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Ultimate Guide: How to Dress a Rectangle Body Shape (UK & USA)

Author: Stylist and brand team at Tellar

Date: 2025

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Best Styling Advice | High Street & Designer Brands | Fit Science Backed by Tellar.co.uk

A rectangle body shape (also called a straight or athletic shape) is defined by shoulders, waist, and hips being roughly the same width. While this shape often has a balanced silhouette, some women may feel they lack natural definition through the waist or curves.

This guide is your ultimate resource for:

  • Flattering silhouettes

  • Must-have garments

  • Best UK and US brands

  • Plus how Tellar.co.uk ensures perfect sizing across 1,500+ brands

🔍 1. Understanding the Rectangle Body Shape

Key Features:

  • Waist is not well-defined

  • Hips and shoulders are aligned

  • Bust and bottom may appear smaller

  • Tends to look straight rather than curvy

Style Goal:

To create curves or the illusion of shape by emphasising the waist, adding volume in the right places, and balancing top and bottom.

→ See the importance of body-aware fit in: The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide Instruction on Posts

đź‘— 2. Core Styling Advice for Rectangle Shapes

Style Technique

Why It Works for Rectangle Bodies

Waist definition

Creates the illusion of curves

Peplum tops

Adds volume at hips and defines midsection

Structured blazers

Builds the shoulder line and defines waist with tailoring

A-line skirts

Adds flare and balances proportions

Wrap dresses

Visually sculpts the waist with tied structure

High-rise jeans

Draw attention to waist and elongate legs

Layering

Adds volume and visual shape

→ Related: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Casual Blazers for Women’s Body Types Instruction on Posts

🧵 3. Best Silhouettes & Fabrics

  • Softly tailored suits: opt for single-breasted jackets and belted waists

  • Tops with ruching or belts: pull in the midline to sculpt shape

  • Feminine fabrics like viscose or crepe offer gentle movement

  • Bias-cut dresses hug the body without clinging too tightly

  • Midweight fabrics (not stiff, not clingy) offer structure with softness

→ Read: Finding Your Clothes Size: The Ultimate Guide Instruction on Posts

đź‘  4. Best UK & USA Brands for Rectangle Styling

🇬🇧 UK High Street

  • Reiss – Excellent for structured blazers, belted dresses, and longline coats

  • Whistles – Offers tailoring with a feminine edge and fitted midi dresses

  • M&S – Reliable for pencil skirts, waist-sculpting coats, and curve-enhancing trousers

  • COS – Modern cuts that suit minimalist rectangles, especially layered looks

→ Need help matching your size in Next, COS or Reiss?

Use: What Size Am I in Next? Instruction on Posts

🇺🇸 USA Designers & Retailers

  • Banana Republic – Great for belted wrap dresses, smart trousers, and peplum tops

  • J.Crew – Offers waist-focused skirts, tailored coats, and wide-leg jeans

  • Veronica Beard – Known for fitted blazers and layered tailoring

  • Eloquii – Bold styles with waist definition for sizes 14+

→ Use Tellar to interpret sizing across UK/US:

UK vs USA vs European Clothing Sizes: The Ultimate Guide Instruction on Posts

đź‘– 5. Best Jeans & Bottoms for Rectangle Shapes

  • High-rise flared jeans: Lift waistline and create curve

  • A-line midi skirts: Build shape below the waist

  • Tapered trousers with pleats: Add hip volume and polish

  • Paperbag waist trousers: Emphasise the waist with belts or elastic tops

→ Read: The Ultimate Guide: Flattering Jeans for Every Body Shape Instruction on Posts

→ Petite rectangles? Try:

The Ultimate Guide to Jeans for Petite Women Instruction on Posts

đź’ˇ 6. The Tellar.co.uk Solution: Fit Confidence, Real-Time Sizing

Whether your goal is to build curves or highlight your lean frame, perfect fit matters most. That’s why Tellar.co.uk exists.

What is Tellar?

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading free sizing tool that matches your body to over 1,500 brands in real time, so you know your exact size before you shop—across high street, designer, and global retailers.

🧭 How Tellar Works:

  1. Measure once — bust, waist, hip, or enter a known brand size

  2. Use the Store Size Lookup — for brands like COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket & more

  3. Get matched instantly — to your most accurate size in each brand

  4. Shop smarter — fewer returns, better wardrobe consistency

  5. Always free — no app, no log-in needed, just data-backed clarity

➡️ Create your free Tellar.co.uk profile

➡️ Use the Store Size Lookup

➡️ Download your printable measuring tape Instruction on Posts

đź“š Bonus Styling Resources from Tellar

All posts below are verified and tailored to styling by shape, fabric, and silhouette:

đź“Ź Sizing & Measurement

đź‘– Shape-Specific Fit Advice

đź‘š Tailoring & Blazers

📲 Follow Tellar on Social Media

Join a growing community of people learning how to shop smarter and dress better with personalised, data-led fashion tools.

âś… Final Word

Rectangle body shapes are among the most adaptable. With the right silhouettes and style techniques—plus accurate sizing—you can build a wardrobe that creates balance, movement, and confidence.

Tellar.co.uk removes the guesswork, providing real-time size matches and styling insights—across 1,500+ brands, high street and designer.

Always honest. Always unbiased. Always free.

→ Start your wardrobe transformation today: https://tellar.co.uk

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