Hourglass shape: everything you need to know

All about you

You've got a beautiful neat waist and in-proportion curves, but sometimes feel that dressing your curves is a balance between mutton dressed as lamb and matronly. Your shoulders and hips are roughly in line with each other when viewed from behind, with neither noticeably wider than the other (if your hips are wider you might be a pear, and if your shoulders are wider remember that inverted triangles can often look like hourglasses due to their small waists). Your shoulders probably have a moderate softness to them, rather than sharp angles, and everything about you follows the smooth curves of your hips and bust - yours is not a body of sharp corners and angles. Remember that hourglasses can be petite and slim as well as more voluptuous - this is about shape, rather than size.

Your biggest strength is your neat waist and curves. Regardless of your size, make sure your waist is highlighted - clothes that are baggy all the way down will make you look bigger and swamped. Your cleavage is a great asset too, but generally needs to be balanced by a longer hemline (I mean not-mini, rather than ankle length here!) to keep the look modern and stylish.

Do wear

Styles which follow your curves!
Fitted jersey tops with bottom halves which honour your curves.
Fitted shirts can work well too - try them buttoned to under-bust with a contrasting camisole if you don't like them buttoned over your bust.
Waist and hip ruching can really emphasise your curves
A wrap or cardigan can really highlight your curves, as long as it's cut to swish and glide over your curves rather than standing away boxily.
Dresses can look amazing on your in-proportion body. Look for styles with lower necklines and which follow your natural curves.

Avoid

Anything boxy, top or bottom half.
Baggy clothes will drown you, making you look boring and bigger.
Extreme skinny leg styles can be tricky for you.
Styles with really high necklines - break them up with scarves or accessories to avoid looking matronly.
Hemlines that are too short will throw your proportions out - you are better showing off cleavage than leg!