Introducing Different Plus Size Body Shapes

Key takeaways: 

• There are different body shapes for plus size, based on the proportions of bust, waist, hips, and shoulders.
• Each plus-size body type has its own set of styling struggles.
• Use clothing variety and jacket styles to style an outfit that complements your body type.

If you have a plus-size body shape, there can be several issues you need to tackle besides abstaining from food choices that make you gain weight, or managing a healthy body mass index (World Health Organization recommends a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9). You must also be aware of the fashion challenges that come with a plus size human body. As fat distribution is inconsistent for every other person, plus-sized women have varying body proportions, which means several different types of body shapes need unique styling solutions for a balanced silhouette. 

For the beginners who are unsure of how to dress any plus size body shape, start by using a measuring tape, measure your body correctly, and pick items that flatter your body type. Make sure you buy them in the right size, using the size guide from Leather Skin Shop or the brand you are shopping from.  

In this blog, we’ll walk through common body shapes, highlight their common struggles, and share simple styling tips tailored to your unique shape. 

Apple Body Shape

Apple-shaped women carry most of their weight in the upper body, especially around the waist, bust, and back. They usually have a larger chest, broad shoulders, and slimmer legs and hips. Among overweight plus size body shapes, this type has a less defined waist and a midsection that appears rounder compared to the rest of the body.

Challenges Of Apple Shaped Women

One of the biggest struggles for apple-shaped women is finding clothes that don’t hold on to the midsection. Many tops feel too tight around the belly or chest but loose on the arms or hips. 

Styling Tips For The Apple Shape

The main styling tip is to make the upper body longer and create a more defined waist. Wrap dresses are ideal because they pull attention to the bust and gently shape the midsection. Choose A-line skirts or straight-leg pants to balance the lower half. 

You can style a navy blue leather jacket blazer from Leather Skin Shop over a plain white t-shirt and your casual denim jeans.

Pear Body Shape

Pear-shape, also known as plus size spoon body shape, have hips that are wider than their shoulders. The upper body of pear shaped women is usually smaller, with a defined waist, narrow shoulders, and a smaller bust. Weight tends to be carried in the lower body.

Challenges Of The Pear Shape

It is difficult to find clothes that fit both the hips and the waist of the pear shape. Pants that fit the hips would be loose at the waist. Try to find clothing styles that flatter the hips without making them appear shapeless.

Styling Tips For The Pear Shape

To balance the pear figure, choose tops that add shape to your upper half—like puff sleeves, bold prints, or wide necklines. Wrap dresses work well to define the waist and skim over the hips. A-line dresses that flare out from the waist also look good.

You can also choose a leather jacket from our plus-size leather jackets with bulky shoulders and a cropped or waist-length cut. It draws focus to your upper body and highlights your waist without adding bulk to the hips. Leather Skin Shop has several options in soft leather and flattering fits designed for curvier bodies.

Inverted triangle Body Shape

The inverted triangle is a bit different plus-size body shape with broad shoulders and a fuller upper body, with narrower hips and slimmer legs. The larger bust appears prominent, and the waist is straight. The lower half looks smaller compared to the upper half.

Challenges Of The Inverted Triangle Shape

The main struggle is finding clothes that don’t make the shoulders look wider. Many tops fit the chest but feel boxy or too tight around the arms. Skirts or pants may fit fine, but the outfit can feel top-heavy.

Styling Tips For The Inverted Triangle Shape

To create balance, you need to choose tops with V-necks or open collars to break up the width of the chest. Avoid shoulder pads or boat necklines. Also avoid skinny jeans as it draws attention upwards.

For the perfect jacket outfit, take a look at the cropped leather jacket collection at Leather Skin Shop. It adds volume to the hips. You can pair them with wide-leg pants or A-line skirts to craft an amazing outfit.

Rectangular Body Shape

Rectangular body shapes have balanced shoulders, busts, and hips, with little waist definition. The body looks straight up and down, with weight spread evenly. This rectangle shape is often referred to as a column body shape plus size due to its straight silhouette.

Challenges Of The Rectangular Body Shape

The challenge for rectangular-shaped women is creating curves on a flat body. Dresses and tops may hang straight without any proper shaping. Therefore using a body shaper for a plus size rectangular shape can help add curves and enhance your silhouette.   

Styling Tips For The Rectangular Body Shape

The key to styling this shape is to build it through layering and structure. Dresses in empire waist styles are great to create the illusion of curves, and so are flowy skirts and structured shoulder tops. For outerwear, try a custom-made leather jacket from Leather Skin Shop with curve-defining stitching. Add a belt to the jacket to further define the waist. 

Hourglass Body Shape

Hourglass-shaped women have a well-balanced figure with a full bust, full hips, and a clearly defined waist. The shoulders and hips are about the same width, and the waist measurement is lesser than both. The weight is distributed evenly across the body.

Challenges Of The Hourglass Body Shape

The main challenge for this shape is finding clothes that fit both the bust and hips without hiding the waist. Loose fitting or oversized jackets can make the figure lose its natural shape.

Styling Tips For The Hourglass Body Shape

To highlight the hourglass figure, choose clothes that define the waist. A sheath dress perfectly showcases the natural curves of an hourglass figure, emphasizing the waist and hip circumference. Look for a belted-style leather jacket from Leather Skin Shop and let it follow your curves.

An elegant outfit can be crafted with the classic black belted leather jacket paired with a black pencil skirt to enhance your silhouette even more. Create similar looks according to your personal style.

Diamond Body Shape

Diamond-shaped women carry most of their weight around the midsection, especially in the stomach and waist. The bust is usually smaller to average, the hip measurements are narrow, and the shoulders may be slightly rounded. 

Challenges Of The Diamond Body Shape

The biggest challenge is dressing the midsection without drawing too much attention to it. Many tops feel tight around the belly but loose everywhere else.

Styling Tips For The Diamond Body Shape

To style the plus size diamond body shape, choose clothes that add balance to your upper and lower body while skimming over the waist. Empire waist tops, flowy tunics, and A-line skirts are all good choices. 

For outerwear, choose a women's leather vest from Leather Skin Shop because it will show off your narrow shoulders.

FAQs

What are the main struggles of plus-size clothing?

In comparison to straight sizes, plus sizes often lacks proper fit and style variety for different body shapes.

What is my plus size body shape and how do I calculate it?        

Measure your bust, waist, hips, and shoulders, then use a plus size body shape chart to identify your body shape based on the proportions.

Can a woman have two different body shapes?

Yes, many women have features of more than one body shape, especially when they gain or lose weight. That is why knowing about diverse body shapes is very important, so that you can style yourself accordingly even with a changing body.

Which type of plus size body shape is considered attractive?

The hourglass shape is often considered attractive in fashion because of its balanced proportions. Using a good quality, well fitting, comfortable body shaper can help any plus size body shaped woman achieve a well proportioned look. 

It’s a Wrap

We conclude that identifying or styling plus size women’s body shapes is not about hiding the flaws but highlighting the strengths. Each body shape has its own challenges, but the right styling tips can make a big difference. Once you understand your shape, you can easily build a wardrobe that works with you and not against you.