I have a friend. Let’s call her Alondra. Alondra and I recently went to an activity where you could get a free consultation on your body type as well as tips for how to dress it. The consultant was a lovely woman, but there was just one problem.
When she performed her measurements on Alondra, she could not match her body type to the five body types presented.
The consultant screwed up her face and stammered, “uh…small…hourglass?”
Maybe you have found yourself in this position too, struggling to identify yourself in body shape tests that don’t quite fit. You have a smaller waist, but your hips just seem to sprout like a “shelf” from the bottom of your ribs. Your shoulders are slim, but your derriere seems disproportionately wide. T shirts make you look like a box, skirts seem to emphasize your wide hips, and you can never find a top that fits your bust AND waist.
To top it off, you might have “hip dips” making you want to throw your hands in the air and give up trying to dress yourself all together.
The problem is not you, my friend. Your curves are gorgeous, even if they may feel frustrating to dress at times.
Common characteristics of a spoon body shape include:
- Wider, sudden hips (also called “shelf hips”)
- A defined waist
- Narrower shoulders
- Small to medium sized bust
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll introduce you to the top five waistlines to look for in a dress that will accentuate your beautiful curves while balancing your proportions.
How to Dress A Spoon Body Shape #1 Basque Waist
Not only is the Basque waist romantic, but it provides the illusions that your waist is lower than it actually is. If you have a spoon shape, your hips probably start right after or soon after your bottom rib.
The basque waist provides definition while bringing the eye to a lower point on your body, disguising wider hips with blossoming fabric.
The Hymn Dress is a great example of a basque waist paired with a flattering, billowing skirt. It also comes with a corset back so you can tighten (and loosen) in all the right places.
How to Dress A Spoon Body Shape #2 Corset Waist
I know, I know. Isn’t this just the Basque waist?
The biggest difference between corset and Basque is placement. Basque can sometimes fall in the middle of the hip for a spoon shaped gal. Although this is not a deal breaker as the fabric of the dress blooms out from the widest point of the hips to create a lovely bell shape, sometimes we need a cinched waist with billowing fabric ABOVE the hip, guaranteed.
The corset waist is adjustable like the Basque waist, but helps to also minimize or emphasize the bust depending on your needs. A corset-waist top can end below the bust or above, providing the illusion of a balanced hourglass shape.
How to Dress A Spoon Body Shape #3 Wrap Waist
Wide straps for the wrapped waist are your BEST friend. Avoid skinny straps as they cut the figure in half, making both the bottom and top half of the body look blocky rather than emphasizing your curves.
Wide straps allow the waist to be emphasized while wrapping ever so slightly around the tops of the hips. This wrapping provides a more gradual slope into the widest point of the hips rather than a blocky transition.
How to Dress A Spoon Body Shape #4 High Waist
High waisted dresses tend to sit slightly above or right on the natural waistline of a spoon shaped gal. This is perfect for a curvier body type because the waist is emphasized while the rest of the skirt floats gently over the hips.
Bonus points if the dress in question has puffed sleeves, or embellishments on the shoulders to add visual weight to a more slender top.
How to Dress A Spoon Body Shape #5 No Waist
Isn’t this cheating?
Yes it is. Isn’t it glorious?
If you don’t want to think about balance between hips, waist, bust, etc, then this is the waistline for you. No waistline!
Dresses in question can either gather below the bust or be free-flowing. Either way, if the top of the dress emphasizes the shoulders through lace, pleating, ruffles, or poofs, this adds balance to the rest of the outfit ensuring that YOU are wearing the dress rather than the DRESS wearing you.
The Ballad Dress is a great example of this look. Beautiful flowing fabric, gathered just below the bust, poofy sleeves, and a tie around the neckline to bring attention toward your face. It truly is a one-size-fits-all closet staple.
How to Dress A Spoon Body Shape #6 Snatched Waist
All of the waistlines mentioned above pair well with flowing skirts. That doesn’t mean that you can’t rock a snug fitting bodycon dress!
The most important thing to ensure when choosing a form fitting dress is that it has a snatched waist. What do I mean by that? I mean, when you are holding the dress up in front of you (not wearing it), is the dress shaped like a tube waiting for you to pour your body into it? Or is the dress sewn into an hourglass? Is that waist snatched?
Bonus points if the waistline is sewn a little higher than you might be used to. A snatched waist is a telltale sign that the dress was made with curves in mind. It will stretch and snatch in the right places.
I would suggest the Nonet Dress for a dress made with curves in mind. It has bishop sleeves, a snatched waist, and forgiving velvet fabric.
To sum it all up, let’s take a look at this dress.
This black and white bodycon is a great example of several principles we have talked about. It has a basque waist and is clearly sewn to be form fitting rather than just tight. The neckline is interesting enough to provide some visual weight to the top. Lastly, the white lines trace the contour of the figure, providing a visual illusion of a seamless hourglass. If you are a girly struggling to know how to dress hip dips, these illusions are your best friends.
This body type may be rare, but you are not alone! For my lovely spoon shaped gals, go shape the world ;)