The Lean Column Body Shape

To determine if you are an lean column 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

Wear the same size on your top and bottom halves?
Have a minimal bust?
Have little waist definition?
Have a flat hips and bottom?

Your build is characterised by:

Narrow shoulders
Flat chest or small bust
Small and non-defined waist
Narrow hips and flat bottom

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

You lean towards a pear shape if your hips are slightly broader (saddle bags) than your hips
You lean towards an inverted triangle if your shoulders are slightly broader than your hips
You lean towards a rectangle if you are of a larger bone structure and have a medium bust

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

You need to create the illusion of curves around hips and bust and of a waist

Use layering to shorten your long top half
Create roundness around your extremities e.g. sleeve, leg line, neckline
Wear high or low waisted styles - broad shoulders; unfitted jackets, which slope to the waist; highlight your hips and bottom using pockets and pleats

You should avoid:

Figure-hugging garments
Long straight fitted lines in. dresses, trousers and sleeves
Tops, shift dresses with square necklines
Shapeless jackets; loose or droopy styles that hang from your shoulders
Dropped waistlines
Bulky, heavy textures
Double breasted jackets

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 lean column body shape

Very flexible in your neckline; great choices are ruffles, cowl, necktie, collars, turtle neck, scoop neck- they will give you roundness and put the focus on the centre of your body.

Sleeves for lean column body shape

Any form that will give volume to your arms e.g. batman, dropped sleeve line, batman like sleeves, flared, cuffed, ¾ length, loose short sleeves.

Tops for lean column body shape More

Tops that add volume, curves and shorten your top half are best e.g. empire line, yoke line, layering, wrap tops, push up bras, breast pockets, padded tops. Details and patterns such as horizontal lines; dotty or floral are great as are scarves and shawls. View most recently added