Hourglass body shape - how to choose clothes that suit you?

An hourglass figure has shoulders and hips of roughly the same width and a clearly defined waist. These proportions create a naturally balanced, feminine silhouette. With your clothes you can accent the waist and keep the figure in harmony, or deliberately play with looser, modern cuts.

A woman in a sand-coloured dress with a tie belt at the waist

A stylist's advice for an hourglass figure

Define your waistline.

Choose dresses with darts or a tie belt, fitted jackets and high-waisted trousers. They bring out the natural proportions of your figure.

Choose a fit that suits your shape.

Fabric that is too stiff can restrict movement, while very voluminous clothes can hide the waist. Look for cuts that fit comfortably and follow the lines of your figure.

Balance the top and the bottom.

If you choose statement shoulders or full sleeves, pair them with a simpler bottom. Wide trousers, in turn, look great with a more fitted top.

Mind the length of each piece.

Shorter jackets, tucked-in shirts and dresses with a well-placed waistline help keep your proportions.

What to wear?

We recommend

  • Dresses with an accented waist, including wrap styles.
  • High-waisted straight or wide-leg trousers.
  • Jackets with a lightly fitted silhouette.
  • Skirts that highlight the waistline.
  • Tops and blouses you can tuck into trousers or skirts.

What to watch for

  • Very straight, shapeless cuts, if you want to show your waist.
  • Fabrics so stiff they sit uncomfortably at the bust or hips.
  • Volume on top and bottom at once, if you want to keep a defined silhouette.

Remember: loose-fitting clothes can look wonderful on an hourglass figure too. What matters most is the look you want to create.

Clothes for an hourglass body shape

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Other body shapes

Want clothes picked just for you?

Even when you know your body shape, finding the right cut, size and colour is not always easy.

Take the free 3-minute style test and let a Styliste stylist pick clothes that suit your figure, your style and your everyday life.