How do you dress for a V shape?

Which garment is right for a V-shaped body?

V-shaped women have breasts or shoulders that are wider than their hips, so the trick is to draw the eye to their legs or décolleté.

So opt for patterned or voluminous pieces for the lower part of your body, V-necklines to lift your bust and tops that soften the shape of your shoulders. The idea is to make your pretty, sporty figure even more feminine!

Also read: How can I change my look?

Which dress for a V shape?

Dresses that enhance V-shaped women are those that slim the upper body and add volume to the hips. There are several models that are perfect for this type of figure.

First of all, the basic solid-colour straight dress is a great option that you'll probably have in your wardrobe. Choose one that's fluid but still close to the body, so that it hugs your V shape perfectly. To accentuate the volume of your hips, add a belt and bring out your favourite pair of heels.

The peplum dress is also perfect for the V-shaped woman! Very chic, it instantly balances out your silhouette and shows off your beautiful legs. It can be worn on its own or with fine jewellery and a pair of pumps.

Sleeveless V-neck dresses, skater dresses and long-sleeved dresses, fitted at the top and with volume at the bottom, are also great options for you.

Our selection of Elora dresses

What type of top is right for a V shape?

As with dresses, the aim is toslim a V-shaped woman's upper body andsoften her shoulders. So choose plain, flowing tops without shoulder pads. Flared tops are a great option for accentuating the volume of your hips!

V-necks are perfect for you, so don't hesitate to show off your bust. As for jackets and coats, cardigans, trapeze coats and straight jackets balance out your silhouette and reduce the width of your shoulders.

Which trousers for V-shaped women?

To add volume to your hips, you can indulge yourself with patterns! Fluid trousers with animal or floral motifs are perfect for summer, to be worn with your favourite pair of white trainers or wedge sandals.

Our selection of Elora trousers and jeans

Carrot trousers, cigarettes and chinos are great options for V-shaped women. Choose them with side pockets to flatter your hips and wear them for all occasions. Finally, bootcut and flare jeans with a seventies vibe are your best allies for rebalancing your figure. And just as well, they've come back into fashion in recent years!

Also read: How to wear cigarette trousers?

What clothes should I avoid if I have a V shape?

If there was only one item of clothing to avoid in a V-shaped woman's wardrobe, it would be the jacket with epaulettes. A jacket with epaulettes puts more emphasis on your upper torso and totally unbalances your silhouette. It reinforces the squareness of your shoulders when you want to round them. So it's not the right choice for V-shaped women!

Generally speaking, here are the clothes to avoid when you're a V-shaped woman:

• tops with patterns or stripes that don't flatter your curves
• boat necks and square collars that accentuate your shoulders
• turtlenecks that enclose your breasts
• slim or skinny jeans that slim your already long legs too much, creating an imbalance
• hoods that draw attention to your shoulders
• dresses

Note: we give advice on how to enhance the assets of the V-shaped woman. However, if you're very comfortable with your shoulders and want to show them off, that's up to you! All women can dress however they like, as long as they feel comfortable and in tune with their personality. No-one knows better than you what suits you.

See also: Our commitments to women

Characteristics of a V shape

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 do you have slimmer legs? Or are your breasts generous and your hips very narrow? Then you do have a V-shaped figure, also known as an "inverted pyramid"!

Also read: How do you know your body shape?

While this type of body shape can be natural, it is also very common among the most athletic women. When you have a V shape, choose feminine pieces to break up the square appearance of the shoulders and readjust the curves by opting for more voluminous pieces at the bottom.

V-shaped women's must-haves? Carrot trousers with side pockets to add volume to the lower body, peplum tops to emphasise the hips, short or patterned skirts to draw attention to the legs, V-neck tops and dresses to release the décolleté and straight coats to balance the silhouette!