Inverted Triangle Body Shape for Women
Broader shoulders, a strong upper frame, and narrower hips define the inverted triangle. This guide covers everything women with this shape need to know—from identifying it to dressing it with confidence.
The Short Answer
The inverted triangle body shape in women means your shoulders and bust are wider than your hips. About 5-10% of women have this shape. The styling goal is to balance the upper and lower body by softening the shoulder line and adding volume to the hips.
What Makes Women Inverted Triangle Shaped?
The inverted triangle silhouette is defined by one core relationship: the upper body is wider than the lower body. Specifically, your shoulder measurement exceeds your hip measurement, and your bust line is typically broader than your hip line as well.
This shape can result from skeletal structure—naturally wide clavicles and a narrow pelvis—or from muscular development through sports and exercise. Many competitive swimmers, gymnasts, and rowers develop this silhouette over time. Genetics play a significant role, as some women are born with broader shoulder frames regardless of their activity level.
Physical Characteristics in Detail
Shoulders
Noticeably broader than the hips, forming the widest part of the frame. Shoulder bones are prominent and may appear angular.
Bust
Typically fuller and wider than the hip line. The bustline often aligns with or exceeds the shoulder width.
Waist
Can range from moderately defined to straighter. The waist is not the defining feature of this shape—the shoulder-to-hip contrast is.
Hips
Narrower than the shoulders and bust. The hip line tapers inward, creating the "inverted triangle" silhouette when viewed from the front.
Legs
Often slender and well-proportioned. Because hips are narrower, the legs may appear longer relative to the torso.
How to Identify This Shape in Women
Not sure if you are inverted triangle? Here are three quick checks:
- 1. The mirror test. Stand in front of a mirror in fitted clothing. If the widest part of your frame is your shoulders rather than your hips, you likely have this shape.
- 2. The measurement test. Measure your shoulders and hips. If shoulders exceed hips by more than 5%, the ratio points to inverted triangle.
- 3. The shopping test. If you consistently need larger sizes on top than on the bottom, and jackets feel tight in the shoulders while skirts feel loose at the hips, this is a strong indicator.
Confirm Your Shape
Use our free body shape calculator to input your measurements and get an instant, ratio-based classification.
Best Clothing Styles for Inverted Triangle Women
The styling strategy is straightforward: soften the shoulder line and add visual weight to the lower body. This creates a more balanced silhouette without hiding your frame.
Tops That Flatter
Draw the eye downward and inward, narrowing the shoulder appearance
Create diagonal lines that soften broad shoulders and define the waist
Eliminate the shoulder seam, replacing it with a diagonal line from neck to underarm
Visually recede the upper body, reducing emphasis on broad shoulders
Bottoms That Balance
Flare outward from the waist, adding volume to the hip area for balance
Create a strong vertical line with added lower-body volume
Draw attention to the lower half, balancing the visual weight of broader shoulders
Add visual interest and width to the hip and leg area
Dresses That Work
Fitted bodice with flared skirt balances the shoulder-to-hip ratio beautifully
Combine a V-neckline with waist definition and a flowing skirt
Draws attention to the narrowest point just below the bust and lets fabric flow over the hips
Celebrity Examples
Many celebrated women share the inverted triangle body shape and demonstrate how to style it beautifully on red carpets and in everyday life:
- Angelina Jolie — Frequently wears V-necklines and flowing skirts that balance her strong shoulders
- Naomi Campbell — Gravitates toward fitted dresses with A-line or flared hems
- Demi Moore — Often chooses wrap styles and soft shoulder lines in jackets
- Renee Zellweger — Demonstrates how raglan sleeves and scoop necks soften the frame
What these women have in common is that they work with their proportions rather than against them—choosing silhouettes that complement their broader upper frame while drawing attention to their waist and legs.
Explore Full Inverted Triangle Guide
Visit our dedicated inverted triangle page for detailed styling advice, wardrobe essentials, and outfit formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a woman inverted triangle shaped?
A woman has an inverted triangle body shape when her shoulders and/or bust measurement is noticeably wider than her hips. Typically, the shoulder-to-hip ratio is above 1.05 and the bust is broader than the hip line. The waist may or may not be well-defined.
How common is the inverted triangle body shape in women?
The inverted triangle is one of the less common female body shapes, estimated at roughly 5-10% of women. It is more frequently seen among athletes, particularly swimmers, rowers, and those who do upper-body strength training.
Can I become inverted triangle shaped through exercise?
Yes, heavy upper-body training—especially swimming, rowing, and shoulder-focused weightlifting—can broaden the shoulders and upper back enough to shift your proportions toward an inverted triangle silhouette, even if your bone structure was not originally this shape.
What should inverted triangle women avoid wearing?
Avoid clothing that adds visual width to the shoulders: shoulder pads, puffy sleeves, boat necks, strapless tops, horizontal stripes on the upper body, and heavily structured blazers. These make the shoulder line appear even broader relative to the hips.
Is inverted triangle the same as athletic body shape?
Not exactly. While many athletes have inverted triangle proportions, the terms are not interchangeable. "Athletic" is a casual descriptor, whereas inverted triangle is a specific proportion-based classification. An athlete can be any body shape depending on her proportions.
What celebrities have an inverted triangle body shape?
Well-known women often cited with inverted triangle proportions include Angelina Jolie, Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Renee Zellweger, and many Olympic swimmers. These women demonstrate how striking and elegant this shape can be when styled well.