actually looking at you, I DON’T want to say the wrong thing and steer you in the wrong direction!! If you are going to do a shop or workshop, I will sort you out as that’s what I do!! Please book soon so I can help. xo