How to dress as an Inverted Triangle (Styling Tips)
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
One of the biggest game changers in my style journey was learning how to dress for my body type. For years I tried to make trends work for me, and don’t get me wrong, I still love a good legging, but something always felt off. Once I realized I have an inverted triangle body type with broader shoulders and a narrower lower half, everything finally clicked. In this post, I’m sharing what that means, what actually works for my body, and how I shop now so getting dressed feels easier and way more flattering.
The 4 Most Common Body Types (which are you?):
Most of us don’t fit perfectly into just one category, but understanding your dominant body shape can make getting dressed feel so much easier. Here’s a simple breakdown of the four most common body types and what defines each one.
For the rest of this post, I’m sharing what works for my body type: an inverted triangle.
What is an Inverted Triangle Body Shape?
If you have broader shoulders or a fuller bust with narrower hips, you likely fall into the inverted triangle category. This shape carries more visual weight on the upper body, while the lower half is slimmer, which is why balance matters so much when getting dressed. The waist can feel less defined depending on the outfit, but one upside is that legs often become a focal point.
If you identify more as a rectangle body type, many of these same tips can still work for you, especially when it comes to choosing silhouettes with movement. Most people don’t fit perfectly into one category, and that’s totally normal. This isn’t about rules, it’s about creating balance so clothes feel easier and more flattering.
Why Dressing for Balance Matters
Most outfits don’t feel “off” because of your body. They feel off because the proportions aren’t balanced.
Trends aren’t designed for every body type, so they won’t always work the same way on everyone
Silhouettes change how proportions show up, even with the exact same pieces
When an outfit feels balanced, you stop adjusting, second-guessing, and overthinking.
Feeling balanced in your clothes usually means feeling more confident wearing them
The right proportions make outfits feel intentional instead of forced.
What to Wear (and Buy) for an Inverted Triangle Body:
Pants & Jeans
Wear This
Wide-leg jeans & pants
Barrel jeans
Straight-leg denim
Trousers with structure
Style With Intention
Super skinny jeans
Ultra clingy leggings worn solo
Low-rise skinnies with boxy tops
These are the jeans and pants I reach for over and over because they do the balancing for me. If you’re an inverted triangle, these silhouettes make getting dressed so much easier.
Tops
Wear this:
V-neck or scoop-neck tops
Wrap styles or soft draping
Lightweight knits that skim
Style With Intention:
High crew necks or boat necks
Puff sleeves or heavy shoulder details
Boxy, stiff fabrics
These are the tops I reach for when I want outfits to feel effortless and flattering. They soften the upper body and work with my shape instead of adding bulk.
Dresses
Wear This:
A-line dresses
Midi dresses with movement
Dresses that define the waist and flow through the skirt
Bias-cut or softly structured styles
Style With Intention:
Strapless or straight-across necklines
Stiff, bodycon silhouettes with no movement
Dresses with heavy shoulder details or puff sleeves
These are the dresses I reach for when I want an outfit to feel effortless and flattering. They create balance through the skirt, soften the shoulders, and do most of the work for you.
Layers & Outerwear
Wear This:
Open-front blazers
Relaxed cardigans worn open
Lightweight jackets with minimal shoulder structure
Cropped jackets worn unbuttoned
Style With Intention:
Fully zipped or buttoned jackets
Heavy shoulder padding
Boxy, stiff outerwear
Cropped jackets worn closed at the top
Layers are one of my biggest styling tools. I always look for pieces I can wear open because they create vertical lines, soften my shoulders, and instantly make an outfit feel more balanced and pulled together.
Inverted Triangle Outfits (& Why They Work):
The longer, streamlined silhouette creates balance without clinging. The jacket adds structure but is cut in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the shoulders, especially when worn open. Keeping everything in a similar color family helps the outfit feel cohesive and elongating.
The flowy midi skirt adds movement and visual weight to the lower half, which helps balance broader shoulders. The cropped jacket is worn open, creating vertical lines instead of width. Keeping the top simple lets the skirt do most of the balancing work.
The wide-leg barrel jeans anchor the outfit and create proportion from top to bottom. An open jacket softens the shoulders and draws the eye downward instead of outward. Hits right at the small of my waist to keep the look clean without adding bulk up top.
Final Thoughts:
Learning how to dress for my inverted triangle body type completely changed how I feel in my clothes. Once I started focusing on balance and silhouette instead of forcing trends, getting dressed became easier, more flattering, and way more confidence-boosting. If you have broad shoulders and narrower hips, I hope these inverted triangle styling tips help you shop with more intention and feel good in what you wear.
Save this post for later or pin it as a reference the next time you’re getting dressed or shopping for jeans, tops, dresses, or layers. And if you’d like a similar breakdown for another body type, let me know which one you want to see next!