One of the biggest fashion faux pas people make is not choosing clothes that don’t match their body type. Simply following trends and wearing what is in vogue is commonly everyone’s fashion mantra.
However, that is something you must avoid to look your best. Choosing clothes that compliment your body and accentuate your figure is one of the key elements in making you look fabulous and feel equally comfortable in your fashion choices. The same goes for formal pants for women.
In fact, it is all the more important to choose a formal pant that is right for your body type. An ill-fitted formal pant for women will highlight parts of your body you don’t want any unnecessary attention on.
Formal pants for women are the most commonly worn office wear and they are available in a variety of types and fabrics. So, choosing the one that perfectly fits your body type can be challenging. But fret not. In this style guide, we will help you find the perfect fit and choose formal pants for your body type.
Women’s Body Shapes
Usually, women’s body types are categorised into apple, pear, hourglass, inverted triangle, and rectangle and you must choose a formal pant depending on your body shape. Let’s look at these shapes/types individually:
Petite Body Type
It is a huge challenge to choose pants for those who have a petite body. If chosen incorrectly, formal pants for women can make you look even shorter. However, if you choose right, you can ace this challenge. Sailor pants are a good choice as they are high waist and divert the attention above your natural waistline.
Secondly, choose pants that fit on the hips and thighs and slowly widen below the knees. Pairing heels with flared pants further enhances the look. Other good options are full-length wide pants, cigarette pants and vertical stripe pants. All these options make petite women look taller.
Apple-Shaped Body Type
An apple-shaped body lacks a defined waist area. So, pants that accentuate the waist area and make you look taller should be the choice for formal pants for women. There are ample workwear options for women that can highlight the waist and make you look taller.
These include straight-leg and boot-cut pants as they create an illusion of a more balanced shape. Mid-rise or high-waist pants are perfect for apple-shaped body type as they make the legs look longer while accentuating the waist area and hips.
Hourglass Body Type
This is the shape where the shoulder and hip measurements are the same with the waist measurements being slightly smaller. This shape is seen as close to ideal, giving you a chance to wear just about anything. Having said that, there are formal pants for women that will make you further enhance your look.
Like low waist pants with a straight cut are a good option apart from the wide leg as well. These two styles are favoured by most stylists as they create a beautiful shape for an hourglass-type body and make you look emphatically stylish.
Pear-Shaped Body Type
A pear-shaped body means more defined hips and thighs with a slim waist. It is also often referred to as a triangular body shape. Since the hips and thighs are naturally defined, you must go for a high waist formal pants to further accentuate your slim waistline.
Avoid front pockets or pockets with flaps or other adornments as they will further highlight your hips and thigh area. Rather, go for simple flat pockets. As for the shape of the pants, go for a boot cut, flat and slim pants so that you look taller.
Inverted Triangular Body Type
This means just the opposite of the pear-shaped body type, meaning you have broader shoulders and a bust and slimmer waist and hips. This calls for choosing pants that highlight the lower part of your body to strike a perfect balance.
Choose bright-coloured pants, printed formal pants or vertical stripes that will make your legs look taller. You can also choose to play with the cuts and falls of the pants by wearing wide-leg, cropped, flared or straight-leg fits to further accentuate your legs.
Remember, semi-long pants will make your legs look shorter. Horizontal stripes will also create the illusion of shorter legs. So, if you have shorter and muscular legs, an inverted triangle-shaped body, or if you are petite, avoid capris or calf-length pants. Vertical stripes must be the preferred choice over horizontal ones.
Formal pants for women are one of the most versatile, stylish and comfortable work wear. If you choose wisely, formal pants can make you look instantly stylish and professional at the same time. Use our style guide to ace the formal pants look and be a head-turner in your office.
Also read: How Thongs Redefined Fashion Norms