Short (up to 5’2″) Petite Rectangle 

You may want to look a little taller, which you will also be able to do with the right attire.

Remember that wearing one color from top to bottom has a lengthening effect overall.

The best tops and dresses for this body shape have either a boatneck or a wide scoop neck that will not only make your shoulders appear to be wider but make your waist look a little smaller when they are compared. 

Halter tops are also a great choice–they expose more skin to the outside of the straps, which will make your shoulders look wider

Consider dresses with built-in corsets, because they help define your waist

Try an off-the-shoulder dress with a flared skirt that will have that effect I was talking about–making your shoulders and hips look wider compared to your waist to attain that hourglass symmetry.

Dresses with an empire waist are also good because they are a little more fitted around the bust and give you an instant waist.  Just member to get one with a fuller skirt for balance. 

Best Skirts for the Rectangle Body Type

The best skirts for the banana body shape are those that flare out from the waist.  They make your waist look smaller and your hips a bit wider.

Circle skirts and gored skirts both accomplish this. 

You should also try a trumpet skirt, which will hug your hips and flare out a bit. Skirts should be knee-length or above to show off your legs.

This is a good method to use to appear taller as well.  Skirts that have side slits are also great for the same reason!

Best Blazers, Jackets, and Coats

It’s important that your blazers and jackets have a more structured appearance in order to give you a stronger, wider looking shoulder.

Outerwear that has princess seams are also great.

Go for coats with belts!  They look great on you and the detail helps define your waist.

Avoid the temptation to get a really long coat.  You need one that stops above your knees so you don’t look swallowed up.  Remember, showing more leg makes you look taller. 

Best Pants and Jeans

Pants and jeans for the rectangle body shape should have details like pockets at the side to add curves to the hips.

You look great in slacks that have a crease down the front.  The line gives you the illusion of more height!

Lucky you!  You can wear shorts as short as you want.  Choose ones with side pockets, though, and with pockets on the butt. 

Best Accessories and Shoes

The most important thing to remember about accessories is to scale them to your size: smaller, daintier jewelry; small prints; small pursesWear necklaces like pendants that fall at your cleavage.  The V made by the chain will help bring the eye in and give the visual effect of wider shoulders and smaller hips. 

A shoulder purse that falls right at your hip will make your hips will add the illusion of a little more weight there. 

Wear shoes that help lengthen your body overall, like peep-toe and pointy-toe shoes.

Short Rectangle with a Medium Build

Best Tops and Dresses

Wrap tops and surplice tops are great because the V that they make brings the eye to the center, which will make your shoulders appear to be wider and your waist to be smaller.  Consider dresses with built-in corsets, because they help define your waist

Wrap dresses help create the width in the shoulder area that you need and when paired with a belt or tie in the middle, helps define your waist.

Tops with wide-set straps, boatnecks,  and wide scoop necks make your shoulders look wider

The sweetheart neckline is also great for widening your shoulders and adding curves

Best Blazers, Jackets, and Coats for the Rectangle Body

It’s important that your blazers and jackets have a more structured appearance in order to give you a stronger, wider-looking shoulder.

Go for coats with belts!  They look great on you and the detail helps define your waist. An A-line silhouette will also give you the appearance of hips.

Best Skirts

You can also try an A-line skirt to give definition to your waist and width to your hips

Clothing like skirts in heavier fabrics adds fullness to your hips.

Best Pants and Jeans

Jeans with distressing, fadin

g or embellishments at or near the hips make you look a little curvier and draw attention there.

Straight leg or boot cut pants and jeans are the best for your body shape. A straight leg gives you more height and therefore elongates your body.  A boot cut will make you look a little curvier. 

Accessories and Shoes

You can use belts at your hip or a wide belt on the fullest part of your hip to create the illusion of more weight there. 

Scale accessories to your size: Medium size purses and jewelry.

Wear shoes that help lengthen your body overall, like peep-toe and pointy-toe shoes.

Dr nStyle - Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

Short Rectangle Body Type with a Full Build

Best Tops and Dresses

Try an off-the-shoulder or boatneck dress with a flared skirt that will have that effect I was talking about–making your shoulders and hips look wider compared to your waist to attain that hourglass symmetry.

Boatneck tops or off-the-shoulder tops are also great, just also remember to balance your bottom half.

Dresses with an empire waist are also good because they are a little more fitted around the bust and give you an instant waist.  Just member to get one with a fuller skirt for balance. 

Another great option is the high-low dresses that are lower in the back or have fluted hems because they make legs look longer and slimmer

Wrap tops, surplice tops, and V-neck tops are great because the V that they make brings the eye to the center, which will make your shoulders appear to be wider and your waist to be smaller. 

Try the camisole with a blazer on top to bring more attention to your bust area

Best Blazers, Jackets, and Coats

If you have larger arms and/or would like to cover your arms, besides the obvious long-sleeve, try a three-quarter sleeves jacket.  A bolero style also looks good on you.

Opt for peplum or princess cut jackets that fit at the waist.  These types of jackets also give you the stronger-looking shoulders you need and a flare at the bottom will make you look curvier.

Best Skirts

The best skirts for the banana body shape are those that flare out from the waist.  They make your waist look smaller and your hips a bit wider. Circle skirts, trumpet, and gored skirts both accomplish this. 

A-line skirts are also great options, as they make you look like your waist is smaller.

Best Pants and Jeans

Jeans with distressing, fading, or embellishments at the hips make you look a little curvier and draw attention there.

Straight-leg pants and jeans are great for your body shape. A straight leg gives you more height and therefore elongates your body. 

Best Accessories and Shoes for the Rectangle Shape

Carry a purse that falls at the hips to give visual weight there.

Dangling earrings are a good method to use to draw attention to your face.

Wear shoes that help lengthen your body overall, like peep-toe and pointy-toe shoes. 

Showing a little extra skin with a d’Orsay style will also make you appear taller.

Short Plus Size Rectangle Body

Best Tops and Dresses

Wrap tops, surplice, and V-neck tops are great because the V that they make brings the eye to the center, which will make your shoulders appear to be wider and your waist to be smaller.  

You also look great in a sweater and shirt combination.  When the shirt peeks out and hits at the hips, this brings attention to the hips, making the waist then look a little smaller.

Either a boatneck, a wide scoop neck, or sweetheart neckline will not only make your shoulders appear to be wider but make your waist look a little smaller when they are compared. 

Best Pants and Jeans

Jeans with distressing, fading, or embellishments at or near the hips make you look a little curvier and draw attention there.

Pants with pockets at the hips will also give you weight visually where you need it to balance out your look.

Dark straight-leg pants and jeans are great for your body shape. A straight leg gives you more height and therefore elongates your body. 

Best Skirts

The best skirts for the banana body shape are those that flare out from the waist.  They make your waist look smaller and your hips a bit wider. Semi-circle skirts, godet, and gored skirts both accomplish this. 

Prints should be medium in size

Skirts should be knee-length or above to show off your legs to make you appear taller and slimmer. 

Best Blazers, Jackets, and Coats

A High-stance blazer (meaning, the button is above the waist) widens shoulders and helps hold in your midsection.

Puffed-sleeve or cap sleeve blazers or jackets widen the look of shoulders. You can even pull off shoulder pads.

Best Accessories and Shoes

Try long pendant necklaces or larger earrings like chandelier earrings.

Remember to make accessories proportion in size

Wear a purse with straps that allow the purse to hit at your hip

Wear shoes with a lower cut vamp, open toe, or with thicker heels

Are you dressing for your age? How to know if you are.

Dr nStyle - Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

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I am so excited to share my passion for fashion, food and drink, health, vacations, and lifestyle with you. I hope my blog will be a valuable resource for inspiration, information and advice.

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