We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Welcome to your guide on dressing for a triangle body shape! Here, you’ll discover both practical and style-focused tips to highlight your natural beauty and dress with confidence.
As with any body shape, understanding how to create visual balance is key to unlocking your style potential. This guide is packed with clothing recommendations and fashion insights tailored to flatter your unique shape! From boat neck tops to high-waisted jeans, you’ll learn exactly how these essential pieces can transform your daily wardrobe.
Feeling ready to elevate your style? Let’s dive into the art of dressing with your body shape on top of mind, focusing on pieces that offer elegance, comfort, and a super-flattering fit all at once. Whether you’re dressing for a formal event or a casual day out with your girlfriends, these tips and recommendations are here to ensure you look polished and feel your best. Let’s get started!
What is a Triangle Body Shape?
A triangle body shape, also known as a pear shape, is defined by a narrower upper body and wider hips and thighs. If you have this silhouette, your shoulder and bust are typically smaller than your hips, creating a beautiful and natural curve at your bottom half.
Embracing your triangle shape means celebrating the unique balance and femininity of your silhouette! With the right style choices, you can enhance all the right places, balance your proportions, and feel confident in looks that scream ‘you‘.
Best Styles for the Triangle Body Shape
Creating Balance and Proportion
For those with a triangle body shape, achieving a balanced look is all about adding volume and interest to your upper body while streamlining your lower half. Here’s how to achieve that balance and highlight your best features in a way that feels good:
1. Exaggerated Shoulders
Enhancing your shoulders can create a more balanced silhouette by drawing attention upward. Tops with shoulder pads or detailed shoulders are the perfect choices for this!
Style Tip: Opt for tops with puffed sleeves or shoulder embellishments to draw the eyes upwards and bring an effortless and seamless harmony to your look.
Cotton Sharp-Shoulder Top
Classic and perfect for every day, this cotton top gives you the dramatic yet classic silhouette you’ve been dreaming of. With sharp shoulder details, this staple piece brings balance to your shape and can be paired with a wide variety of different styles.
2. Boat Neck Tops
When it comes to tops, boat necks are excellent choices for widening the appearance of your shoulders, helping to balance your proportions in a chic & stylish way.
Style Tip: Choose boat neck tops in bold colors or patterns to add visual interest and also bring attention upwards.
Mariner Boatneck Short-Sleeve Tee
Stripes are always in – and so is a pop of red! This classic striped boatneck tee is perfect for enjoying a day under the sun while also dressing with your body in mind.
Pair this top with your favorite pair of jeans or a white maxi skirt for an effortless, chic look.
3. Tops with Full Sleeves or Collars
Full sleeves and collars can both add volume to your upper body, helping to create a look centered around good proportions.
Style Tip: Look for tops with puffed or bell sleeves and detailed collars to enhance your shoulder area and upper body.
Gamine Puff-Sleeve Shirt
This collared shirt is the perfect variation of a classic piece, making it the perfect style for the triangle body shape. With subtle vertical stripes, puff sleeves, and a delicate and classic collar, this top draws the eyes upwards while also promoting balance in your look.
4. Tops that Add Width and Dimension to Your Upper Half
Tops with ruffles, embellishments, or patterns can add the needed volume to your upper body, and are also great ways to bring your individual style into your outfits!
Style Tip: Choose tops that feature horizontal stripes or bold patterns to visually widen your upper half.
Vintage Rib Ruffle Boatneck Tank
For those who like more subtle pieces, this boatneck top is the perfect match. Ruffle details at the shoulders work to delicately widen your frame on top, while still keeping things classic and timeless. Available in 9 different color and pattern variations, this piece is a dream to integrate into your closet – whatever it looks like.
Ruffle-Trim Eyelet Top in Vintage Rib
This romantic eyelet top achieves the same result with its long sleeves; the delicate texture of this piece creates harmony in the look in a feminine and timeless way.
Enhancing Your Silhouette
Choosing the right cuts and designs can be a game-changer, especially when dressing with your body shape in mind. These tops give you some great options for bringing variety and fun style into your wardrobe in a way that is all about enhancing your figure.
5. Peplum Tops
Peplum tops flare out at the waist, creating an hourglass figure by accentuating your waist and balancing your hips.
Style Tip: Instead of going for wider leg trousers, pair your peplum tops with slim or straight pants for a more flattering and balanced look. For a triangular body shape, it’s also crucial to find the right peplum tops – opt for styles that also have volume at the shoulders so that they accentuate your waist while still creating harmony.
Puff Sleeve Organic Cotton Poplin Peplum Blouse
These puffed sleeves and peplum silhouette make this top an ideal piece for those with this body shape. With well-distributed volume throughout the piece, this top pairs beautifully with a pair of jeans for a slightly more casual yet chic look.
Textured Puff Sleeve Blouse
If you’re looking for something with not too much volume but still love the peplum style, then this is the top for you! Made from soft, textured fabric, this lightweight piece brings balance to the upper region and features a v-neck detail that draws the eyes upward.
6. Dolman Sleeves
Dolman sleeves add volume to your upper body, which helps to balance out wider hips. This popular style makes for a great all-around wardrobe staple for those with a triangular shape as it can be worn in tons of different ways.
Style Tip: Choose tops with Dolman sleeves in bright colors or patterns to draw attention to your upper body.
Fine Jersey Dolman-Sleeve Top
Elevate your wardrobe basics with this Dolman sleeve top. Available in a few different colorways, this piece is perfect for daily wear as you run around town, and can be easily dressed up as well!
By now, you’ve probably gotten the gist that dressing for a triangle body shape is all about bringing balance through the upper body; but what exactly does that mean for your lower half?
Slimming and Streamlining
Well, just like we want to bring the eyes towards the shoulders, it’s just as important to know how to minimize attention on your lower half. This allows you to elongate your legs and more easily achieve the balance you’re working towards with your tops!
7. Dark Wash Jeans
Jeans that feature a darker wash are great choices for those of us who still love the classic pair of blue denim. Even better? This slimming style can make your legs appear longer and leaner – especially if they feature a high-waisted fit!
Style Tip: Pair your dark wash jeans with brighter (or busier!) tops to keep the focus on your upper body.
The 90s Straight Jeans
For the perfect pair of straight jeans, go for this classic Madewell style that has won the hearts of hundreds of customers. Offering great support, these jeans are all about valuing your curves and flattering your figure.
8. Boot Cut Jeans
Bootcut jeans are perfect for balancing out wider hips by slightly flaring at the bottom, creating a more proportionate look that is flattering in more ways than one!
Style Tip: Opt for a mid to high-rise boot cut jeans fit to ensure you get enough support while also elongating your legs.
Kick Out Full-Length Jeans
With stretch fabric and a mid-rise fit, these jeans feature a full-length flare leg, as well as good support in the front and back areas. Subtle, delicate, and stylish, this flare detail effortlessly balances your shape while also adding flair to your look! Slits at the hem also make this style perfect for any type of shoe.
9. Skirts in Dark Colors
Darker skirts can minimize the appearance of your lower half, allowing you to play with more vibrant or patterned tops.
Style Tip: Choose A-line or pencil skirts in dark hues for a sleek and more slimming effect.
Ariella Poplin Midi Skirt
Made from breathable cotton poplin, this skirt features the classic a-line silhouette and makes for a super versatile closet staple. The dark color does a great job of flattering while still keeping things subdued – and is great year-round!
10. Wrap Dresses
There are a few dress styles that complement the triangle body shape, and wrap dresses are definitely one of them. This flattering and practical style is excellent for defining the waist and balancing the proportions between your upper and lower body areas.
Style Tip: Choose wrap dresses with a defined waistline and a v-neck detail to elongate your figure. The adjustable nature of this style allows for a customized fit that can enhance and flatter your natural shape.
Related: The Best Dress Styles for Hiding Your Tummy and Feeling Your Best
Belicia Satin Wrap Dress
This classic black wrap dress is the perfect way to dress up for date night or a special event. Understated balloon sleeves work with the wrap style to both enhance your waist and create harmony throughout your overall look. Made from beautiful satin fabric, this dress also features a gorgeous texture that brings even more visual interest to your final ensemble.
11. A-Line Dresses
A-line dresses naturally skim over the hips, creating a balanced silhouette.
Style Tip: Go for A-line dresses with eye-catching details on the upper half. This will draw attention upwards and balance your figure while the silhouette of the dress gently flares out over your hips.
A-Line Midi Dress in Striped Cotton Poplin
Delicate, classic, and perfect for the warmer months of the year, this a-line dress is made from lightweight cotton poplin. Featuring button detailing all along the front, this dress is also characterized by its subtle vertical stripes. The silhouette beautifully hugs your waist and gently flares out along your hips and legs, making it the perfect piece to pair with your favorite sandals during the summer.
12. Off-the-Shoulder Dresses
Off-the-shoulder dresses draw attention to your shoulders and neckline, balancing out wider hips.
Style Tip: Opt for off-the-shoulder dresses with ruffles or embellishments on the neckline to add volume to your upper body. This style can beautifully showcase your shoulders and add a touch of elegance to your look.
Off the Shoulder A-Line Dress
Combining the a-line silhouette, the off-the-shoulder detail, and the puffed short sleeves, this dress makes for a great option for those with a triangle body shape. Effortlessly drawing the eyes upwards toward the décolletage, this style once again brings the balance you’re looking to achieve by cinching your waist at the narrowest point and flaring out at the same time.
13. Patterned Jackets
Especially in the colder months of the year, patterned jackets can be a great way to add visual interest and volume to the upper body region, helping to balance the natural proportions of your figure.
Style Tip: Choose jackets with bold patterns or textures. This can draw attention to your upper body and away from your hips, making for more harmony in your look overall.
Skyler Houndstooth Jacket
With subtle shoulder pads, this double-lined jacket offers the perfect amount of structure to your look, offering the balance we love but also contributing style and personality to your final look. Made from super soft material, this piece also features button details at the shoulder and down the front and four front pockets – it can be easily paired with your favorite trousers for a chic and easy look!
14. Cropped Jackets
Just like patterned – or ‘normal’ – jackets, cropped jackets are great for adding structure and volume to your upper half while also not overwhelming your frame (especially if you’re petite!).
Style Tip: Pair cropped jackets with straight high-waisted pants or a-line skirts to highlight your waist and create a balanced silhouette. This style can also add a modern and chic touch to your look!
Collection Louisa Lady Jacket in Tinsel Tweed
This chic, elegant piece can easily be styled for casual day-to-day looks and special occasions, making it an ultra-versatile piece for your closet. With its cropped silhouette, this jacket includes gorgeous patch pockets and gold button detailing at the front.
Enhancing Your Silhouette with Swimwear
When it comes to swimwear, choosing the right cuts and designs can significantly enhance your triangle body shape in the best way. Here’s how to select bathing suits that flatter your figure and boost your confidence in the process!
15. Ruffled Bikini Top
Following the same trend from the other pieces recommended for your body shape, ruffled bikini tops are perfect for the volume they bring, creating balance with your hips.
Style Tip: Look for bikini tops with ruffles along the neckline or shoulders to draw attention upwards. This not only enhances your bust but also creates a more balanced silhouette by adding width to your upper body. Pair with simple bottoms in darker colors to keep the focus on the top half.
Ruffle Bikini Top
With stunning duo-toned ruffles that fan out towards the shoulder, this ruffled bikini top provides the perfect amount of coverage and volume. With no padding and made from super soft fabric, this bikini top is just right for those with small to medium busts who prioritize comfort and style. Need more? Adjustable straps allow you to achieve the perfect fit!
Related: The Best Bikini Tops for Small Busts that Inspire Confidence
16. Asymmetrical Bikini Top
These kinds of bathing suit tops are yet another great way to add visual interest to your upper body region, making it an excellent choice for triangle shapes.
Style Tip: Opt for one-shoulder swimsuits or bikinis if you are looking to add a modern and dynamic element to your swimwear collection while also working to flatter your figure!
Bow One-Shoulder Bikini Top
If you love a more simple silhouette but still want to choose pieces that flatter your figure, then this one-shoulder top is one to consider.
With bow detailing on the shoulder, this top otherwise works with a sleek and clean cut, making it both on-trend and classic at the same time.
17. High-Waisted Bikini Bottoms
When it comes to the perfect bathing suit for the triangle shape, high-waisted bottoms come very close! This style helps to elongate your legs and define your waist at the same time.
Style Tip: Choose high-waisted bikini bottoms with a bit of structure to ensure it provides good support.
Solid Bikini Bottoms
Featuring four-way stretch and made from super soft material, these high-quality bikini bottoms are a staple for your next vacation. Beyond being high-waisted, a high cut means this piece elongates your legs even more than usual and can be paired with tons of different tops for fun looks.
Tailoring Your Look: Petite, Tall, and Plus Size Considerations
No matter your height or size, there are tons of versatile options that are perfect for your unique body shape. From petite to tall and plus size, the right clothes can make a significant difference in your day-to-day! Here’s how you can embrace your shape with a style that flatters and gives you the confidence you deserve.
Petite Triangle
For petite individuals with a triangle shape, the goal is to elongate the body while maintaining a good balance (it’s all about proportions!).
If you’re looking for good clothing brands to add to your list, both Madewell and Banana Republic offer pieces specifically catered towards those with petite frames.
Style Tips
Monochrome Outfits: Dressing in one color can be more than just a fashion statement. Beyond their gorgeous aesthetic, monochrome looks are also great for creating uninterrupted vertical lines that make you appear taller. A single-color look can streamline your outfit and make you appear more elongated overall.
Proportioned Prints: Smaller patterns are the way to go when looking to complement petite frames. Large prints can easily overwhelm a smaller frame, meaning it’s always a good idea to opt for more delicate designs.
Vertical Lines: Working off of the same idea, vertical lines or stripes can be incorporated in different ways to make you look more elongated even without a monochrome look. Subtle things like seam details can go a long way in flattering your body shape.
Tall Triangle
Those who have this body shape and are on the taller side can have some fun playing with longer and bolder pieces. These work great for enhancing and valuing your natural height while still keeping proportions in mind.
When it comes to shopping, make sure to check out Banana Republic and Madewell for a great selection of ‘tall’ pieces.
Style Tips
Leverage Long Layers: Use long jackets, cardigans, and vests to create lean lines. Layering is a great way of adding depth and interest to your look.
Experiment with Bold Patterns: Large prints and bold designs add interest and balance. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and colors to highlight your height.
Balance Proportions with Wide Belts: Wide belts can help define the waist and break up a long torso. A well-placed belt can add structure and shape to your outfit.
Plus Size Triangle
Dressing a plus-size triangle figure is all about highlighting your curves and selecting pieces that effortlessly blend comfort and style. Some great brands that offer plus-size styles include Madewell, ASOS, and Nordstrom.
Style Tips
Opt for Structured Fabrics: Structured materials help define curves without clinging. Fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool provide a flattering fit.
Implement Strategie Ruching: Ruching around the midsection smoothes fuller areas and creates a more defined waist.
Opt for V-Necks and Vertical Details: Both of these elements elongate the neck and torso, creating a balanced appearance. V-necks can draw attention upwards and create a longer, leaner line.
How to Dress for Triangle Body Shape: Embrace Your Shape with Confidence
Congratulations on discovering how to dress your triangle body shape! Knowing how to dress to flatter your figure is a process that takes time, patience, and experimentation. With these tips, tricks, and recommendations, I hope you feel one step closer to finding pieces that speak to your personal style preferences while also working to flatter your shape and unique features.
By focusing on creating balance and proportion, enhancing your silhouette with the right cuts and designs, and incorporating flattering pieces, you can completely transform your closet into a curated collection that feels great, and, most importantly, that feels like you!
Up Next: Top 12 Ways to Know Your Body Shape and Dress Confidently
