Our fourth body shape to look at is the oval shape. Tending to be considered plus size, it’s one of the trickier figures to style, especially if you’re self-conscious of specific areas of your body. We’re here to tell you that you can look feminine and fabulous with just a few of our styling tips put together for oval body shapes in particular.
What are the characteristics of an oval body shape?
When you think of the shape of an oval, it’s basically an elongated circle. That usually means narrower towards the top and bottom and rounder in the middle. Here are a few features of an oval body shape:
- Shoulders and hips in proportion
- Larger bust and mid-section
- Less defined waist
- Shapely legs
Whilst you might think you don’t have the figure to dress nicely, that’s completely false! It’s all about getting the right clothes for your proportions and choosing items that highlight your favourite parts whilst covering up what you don’t like as much.
How to style an oval body shape
It can be difficult to wear trendy clothes when you have a larger bust and mid-section as many current items are targeted towards smaller frames. However, that just means that you can choose timeless, classic pieces that you won’t have to replace every year or season. It means you can invest in quality items that fit your figure and frame perfectly! We’ve rounded up six of our favourite tips on styling oval body shape outfits.
Elongate your legs with darker bottom-half items
It’s always important to get the basics right and what better place to start than with a pair of straight leg, dark wash jeans? They’ll end up being your most worn item, especially from autumn through to spring, because there’s no top half item that they don’t go with. From cosy knitwear in the autumn to flowy blouses in the spring, you might even want a couple of pairs if you wear them every day!
Dark wash bottom half items also help to elongate your legs. Whilst they obviously don’t physically make your legs longer, the illusion is that they streamline your figure. Many oval body shapes have shapely legs so you could show them off in skinny jeans. If you already have long legs, you might want to opt for a cropped pair when it’s warmer or roll up your straight leg jeans for a cool girl look.
Add a belt to create curves around your waist
If you feel like you don’t have much of a shape, you need some neat styling tricks to create one. One of the best ways to do this is to use a belt around your waist. Many dress styles already come with a belt or you could even try our belted wax jacket where again, it breaks up an outfit and magically creates a waist!
Show off your shoulders and decolletage
You have well proportioned shoulders so why not show them off? Scoop neck and V-neck tops will become your best friends as they’re perfect for showing off your decolletage. For summer, we love our brand new floaty vests and they look perfect with dark wash jeans and boat shoes. This style also has adjustable straps so you can show off as much or as little as you’d like.
If you’re more self conscious of your upper arms, you could opt for a cap-sleeved version in all the same country animal prints. We love the loose fit on this blouse because whilst it is flowy, it’s not too oversized. The V-neckline is super flattering and the fabric is so breathable and light.
Wraparound styles are your best friend
One of the most flattering styles of clothing on curvier women is the wraparound top, dress or jacket. Many come with a low cut V-neck along with an attached belt. It’s such a feminine shape of clothing and choosing an item in a gorgeous print or vibrant colour, you’ll have a going out top for any occasion or your go-to dress for every event or party. It can be trial and error finding the right dress or top that wraps around your figure best. However, when you find the right fit, it’s an item you’ll pick for every special occasion.
Always go high-waisted
Low rise jeans might be making a comeback with younger generations but we say only wear a trend if you really want to. We’re glad to say that mid- to high-rise trousers and jeans are here to stay forever because they’re the most flattering on the most amount of body shapes! Whilst we don’t recommend high-waisted items that sit just underneath your bust, pieces that sit around the belly button are the perfect rise for curvier ladies.
One of our favourite higher rise items in our collection are our walking trousers. They fit snugly like a pair of leggings but they’re much thicker and just as stretchy. You don’t have to wear them just for walking and the neutral shades make them wearable for everyday life. They even come with four pockets (two at the front and two at the back), which is unheard of in women’s clothing!
Opt for longline outerwear
Whilst items that fit just on your hips are the most flattering, it can also be flattering to choose longline items, especially when it comes to outerwear. Short jackets often ride up when walking around, making them uncomfortable to wear. Longline coats and jackets give you a little more coverage for your figure but also keep your body protected from the wind and rain more!
Every country lady needs a wax jacket in their collection and our long wax jacket is such a staple. Available in five neutral shades, it comes with a handy rear riding vent, which is perfect for fuller figures so you have more leg room should you need it. If you’re in need of more of an everyday waterproof coat, the ¾ length coat also comes in five patterns and is the perfect dog walking outerwear item. It’s considered a pack and go style but it’s a little thicker than our shorter styles.
Having an oval body shape does not mean you need to wear oversized, baggy clothing to cover up your figure. You should embrace your shapely legs and proportional neckline with our oval body shape outfits.