STYLE GUIDES · BODY SHAPE
Inverted triangle body shape.
Your bust or shoulders measure noticeably more than your hips. Sometimes called an athletic or v shape.
Updated · By the Delve to Life editors · Editorial standards
THE QUICK ANSWER
Volume low down answers width at the shoulder, so the outfit reads as even top to bottom.
IF YOU WANT TO TRY ONE DRESS FIRST
If you want to try one dress first, start with an A-line dress with a V-neck. The skirt adds width low down, and the V runs down the body rather than across the shoulders.
Body-shape names are a shorthand for proportion, not a rule about what anyone is allowed to wear. Everything below describes what a cut does to the line of an outfit, so you can choose the effect you want rather than follow a prescription.
How to tell if you are an inverted triangle
Your bust or shoulders measure noticeably more than your hips. If you are close to the line between two shapes, read both pages — the advice overlaps more than it conflicts. Not sure? Use the body shape calculator: type your measurements and it compares them for you. No tape measure? Take the six-question quiz instead.
Dresses that suit an inverted triangle shape
Volume in the skirt answers a broader shoulder, so the silhouette reads as even.
Skirts that suit an inverted triangle shape
Fullness low down meets the shoulder line at the other end of the outfit.
Pants that suit an inverted triangle shape
Width at the hem answers width at the shoulder.
Necklines that suit an inverted triangle shape
An open, vertical neckline breaks up the shoulder line rather than running across it.
Questions people ask
What should an inverted triangle body shape wear?
Fullness at the bottom of the outfit: A-line and fit-and-flare dresses, circle and tiered skirts, wide-leg and palazzo pants. For necklines, a V-neck or scoop runs vertically instead of across the shoulders.
Do inverted triangle shapes suit wide-leg pants?
Yes - they are one of the most reliable options, because the width at the hem meets the shoulder line at the other end and the outfit reads as even.
What dresses look best on an inverted triangle?
A-line, fit-and-flare and ball-gown dresses add volume in the skirt, and a high-low adds length and movement at the back. Pair them with a V-neck or scoop neck, which runs down rather than across the shoulders.
One last thing worth saying plainly: none of this is a rule. These are the predictable effects of a cut, and knowing them makes shopping faster. If a style that isn't listed for your proportions is the one you like, that is reason enough to wear it.
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