Choosing Jewelry By Body Type

What do body shapes mean?

Body shapes are measured by the proportion of your body to your shoulder, bust, waist and hip measurements. Females will fall into one of the following categories – Diamond, Inverted Triangle, Rectangle, Hourglass, Triangle or Oval Shaped.

If your measurements are close, you may want to consider more than one body type when choosing jewelry and styling your outfits.

What is the most common body type and which one is the rarest?

The most common body types are Triangle or Oval Shaped. The rarest are the Hourglass body type.

What should I avoid wearing by my body type or height?

When it comes to jewelry, two factors in addition to body type to consider is your height. If you are short, you should avoid long earrings or necklaces. They may overwhelm your proportions and make you appear shorter.

If you are tall, you should avoid long jewelry, such as Opera length pearls and chains. Longer jewelry makes you appear taller.

If you are very petite, small pieces work better than larger ones.

If your size is 14 or over in clothing, you should avoid small pieces and necklaces and chains that are too short. PalmBeach Jewelry even offers jewelry extenders to lengthen necklaces for a better fit.

If you are Inverted Triangle, you should avoid boat necks, big straps, halter tops, big wide collars, and larger patterns on top. The same holds true if you are Diamond body type. In jewelry you should avoid big necklaces and earrings.

Rectangular body types should avoid garments that are too vertical and straight. Rectangular body types need garments that create the illusion of a waist like wide belts. Rectangular body types are often called “athletic “body types. This body type should avoid too many bracelets and watches.

For Diamond shaped body types, you should avoid long shirts and cropped shirts. A padded bra or pushup bra can help to accentuate the upper half on a pear-shaped female. Lighter pant or skirt colors may not work for Pear shaped females. Try darker colors instead to create a slimmer you. Medium length necklaces and chains that fall a few inches above the bust line may work best.

Females with an Hourglass shape should avoid shapeless or baggy clothes and instead accent their small waist. Almost all jewelry looks good on hourglass shaped females.

If you have an Oval shaped body type you should avoid buying oversized garments to try to over compensate for your small upper body. You should avoid small pieces and necklaces and chains that are too short. Try a necklace 18-24 inches to draw the eye upward.

For Triangle body types choose long necklaces, big rings and bracelets.