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The Full Hourglass Body Shape

The Full Hourglass

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.

Clothes indexed with this icon are ideal for your body shape

Shop by the 'the full hour glass' body shape now

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.

Tops for full hourglass body shape More

Shoulder pads are good to allow the sleeves to hang unrestricted; cross overs or wraps in soft fabrics; empire lines that go in under your bust, side fastening. View most recently added

Jackets for full hourglass body shape More

Fitted with shawl collar or concealed front opening, single breasted, wide lapels which have to sit above your bust. View most recently added

Coats for full hourglass body shape More

Fitted styles with shawl collar, single breasted . View most recently added

Dresses for full hourglass body shape More

Wrap or bias-cut shift, empire line that goes in under the bust, hemline no shorter than knee length . View most recently added

Skirts for full hourglass body shape More

Flip, bias or full skirts that are adjustable at the waist, pencil skirts (best with a split at the back or side. Best hemline is knee length or longer. View most recently added

Trousers for full hourglass body shape More

Flat fronted with side zip, plain, straight or flared/wide legs (best for long legs). View most recently added

Jeans for full hourglass body shape More

Simple and clean styles such as classic bootcut or straight leg are best. A narrowing leg is a tricky option. View most recently added

Shoes for full hourglass body shape More

Medium to chunky heel; platforms; wedges; a pointed or square toe looks great, considering you have good calves you are relatively flexible in shoe choices, wear colour and detail in your shoes. View most recently added

Bags for full hourglass body shape More

Choose chunky styles; shoulder bags that will sit near your waist and not your too close to your bust, hand bags are good, be careful with clutch bags (only good with slimmer arms). View most recently added

Swim wear for full hourglass body shape More

Under-wiring or support is essential; be aware of high-cut styles and avoid stripes, thongs and detailing at the bust and hips. View most recently added

full hourglass body shape in the blog

  • Mar 12th, 2010 The good soldier! Yes, the military styling and chic has staying power and is one of the key trends this summer. Double breasted coats, buckles, camouflage prints, safari jacket, vests, and boots are the staples of this trend with strong shoulder shapes and button detailing- but not for everyone is the military look good news.

  • Mar 8th, 2010 Oscars 2010!  Finally the dresses of the night and the winners of the Oscars 2010 were revealed. Most of time when watching these type of events I am reminded of the fairy tale ''the emperor has no clothes ". Nobody is telling the truth- everyone is dodging the bullet and looking left, right and over their shoulders - or they simply put the vote out to their readers in order to avoid telling us what they really think .

  • Feb 25th, 2010 Peppy Prints!

  • Feb 22nd, 2010 Bafta Awards 2010

  • Feb 20th, 2010 Leg Chic?!

  • Feb 18th, 2010 Shop by Body shape in 3 different ways!

  • Feb 15th, 2010 Pretty in Prints!

  • Jan 31st, 2010 Printed T-shirt drama!

  • Jan 15th, 2010 Choose the right diet for your body shape!

  • Nov 30th, 2009 Capelets is the old new!

View other body shapes

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