Body shape
Hourglass
This is your palette
Shoulder and hip sit close in width with a marked waist. Most cuts work; the job is not to lose the definition you already have.
The rule
Keep the waist visible and let everything else follow the line of the body without gripping it.
Pieces that work
- Wrap dressFollows the waist without holding it
- Belted coatRestates the line through outerwear
- Straight-leg trouserKeeps the lower half calm
- Fitted knitClose to the body, with the shoulder seam on your shoulder
- A-line skirtWidens from the narrowest point
- Tailored blazerShaped through the body, not boxy
- Column dressOne unbroken line when you want it
Small adjustments
- TopsYour waist is the thing to keep visible, so where the hem lands decides more than the cut does. A hem that ends at the narrowest point works tucked or loose; anything longer wants tucking.
- BottomsRise first, width second. A mid or high rise keeps the waist where it actually is, which is the whole proportion for this outline. Have the inseam shortened to the shoe you wear most.
- OuterwearBuy the coat that reads as a shape both belted and open. Try it over the knit you actually layer with, not over the shirt you walked in wearing.
The other six – foundations, one-pieces, beachwear, shoes, bags and accessories – are in the shape book that comes with the subscription.
What to skip
Boxy, unshaped outerwear and drop-waist cuts, which move the line down from where it naturally sits.
How to find your body shape
Stand in front of a mirror and compare three widths: shoulders, waist and hips. The quiz shows four outlines and asks which is closest to yours, then your height and size, so the advice fits your build as well as your line.