Let me preface first by saying that every-body has a different story to tell, no matter which body shape category you fall into. Not every silhouette follows “the rules” and most certainly is not perfect. You will have your trials and tribulations no matter which shape you have. Mine happens to be the rectangle shaped body–and this is my story.
Do you wear the same size clothes on your top and bottom halves? Do you have small breasts? Do you have very little waist definition? Do you have an average tummy? Then you, like me are a rectangle shape.
As the years have gone by, I have learned to embrace my rectangle shape. Sure there are pitfalls – high-waisted pencil skirts are never going to happen for me – but overall, it’s really not too bad of a body type to have.
When I was going through the awkward pre-teen years, there may not have been a worse place for the rectangle shape to live: Texas. Texas is home to the bleached blonde, big-boobed, voluptuously curvy sex pot, or pretty much my complete opposite. Unfortunately, my pre-teen and teen years were spent purchasing the thickest push up bras and swimsuits and doing anything to distract from instead of embrace my shape. I laid out and tanned like crazy (my current self still cringes about this one), I highlighted my hair (I’ve since gone back to my natural brunette color) and of course I had fake nails, too. It’s such a shame that during my body’s best phase of life, I was doing everything I could to change it, but c’est la vie for many women.
Like Allison, I became pregnant in my early twenties. It was only after I had monster pregnancy breasts that I realized how lucky I was to have naturally small ones – no more desire for implants here! As with many other side-effects of pregnancy, my waist naturally spread out, never to return. Given my rectangle shape, it felt like there was barely a curve above my hips post-pregnancy. Yet another challenge to overcome. Boo!
I absolutely love clothes. I love following trends each season. There’s no feeling quite like the one when you nail a flattering outfit head to toe on a crisp September day. My biggest struggle today is accepting that not all styles will work with my body. It can be a real bummer when you have an outfit in mind for a special event or date night that just won’t work for you.
So what is my confession?
I confess that I struggle to accept my post-pregnancy body in all its glory. I overanalyze my small and saggy boobs, my non-existent waistline and the way my inner thighs touch when I’m in a bathing suit.
Tips For Mastering the Rectangle Shaped Body
While I worry about the way I am perceived in my rectangle-shaped body, there are some things that I have learned since my Texas days that have helped me overcome my lack of confidence and now come to love my body just how it is.
Create the illusion of a waist. Breaking up the top and bottom half of a rectangle shape body will add some curves in just the right place. How do you do it exactly? Keep your silhouette uncluttered and use a simple, skinny belt to bring the outfit together. Unstructured jackets that gently shape the waist are an excellent choice, as are hip and booty details as long as they create gentle curves to enhance instead of distract.
Accentuate your strengths. Maybe you have killer, toned arms or cute little ankles. Figure out your top one or two strengths, and then go after showing them off. Toned arms look amazing in high-neck or halter tops. My own strength is my long, skinny legs, so in the summer months you’ll find me in shorter shorts and fitted skirts to show them off. I hope that when anyone takes a peek my way, they are drawn to my legs and never even notice my mediocre waist.
Know what to avoid. Low rise jeans and slacks can make your torso look too long and awkward so keep away from those. Also be sure to avoid sheath dresses and maxi dresses as a rectangle body will get lost in them (we don’t have the amazing curves in all the right places for those dresses). Be sure to stick to dresses with more shapes and curves instead (think flared skirts and dresses).
Do you have rectangle shaped body? What’s your confession? Any tips for the rest of us?
About Michelle
Leave a Reply