Is anyone else an inverted triangle?

[Naicecuppatea]

I answered those 'what is my body shape' questions which involved measuring my shoulders, waist and hips etc., and I have come out as a rectangle shape on one site, and an inverted triangle on another. I have a smallish chest (33 inches), and the difference between my hips and waist is about 9 inches. However my shoulder width is almost the width of my hips = broad shoulders.

Is any of this really important? I was just wondering, as I would like to choose my clothes more sensibly for my shape. It seems that I should wear dark colours on top and pick bottoms to widen my hips and accentuate my waist more, to balance it all out.

[Naicecuppatea]

Meant to say it was a bit of a revelation as I always thought I had big hips! Right I shall stop boring you all now but any advice would be very welcome.

[Knackeredknitter67]

By this do you mean shoulders wider than hips?
If so, then that is what I am. But larger than you. My stats are 38,26,35.
I find I look better with less fussy top half, and a bit of something going on on bottom half. So tend to wear darker tops. But I'm more of an hourglass/inverted triangle.I find a necklace or earings help to balance me out. I like v-neck/oval neck tops and leaving a couple of buttons open on a shirt. Also like wearing clumpy shoes such as Doc Martens, or white trainers.
Chunky knitwear doesn't suit me and I have to be careful with scarves around my neck. Also can't wear polo knocks, much as I've tried

[mayum1]

I'm an inverted triangle as well. I think more rectangle, because I have no waist definition, but my shoulder width is bigger than my hips - I have boyish hips and long, lean legs.

Chunky knitwears are a no-no. Can't wear V-neck too, because I don't have boobs. My arms are massive though which just contributes to the upper body bulk. Thankfully I can wear shorts, mini skirts, skater short skirts, short fit-and-flare dresses, etc.

[Naicecuppatea]

Yes, my shoulders are wider than hips. I think I am 38, 26 (waist), 35 (hips) - exactly the same as you Knackered! Also have small norks (32B). I do have chunky knitwear, and now have a feeling I should't be wearing it either. Do you wear a lot of skirts? I tend to wear a lot of skinny jeans and longsleeved tops (no shirts) but would love to branch out a bit.

Mayum I think I need to try some skater style dresses/skirts.

[Knackeredknitter67]

Are you sure about your bra size? Mine is 32E. It doesn't sound right.
I do sometimes wear skirts, but usually just skinnies, and dresses.

[Naicecuppatea]

Definitely sure. A 32C gapes on me. I'm usually a size 8 in tops, despite the broad shoulders.

[megletthesecond]

Yes. Swimmers figure here too.

I can never wear shoulder pads! They look ridiculous on me.

[Naicecuppatea]

At least shoulder pads aren't particularly in at the moment, Meglet! What type of clothes do you wear?

[Knackeredknitter67]

Something else I do, just remembered, I wear a lighter or brighter coloured top and have it peaping out under a darker coloured sweater. so today I am wearing a teal coloured t-shirt under a uniqlo dark grey v-neck sweater, and black cord skinnies.

[Naicecuppatea]

That sounds nice and a good idea, Knackered. I have a couple of Uniqlo merino sweaters too but they are crew neck, in fact most of my tops are.

[mayum1]

Naicecuppatea - definitely try! It will be very flattering, especially with your tiny waist! I have no boobs, no waist to speak of and it's flattering on me - it's the legs on display. :)

[rubybleu]

naice, we have near identical measurements. I'm 33-27-39 but my shoulders are as broad or slightly broader, than my hips.

Are you sure your bra size is right - with a small waist like that, you are probably not a 32" band. I wear a 28E.

Can I suggest looking at suggestions for 'neat hourglass'. You won't be a rectangle with a small waist. Neat hourglass recommendations generally suit me.

I find that vee necks/open collars are the most flattering neckline. Longer necklaces also help draw the eye down from my shoulders. I also wear wide strap racetrack singlets under looser boat neck tops - somehow the effect breaks up my shoulders.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

I am an hourglass/inverted triangle. I don't know my stats, but my shoulders are wider than my hips (just), though I have a waist.

I tend to keep my top half fitted - really don't get on with all the voluminous tops that tent out from shoulders, float down over boobs and waist, and then flap about at the hips - they don't do anything for me.

I try not to accentuate my shoulders and focus on my waist instead. V-necks are great for breaking that space up.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

Naomi Campbell is an inverted triangle, so could be worth Google imaging her to see what she wears. Of course, she could walk down the street in pyjamas and look good, so perhaps not all that helpful...

[Naicecuppatea]

Thanks for all the advice.

Re. bra size, I am a 28-28.5 underneath and a 32 leaning forward across the fullest part of my boobs. I have been wearing a 32C but there is some gaping in the cups, so it is not quite right. Can anyone remind me please what this size might be?

So, on my shopping list are fitted V-neck tops, and some skater style dresses and skirts. I am also a shorty (5ft 3) so need everything to be quite fitted.

[Naicecuppatea]

Bumping to check my bra size....please

[rubybleu]

I'm 28.5 under and 33 over - I wear a 28DD or 28E. You should be in either a 28 or 30 band rather than a 32, and a bigger cup.

Your breast shape also influences how you fill out a bra - I'm shallow and wide-set, so very flat chested when bra-less, but I have perfectly decent cleavage when lifted & scooped into an appropriate bra (Cleo Juna is a favourite). I haven't got a chance of filling the cups in certain styles in 28DD/E due the nature of my shape but I'm fine in a good balconette style. There are loads of threads if you search on how to find the right bra style for your shape.

[Naicecuppatea]

Thanks Ruby, I sound very similar to you in being wide set, flat chested when bra less. I don't think I've ever seen a cleavage on me!

[Felipa]

Me! I started a thread on it a while ago as I couldn't think what to wear.

What looks best on me is skater/a-line day dresses, and flared/boot cut jeans. I really wish that skinny jeans weren't all over the place.

I was also told to wear light on the bottom and dark on the top. So I do what a previous poster does and have a light coloured vest or top under a grey or navy cardi.
If I really wanted to I reckon I could squat my way to a bigger bum to even things up again but it's hard to get motivated!

[chanie44]

I'm also an inverted triangle with big shoulders and boobs.

I wore an a line skirt today and gots lots of nice complements. A line skirts are good for balancing out is inverted triangles.