Best Fashion Tricks For The Athletic Rectangle Body Shape
OK my stylish people, we are on the fifth and maybe the last of the 5 classic shapes and like the rest, the athletic rectangle/banana/ruler shape has its many pluses. It is a beautiful and most envied body shape in its own right especially when it comes to wearing and fitting clothes.Many women would kill for your shape; there’s no main area you want to minimize so you can get away with more things than most. However you may crave more curves – an illusion easily created with the right clothing. Compared to the other body shapes, you can get away with a variety of garments and outfits. As long as you don’t widen your wide waist even more, you’re good to go! Think Cameron Diaz, Rita Dominic, Nicole Kidman, Hilary duff, Queen Latifah, Cat Deeley, Sheryl Crow… So you know, your crowd is top order, yes?
If you have a Rectangle body shape then it means that your silhouette is fairly straight up and down with a slight masculine look. You’re similar to an Hourglass but without the killer waist. It’s also a common body figure type for women who age, given birth (skin around the waist stretches) or gained weight. You can be a skinny, wiry rectangle like a model, or you can simply be a thicker all over, more average rectangle. The challenge for you is create a more feminine figure- in other words to create a waist.
You are a rectangle if:
- Your bust and hips are approximately the same width
- You have little or no waist definition
- Your waist measures from 1″ to 8″ smaller than the bust
- If you gain weight, typically, the weight would distribute evenly throughout your body frame
It’s usually your rib cage that make a Rectangles body figure wide. Simply put, the lack of waist definition but hourglass proportions (top and bottom) indicate that your body shape is straight! This is where the closet strategies from the opposites Pear and Inverted Triangle will come into play – adding dimensions to your body figure, both upper and lower bottom!
Now here are some styling strategies when you’re putting together outfits:
Colors: Bright eye-catching colors help break up your silhouette and give you more shape. You can wear lots of patterns top and bottom, or color block with any color on the top and any other color on the bottom. Mix it up and have fun with the color play!
A good thing about being a rectangle is that you’re free to experiment with various textures and details in various prints, textures and details (ruffles, prints, tiers, studs, beads, etc.) ,Various cuts and shapes (wide leg jeans, tulip skirt, kimono top, etc.),Lots of accessories, Layering fitted clothes etc; but you have to make sure that you keep your waist trim at the same time, this is the simple key to dressing yourself, the most important outfit goal for you. Avoid adding too much interest (unless it’s vertically shaped) around your mid-riff. Wrap a belt around a garment for adding shape to your straight frame and you have your perfect look! Best tips to slimming your waist include:
- Belts wrapped around your waist
- Belted tops, sweaters, dresses and jackets
- Nipped tops, sweaters and jackets
- Wearing tops with interest from the chest and up along with a bottom with shape. Eg. Boot cut jeans or a pretty A-line skirt.
Avoid stiff and shapeless garments – they only emphasize your rectangle body shape. However you can wear straight styles, such as a straight sheet dress, as long as you add interest to your top (a statement necklace) and bottom (eg. a pair of nice shoes). A skinny belt would also look good with it. You can get away with almost anything – from the trendiest jacket and sweater styles to stylish jeans. Just be sure to kep the jacket nipped at the waist. Lucky you!!!
You could have fun with practically all Pants and Jeans Styles with any amount of details – from skinny/slim to wide leg. take the time to look for styles with details on hips and bottom to add dimension. Anything flowy will look very elegant and soften your boyish frame. With your straight limbs you can pull off tapered and skinny jeans quite well. The trick is to make sure the jeans are tight around your hips to help you create curves. But avoid too-wide flare pants as it can unbalance your rectangle body shape.Flowing linen trousers will look very elegant on you too. Avoid low-rise jeans and trousers can make your torso look too long.The good news is that your figure was made for trousers so have fun with whichever fashionable style catches your eye! Just note that big flares have that tendency to unbalance your streamlined body shape unless you are able to match it up with a top in a soft feminine fabric. Combats and cargos will make you look more boyish too and the look we want should tend towards the feminine…
- Scoop neck
- Sweetheart
- Bustier
- Halternecks and slash necks are great on you.
If you are well endowed I suggest wearing necklines that show more skin and vertically break up your chest, such as low V and scoop necks. Wrap styles are very flattering on you as they tailor your mid-riff and make it look trimmer as well as complementing your bust without over-accentuating them. Make sure you add a camisole if the wrap neckline is very low – this helps add dimension to your rectangle body shape.
Your best dresses feature:Voluminous hips, Prints, textures and details from the bust and up. Just add a black belt to trim your waist and a full light or bright color worn with a waist belt to nip that waist! Yes, it’s all about that waist!
Layer fitted tops to create the illusion of curves. If you’ve a small bust you’re one of the few shapes who can wear polo necks.
Other details to look for:
- Breast pockets (be careful with casual, slouchy and low pockets as they tend to draw attention to your undefined waist)
- Front panel detail
- Pleating
- Lace details along the shoulder and sleeve area
- Button down shirts are your best friends but make sure they’re slightly nipped at the waist, or simply add a belt or wear them with unbuttoned cardigans.
All skirt styles will look fab on your figure From A-line to full circle, pencil, paneled, layered, to ruffle and tiered skirts. Focus on girly & flirty skirts and dresses that will give you a feminine shape. Skirts with ruching and gathering and if you love prints- go for it!!!With your body shape you likely have great legs so show them off in shorter hems! The A-line skirts will give you that girly shape, Showcase gorgeous pins with a shorter skirt and do look cute in curve-creating pencil and tulip skirts! Just be sure to avoid, especially if you’re tall, the not-long-enough maxi… boy do I not like those for any body type!!! Jumpsuits however, are a great alternative for rectangle shapes and they are so on-trend! Angular A-line skirts will make you even more shapeless. Focus on box pleat styles and gathering details around the waistline. Trumpet skirts look nice on you. Avoid too full or fluffy skirts as they can make you bottom-heavy and create unbalance to your rectangle body shape.
Top Tip: Tuck in your shirt or top to create shape. If you’re short-waisted or a Petite, I suggest wearing a top that is similar in color as the skirt to avoid breaking up your torso. However, interest at the shoulders and shoulder pads can help raise your upper body.
Modern shapewear can work wonders for your body shape. Even if your Rectangle figure needs no slimming it can still give a smooth line and create shape. Notice how a good bra will make a small bust look more full, especially if it’s push up too! A corset will give any woman killer curves! Just stay away from minimiser bras as what you really do need are bras that will boost you! and oh….Get rid of any old, unsupportive bras! mmh hmm.
Accessories are your best closet investments and an affordable way to add curves and texture to your straight rectangle body shape without having to think too much about what clothing cut and styles you need to wear: Just add a pair of statement shoes and you’ve added some curve to your lower body! That’s how easy it is!
Courtesy: Modcloth, Pink Mascara, ASOS
With an even, streamlined figure like yours you can wear pretty much what you want on your feet – so have fun! for instance, You’ll look amazing in stilettos and kitten heels and ballerina pumps are also perfect on you, try to avoid welly like knee boots with no shape and while loafers may suit you, you may end up looking a bit too boyish. but if you’ve got great legs then try on trendy tights and leggings. You could actually choose from lace, wet look or brightly coloured leggings.
When it comes to jewellery and bags think subtle and elegant or angular and modern to suit your streamlined shape.Avoid waist length bags because they draw attention to your straight frame. However you can wear them as long as they’re subtle in style and color (eg. Handbags with minimal details in dark neutrals).
Belts, Belts, Belts!!! These are your absolute best wardrobe investments that trim your waist in a flash. It’s the last-minute solution to trimming your waist as well as a stylish final touch to your ensemble.I recommend investing in dark-colored belts (black, dark brown, navy blue, dark green, dark grey, etc.) to maximize the waist slimming effect- details and light colors placed on your waist can visually add pounds to that area, especially if your waist is already wide or undefined. Avoid belts with lots of horizontal details as they will make your waist look bigger. Instead look for vertical interest that draw the eye up and down like tassels, dangling chains, belt ends that hang vertically and vertical shaped belt buckles. Contrasting prints and details will help slim your waist – just make sure they have a dark color base.
If you have a bit of a muffin top I suggest wearing belts with a bit of stretch to keep it tucked in. Bulky materials (eg. thick, stiff leather) tend to emphasize the area it is placed on, however it can be worn with a woven (slightly stiff material) to help camouflage your full tummy.
Finally, wearing long strings of beads look great against a smaller bust; Statement jewelry such as a chunky necklace or a pair of trendy earrings help drawing the eye to your upper body.
Accessories are great for adding curves on a monochromatic (similar colors worn from top to toe) outfit. Just be careful with their placement. One rule of thumb is to keep your waist free from vertical details. In fact, the simpler you style your waist, the better and trimmer it will appear.
If you’re a Petite make sure that you select accessories that are simple in style and color to avoid overwhelming your short stature and be sure to avoid choker style necklaces with high neck tops.Notice the interest Print and bright-colored scarves brings to your outfit? Try to explore that….
Finally( Did I say that before??): Having covered all other major body types, I must add this: Be open for a secondary body type. You may not exactly be a Rectangle, so you probably have a secondary body type.There are different varieties of the Rectangle body shape. You may have a full and curvy bottom, leaning towards a Pear – or maybe you have a wide chest along with extra weight around the midriff that need some of the styling tricks from the guide for Apples.
So try to be flexible and follow the guidelines for both your primary and secondary body figure!
Nice Chat!
Hugs :))
Molekor.
Sources: Google Images, thechicfashionista.com , pinterest.com ,joyofclothes.com