How to Dress for Your Body Type — A Technical, Visual Guide
Author: Stylist and brand team at Tellar
Date: 2025
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Fashion isn’t just about style. It’s about balance, proportion, and structure. This guide uses real measurements, practical logic, and brand-specific advice to help you find clothes that actually fit.
🔹 Step 1: Identify Your Body Type
📸 Image Style: Five real women of similar clothing sizes but different shapes (hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle, inverted triangle). Shot in studio or natural light, each wearing fitted neutral basics (e.g., black tank and jeans).
Body Type |
Visual Cue |
Measurement Logic |
---|---|---|
Hourglass |
Curved waist, even bust/hip |
Waist 20–25% smaller than hips/bust |
Pear |
Narrow shoulders, wider hips |
Hips > Bust by 5–10 inches |
Apple |
Fuller waist and midsection |
Waist ≥ Bust & Hips |
Rectangle |
Balanced proportions |
Bust ≈ Waist ≈ Hips |
Inverted Triangle |
Broad shoulders |
Bust > Hips by 5–10 inches |
🧠 Use Tellar.co.uk to calculate your body type
🔹 Step 2: Style Strategy by Body Type
📸 Image Style: Real-life examples of women wearing ideal styles for their type—streetwear or editorial shots, standing/walking with natural light and neutral tones.
🧵 Hourglass
-
Photo Concept: Woman in high-waisted trousers and a tucked-in wrap blouse
-
Goal: Maintain balance, define the waist
-
Best Cuts: Wrap dresses, structured blazers, pencil skirts
-
Avoid: Boxy oversized shapes
🧵 Pear
-
Photo Concept: Woman in puff-sleeve blouse and straight-leg trousers
-
Goal: Add structure on top, streamline bottom
-
Best Cuts: Boat necks, cropped jackets, wide-leg trousers
-
Avoid: Low-rise jeans, clingy skirts
🧵 Apple
-
Photo Concept: Woman in empire waist midi dress and ankle boots
-
Goal: Elongate torso, draw attention to neckline
-
Best Cuts: Shift dresses, longline tops, bootcut jeans
-
Avoid: Belts at the waist or clingy tops
🧵 Rectangle
-
Photo Concept: Woman in belted coat and flared trousers
-
Goal: Create waist definition, add shape
-
Best Cuts: Peplum tops, ruched dresses, fit-and-flare silhouettes
-
Avoid: Straight tunics with no shape
🧵 Inverted Triangle
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Photo Concept: Woman in scoop-neck tank and A-line midi skirt
-
Goal: Soften shoulders, emphasise hips
-
Best Cuts: Soft knits, wide-leg trousers, gathered skirts
-
Avoid: Strong-shouldered blazers, halter tops
🔹 Step 3: Technical Fit Details That Matter
📸 Image Style: Close-up shots of waistbands, seams, rise measurements, tailoring details on real garments.
Fit Element |
Why It Matters |
---|---|
Contour Waistband |
Prevents gaping at the back |
Princess Seams |
Add bust shape and drape |
Front/Back Rise |
Controls fit at the waist and bum |
Bias Cut |
Follows curves naturally |
Inseam |
Key for tall or petite fit |
🎯 See how Tellar calculates all of this in real time
🔹 Step 4: Example Fit Comparisons
📸 Image Style: Same model in jeans from three brands (e.g., Levi’s, Zara, Good American). Images side-by-side with waist and hip measurements shown.
💬 Example:
“Model wears size UK 16. Waist 82cm, hips 110cm.”
→ Levi’s: Waist fits but hips too tight
→ Zara: Hips OK, waistband gaping
→ Good American: Perfect contour fit
✅ Tellar prevents this problem by matching your exact fit to the right cut, not just the right label.
🔹 Step 5: Brand Suggestions by Shape
📸 Image Style: Flat lay or lifestyle photo of clothing tagged by brand, laid out by body type.
Body Type |
Top Brands (with fit notes) |
---|---|
Hourglass |
Good American, Reformation, Madewell Curvy |
Pear |
Levi’s 314, M&S Curve, ASOS Curve |
Apple |
NYDJ, Elvi, Boden |
Rectangle |
Mango, COS, H&M (belted cuts) |
Inverted Triangle |
Zara (bottoms), Abercrombie Curve Love, Reiss skirts |
🧠 Find your exact fit in these brands
🔹 Final CTA Section: Real Fit, Not Guesswork
📸 Image Style: Clean lifestyle photo — real woman smiling in well-fitted clothes outdoors or walking confidently.
“I used to buy 3 sizes of everything. Now I use Tellar and just buy once. It fits.”
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