The Ultimate Guide: Wear Only What Suits You – Dress to Flatter Your Body Shape (UK & USA)

Building a wardrobe that works for you starts with one timeless rule: wear only what suits you. It’s not about following trends or mimicking influencer looks—it’s about understanding your body shape, learning how to balance your proportions, and finding garments that make you feel confident and at ease. This guide breaks down how to dress for your shape, recommends high street and designer brands in the UK and USA that flatter different figures, and introduces how Tellar.co.uk ensures every piece fits perfectly.

Why Dressing for Your Body Shape Matters

Every body is unique. Dressing to enhance your natural proportions brings out your best features, creates balance, and avoids common fit issues like gaping shirts, pulling seams, or awkward lengths. Rather than trying to change your shape, the aim is to work with it, choosing shapes, fabrics, and styling tricks that complement your build.

Common Body Shapes & How to Flatter Them

1. Hourglass (Balanced bust and hips with a defined waist)

Goals: Highlight the waist, maintain proportion.

Style Advice:

Opt for fitted blazers, wrap dresses, and belted styles.
High-waisted jeans and pencil skirts enhance shape.
Avoid oversized, boxy cuts that hide the waist.

Best Cuts: Wrap tops, peplum blouses, fitted sheath dresses, high-rise trousers.

2. Pear (Wider hips than bust, defined waist)

Goals: Draw attention upward, elongate legs.

Style Advice:

Use structured shoulders, wide necklines, or embellishments on top.
Choose A-line skirts or wide-leg trousers in darker tones.
Avoid clingy bottoms or heavily detailed trousers.

Best Cuts: Boat neck tops, belted coats, flared jeans, off-shoulder blouses.

3. Apple (Wider midsection, slimmer arms and legs)

Goals: Elongate the torso, draw focus to neckline and legs.

Style Advice:

V-necks, longline jackets, and dresses with ruching can streamline the shape.
Focus on well-fitted trousers and skirts that show off legs.
Avoid tight waistbands or clingy fabrics across the middle.

Best Cuts: Empire-line dresses, shift dresses, straight-leg trousers, wrap tops.

4. Rectangle (Similar width across bust, waist, and hips)

Goals: Create definition and curves.

Style Advice:

Use belts, tailoring, and curved seams to shape the waist.
Add texture or volume with ruffles, peplums, or pleats.
Avoid shapeless garments that hang straight down.

Best Cuts: Belted dresses, boxy blazers with cinching, high-rise jeans, pleated skirts.

5. Inverted Triangle (Broad shoulders, narrower hips)

Goals: Balance shoulders with hips, soften upper body.

Style Advice:

Choose V-necks and minimal detail around the shoulders.
Add fullness to the lower body with flared or pleated bottoms.
Avoid shoulder pads or halter necklines.

Best Cuts: A-line skirts, wide-leg trousers, V-neck tops, bias-cut dresses.

Styling Tips That Flatter Any Shape

Tailoring is everything: A quick hem or nip at the waist can transform any piece.
Balance your silhouette: Use volume and fit to create proportion.
Stick to high-quality fabrics: Structure and drape are critical to flattering shape.
Use colour strategically: Darker shades downplay, lighter shades draw attention.
Wear confidence: If it fits and flatters, own it—regardless of trend.

Best Brands by Body Shape – UK & USA

🏷 High Street Favourites

Marks & Spencer – Inclusive sizing, excellent shapewear lines, and tailoring.
Whistles – Great for sleek dresses and structured cuts for all shapes.
Hobbs – Clean lines and tailoring for hourglass and pear shapes.
Next – Affordable, size-diverse options that flatter broader ranges.

USA (and shoppable online in UK)

Everlane – Classic cuts and straight lines great for rectangle and apple figures.
J.Crew – Preppy, balanced tailoring works well for hourglass and inverted triangle.
Madewell – Flattering denim and A-line skirts for pear and rectangle.
Universal Standard – Focused on fit for all body types, from size 6 to 40.

💼 Designer Brands That Work With Shape

Reiss – Fitted silhouettes and polished tailoring for hourglass and rectangle.
Tibi – Modern cuts and soft drapes for apple and inverted triangle.
Diane von Furstenberg – The wrap dress queen, perfect for hourglass and pear shapes.
Max Mara – Luxurious tailoring ideal for rectangular frames or inverted triangles.
Ganni – Fashion-forward yet forgiving cuts, often with flattering A-line structure.

Stop Guessing Sizes: Use Tellar.co.uk for a Perfect Fit

Even the most flattering outfit won’t work if the size is wrong. A pear-shaped figure may need a size 10 top and size 12 bottom in one brand—but a size 8 in another. That’s why Tellar.co.uk was created.

What Is Tellar.co.uk?

Tellar is the UK’s leading free sizing tool, matching your actual body measurements (chest, waist, hips) to the unique size charts of over 1,500 brands. Whether you’re shopping at COS, Reiss, Arket, Everlane, or Next, Tellar gives you your best size per store—in real-time.

✅ Works in-browser

✅ Always free

✅ No downloads needed

✅ Fewer returns, better fit

How It Works

Measure yourself once using a tape or use a known brand/size.
Create your free Tellar profile
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your exact match in any brand.
Get precise sizing guidance before you shop.

🧵 You can even download a printable measuring tape if neededInstruction on Posts

Explore the Free Fashion Hub at Tellar.co.uk

Tellar is more than just a size-matching tool. It’s a free, independent style advice hub with thousands of fashion posts written by stylists—not influencers. No paid ads. No bias. No gimmicks.

Explore real posts like:

Tellar on Socials – For Daily Styling Advice

Follow Tellar’s community of stylists, fit experts, and fashion insiders:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @TellarSizing
Facebook: Tellar Sizing
Pinterest: TellarSizing

Final Thoughts

Great style isn’t about size, trend, or budget. It’s about understanding your shape, choosing pieces that balance and flatter it, and finding clothes that fit you—properly.

Let Tellar.co.uk be your guide to better sizing, smarter shopping, and effortless style. It’s free, honest, and built to help you wear what suits you—always.