Dressing for your body shape can be the key to looking and feeling confident. If you have broad shoulders, you may want to create a balanced silhouette that highlights your best features while softening your shoulders’ prominence.
This guide will take you through practical tips, style choices, and outfit ideas to help you dress in a way that complements your body shape.
Table of Contents
Understanding Your Body Shape
What Does It Mean to Have Broad Shoulders?
- Broad Shoulders Defined: Broad shoulders typically mean that your shoulder width is more significant than your waist and hip width, often creating a V-shaped or inverted triangle body type.
- Common Characteristics:
- Shoulders are wider than your hips.
- You may have a straight or slightly defined waist.
- Athletic build with a strong upper body.
Goals for Dressing with Broad Shoulders
- Create Balance: The main objective is to balance the proportions between your upper and lower body.
- Draw Attention Downward: Focus on styles that shift the eye towards your waist and lower body.
- Enhance Curves: Emphasize your waist to create a more hourglass-like silhouette.
Tops and Blouses
Best Necklines for Broad Shoulders
- V-Neck and Scoop Neck: These necklines help to break up the width of your shoulders, drawing the eye downward and elongating the neck.
- Off-the-Shoulder and Asymmetrical: Styles that expose part of your shoulders can make them appear narrower by creating diagonal lines that soften your upper body.
- Avoid Boat Necks and High Necklines: These tend to emphasize the width of your shoulders, making them appear broader.
Sleeves to Look For
- Raglan Sleeves: These sleeves have a seam that extends from the neckline to the underarm, creating a softer shoulder line.
- Fitted Sleeves: Opt for fitted or three-quarter-length sleeves to avoid adding extra bulk to your upper body.
- Avoid Puff and Cap Sleeves: Puffy or structured sleeves can add volume to your shoulders, which you may want to avoid.
Fabrics and Patterns
- Soft and Flowing Fabrics: Choose fabrics like chiffon, silk, and lightweight knits that drape nicely and don’t add bulk to your shoulders.
- Vertical Stripes and Small Prints: Patterns that elongate your torso are ideal, as they draw the eye downwards and create a more streamlined look.
- Avoid Horizontal Stripes on the Upper Body: Horizontal patterns will make your shoulders appear even broader.
Dresses
Ideal Dress Styles
- A-Line Dresses: These dresses have a fitted bodice and flare out at the waist, creating a balanced silhouette by adding volume to your lower body.
- Wrap Dresses: The V-neckline and waist-cinching style of wrap dresses emphasize your curves and draw attention away from your shoulders.
- Fit-and-Flare Dresses: This style accentuates the waist and adds volume to the hips, balancing out the shoulders.
Dress Details to Consider
- Empire Waistline: Dresses with an empire waist emphasize the bust and draw attention away from the shoulders.
- Avoid Shoulder Pads and Structured Shoulders: These elements can exaggerate the broadness of your shoulders.
Bottoms
Best Bottom Styles
- Wide-Leg Pants and Flared Jeans: These styles add volume to your lower body, balancing your overall shape.
- Bootcut and Straight-Leg Jeans: These cuts work well to create a proportionate look without adding bulk to your lower half.
- High-Waisted Pants and Skirts: Highlighting your waist can help create a curvier silhouette, drawing attention away from your shoulders.
Skirt Styles to Try
- A-Line Skirts: These skirts flare out from the waist, adding volume to the hips and creating a more balanced look.
- Full and Pleated Skirts: The additional fabric and movement help to divert attention from the upper body.
- Avoid Pencil Skirts: Pencil skirts can accentuate the width of your shoulders by narrowing the appearance of your hips.
Jackets and Outerwear
Choosing the Right Outerwear
- Single-Breasted Jackets: Opt for jackets that don’t have too much structure in the shoulders and avoid double-breasted styles that can add bulk.
- Longer Coats and Trench Coats: Lengthy outerwear draws the eye down, balancing out the upper and lower body.
- Avoid Cropped Jackets: Cropped styles can make your torso look wider and your shoulders broader.
Fabrics and Fit
- Soft and Unstructured Fabrics: Choose jackets made of softer materials that drape naturally over your shoulders.
- Minimal Shoulder Details: Look for coats and blazers without shoulder pads, epaulets, or other shoulder-enhancing details.
Accessories
Necklaces and Scarves
- Long Necklaces: Choose long pendant necklaces that draw the eye downward, elongating your neck and torso.
- Avoid Chokers: Short necklaces can make your neck appear shorter and emphasize shoulder width.
- Draped Scarves: Opt for scarves that hang long rather than those tied tightly around your neck.
Belts
- Waist-Cinching Belts: Adding a belt at your waist can create a defined silhouette and shift the focus away from your shoulders.
- Avoid Wide Belts on the Hips: This can make your hips look narrower and shoulders broader in comparison.
Color and Print Tips
Colors to Consider
- Darker Colors on Top: Wearing darker shades on your upper body helps to minimize the appearance of broad shoulders.
- Lighter Colors on Bottom: Lighter hues on your lower half will draw attention downward and balance out your figure.
Patterns and Prints
- Solid Colors on Top, Patterns on Bottom: Keep the top half simple and add interest to the bottom half with patterns and prints.
- Diagonal Stripes: Diagonal lines can create a slimming effect and soften the shoulder area.
Hairstyles That Complement Broad Shoulders
Best Hairstyles
- Long Layers: Long hair with layers can soften your shoulder line and balance out your upper body.
- Side Parting: A deep side part helps to draw attention away from the width of your shoulders.
- Avoid Short, Cropped Cuts: Very short haircuts can expose and emphasize your shoulders.
Updos and Ponytails
- Soft, Loose Updos: Avoid pulling all of your hair back tightly; instead, let some pieces fall around your face to create softness.
- Low Ponytails: A low ponytail that drapes softly can help to balance out the upper body.
Footwear Tips
Shoes to Consider
- Heeled Shoes: Heels add height and length to your legs, which helps to balance broad shoulders.
- Pointed-Toe Flats: If you prefer flats, pointed-toe shoes can elongate your legs and create a streamlined look.
- Avoid Bulky Shoes: Chunky footwear can make your lower half appear wider, drawing more attention to your shoulders.
FAQs on Dressing for Broad Shoulders
1. Can I wear off-the-shoulder tops with broad shoulders?
Yes, off-the-shoulder tops can actually work well for broad shoulders, as they create diagonal lines that soften the upper body.
2. What type of fabric is best for dresses if I have broad shoulders?
Light, draping fabrics like silk, chiffon, and jersey are great because they don’t add bulk to your frame.
3. Are halter tops a good choice for broad shoulders?
Halter tops tend to emphasize the shoulders, so they might not be the best choice if you’re looking to create a more balanced silhouette.
4. How can I make my waist appear smaller?
Using belts and choosing high-waisted skirts or pants can help define your waist and create a curvier look.
5. What are the best patterns for someone with broad shoulders?
Vertical stripes and small, delicate patterns are ideal as they draw the eye down and elongate the torso.
Conclusion
Dressing when you have broad shoulders is all about creating balance and highlighting your best features. By choosing the right necklines, sleeve styles, and clothing shapes, you can create a silhouette that enhances your overall look.
Focus on drawing attention to your waist and lower body, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and colors to see what makes you feel most confident. With these tips, you’ll be able to dress in a way that flatters your body shape and reflects your personal style.
