The Perfect Shirt, Backed by Data: What to Buy for Your Body Shape (and Which Brands to Trust)

There’s a reason why some shirts make you feel sharp and put-together—and others make you want to rip them off before lunch. It’s not about the price tag. It’s about cut, construction, and whether that shirt was ever made to fit your body in the first place.

From gaping buttons to awkward drape, shirt fit issues plague both the high street and designer space. At Tellar.co.uk, we believe the solution is science, not guesswork. Our platform matches your actual body measurements to over 1,500 brands, helping you find your perfect shirt in seconds—based not on size labels, but on how a shirt fits across bust, waist, hip and shoulder points.

This guide breaks down the smartest shirt options for every body shape, explains the fabric facts behind flawless fits, and distinguishes the best designer and high street brands that deliver shape-specific results—backed by technical insight, not styling trends.

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🔎 Why Shirt Fit Is More Complex Than You Think

Shirts look simple—but they rely on technical alignment at multiple fit points:

• Bust-to-waist ratio (for zero gaping)

• Shoulder pitch (to avoid pulling or sagging)

• Armhole depth (for mobility without bulk)

• Fabric stretch and drape (for movement vs structure)

According to our Tellar fit report, 42% of women regularly buy the wrong shirt size—not because they don’t know their body, but because brands don’t cut for their shape. Tellar.co.uk fixes this by comparing your real proportions to brand-specific size tables.

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👤 Step 1: Know Your Shape

Before choosing a shirt cut, confirm your body shape:

🎯 Use Tellar’s profile creator and printable tape measure to get your shape and size right—first time.

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🔄 Hourglass: Structure is Everything

What Works:

• Darted and panelled shirts

• Wrap-style blouses

• Soft, structured tailoring

Technical Notes:

• Look for princess seams or side darts to follow your natural curve

• Stretch cotton or silk blends prevent gaping and cling

🛍 Designer Recommendations:

• Reiss – clean tailoring with bust darts

• ME+EM – structured cotton, flattering seams

• Sézane – waist-accentuating wrap styles

• The Fold – businesswear cuts for curvy professionals

🛍 High Street Recommendations:

• Hobbs – strong waist tailoring

• Karen Millen – form-following workwear

• Boden – fitted but breathable cottons

• Uniqlo Smart Blouses – stretch-poplin staples

📎 More help: How to Fix Shirt Gaping
📎 Compare bust-to-waist sizing: Store Size Lookup Tool

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🍐 Pear Shape: Balance With Detail Up Top

What Works:

• Puff sleeves, strong collars

• Patterned tops and light colours

• Cropped or tucked-in lengths

Technical Notes:

• Use raglan or gathered shoulders to widen the upper body

• Avoid shirts that cling below the waist—drape or flare instead

🛍 Designer Recommendations:

• GANNI – puff-sleeve cotton blouses

• Kitri – statement collars and bold prints

• Rixo – flared hems with nipped waists

• Stine Goya – artistic tailoring with shoulder detail

🛍 High Street Recommendations:

• & Other Stories – sculptural sleeves

• Mango – cropped shirt silhouettes

• Warehouse – elevated basics with upper-body detailing

• Oasis – cut-above classic shirts

📎 Read: Pear-Shaped Shirt Advice
📎 Need drape vs cling tips? Try Our Fabric Guide

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🍎 Apple Shape: Elongate and Lighten the Torso

What Works:

• Soft tunics and blouses

• Split hems or high-low lengths

• V-necks, minimal shoulder shaping

Technical Notes:

• Avoid clingy cotton. Go for modal, lyocell or viscose blends

• Open collars and vertical lines create structure and lift

🛍 Designer Recommendations:

• Baukjen – longline organic shirts

• Arket – boxy cuts, refined shapes

• Massimo Dutti – fluid drape with quiet structure

• The Fold – softly structured for formal wear

🛍 High Street Recommendations:

• Thought – ethically made viscose tunics

• Hush – relaxed-fit elevated shirts

• John Lewis Kin – affordable tailoring with room

• M&S Autograph – roomy shirts with technical fabrics

📎 Explore: Apple Body Shape Shirt Guide

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➖ Rectangle: Add Visual Curve and Shape

What Works:

• Tie-waist shirts and belted cuts

• Ruched or peplum styles

• Directional prints or curved hems

Technical Notes:

• Use contrast piping or panelling to create curve illusion

• Try asymmetric hems or sleeve ruching

🛍 Designer Recommendations:

• Ghost – ruched silks with flow

• Finery London – curved shaping, layered shirting

• Palones – restructured tailoring with visual breaks

• Kitri – play with peplums and colours

🛍 High Street Recommendations:

• River Island – belted and tie-front shirts

• New Look – cinched shirting options

• Whistles – smart casual structure

• COS – clean curve-friendly shapes

📎 Also read: Rectangle Styling Tips
📎 Complement with Blazers for Your Body Type

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🔺 Inverted Triangle: Soften the Shoulders

What Works:

• Dropped shoulders and raglan sleeves

• Soft v-necks and flowy fabrics

• Minimal embellishment around the neckline

Technical Notes:

• Seek shirts without defined shoulder seams

• Use soft drape below the bust to balance width

🛍 Designer Recommendations:

• Finisterre – genderless drape cuts

• Palones – shirts with contrast panelling

• Raey (MATCHES) – oversized soft tailoring

• Toast – A-line shirts and tunic options

🛍 High Street Recommendations:

• Massimo Dutti – minimalist luxe cuts

• Arket – collarless and soft-drape styles

• COS – structure without sharp lines

• H&M Studio – affordable directional cuts

📎 Read: Inverted Triangle Styling
📎 Try: Coats to Balance Your Proportions

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🧪 Technical Fabric Breakdown

📎 Explore: What Shirt Fabrics Actually Do

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✔️ Final Fit Checklist (Before You Buy)

• ✓ Shoulder seams align with your actual shoulder edge

• ✓ No button pulling across the bust

• ✓ Hem ends above or well below widest hip point

• ✓ Sleeve and armhole allow full range of motion

• ✓ Fabric follows, not fights, your body line

🎯 Tellar’s Fit Profile Tool helps you confirm all of the above before purchase.

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📣 Ready to Get the Perfect Shirt Fit Every Time?

If you’re tired of guesswork, gaping buttons, and poor returns policies, let Tellar.co.uk do the hard work:

✅ Match your exact body shape to shirt styles that fit
✅ Get real sizing—no misleading size labels
✅ Access 1,500+ brands, analysed by cut and fit

🛍 Create your free Tellar profile
📏 Print our measuring tape
🔍 Use our brand lookup tool

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.

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🔗 Stay Connected for Weekly Fit Intelligence

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