How to Dress a Rectangle Body Shape

Co-authored by Kalee Hewlett and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: April 19, 2024 References

Determining your body shape is a helpful way to find clothes that will accentuate your natural attributes. You might have a rectangle body shape if you are tall and lean, your hips are as wide as your shoulders, and you have little waist definition. If you have a rectangle body shape and are trying to dress your body in the most flattering way, try to tuck in your shirts to accentuate your waist and draw attention to your long legs to feel confident in the outfits that you wear.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Choosing Tops and Dresses

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Choose form-fitting tops and jackets that hit you at the waist. Coats and tops that go down past your waist will elongate your torso and accentuate the rectangle shape of your body. Purchase tops and jackets that contour to your body and hit at the waist to create curves.^{[1]
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- Denim jackets and bomber jackets are short jackets that generally hit at the waist.
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Wear shirts with scooped necklines to show off your collar bones. Many people with rectangle body shapes have prominent collar bones. Choose shirts with wide or scooped necklines to accentuate your neck and collar bones.^{[3]
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- Off-the-shoulder tops will also emphasize your collar bones.^{[4]
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Tuck your shirts in to accentuate your waist. People with rectangle body shapes often have trouble defining their waist. Tuck long shirts into your bottoms, or buy shirts that hit your waistline to create a waist for yourself.^{[5]
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- Your natural waistline sits just above your hips, right along your belly button.
- Try pairing a solid dark-colored shirt with light wash jeans, a skinny belt, and a large handbag.
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Accentuate your bust with a good-fitting bra. Rectangle body shapes often come with busts that can be lost in baggy shirts or blouses. Purchase a bra that fits you well to define your bust. Visit a retail store that has bra fittings included with your purchase.^{[6]
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- Your bra should be fitted without being too tight or uncomfortable.
- Padded bras are great if you have a rectangular body since they give your bust more shape.^{[7]
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Define your body by wearing different colors on the top than the bottom. Rectangle-shaped bodies have the tendency to become one straight line. Avoid this by wearing different colors on the top and bottom to draw attention to the individual parts of your body.^{[8]
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- Avoid wearing monochromatic outfits, like red from head to toe.
- If you like wearing patterns, try large, bold ones that draw attention to whatever piece they are on.
As shoulder pads come back into style, watch out for tops that can make your shoulders look wider or make your torso seem boxy. Instead, choose tops that are more flowy and soften your shoulders and overall torso.

Tip: If you find a top or a coat you love that has shoulder pads, see if you can cut them out carefully by snipping the threads that hold them to the shirt.
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Avoid shapeless dresses that don’t accentuate your waist. Since rectangle body shapes can be boxy, don’t wear dresses that have no defined shape to them. Instead, choose ones that come in slightly at the waist and flare out at the bottom to give your body shape.^{[9]
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- You can add a belt to a shapeless dress to define your waist.^{[10]
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Anuschka Rees, Personal Style Expert

Identifying as a rectangle body shape means your waistline lacks definition compared to your bust and hips. This doesn't preclude you from having curves or wearing fitted styles. Strategically draw the eye to your waist. Try embellished necklines or interesting sleeves to frame your upper body. For bottoms, choose cuts and fabrics that skim your hips without clinging. Structured pieces with seam detailing at the waist work well. Most importantly, wear what makes you feel confident and avoid boxy shapes that hide your lines.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Styling Pants, Shorts, and Skirts

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Show off your curves by wearing skinny jeans and pencil skirts. Rectangle body shapes look good in form-fitting clothes. Add some curves to your body by wearing skinny jeans and pencil skirts that form to your legs.
- Pair form-fitting bottoms with a flowy top to create a balanced look. A pencil skirt with a loose top and some ankle boots creates definition in your body.
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Choose mid-rise jeans to accentuate your hips and define your waist. Mid-rise jeans will flatter both your torso and your legs as they hit your hips. Choose form-fitting jeans that are not baggy to give your body curves.^{[11]
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- Dark wash jeans with a brown belt and matching shoes creates a seamless, classic look.
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Buy A-line skirts and flared jeans to add more shape to your body. If you’d like to break away from your rectangle shape, choose skirts and jeans that have a flare at the bottom. Bell bottom jeans, boot cut jeans, and a-line skirts all add shape to your body.^{[12]
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- Form-fitting tops go best with flared jeans and skirts.
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Elongate your body by wearing maxi skirts. Rectangle body shapes often come with the added bonus of long legs. Draw attention to this by wearing maxi skirts that go down to your ankles. You can choose a solid color maxi skirt for a classic look, or go with a pattern to make your outfit stand out.^{[13]
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- Wear leggings under your maxi skirt in the cold weather for extra warmth.
- A solid colored maxi skirt with strappy sandals and a small handbag would be a great casual summer outfit.
Wear thin belts to define your waist with your bottoms. Make sure your pants and skirts are hitting your natural waistline.^{[14]
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Tip: Buy a few different neutral colored belts, like brown and black, to pair with multiple outfits.^{[15]
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Expert Interview. 23 April 2019.}
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Choose low-rise Bermuda shorts in the summer. Bermuda shorts have longer in-seams, so they go well with a straight body type. Avoid high-waisted shorts that might create bagginess in your hips or thighs.^{[16]
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- Dress up your shorts with chunky wedges and a statement necklace for parties and get-togethers.

How Do You Dress For Your Body Type?

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Question

Are puffy sleeves okay with a rectangular body shape?

Kalee Hewlett
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Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and ‘dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out’ by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee’s work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that ‘identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network’s 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.’

Kalee Hewlett

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Expert Answer

Things like puff sleeves and shoulder pads are really great if you specifically want to add volume to your shoulders. Just make sure that you also do something to accentuate the thinnest part of your waist at the same time.

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Question

What kind of pants are best if I have a kind of boxy body?

Kalee Hewlett
Image Consultant
Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and ‘dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out’ by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee’s work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that ‘identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network’s 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.’

Kalee Hewlett

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Expert Answer

High-waisted jeans and bootleg jeans are great for adding definition and creating a curvy feminine frame. A-line skirts and dresses also work really well.

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Should you wear puffy skirts with this body shape?

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Yes, puffy skirts can add more volume to your hips. Wear what makes you feel comfortable.

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