Rectangle Body Shape : Styling Tips & Fashion Advice

H - RECTANGLE BODY SHAPE

All your measurements are uniform (within 5% of each other); your waist is straight rather than curvy and has a little definition (less than 25% smaller than your bust); likely have a small bust and flat hip.

Your arms and legs are the assets. So, focus on enhancing them rather than defining your waist.

Below you can find some basic recommendations that you can follow to balance your silhouette and enhance your look.

Necklines: Lower, round, and wider necklines such as off shoulder, v, scoop, bateau, sweetheart, and strapless with embellishments like collars and ruffles. Avoid square and straight necklines.

Sleeves: Any length loose and wide sleeves like puffed, rolled up, bishop, flared, bell, flutter and cuffed. Avoid fitted sleeves. 

Shirts: All tops that finish at or below the hip level; collar shirts that are loose around the waist, long and chunky knits, and details around the bust such as ruffles, wraps, frills, and lace. Avoid tight-fitting or boxy or crop tops. 

Jackets: Double-breasted or single-breasted structured, left open jackets; waistline should be below the waist; straight or slightly flaring towards the hips; peplum style; cutaways, military-style jackets, details like pockets, cuffs, hoods, collars only at the bust area. Avoid cropped and boxy styles.

Coats: Slightly fitted, long straight cut coats, peacoats, dusters, wraps, and embellishments around the shoulder and bust area are recommended such as collars, pockets, cuffs, and flaps.

Skirts: Flat front, tapered, straight skirts with no pleats or gathers or, flowy skirts with slightly flared hemline; mini-skirts or knee-length. Box pleat, bubble, panelled, layered and trumpet style skirts are recommended. Avoid A-line skirts, baggy styles, or wide flares.

Dresses: Classic styles that follow your natural line, shift dresses, halter styles or open back dresses. If you like high waist definition, empire line or princes seam dresses are also desirable; try colour blocking on the vest with dark tones.

Pants & Jeans: Low or mid-rise; wide-leg or flare pants made of flowy and soft fabrics, structured trousers with wide waistbands; boot-cut or slim jeans; leggings; bright tights. Trousers with details like pockets, pleats, and turn-ups such as cargo pants. Avoid Baggy bottoms, pockets or horizontal lines at the waist.

Fabrics: Soft and drapey/flowy fabrics would soften your frame and look elegant. You can use stiff and textured fabrics for your tops to break your column-like silhouette.

Accessories: To create some curves, you can use round-toe shoes. Ballerina flats, clogs and other flat shoes, also sneakers, tennis shoes, medium heels and ankle boots with embellishments are good alternatives.

Choose handbags that naturally sit on your waist area. Satchel bags and hobo bags are good options. Avoid long strapped bags such as cross-body bags that rest below your hips.

You can use scarves with fold-up and knot styles. Dark colour, slim, belts with no embellishments are also recommended to create an illusion of a waistline if you would like to do so.

Medium length, fine or chunky necklaces, big earrings and hair accessories would draw attention upward. You can choose fine necklaces such as several long strands of beads as well.

Dressing Guides for Your Body Type