How To Dress A Hourglass Body Shape
Did you know that it is estimated that a mere 8.4% of women have an hourglass body shape?
You know the one; it is literally the shape of an hourglass where the body is perfectly portioned, with a narrow waist that sits between the hip and bust of equal width.
It is also the one body shape that is coveted by so many women. In fact if you look into fashion history back in the Victorian era, women would wear ridiculously tight corsets and foundation garments all day long to give the illusion of the hourglass body shape.
Kate Winslet in a modernized style of the Victorian era
Thankfully, we now celebrate all body shapes so clothes that require us to gasp for oxygen are no longer required.
So when it comes to dressing the hourglass shape, it’s important to note that the rules will differ slightly depending on your features. E.g. Height and tummy area.
So below you find five general style tips for an hourglass shape. If you are an hourglass and looking for more in-depth details head over to the Body Shape chapter in my book: You Are More Than Just Your Bits.
- You must not lose your shape; it’s too beautiful not to showcase.
French Connection $149.95
- Since you are perfectly portioned, take care when dressing not to over balance one part of your body. For example: wear a fitted top tucked into a full pleated skirt on the bottom or wear a thick heavy jacket with large shoulder pads teamed with shiny jeans.
- In all dressing cases, attempt to accentuate your waist with waist belts or a band etc. Avoid styles that hide your waist as you’ll immediately lose shape.
Target $39
- Fitted does not necessarily mean tight so aim for clothes that closely graze over the body to accentuate your feminine shape.
Witchery $149.95
Cue $309
Sportsgirl $59.95
- Avoid wide, boxy jackets and tops and don’t bring excessive detail or volume to your waist.
Forever new $99.99, also great to put a belt over the top to accentuate your waist!
Country Road $199
As always, a reminder that these style tips are just a guide and that a person’s body features will always need to be factored in.
The hourglass is such a beautiful female form we all admire and you can be an hourglass at a size 6 to 24!
City Chic $79.95
For celebrity inspiration, the infamous Marilyn Monroe always had her hourglass on show and today look to the likes of Dita Von Teese, Salma Hayek and Kate Winslet who really didn’t need that corset in the movie Titanic – her body shape was made for that era.
I hope these style tips help and offers a little more clarity when selecting clothes.
If you are an hourglass, what do you find difficult about dressing for your shape? I hope to hear from you in the comments below.
Love Cindy x
Thanks, Cindy. I’m an hourglass (because you told me so) but it’s still about confidence, and being able to judge. We are our own worst critics. Love the photos – I need to see things on people, so your runway nights (and photos of them) are very helfpul.
Thanks so much Sherryl for your lovely feedback! I hope you are able to attend the march runways at Chadstone!! Xx
Marilyn was extremely intelligent.
Its cheap to make a shot at her indeed a masculine thing to abuse beautiful women who achieve against all odds and who are more intelligent than them.
Those women you list and accept are shudderingly ordinary.
Jan……I was not referring to Marylyns intelligence, in fact, I have used a few of her quotes recently on facebook, I am a fan of both her beauty and intelligence. I was simply referring to her body shape as she was a perfect hourglass as are the other names mentioned just so my readers understand an hourglass shape. So sorry you misinterpreted this! Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Love all of these options due to me being an hourglass!! I was looking at that dress at Cue yesterday….absolutely love it but waiting until I arrive in Melbourne on Friday to purchase anything. I also love the French Connection Jumpsuit and the Jacket from Forever New! I am loving the prices in Forever New and the quality is great for what you get…wonder how I learnt that tip….LOL!!
Thanks for the tips xx
Thanks so much Meagan, hourglass shape is beautiful, glad you like the looks 🙂 xx
I’m an hour glass (well right now an 8 month pregnant one!) and the hardest thing I find when dressing is dressing casual! I’m always drawn to tailored pieces and so they tend to look more dressy, even when I’m trying to dress down. Thankfully Cindy introduced me to a number of shops that do cute stretchy tops that I can team with jeans and flats, problem solved 🙂
Thanks Rachel, one month to go and then you will be looking at all the new winter clothes! Enjoy the first few months though……dont rush to get your figure back….it does return 🙂 Good luck Rachel xxx
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for the great tips and visuals. The photos make it so much easier to “get it” and then put it into practice. Through your tuition, I have come to a greater appreciation of the female form. I grew up thinking I had to be skinny to be beautiful and now I love the curves eg Marilyn.
Lucky girls with the hourglass bodies and now, the knowledge of how to dress them!
Thanks Nikki for your positive comments, everything I do is aimed at helping women so I am soooo delighted you enjoy what I write!!!! Xx
Hi Cindy thanks for these ideas!
The main problem I have is that most clothing in Australia is made for taller girls and it gets taller with every size up! I’m pretty sure I’m an hourglass (measurements in inches are 40-29-41) but I have tiny shoulders and my breasts are big, so a lot of these styles (like the wrap dress) don’t work for me because my boobs would stick out the top. If I buy something in a big enough size for my breasts it’s too big for me. Also at the moment I’m overweight which makes everything harder because I have to go up in sizes, but I don’t want the clothing to get too tall for me. I LOVE that Witchery skirt though, and the jacket with the long pieces in front looks like a good idea!
Oh and another problem is with the Cue dress: the big panel in the front on top of large breasts just becomes a huge chest-balloon. I can’t have high neckline with a big square panel in front and a thick fabric. In theory it looks like a good style dress but the top half wouldn’t work.
Kylie, thanks for both messages! I think its hard when you have gained weight as you tend not to like yourself in anything as you too easily compare it to what you once could wear. If you are heavy in the top, wearing lower necks or panels and vertical lines breaking up the chest area are the way to go! Water fall cardis are great as they create a nice vertical line and hide the tummy…….we all love that idea! xo