How to Dress a Small Bust & Bigger Hips: Style Tips to Balance Your Figure

By Tellar.co.uk Team | July 2025

All content is independent, brand-neutral, and based on verified body-shape insights. Learn to flatter a smaller bust and curvier hips with confidence—enhanced by precision sizing from Tellar.co.uk.

🧭 Understand Your Body Dynamics

When your bust is smaller but your hips are fuller, the aim is to create balance and proportion, drawing attention upward while providing harmony through the silhouette.

Key Principles:

Enhance the bust line - add visual volume and elevate shape.
Define the waist - frame it to establish curves.
Minimise hip emphasis - through darker fabrics, structure, or streamlined cuts.

1. Boost Your Bust with Smart Tops

Necklines That Flatter

Boat necks and scoop necks widen the upper body visually.
Square necklines add structure and help create the illusion of volume without resorting to padded bras or inserts.

Detailing & Shape

Puff sleeves, gathers, ruffles, or chest pockets help create a fuller bust appearance.
Cropped blouses and peplum tops highlight the narrowest part of your waist, lifting your proportions overall.

Structured Fabrics

Medium-weight cotton, linen blends, and light knits provide definition to the bust area.
Avoid clingy jersey or lightweight fabrics that can drape downward and emphasise your hips.

Size it Right with Tellar

Use your Tellar profile to ensure tops suit your chest measurement and shoulder fit—ensuring structure without tightness or gaping.

2. Emphasise the Waist

Belt & Wrap Details

A belt or sash cinched at the natural waist redirects focus inward.
Wrap styles accentuate your defined waistline, creating slimming vertical lines.

Waist Seams & Peplum

Tops with a waist seam or peplum flare out over the hips gracefully.
Cropped lengths should land at your waist, drawing attention upward.

High-Waist Styles

Tuck-in blouses or cropped tops sit at your waist, visually lifting your frame.
Pair with high-waist trunks to highlight the waist-to-hip ratio.

3. Choose Bottoms That Balance

Straight-Leg or Bootcut Jeans

These styles create a natural line that balances fuller hips and elongates your figure.
Dark washes provide a slimmer hip silhouette.

Wide-Leg & Palazzo Trousers

Floor-grazing wide-leg trousers balance hip volume and elongate legs.
High waists tuck in neatly, while darker hues keep lines clean.

A-Line Skirts & Structured Midi Cuts

Waist-fit and flare shapes gently skim the contour of the hips.
Midi lengths in structured fabrics create a harmonious profile.

Avoid

Ultra-skinny pants, bubble skirts, and clingy minis – these intensify the wider hip area and can feel imbalanced.

Measure for Fit

Use Tellar’s inseam, hip, and waist numbers to find bottoms that reach flattering proportions without tight hip pinch or baggy waist.

4. Accessorise with Intention

Neck Accessories

Statement necklaces or scarves add interest to the bust area.
Shop V‑neckline blouses to enhance lift and elongation.

Shoulder Accents

Epaulettes, raglan sleeves, or swing shoulders broaden the upper frame, creating proportional balance.

Colour Blocking

Darker bottoms paired with brighter or patterned tops shift the visual weight higher.

Shoes

Pointed flats or medium block heels help elongate legs and balance lower-body volume.
Avoid ankle straps that break the leg line and draw focus back to hips.

5. Layer & Structure for Shape

Cropped Jackets & Blazers

Ending at the natural waist, these structure the midsection and lift the eyes upward.
Double-breasted styles with defined shoulders add volume without tightness.

Structured Coats

Trench and wrap coats with belts define the waistline.
A-line coats with shoulder details frame the upper body elegantly.

Avoid Oversized Below-Waist Layers

Gently flare shapes help, but boxy or dropped-waist layers hide your silhouette.

6. Fabric & Pattern Strategies

Feature	Effect on Your Proportions	Examples
Lighter/Patterned Tops	Volume and interest at the bust	Floral blouses, light knits
Darker Bottoms	Slims and smooths hip area	Dark wash jeans, charcoal trousers
Vertical Patterns	Lengthens and balances shape	Pinstripes, long seams
Structured Fabrics	Keeps shape and endorses waist definition	Cotton twill, linen blends

7. Dresses Tailored for You

Empire Waist

Fits under the bust, flowing over the waist and hips – celebrates curves without emphasis.

Fit‑and‑Flare

Defined waist with a skirt that flares gently over hips creates a classic, balanced silhouette.

Wrap & Shirt Dresses

Adjustable wrap closures fit the bust and cinch the waist beautifully.
A-line shirt dresses in structured cotton lend polished balance.

Avoid Tight Tube Styles

Stick to shapes that define your form without clinging to hip curves.

8. Tailoring: A Worthy Investment

Even high-street garments benefit from a slight tailoring touch:

Shorten oversized waists
Take in hip lines for straighter legs
Add darts at the bust on blouses

Ask your local tailor to adjust pieces using your Tellar profile measurements—it ensures precision for bust, waist, and hips.

9. Colour & Pattern Balance

Keep colours light at the top to draw attention.
Go darker below the waist to slim and balance.
Vertical stripes and prints create upward visual movement.

10. Fit With Confidence: Use Tellar

Your best looks start with your measurements. Head to Tellar.co.uk/create-profile/ to get your custom body metrics.

Then, when shopping online or browsing stores, refer to Tellar’s store size lookup tool—ensuring each piece is selected for your actual bust, waist, hip, and inseam.

Complementary Tellar Reads

The Ultimate Guide: Flattering Clothes for Every Body Shape – Includes styling for pear/hip-heavy frames.
How to Take Accurate Measurements for Perfect Fit – The 6‑step method applies to all garments.
Why Tailoring Makes a Difference
– Helps you understand how fabrics and cut styles relate to fit and figure.

Final Thoughts

By drawing attention to your upper body, defining your waist, and dressing mindfully for your hips, you can easily achieve a balanced silhouette. Pairing these styling rules with your Tellar profile ensures clothes designed for you—not just your label size.

Let’s celebrate proportion, confidence, and smart style—tailored in every stitch. 💙

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