How to Style Broad Shoulders?
22 Jan 2024
Broad shoulders are often frustrating for women: what looks so great on the volleyball court or in the gym, in ordinary life, or some romantic setting often causes a desire to look more feminine and graceful. The great advantage of the modern way of dressing is that the dictatorship of fashion with its indispensable requirements to follow the current trends is a thing of the past. Today, practicality, convenience, and physical comfort combined with the visual aesthetics of the material's cut, texture, finish, or pattern come to the fore.
At the same time, we can also observe the prevalence of naturalness. There is no need to tighten the waist, to put rollers in strategically important places, or to form certain deliberate lines artificially. Acceptance of your figure in the form in which it came from nature - this is the main direction of almost all styles of clothing. But if we remain dissatisfied with something such as the broad shoulder, believing that we can look better, fashion generously gives us many ways to correct the silhouette with clothes without compromising our health and comfort.
Broad shoulders make the image masculine and heavy - this is good for men, but not always comfortable for women. As a rule, most complaints among women are caused by body proportions, in which the volume of the shoulder girdle significantly exceeds the volume of the hips - visually, such figures resemble a triangle, facing upwards. Fortunately, it is possible to disguise this feature of the body shape. Balancing the difference between the top and bottom can be done with the help of competently selected clothes. Let's see what techniques work in this case.
At the same time, we can also observe the prevalence of naturalness. There is no need to tighten the waist, to put rollers in strategically important places, or to form certain deliberate lines artificially. Acceptance of your figure in the form in which it came from nature - this is the main direction of almost all styles of clothing. But if we remain dissatisfied with something such as the broad shoulder, believing that we can look better, fashion generously gives us many ways to correct the silhouette with clothes without compromising our health and comfort.
Broad shoulders make the image masculine and heavy - this is good for men, but not always comfortable for women. As a rule, most complaints among women are caused by body proportions, in which the volume of the shoulder girdle significantly exceeds the volume of the hips - visually, such figures resemble a triangle, facing upwards. Fortunately, it is possible to disguise this feature of the body shape. Balancing the difference between the top and bottom can be done with the help of competently selected clothes. Let's see what techniques work in this case.
How to Determine if You Have Broad Shoulders?
Shoulder width is a nuance of the figure. It is not defined in centimeters but in the ratio of shoulders, waist, and hips. The same shoulder width will look different in a woman with wide and narrow hips. How do you know whether your shoulders are wide or narrow? You can do this in two ways: visually and by measuring.
Visually: if in the mirror you see that your hips are narrower than your shoulders, you have broad shoulders, and vice versa. Measuring: measure the distance from shoulder to shoulder and the width of your hips. Divide the top width figure by the bottom width. If the resulting number is greater than 1.05, then your shoulders are wide. And vice versa. But do not be complex in any case! Stylists have long since come up with all the solutions for you!
Broad shoulders make the image of a woman heavy and masculine. Wide shoulders are characteristic of the figure "triangle". It is good for men, but not always liked by ladies.
Visually: if in the mirror you see that your hips are narrower than your shoulders, you have broad shoulders, and vice versa. Measuring: measure the distance from shoulder to shoulder and the width of your hips. Divide the top width figure by the bottom width. If the resulting number is greater than 1.05, then your shoulders are wide. And vice versa. But do not be complex in any case! Stylists have long since come up with all the solutions for you!
Broad shoulders make the image of a woman heavy and masculine. Wide shoulders are characteristic of the figure "triangle". It is good for men, but not always liked by ladies.
How to Minimize Broad Shoulders?
1. Build an Arc: Shoulder-Waist-Hip.
Broad shoulders expect two things: a defined waist and a proportionate width of the hip horizon. If you have no waist and narrow hips - you need to complete both. If you have a waist, but your hips are narrow, then skirts and pants only reach the arc of the hip. If you have your arc of shoulders-waist-hips is good, just wide, then do not break it with things floating silhouettes, do not weigh it down with volumes, we try to "fit" all silhouettes of images under it.
2.We Cut the Shoulder Area with Diagonals.
Everyone has already learned about how V-necks can hide broad shoulders. Diagonals, in fact, it is also prints and cutouts in the fabric of the shoulder zone, directed along the line from the armpits to the neck, and straps. Here imagine that your entire upper torso is a solid color fabric. Any diagonal that will cut it is a way to visually compress the current volume.
3.Verticalize the Top.
This means that you need to find clothing pieces with vertical lines, in the role of which can be a print or a light plissé. And most importantly, all this beauty should slide on the silhouette. As if you stood under a waterfall, and the water jets froze in the clothes. Not a straight often look on the top, which does not wrinkle, does not move behind the lines of the body, but exactly the jets. If you can organize this, the whole body will be visually narrowed and aesthetically beautiful.
4.Do Not Cover the Broad Shoulder and Chest Area with Unnecessary Fabric.
It's not just the sleeves, which, I think, everyone knows about. Do not touch the chest with frills and ruffles. In general, do not torment the shoulder zone with unnecessary decor. If the rib area is contrastingly smaller than the shoulders, it should be delicately completed, by tucking shirts into pants, slightly releasing, or, for example, wearing shorter jackets or coats: in one touch without unnecessary fuss.
5.Pulling the Line.
This is the first thing that other people see, one obvious vertical, visually suppresses the fact of broad shoulders beyond this vertical. For example, you have a light base of the image, over which you are wearing a straight blazer of a contrasting color. The light line in the image is so strong that the eye sees it, missing everything else. Another example: is a fitted dress with a V-neck with a vertical line running along it. And you further enhance the effect by wearing a necklace with a vertical element.
Broad shoulders expect two things: a defined waist and a proportionate width of the hip horizon. If you have no waist and narrow hips - you need to complete both. If you have a waist, but your hips are narrow, then skirts and pants only reach the arc of the hip. If you have your arc of shoulders-waist-hips is good, just wide, then do not break it with things floating silhouettes, do not weigh it down with volumes, we try to "fit" all silhouettes of images under it.
2.We Cut the Shoulder Area with Diagonals.
Everyone has already learned about how V-necks can hide broad shoulders. Diagonals, in fact, it is also prints and cutouts in the fabric of the shoulder zone, directed along the line from the armpits to the neck, and straps. Here imagine that your entire upper torso is a solid color fabric. Any diagonal that will cut it is a way to visually compress the current volume.
3.Verticalize the Top.
This means that you need to find clothing pieces with vertical lines, in the role of which can be a print or a light plissé. And most importantly, all this beauty should slide on the silhouette. As if you stood under a waterfall, and the water jets froze in the clothes. Not a straight often look on the top, which does not wrinkle, does not move behind the lines of the body, but exactly the jets. If you can organize this, the whole body will be visually narrowed and aesthetically beautiful.
4.Do Not Cover the Broad Shoulder and Chest Area with Unnecessary Fabric.
It's not just the sleeves, which, I think, everyone knows about. Do not touch the chest with frills and ruffles. In general, do not torment the shoulder zone with unnecessary decor. If the rib area is contrastingly smaller than the shoulders, it should be delicately completed, by tucking shirts into pants, slightly releasing, or, for example, wearing shorter jackets or coats: in one touch without unnecessary fuss.
5.Pulling the Line.
This is the first thing that other people see, one obvious vertical, visually suppresses the fact of broad shoulders beyond this vertical. For example, you have a light base of the image, over which you are wearing a straight blazer of a contrasting color. The light line in the image is so strong that the eye sees it, missing everything else. Another example: is a fitted dress with a V-neck with a vertical line running along it. And you further enhance the effect by wearing a necklace with a vertical element.
Sleeve styles
If we want to make the silhouette more feminine and elegant, softening the visual "stiffness" of a broad shoulder line, the best helpers in this case will be the sleeves. First of all, it is - narrow at the top and expands downward with long sleeves in the style of a "bell". Also in priority - free raglan, kimono sleeve, or "bat".
Avoid all that has an extended part at the top of the shoulder: voluminous "lanterns", "wings", and "leg of lamb", creating excessive volume where it is not necessary. Also do not wear clothes with open shoulders, because such necklines always have a strong accent, attracting a lot of attention.
Neck styles
At first glance, the influence of the shape of the neckline may seem insignificant, but, in fact, in the visual correction of the figure, it comes right after the sleeves, affecting the perception of the silhouette outlines. U and V-shaped necklines work best with wide shoulders.
Asymmetry helps to shift the center line and thus narrow the shoulder area. Asymmetry can appear in literally everything - in color, cut, and fabric. An asymmetrical cut of a top, T-shirt, or blouse is an effective technique that will help to correct broad shoulders.
Square necklines or "boats" visually expand the upper part of the figure, so it is better to abandon them. A narrow and long neckline can not only distract attention but also visually narrow the shoulder line. In summer, in hot weather, a real boon for broad-shouldered beauties can be dresses and sundresses, in which shelves/straps are made in the form of a loop going around the neck.
Items of clothing that should be favored
The number of details that should be abandoned is not a reason to be upset, because there is a huge amount of clothing that will help you look beautiful and stylish. The main task when you want to hide broad shoulders is to visually elongate the figure, and create a lengthened and balanced silhouette.
This can be done with the help of long cardigans, jackets, shirts, cloaks, and coats. When choosing pants should be cautious about models with a high landing, despite all its current relevance. As a rule, the best fit for a figure with broad shoulders is pants with a low/medium waist, with a wide belt. But here, of course, you should also focus on the proportions of the figure: long or short torso, length of legs, etc.
Clothes that create some volume at the bottom will work no less effectively: tulip skirts, tutus, sun; dresses with a puffy skirt and long sleeves; wide pants - palazzo, clash, Afghani, pajama-style pants, and so on. If you want to emphasize the beautiful slender legs, then for this perfectly suitable narrow pants, make an ensemble, for example, with a translucent kimono or cardigan length to mid-thigh.
Any bright accents in the lower part of the figure will also work for a given purpose: beautiful decor or non-standard shape of the hem; complex folds, ruffles and flounces, bright embroidery and ornaments, lace trim or decorative braid, accent, unusual shoes. In general, all those details that should be avoided when used in the broad shoulder part of the figure here will be appropriate, necessary, and important.
But, using this technique with an accent on the lower part of the figure, do not forget that the image should not be overloaded with such beauty. So if the bottom has a rich decoration, let the top be simple and laconic: a classic blouse, for example, or a nice monochrome sweater / T-shirt is just perfect for this.
Now you know how to hide wide shoulders with the help of clothes, and now about what you should not wear. If a woman has wide shoulders, it is recommended to refuse:
Tops with a horizontal stripe. Such a stripe visually expands, that is, increases the width.
Turtlenecks, tight in the upper part of dresses. Tight top things emphasize the boundaries of the silhouette, highlighting all its shortcomings.
Things with shoulder pads. The trend for broad shoulders is gaining popularity - designers of world brands release jackets and blouses with shoulder pads. If the shoulder zone is naturally wide, refuse such things, so as not to turn into a "closet".
Things with decorations in the chest and shoulder area. Any, even the most insignificant decoration will draw attention to the problem, and sometimes even aggravate it. Ruches, for example, greatly expand the shoulder zone and chest area.
Cropped jackets, T-shirts, and shirts. The fashion for cropped clothing is growing, but it's better if this trend passes you by. Clothing that ends above the waist zone noticeably divides the figure into two parts. With this division, the shoulders seem even wider.
If we want to make the silhouette more feminine and elegant, softening the visual "stiffness" of a broad shoulder line, the best helpers in this case will be the sleeves. First of all, it is - narrow at the top and expands downward with long sleeves in the style of a "bell". Also in priority - free raglan, kimono sleeve, or "bat".
Avoid all that has an extended part at the top of the shoulder: voluminous "lanterns", "wings", and "leg of lamb", creating excessive volume where it is not necessary. Also do not wear clothes with open shoulders, because such necklines always have a strong accent, attracting a lot of attention.
Neck styles
At first glance, the influence of the shape of the neckline may seem insignificant, but, in fact, in the visual correction of the figure, it comes right after the sleeves, affecting the perception of the silhouette outlines. U and V-shaped necklines work best with wide shoulders.
Asymmetry helps to shift the center line and thus narrow the shoulder area. Asymmetry can appear in literally everything - in color, cut, and fabric. An asymmetrical cut of a top, T-shirt, or blouse is an effective technique that will help to correct broad shoulders.
Square necklines or "boats" visually expand the upper part of the figure, so it is better to abandon them. A narrow and long neckline can not only distract attention but also visually narrow the shoulder line. In summer, in hot weather, a real boon for broad-shouldered beauties can be dresses and sundresses, in which shelves/straps are made in the form of a loop going around the neck.
Items of clothing that should be favored
The number of details that should be abandoned is not a reason to be upset, because there is a huge amount of clothing that will help you look beautiful and stylish. The main task when you want to hide broad shoulders is to visually elongate the figure, and create a lengthened and balanced silhouette.
This can be done with the help of long cardigans, jackets, shirts, cloaks, and coats. When choosing pants should be cautious about models with a high landing, despite all its current relevance. As a rule, the best fit for a figure with broad shoulders is pants with a low/medium waist, with a wide belt. But here, of course, you should also focus on the proportions of the figure: long or short torso, length of legs, etc.
Clothes that create some volume at the bottom will work no less effectively: tulip skirts, tutus, sun; dresses with a puffy skirt and long sleeves; wide pants - palazzo, clash, Afghani, pajama-style pants, and so on. If you want to emphasize the beautiful slender legs, then for this perfectly suitable narrow pants, make an ensemble, for example, with a translucent kimono or cardigan length to mid-thigh.
Any bright accents in the lower part of the figure will also work for a given purpose: beautiful decor or non-standard shape of the hem; complex folds, ruffles and flounces, bright embroidery and ornaments, lace trim or decorative braid, accent, unusual shoes. In general, all those details that should be avoided when used in the broad shoulder part of the figure here will be appropriate, necessary, and important.
But, using this technique with an accent on the lower part of the figure, do not forget that the image should not be overloaded with such beauty. So if the bottom has a rich decoration, let the top be simple and laconic: a classic blouse, for example, or a nice monochrome sweater / T-shirt is just perfect for this.
Now you know how to hide wide shoulders with the help of clothes, and now about what you should not wear. If a woman has wide shoulders, it is recommended to refuse:
Tops with a horizontal stripe. Such a stripe visually expands, that is, increases the width.
Turtlenecks, tight in the upper part of dresses. Tight top things emphasize the boundaries of the silhouette, highlighting all its shortcomings.
Things with shoulder pads. The trend for broad shoulders is gaining popularity - designers of world brands release jackets and blouses with shoulder pads. If the shoulder zone is naturally wide, refuse such things, so as not to turn into a "closet".
Things with decorations in the chest and shoulder area. Any, even the most insignificant decoration will draw attention to the problem, and sometimes even aggravate it. Ruches, for example, greatly expand the shoulder zone and chest area.
Cropped jackets, T-shirts, and shirts. The fashion for cropped clothing is growing, but it's better if this trend passes you by. Clothing that ends above the waist zone noticeably divides the figure into two parts. With this division, the shoulders seem even wider.
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