The Full Hourglass Body Shape

To determine if you are a full hourglass body shape, look at yourself in the mirror in your underwear. Stand with your legs together and your arms a bit away from your sides. Examine the area from under your arms, past your bust and ribcage, over your waist and hips to the fullest part of your thighs. Then compare yourself to the image and review the questions and characteristics below. We suggest you look at all the body shapes to find your closest match.

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Body shape style advice

Do you

Feel most comfortable in more fitted styles?
Find that a straight skirt rises up?
Find that waistbands are often too large?
Wear a slightly larger size on top to accommodate your bust?

Your build is characterised by:

Bigger thighs
A rounded bottom and hips
A small waist
A full bust

Other Body shape tendencies

If you have gained or lost weight many times your body shape can change into another one. Read below to see what other body shape tendencies you might have

A leaner body around your bust, hips and tummy might point you to a neat hourglass shape
Extra weight around your hips can make you lean towards a pear shape
Extra weight around your waist can make you lean towards an apple

General rules for your body shape and how to create visual balance:

You need to wear shaped and fitted lines in order to follow your body line, but avoid bulk and volume around your feminine curves

Wear a good supporting bra that will lift our bust and give you a more defined waist
Bring attention to your shoulder and neckline, wear designs that bring the eye to the centre by wearing wider and lower necklines
Extend the shoulder past the thickest part of the arms

You should avoid:

Straight shapes that hide your waist
Fussy styles and details that create additional volume around your bust, tummy, thighs e.g. dropped sleeve lines, pleats, high-waisted styles, hip pockets
High necklines that cover up your cleavage and décolleté e.g. turtle neck
Boxy jackets, or double breasted styles, narrowing leg lines or wide/short sleeves which finish near your bust

The body shapes and their clothing lines

Every body shape has its own characteristics and silhouette, which needs to be addressed when choosing your clothes. The aim of choosing the right clothes is to balance your silhouette. You may not be able to follow all the fashion tends that are out there, but nowadays there are so many trends in fashion that there is something available for every body shape. So, don't get sidetracked by falling in love with a style and look that doesn't match your body shape:

Neckline for full hourglass body shape

Cap, ¾ sleeves, above wrist, wrist length, shaped.

Sleeves for full hourglass body shape

Opt for lower and wider necklines like scoop, square or sweetheart. Keep attention around your bust and décolletage line e.g. use embellishments, colour, pattern. A high yoke which gathers or draped bodice is excellent camouflage for a heavy busted person.