5 Tips for Dressing Your Hourglass Figure
If you are an hourglass, you are curvy. Va Va Voom! Think Marilyn Monroe, Sofia Vergara, or Salma Hayek.
Your bust and hips measure about the same, but your waistline is much smaller and more defined (usually about 8-10 inches smaller than your bust/hips). Your calves are shapely.
When you gain weight, you earn it evenly throughout your shape. If you are an hourglass, the dressing goal is to play up your voluptuous figure while maintaining proportion.
Dresses
Fitted dresses accentuate your curves, show off your waist, and play up your feminine figure. A wrap dress is perfect because it is stretchy and hugs your body’s curves. I’m an hourglass, and this is my favorite type of dress!
Dresses need to be fitted, not loose and flowing. Wearing a belt that accentuates your tiny waist is a great way to dress over 40 if you have an hourglass shape.
Skirts
Pencil skirts that taper in will show off your sexy body, and a great belt will highlight your enviable waistline. A-line skirts will conceal a round bottom and full hips.
Pants
Choose straight-leg or boot-cut bottoms, with slightly flared legs, to balance you out.
Baggy pants make you look rounder and heavier than you are, so wear fitted pants with some stretch to flatter your curves.
Tops
Choose simple, smooth tops in soft, stretchy materials. High-neck, loose, or bulky sweaters make you look heavy. Go for body-skimming, finer knits instead. Soft-fitted blouses and shirts with open necklines are fabulous for you.
Jackets
You can choose a jacket that is fitted, not boxy. It must nip in at your waist.
Jackets above or below your behind are best as they emphasize your waist. When a jacket ends at the rear, it makes your rear look bigger.
Colors/Prints
You’ll look great in a solid color from head to toe because it creates a nice, long, lean line against which to show off your hourglass shape.
You can also wear light on top and dark on the bottom, or the other way around, depending on what you are making your focal point. The eye will go to the light or bright area, not the dark one.
Are you starting to understand better how to dress over 40 if you are in an hourglass shape? Do you want to learn more about clothing styles that will work best for your body type?
Check out How to Find Your Body Type and Dress for It.
Good post. Thanks;)
Tailored shirts are a must if you have a big difference between under-bust and bust. The gaping/loose waist drove me crazy, so I bought some custom ones from Tailor Store. XD If you want to dress formally, a made-to-measure corset can never go wrong. Vintage 50’s dresses are often cut with hourglass measurements, too.
Thanks for the great tips. Do you think this body shape is the most accepted these days, or do people prefer skinny bodies?
I think both. Not sickly skinny, though. Of course, they can be both at the same time. One of my friends measures 36-24-37. XD
I, too, am short-waisted with an hourglass figure. I find it nearly impossible to find dresses that fit correctly. I would love to hear your advice on dressing a short-waisted woman.
What if we have an hourglass figure but are petite and short-waisted?
Precisely what I do to look and feel my best in my clothes. Thanks for the affirmation. Great tips.
Having a lifetime of experience dressing this body, I can attest to the validity of your tips! I found your lovely and insightful blog through gorgeous Annette’s blog…Lady of Style.