Find the Perfect Sweater for Your Body Type: A Style Guide
Finding the right sweater can elevate your look and flatter your figure. This guide breaks down sweater styles by body type, helping you choose pieces that accentuate your best features.
Hourglass Figure:
- Goal: Emphasize your small waist.
- Best Sweater Styles: Waist-shaping, wrap, and belted sweaters.
- Necklines: Scoop neck and V-neck.
- Avoid: Oversized, boxy, boatneck, crew neck, and oversized collars.
- Sleeve Styles: Set-in sleeves with close tailoring, raglan with waist shaping.
Upper Figure (Inverted Triangle):
- Characteristics: Shoulders wider than hips, proportionally large bust, small hips.
- Goal: Balance your proportions by drawing attention away from the bust and shoulders.
- Best Sweater Styles: Dolman, raglan, and batwing. Flared or wider cuffs are also flattering.
- Details: Keep texture, colorwork, and embellishments below the waist.
- Necklines: Crew neck, scoop neck, and V-neck.
- Avoid: Colorwork and details around the neckline, short sleeves that end at the fullest part of the bust.
Linear Figure (Rectangle):
- Characteristics: No defined waist, hips similar width to shoulders, small or average bust, angular physique.
- Goal: Add shape and dimension.
- Best Sweater Styles: Circular yoke, dolman, set-in sleeves, and raglan. This body type can wear almost any style!
- Necklines: Boat neck, wide V and U, and jewel neckline.
- Details: Embellishments, bibs, frills, bows, rosettes, pockets, front panels, pleating, lace, and ruffles can add volume and interest to the bust area. Focus details above the waist.
Lower Figure (Triangle/Pear):
- Characteristics: Hips wider than bust, small bust, often narrow shoulders, weight tends to accumulate on hips and buttocks.
- Goal: Create visual balance by drawing the eye upward.
- Best Sweater Styles: Set-in sleeves, circular yoke, and dolman. Saddle shoulder can also work.
- Colors: Darker colors for the lower portion of the sweater, lighter colors for the upper portion.
- Details: Large collars, puff sleeves, colorwork, and interesting necklines.
- Lengths: Cropped or tunic lengths.
- Avoid: Bust cuffs and hems, lengths that end at the widest part of the hip.
Middle Figure (Apple):
- Characteristics: No defined waist, weight concentrated in the stomach area, average bust size.
- Goal: Elongate the body and draw focus vertically.
- Best Sweater Styles: Set-in sleeves with structure, and raglan.
- Details: Vertical panels of design features (cables, lace), cardigans, draped open fronts.
- Necklines: Open necklines.
- Sleeves: Lightly tapered or interesting sleeves.
- Lengths: Hipbone length.
- Avoid: Large boxy shapes, sleeves that end at the fullest part of the bust, tight-fitting sweaters.
By understanding your body type and choosing sweaters that complement your shape, you can create stylish and flattering outfits. This guide provides a starting point for your sweater journey – experiment with different styles and find what makes you feel confident and comfortable!
