Your Body Shape: Inverted Triangle

The inverted triangle body shape features broader shoulders and bust compared to narrower hips. Often seen in athletic builds, this shape showcases a powerful upper body. The key to styling is creating balance by adding visual weight to the lower half while softening the shoulder line.

Your Body Shape Characteristics

  • Shoulders and/or bust wider than hips by 2+ inches
  • Narrow hips and flatter bottom compared to upper body
  • Often have an athletic or swimmer's build
  • Well-defined, broader upper body and back
  • Often have lean, toned legs
  • Waist may be less defined than other shapes
  • Weight tends to accumulate in upper body and midsection

Style Tips for Your Shape

1

Add volume to your lower half with full skirts, wide-leg pants, and flared styles

2

Choose darker colors on top and lighter or printed colors below

3

Avoid shoulder pads, puffed sleeves, and structured shoulders

4

V-necks, scoop necks, and halter tops soften the shoulder line

5

Printed, ruffled, or detailed bottoms draw the eye downward

6

A-line and fit-and-flare silhouettes create balance

7

Avoid horizontal stripes and embellishments on the upper body

8

Hip-length jackets that end below the hip add volume to lower body

Best Clothing for Your Shape

Tops

  • V-neck tops
  • Scoop necks
  • Raglan sleeves
  • Halter tops
  • Soft draping fabrics
  • Wrap tops
  • Dark solid colors

Bottoms

  • Full skirts
  • Wide-leg pants
  • Palazzo pants
  • Printed pants
  • Flared jeans
  • A-line skirts
  • Pleated skirts

Dresses

  • A-line dresses
  • Fit-and-flare
  • Drop waist dresses
  • Full-skirt dresses
  • Wrap dresses
  • Empire waist dresses
  • Mermaid silhouettes

Outerwear

  • Waterfall jackets
  • Long cardigans
  • Collarless coats
  • Soft structured blazers
  • Drapey wraps
  • Hip-length jackets
  • Belted coats

What to Avoid

  • Shoulder pads or puffed sleeves that add width
  • Boat necks and straight necklines that emphasize shoulders
  • Double-breasted jackets that add bulk
  • Strapless tops without balancing bottom volume
  • Skinny jeans worn alone without volume on top
  • Horizontal stripes on the upper body
  • Embellished or detailed necklines
  • Cap sleeves that widen the shoulder line

Celebrity Style Inspiration

These celebrities share your inverted triangle body shape:

Angelina JolieDemi MooreNaomi CampbellRenee ZellwegerCatherine Zeta-JonesCameron DiazCindy CrawfordCharlize Theron

Want More Style Tips?

Get our complete inverted triangle body shape style guide with outfit ideas and shopping recommendations.

Classification based on body measurement ratios. Styling recommendations are general guidance.Learn about our methodology

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