Thanks everyone for emailing photos – I still need Os (don’t be shy, nobody will know who you are), and more Vs, if you’d like to see a few examples.
Here we have one version of a V shape (inverted triangle) body. You will notice that her shoulders are broader than hips, but there is not a lot of curve through the body either.
Some Vs are significantly wider than their hips, others are just a bit wider (like this example).
How to dress your V shape body:
- If you shoulders are significantly wider, avoid straight shaped skirts on your lower half, you need some flare to balance your hips. If you are only a bit wider you can wear straight, A-line and flared skirts all equally well.
- Look for tops with raglan sleeves and dolmen sleeves that will de-emphasise your shoulders.
- Avoid puffed sleeves and epaulets, any kind of shoulder detail will make you look like an American Football linebacker (I think that’s the technically correct term).
- Wide collars on shirts and jackets are not great.
- Collarless jackets and those with modified collars, like the mandarin collar work well for you.
- Avoid spaghetti straps – they just make your shoulders look broader – look for halternecks and wider straps on sleeveless garments. Often those cut in a little (racer back) are more flattering than straighter shapes.
- Jeans can be straight, boot cut, skinny, wide leg, trouser cut.
- Gathered necklines can work for you really well.
- Depending on your chin/jaw shape, which influences your best necklines, look for Vs and Scoops, rather than Boat necks and Square necklines if you want to make you shoulders less prominent.
- Also be aware of your neck length when choosing necklines, if you have a shorter neck (like my lovely model today) look for lower necklines to help elongate. If you have a long neck, and a smaller bust go for higher necklines like crew and turtlenecks.
- Longer necklaces that fall to the bust or below can really work well on V shapes as it helps to create an elongating line down the front of your body.
- If you are long waisted try belting. A tunic top that isn’t fitted and just hangs off your shoulders may need some definition and a belt can make a difference here. Lower hip belts may work better than waist belts.
- If you have narrow hips, try wearing slightly longer tops that end at the widest point of your hips, this will add more curve. If you don’t want to draw attention to your hips go for tops that end just under your hip bone (the bone that juts out at the front below your waist).
- Jackets can end at the hip bone or below. Generally cropped jackets will make you look more boxy and are better avoided. Boyfriend styles may work on your shape.
- Shift dresses, shirt dresses and bias cut dresses can all be options for you.
- Avoid fabrics on your upper body that are too floppy, especially if you tend to have a muscled appearance, go for fabrics with a bit more weight and structure.
- If you have a small bust you can really rock the trapeze shape top. Also tops with layers of flounces or frills can really look great.
- As you have broader shoulders than hips, you can easily wear coloured and patterned skirts, making your bottom half the focal point, rather than your top half.
- Wear a darker top and lighter bottom to help balance your proportions.
- If you have a flat butt, look for detail on jeans pockets, and pocket flaps on back pockets to give you more shape.
- You may find that your pants always work themselves down during the day and you feel you have to hitch them up, a higher rise may help with this.
For more V shape tips check out this post.
Celebrities with your shape include Jennifer Garner, Demi Moore, Naomi Campbell and Rene Zellweger .
Yes – this is me! And this why I never feel I look good in patterned tops! The best skirts for me are knee length, straight or bias cut with a little flip out at the knee. Not so sure whether I can pull off big A-line shapes and I never know whether or not to wear longer skirts – I feel dowdy in them. Still – learning all the time! Thank you, Imogen!
"Linebacker" is definitely the correct term! Great tutorial! Since I carry extra weight around my hips I often long for the V shape instead of my own.
I am really enjoying these posts with actual women to illustrate the body shapes.
Thank you.
What a surprise! I had no idea that I could be a V. For some reason, I thought the V had to be more exaggerated and the body type super slim. Didn't realize that a V could be stocky! It's no wonder that I feel like an ice cream cone at times. It also explains why some of my V neck tops that are wide at the neck look "off" even though I seem to be following the rules ( for an H.) The same goes for straight skirts.
I'm so grateful for your post. My daughters and I are a family of football linebackers–your terminology is correct by the way. My youngest has my body type almost exactly only she was blessed with a round butt. My oldest is taller and slimmer and has a defined waist–something I've always wanted! I have a better idea of how to minimize that shoulder line now–which will help us all. Thanks so much, Imogen!
Love your site, in fact found it researching how to dress my broad shoulders. Figure the least I can do is donate a picture for the cause. Thanks for all your great tips and advise..hope this works, here's a picture of my "V" shape….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss54/cagremillion/vshape/DSC03887.jpg
Anon, I don't see a V shape in your picture. what I see is a very nice X, the enviable hourglass.It's hard to tell, but I think what may be bothering you about your shoulders is that they're square, not broad. The angle they form with your neck is closer to 90 degrees than most designers' clothing models. Imogene, what's the fix for this? A tailor, or just learning to love the collarbones?
Pearlaceous – yes it's you – longer skirts need heels for many to stop from looking frumpy. Knee length is often best.
Kellygirl – thanks – glad you feel like you've learned something today!
Imogen, I have v-shape shoulders with a defined waist and x-shape hips (I think). I’m also high-waisted with a lower bustline and with long legs. How might you recommend I balance all of these aspects? Is there one of them that I might benefit from concentrating on more than the others? I can post a picture if that might help.
Hi Abby,
Great questions – this would be great to take onto the new forums page so I can answer you there http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/inside-out-forum#/ put it on th body shape page
Dear Imogen, I read this note about the V shape and I see that you (and other stylists too) advise dolmen sleeves to de-emphasise the shoulders. I don’t agree with this tip because that is true that we can not see the shoulder line this way but the whole upper torso becomes very large, especially if the breasts are big or the chest is wide! I am a tall slim V shape with medium breasts, very large shoulders and loooong arms. If I wear a dolmen blouse I look like Arnie in the Conan…. I usually suggest dolmen sleeves for a tall X or pear (with pad shoulders) who has very small breasts and narrow chest to enlarge the chest area and the upper torso. What do you think about it? Do I know wrong this rule? Thank you for your help, your tips are always useful for me, and I don’t feel embarrassed to learn somebody who is more educated in our profession than I am!! Kathy
Hi Kathy,
A dolman sleeve (has stitching down the top and joins the sleeve from the neck down the top of the arm) is not necessarily a batwing (though commonly they go together). Batwings are absolutely no good for V shapes, but if it’s a slim dolman sleeve it can work really well. That’s my take!
beautiful i think my body could be a v shape too and i actually like it
I think this is my figure but a much disproportionate one/less flattering than those pics shown above bc my hips & legs are too thin looks weird compared to my upper half since I’m skinny.. I don’t like it bc I don’t know how to dress this figure/I’m having a hard time. All the clothes I like/own/want to wear just doesn’t look good on me at all.. :/ (My measurements are: shoulder: 35.5″ breast: 28.7/29″ waist: 23.5/24″ hip(sits low): 31.5″ And I’m only 4’11″ weigh around 85lbs) But I’m trying to gain more weight & learn to live with it. Oh and btw no I’m a grown woman not a teen who hasn’t hit puberty yet. lol
Dear Imogen,
Thanx for the info. I am a plus size with a V shape. i ave a short neck, ny shoulder is 20″, bust 50, waist
45, hips 47. I find it hard to find clothes that fit me nicely. what styles would you reccommend please?
Hi Posh, have a look through all the posts related to the V shape then look also at the proportions and body variations and start figuring out what works for your unique body.
Imogen, it took a lot of racking my brain to figure out what my shape is. I thought I was an hourglass until I came to this page. I know now that I have slightly wider shoulders than my hips, and a short waisted small waist. I’ve realised waist belts are not the way to go thanks to another page on your site, so thanks!
I would love to hear your input. My issues are: appearing flat chested in summer strap tops even though I’m a 30dd (because of my shoulders), not having the confidence to wear corporate type clothing since I don’t know what looks good on me in that setting, and not knowing what colours look good on me. I have quite a few pics of my ‘attempts’(!), and I’d be more comfortable emailing them to you (rather than posting them publically), since a lot of them are personal. You can then feel free to use particular pics if you need to. I think your knowledge is immense and you’re fab. I still have these queries/issues after reading everything though. Is there a way I can email you?
Tulip skirts are great for this body type as well. I love anything that gives my hips a wider look and makes me feel more balanced out. I feel like this can be a hard body type because lacking hips always makes me feel like I look masculine. But all these tips are wonderful!
Mallory – you’re right about tulip skirts – they work for V shapes and I shapes best!
Most helpful info. I am a v shape but have butt and thick thighs thats why i love pencil skirt jus below my nee..i feel chunky in a line skirt. One question though i thought v shapes dont look good in skinny leggings or jeans. U disagree or it depends on your top..
Peaches – generally you want to balance out your top and bottom, so if you are significantly wider in the shoulders to hips, you need some sort of extra down the bottom to balance, so you can wear skinnies with either a long thigh length top (tunic) or knee high boots will also balance.