I wish I could belt my sweaters.
Other women look chic and fabulous, showing off the slimmest part of their waist – their sweaters cinched in with a skinny belt.
But I am a rectangle, and that just doesn’t work for me.
While a woman with curves can pull off that look beautifully, adding a belt on top of layers adds to the boxiness of my figure, making me look squat and frumpy (neither of which I am).
And so I go beltless when wearing my sweaters.
And yet… this one needs a little something. It shouldn’t, as the metallic threads give it a pretty sheen. But even without the belt, my rectangle shape is emphasized in this one – alas, something I didn’t realize until the end of the day, when taking outfit pictures.
Sweater – JCrew, dress – Target
Tights – DKNY
Earrings – Von Maur
So what shape are you? Are there things you’ve learned over the years that just don’t work for your body type? Let’s help each other out – share them here to prevent a fellow fashionista from being a fashion don’t.
Linking up with Everybody Everywear’s Sequin and Sparkles challenge with my sparkly metallic sweater today!
I am totally a rectangle too.
I like the muscles in your legs on the tights shot! Wow girl! Are you sure you can’t wear a belt? You are adorable and tiny in everything you wear… you should be able to get away with a belt over a thin sweater… just wear it at the smallest part of your waist.
That’s the problem – I don’t have a smallest part of my waist. I’m straight up and down like a 12 year old boy! But thank you for the confidence booster:)
I think I’ve been just about every shape this last decade! Being a twenty-something, finally settling into a womanly shape— then being pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant again, breastfeeding….there’s never a constant! I do tend towards curvy, though. But I’m trying to accept the flux and unpredictability of this time of my life and learn to appreciate the things my body is doing at each changing point. I think you look amazing and one of the things I love about a rectangle body type is that it reminds me of the style of the flappers in the 20′s and how the boxy shapes of their styling only seemed to bring out their femininity all the more by contrasting with it!
I’ve always wanted to belt my cardigans, but they just look silly when I do. It’s rough.
xo Josie
I think you look great in this outfit! Sometimes I wear a belt, and sometimes no. I don’t like feeling constricted. I think learning to dress for your shape and go with it is a good thing. I’m pear shaped, so I wear tunics and things to camouflage.
Girl, I totally feel you – I am the same way. I have friends who have the teeeeniest tiniest waists, and am so jealous of them. I saw an article in InStyle way back when, and they said Kate Hudson has a rectangular body, which made me feel somewhat better (not that I am comparing mine to hers in any way). In any case – you look adorable, and I’m glad I came across your blog on EveryBody EveryWear!
merci,
Shannan
I would happily take Kate Hudson’s body:) That makes me feel a bit better!
I’ve always wanted to be able to belt my scarves (it was a thing last year on the blogosphere), but every time I tried, I would look like I was wearing a too small belt on a too big waist.
Sometimes belting just DOESN’T work, even when, in theory, it should.
I wonder if leaving the cardigan open, and wearing a scarf for a touch of added warmth would mask the rectangularishness?
In any event, you look gorgeous! I love the cardigan, and your hair is fantastic!
I’m pretty rectangular, too, and I’ve only really had success in belting my jackets and cardigans if I’m wearing a skirt that flares out a bit, and grants me the illusion of hips.
You look lovely, and I really like your metallic cardigan.
Oh man. If I weren’t well-endowed I would be a pure rectangle. As it is, I have to work hard to make it look like I have curves at all! I love the cute way you’re rockin’ sparkles, though. (And I’m a sucker for stripes.) I agree that it needs one little something more, though. My first instinct would be a thin red belt…
Gorgeous pictures and I like that you paired it with the quintessential stripes for this year! I think just buttoning the top made it flare out nicely, but I agree with some of the others. I bet you could pull of a belt! Have you tried a very thin belt?
I am a rectangle too! If I use a belt it always has to be with a dress with a pouffier bottom. I think you look great though! Yay for rectangles!
- Chee, The Shoe Doctor, PhD blog
You look fantastic, rectangle or not!
I’m not a rectangle or a pear, but a little bit of strawberry in a petite form.haha. What a bad combo. But i definitely love my body and as the years pass by, I’ve learn to coordinate those wardrobes that are flattering on my body type, and those that will make me really ugly.:)
Cheers,
Cathy@discount scrubs