Although it sometimes gets a bad reputation for being associated with broad shoulders, the V-shaped body type is actually very feminine.
Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel, and Cameron Diaz—some of the most beautiful and famous women—have a V-shaped body, and that certainly doesn’t stop them from being glamorous!
In short, women with a V shape have beautiful legs, a sporty look, slim hips, and toned arms: wonderful assets that are easy to highlight with our tips.
What clothes suit a V-shaped body?
Since women with a V shape have a bust or shoulders that are wider than their hips, the trick is to draw attention to the legs or neckline.
So, go for pieces with patterns or volume on the lower half of your body, V-necklines to open up your chest, and tops that soften the shape of your shoulders. The idea is to bring even more femininity to your lovely athletic silhouette!
Also read: How to change your look?
Which dress for a V-shaped body?
The dresses that flatter V-shaped women are those that slim the upper body and add volume to the hips. Several styles are perfect for this silhouette.
First, the classic straight dress in a solid color is a great option you probably already have in your wardrobe. Choose a fluid style that still skims the body to perfectly embrace your V shape. To add volume to the hips, add a belt and slip on your favorite pair of heels.
The peplum dress is also perfect for V-shaped women! Very chic, it instantly balances your figure and highlights your beautiful legs. It stands out on its own or can be paired with delicate jewelry and a pair of pumps.
The sleeveless V-neck dress, the skater dress, and the long-sleeved dress—fitted at the top and flared at the bottom—are also excellent choices for you.
Our selection of Elora dresses
What tops suit a V-shaped body?
As with dresses, the goal is to slim the upper body of a V-shaped woman and soften her shoulders. So, choose plain, fluid tops without shoulder pads. Flared tops are a great way to add volume to your hips!
V-necklines are perfect for you, so don’t hesitate to highlight your chest. For jackets and coats, cardigans, A-line coats, and straight jackets help balance your figure and soften the width of your shoulders.
Which pants for a V-shaped woman?
To add volume to your hips, have fun with patterns! Flowing pants with animal or floral prints are perfect for summer, to wear with your favorite pair of white sneakers or wedge sandals.
Our selection of Elora pants and jeans
Carrot pants, cigarette pants, and chinos are great options for V-shaped women. Choose styles with side pockets to add even more volume to your hips and wear them for any occasion. Finally, bootcut and flared jeans with seventies vibes are your best allies for balancing your silhouette. Good news—they’ve come back into fashion in recent years!
What clothes should you avoid with a V-shaped body?
If there’s one item to avoid in a V-shaped woman’s wardrobe, it’s the jacket with shoulder pads. In fact, a jacket with shoulder pads draws even more attention to your upper body and completely throws off your silhouette. It emphasizes the squareness of your shoulders when you want to soften them. So, it’s not the best choice for a V-shaped body!
In general, here are the clothes to avoid if you have a V-shaped body:
- tops and shirts with patterns or stripes that don’t flatter your curves
- boat necks and square necklines that accentuate your shoulders
- turtlenecks that hide your chest
- slim or skinny jeans that make your already long legs look even slimmer and create imbalance
- hoods that draw attention to your shoulders
- dresses
Good to know: we offer tips to highlight the assets of a V-shaped woman. However, if you feel confident about your shoulders and actually want to show them off, go for it! Every woman can dress however she likes, as long as she feels comfortable and true to her personality. No one knows better than you what suits you best.
Also read: Our commitments to women
Characteristics of a V-shaped body
Not sure if you have a V-shaped body? Stand in front of a mirror and look at the width of your shoulders and hips.
Are your shoulders wider than your hips and your legs slimmer? Or do you have a generous bust and very narrow hips? Then you definitely have a V-shaped silhouette, also known as an “inverted pyramid”!
Also read: How to know your body shape?
While this body type can be natural, it’s also very common among sporty women. If you have a V shape, choose feminine pieces to soften the square look of your shoulders and balance your curves by opting for more voluminous pieces on the lower half.
The must-haves for a V-shaped woman? Carrot pants with side pockets to add volume to the lower body, peplum tops to highlight the hips, short or patterned skirts to draw attention to the legs, V-neck tops and dresses to open up the neckline, and straight coats to balance the silhouette!
