Shopping Help Guide: A List Of Flattering Trouser Styles & Cuts Tailored For Your Body Shape
Understanding your body shape can empower you to choose clothing that enhances your natural features, boosts your confidence, and reflects your personal style. While these body shape categories provide a useful framework, it’s essential to embrace your individuality and wear what makes you feel good. Remember, fashion ultimately serves as a tool for expressing your personality, and the best outfit is one that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and true to yourself. In this article, we will explore each of these body shapes, highlighting their characteristics and providing tips for dressing in a way that accentuates your best features.
Triangle Or Pear
Ideal Trouser Waist: High-waisted or mid-rise pants can complement the lines of a triangle body shape, while low rise pants are least favorable because it can be difficult to feel comfortable (but this is up to how the wearer feels).
The triangle body shape, or pear shape, is characterized by a silhouette that is narrower at the shoulders and wider at the hips. Triangle and pear shape body types are the same, with pear mainly having a slightly wider chest. Women with this body type typically have:
- Shoulders that are narrower than their hips: The natural tapering at the shoulders creates a triangular appearance.
- Fuller hips and thighs: The hips are usually the widest part of the body, contributing to a more rounded lower half.
- Defined waist: Many women with a triangle shape have a well-defined waist, adding an hourglass effect.
Bootcut: the gentle flare from the knee down, creates a balanced look between the hips, and elongates the legs.
Wide-Leg: these trousers balance out the wider hips. When styled with a fitted top, they create an elongated silhouette.
Palazzo: these loose-fitting trousers offer a flowy aesthetic that draws attention away from the hips.
Zimmerman Red Wine Palazzo Pants – $425
Straight-Leg: these trousers create a streamlined effect that balances out the hips.
Rectangle Shaped
Ideal Trouser Waist: Low to mid-rise waists are usually ideal, while high-rise waist trousers usually make the waist look wider than it is, high-rise trousers can still look good with a balanced leg style.
The rectangle body shape is characterized by more or less the same width across the bust, waist, and hips, giving the body a straight and elongated appearance. Women with this body type typically have the following features:
- Proportional Measurements: Bust, waist, and hip measurements are relatively similar, with little difference in circumference between these areas.
- Narrow Waist: While the waist may not be dramatically smaller than the bust and hips, it typically forms a gentle curve rather than an exaggerated hourglass shape.
- Straight Shoulder Line: Shoulders may be quite wide or level with the hips, contributing to the overall straight silhouette.
- Long Legs: Many rectangle-shaped women have longer legs, which can accentuate the length of the body
Bootcut: the slightly flared hem balances the straight lines of your silhouette, creating a more curvy appearance.
Wide-Leg: this style adds volume to the lower body while creating a striking silhouette.
Culottes: this wide and flowy cropped leg style provides comfort and elegance, draws attention to the legs.
‘S Max Mara Cropped Velvet Culottes – $215
Skinny: these trousers hug legs, showcasing their length and creating a streamlined look that elongates a figure.
FAM The Label Evergreen Skinny Trousers – $45
Apple Shaped Or Round
Ideal Trouser Waist: Mid-rise and high-waist trousers are most flattering because they create the illusion of a defined waistline. Low rise trousers can create a muffin top that rolls out because it is cutting your body in half.
Women with an apple body shape tend to carry more weight around their midsection/have a wider midsection, leading to a rounded appearance. Here are some of the key characteristics of the apple body shape:
- Broader Shoulders: Women with this body shape typically have shoulders that are as wide, or wider than, their hips. This gives an overall balanced look on the upper body.
- Larger Bust: Apples often have fuller busts, which can enhance the curvy silhouette.
- Narrower Hips: Hips are usually narrower than the shoulders, contributing to the ‘apple’ silhouette.
- Slim Legs: Despite the weight distribution around the midsection, women with an apple body shape often have thinner legs and arms.
- Less Defined Waist: While the waist may not always have a dramatic curvature, it is often less defined than in other body types like the hourglass.
Bootcut: the subtle flaring at the hem creates a balanced look, making your figure appear more proportioned.
Wide-Leg: these trousers help to elongate the legs and balance the proportions of the upper body.
White Birch Detailed Bell Bottoms – $105
Straight-Leg: these trousers follow the natural line of the leg without clinging to the midsection, creating a streamlined effect.
Palazzo: these ultra-wide-leg trousers can contour the stomach, highlight the waist, and add volume to the lower body
White Birch Leopard Palazzo Pants – $135
Hourglass Shaped
Ideal Trouser Waist: High-waist or mid-rise trousers are a great choice for an hourglass figure because they define the waist and fit nicely around the curves. Low-waisted trousers can make the hips look bigger.
The hourglass body shape is defined by distinct proportions (bust – waist symmetry) that create a curvy, balanced look. This body type typically features:
- Well-Defined Waist: The hallmark of an hourglass figure is a narrow, well-defined waist that is significantly smaller than the bust and hip measurements.
- Proportional Bust and Hips: Women with an hourglass figure generally have bust and hip measurements that are within a few inches of each other. This symmetry contributes to the body’s overall curviness and balance.
- Distinct Curves: The hourglass shape is marked by soft and feminine curves, characterized by fuller breasts, hips, and a rounded backside.
Bootcut: the slight flare below the knee makes these trousers perfect for balancing the proportions of an hourglass figure, and providing space for the hips.
Ralph Lauren Grey Alecia Wool Pants – $1100
Wide-Leg: with a generous cut that flares out from the thigh, these trousers create an elegant flow that complements and balances an hourglass figure.
Joseph Mid-Rise Wide Leg Trousers – $645
Slightly Tapered: these trousers have a slim cut that gradually narrows at the ankles, making them excellent for showcasing legs while offering hip room.
Michael Kors High Waist Tapered Pants – $360
Palazzo: High-waist palazzo pants accentuate the waist and create an elongated, balanced look that complements hourglass curves.
Burberry Checked Palazzo Pants – $1290
Inverted Triangle Shaped
Ideal Trouser Waist: In most cases, trousers with a mid or low waist fit women with an inverted triangle body better than high-waisted trousers because they stretch your upper body.
The inverted triangle body shape is defined by a silhouette that is wider at the top and narrows down towards the bottom. Women with this body type usually have:
- Broad Shoulders: The shoulders are often wider than the hips, creating a strong upper body look.
- Narrower Hips: The hips tend to be significantly smaller than the shoulders, making the lower body appear narrower.
- Defined Waist: While the waist can be defined, it usually does not have the same dramatic curve as seen in other body types, such as the hourglass.
- Long Legs: Many women with an inverted triangle shape also have longer legs, which can offer a great base for showcasing a variety of footwear styles.
Wide-Leg: this style adds volume to the lower half, which helps balance out the broader shoulders.
Ivy Lane Blush Wide-Leg Trouser $48
Bootcut: this style slightly widens from the knee downward, providing a flow that complements the silhouette.
Ivy Lane Mid-Rise Slit Flare Leg – $48
A-Line Trousers: a-line pants create a gentle flare from the waist down – adding subtle and flattering volume around the hips.
Joseph Mid-Rise Wide Leg Trousers – $645
Palazzo Pants: the flowy fabric and wide legs make them ideal for creating a soft contrast with broader shoulders.
Maison Margiela Grey Wool Palazzo Pants – $1450
