Styling the Inverted Triangle Shape this Fall

Hello gals! Today I have our third post in my fall mini-series about styling the unique body shapes or silhouettes this fall. Today we’re styling the inverted triangle shaped body or the V. If you missed the earlier posts, in which I styled the oval shape and the triangle shape, you might want to check them out.

The Game Plan

I’m attempting to style each of the body shapes for fall in this mini series. Now I’m no expert, but I’m simply offering practical style guidelines that will help you emphasize certain areas of your body and draw attention away from others in an effort to balance the body. Remember, these are not hard-fast rules. Depending on your body variations and proportions, some of these may not work for you, even if you do have an inverted triangle shape.

The shape of your body is based on the visual width of your skeleton in the areas of your shoulders, waist and hips. So we’re simply attempting to give you a balanced framework with these styling tips.

You can learn more about discovering your body shape and dressing your body shape in my previous posts.

The Client

In this case, the client has an inverted triangle or V shape. That means she is wider in the shoulders than she is in the hips and/or thighs. She probably considers herself to have broad shoulders.

Often, but not always, women with an inverted triangle or V shape also have a short torso. How do you know if you have a short torso? If there isn’t much room between the bottom of your ribs and your hip bone, you definitely have a short torso. This is a matter or body proportions and you can find out more in this post.

If you have an inverted triangle shape and a short torso, you probably don’t have a very defined waist. In that case, you’ll need to put more emphasis on the hips and may not want to draw attention to the waist. So you probably won’t want to tuck your shirt in.

The Cheat Sheet

I suggest you consider the following styling “rules” when shopping for clothes and styling your outfits if you have an inverted triangle body shape. But again, adjust as needed for your unique body variations and proportions.

• avoid details or horizontal lines at the shoulders
• add vertical and diagonal lines above the waist
• do add horizontal lines at the hips and below
• wear flared skirts to balance broad shoulders
• narrow v-necklines help draw focus inward
• you may want to wear darker tops and lighter bottoms
• raglan, dolman and kimono sleeves that de-emphasize the shoulders are good
• flared or wide cuffs at the wrist will help balance hips with shoulders
• coats can have patch pockets and details at hips
• jeans & trousers can have patch pockets and details at hips; cargo pants are great
• jeans can be straight, skinny or flared
• if you have a longer torso and a define waist, accentuate it
• add patterns on pants and skirts below the waist to draw more attention there
• keep tops plainer and more solid in color

Style Bulletin Boards for the V OR Inverted Triangle Shaped Body

Let’s look at some of the types of outfits my client could wear. All of these items are appropriate for the V or inverted triangle shaped body. But remember, take your body proportions into consideration as well. That could change things.

All of these are shoppable bulletin boards! Just shop through the captions or the shopping widgets below them. These are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything through them I potentially earn a small commission, but at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting what I do here!

Notice that the dress has a flared skirt that ends with pretty, eye-catching ruffles. The v-neck draws focus inward and minimizes the shoulders. In this dress the waist is accentuated, but it also lengthens it with the thick ruching.

The cuff bracelet worn at the wrist will help balance the wide shoulders. And the fun booties will do the same. In fact, the interesting clutch is a better choice than a shoulder bag for the same reason. The bag has a chain and can be worn on the shoulder, but the interest will be at the hip.

This sweater features dolman sleeves, which do not emphasize the shoulders, and a high crew neck, which works especially well for women with smaller busts. The inverted triangle shape should feel free to wear all the plaid pants and skirts! The more interest added below the waist, the better.

And this is the gal who should definitely try out the belt bag trend. Adding emphasis to the hips with a trendy belt bag is a great way to balance out broad shoulders. Wear it loosely around the hips.

The inverted triangle shape is the one that can most easily wear the cardigans with patch pockets at the hips. To further balance hips with shoulders, sport a small crossbody bag!

Oops! Sorry. I forgot to prep the widget for this photo as I was working on it. Please shop through the links in the photo caption. Thanks so much!

And I just realized I mis-titled the next bulletin board. Ugh! It should read “Printed Novelty Pants Look…”

Again, pants or skirts with interesting details are this gal’s friends. So the inverted triangle is a great candidate for wearing camo pants or pants with animal print. And note that the addition of a watch on the wrist is even a way to add balance to broad shoulders.

Really, if you want to wear a blazer with an inverted triangle shape, you should select one with a narrow lapel or no lapel at all. But this plaid double breasted jacket works because it features a narrow shoulder line and fullness at the waist and hips. Just don’t button it.

Underneath the jacket this halter tank works well because the halter top minimizes shoulders.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post, especially if you have an inverted triangle body shape. Remember, to apply the other styling principles that are specific to your body proportions and unique body variations. You can read that entire style series here. And you can catch up with previous posts in this style series for fall here.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll do the best I can to field them. Have a blessed and lovely day!

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Blessed for My Day

“Have you ever experienced a time of confinement? Joseph may have been in a rough, windowless prison, but our times of confinement could be various. We all experience times in life when we feel stuck, restricted, confined, even bound. And maybe, like Joseph, we’ve not done anything wrong to deserve such a confining situation. And maybe we know that. We’re not necessarily fighting against it, but it certainly doesn’t feel good…spacious.

“The LORD, the covenant-making, promise-keeping God, was with Joseph even in his confinement. They could lock Joseph up, but they couldn’t lock God out. They could restrict Joseph from leaving, but they couldn’t restrict God from staying.

“Friend I know what it feels like to be confined. I’ve been confined by time, space, money, ability, resources, other people and heaven alone knows what else. You have, too. And we don’t like it. But this I know. God is with us in those times. Just as importantly, He is doing something during those times of restriction. You see, we’re confined; He is not.” – from Joseph, Keeping a Soft Heart in a Hard Place

And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ~ Genesis 39:20-21