How to Dress When You Have Broad Shoulders? [Guide] (2024)

Do you have slightly broad shoulders and are wondering how to dress? Would you like to know what types of clothing could soften your figure and accentuate your best features?

I will help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I try to pay attention to the details that enhance the body shapes of certain models, celebrities, or even the people around me!

It’s common for women with broad shoulders to want to minimize their appearance for a more balanced silhouette. That’s why I’m offering this guide dedicated to the topic, so you can learn how to enhance your figure.

If you have broad shoulders, it’s easy to soften their appearance by balancing your figure with flared clothing such as a peplum top, a fitted waist dress, or a skater-style short skirt. To enhance your V-shaped silhouette, consider choosing a top or dress with an asymmetrical neckline. Lastly, don’t forget to wear accessories to draw attention to your waist and bust: think belts, bracelets, and long necklaces…

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

• What body type do broad shoulders correspond to,
• What clothing to avoid when trying to slim down your frame,
• Simple shopping tips for choosing outfits that flatter you,
• Perfect styles of women’s tops for those with broad shoulders,
• What type of dress, skirt, or even swimsuit to choose to enhance your silhouette.

How to Tell if You Have Broad Shoulders?

The width of your shoulders does not necessarily depend on your weight: it depends on your body shape. You can be slim and athletic with broad shoulders, or a bit rounder with narrower shoulders.

To determine if you have broad shoulders, start by looking at yourself in a mirror. People with strong shoulder builds have what is known as a V-shaped body: this means they have square shoulders, a narrow waist, and relatively slim legs.

This is not a flaw! This body type is actually more common among athletic women who take care of their bodies and stay active every day. However, it’s understandable to want to create the illusion of narrower shoulders for certain dressy outfits or even just to feel good in your own skin on a daily basis.

Some stars regarded as beauty ideals have this type of silhouette:

• Kendall Jenner,
• Jennifer Lawrence,
• Angelina Jolie,
• Cameron Diaz,
• Amal Clooney…

👉 Feel free to follow them on social media to get inspired by their outfits!

Cameron Diaz / Angelina Jolie / Kendall Jenner

What clothes should you avoid at all costs if you have broad shoulders?

Are you looking to enhance your neckline and slim your figure? Here’s a short list of clothing that can actually create the opposite effect:

• Tops with shoulder pads or embellishments (like lace, embroidery, or beads) on the shoulders,
• Tops with bare shoulders or a Bardot neckline,
• Fitted long dresses,
• Blazers and jackets with enhanced shoulder pads,

👉 Do you want to wear a jacket or top with reinforced shoulders, or are you required to? If so, feel free to pair it with a flared skirt or wide-leg pants that will draw attention to the lower part of your body and help balance the width of your shoulders.

5 Tips for Sculpting Your Shoulders

Knowing how to enhance your figure doesn’t necessarily require being a stylist or a fashion expert. The key is to understand the details that can flatter your body type once you’ve determined what it is.

To help you out, I’ve put together a list of five things to keep in mind while shopping for clothes that will make you feel beautiful:

🔸 Opt for tops with wide straps: this will prevent too much skin from showing between your neck and shoulders, naturally giving them a more refined appearance.

🔸 V-neck or wide round necklines are perfect for highlighting your bust: they will showcase your chest with elegance.

🔸 The best types of clothing for you are usually those that are flared. Whether it’s a t-shirt, a skirt, or a dress, feel free to choose items that widen at the bottom.

🔸 A beautiful long necklace is perfect for finishing off an outfit and drawing attention downward. In winter, you can choose to wear a long scarf draped open.

🔸 Finally, pairing a dark top with light bottoms will create the illusion that your shoulders appear slimmer. This works with black and white but also with a pastel top and jeans, for example. Similarly, it’s better to choose solid tops and patterned bottoms (preferably horizontal patterns).

What type of top should you wear if you have broad shoulders?

Some top styles are perfect for enhancing a V-shaped figure. These include:

• Asymmetrical tops with one shoulder exposed,
• Peplum tops that flare at the waist with ruffles,
• Kimono jackets that are worn loosely to highlight your neckline while balancing your silhouette.

What Skirt or Dress Should You Wear to Slim Your Figure?

When you have broad shoulders, you might think that skirts and dresses aren’t for you, as your athletic build can be tough to match with these types of clothing. It’s true that a form-fitting long dress or a pencil skirt may accentuate the V shape of your figure.

However, there are dress and skirt styles that, due to their cut, can balance the width of your shoulders and give you a very feminine look. Consider the following:

• The fit-and-flare skirt, perfect for accentuating your waist and giving your silhouette an hourglass shape, very flattering,
• The bohemian flare dress, fitted at the waist, which creates the same effect as the fit-and-flare skirt.

👗 To discover more examples of unique outfits that flatter your figure, head over to our online boutique dedicated to bohemian fashion. You’ll find flowy and flared clothing that is perfect for highlighting your build. Plus, shipping is free!

To draw attention to your waist, you can also tie a scarf around it or opt for a wide, thick belt, which will give you a very chic style by adding structure to your outfit. If you have bare arms or shoulders, another simple tip is to wear multiple bracelets to naturally draw the eye towards your hips and create balance in your look.

👉 Do you prefer pants? In that case, go for a straight-cut jean like a bootcut or a trendy boyfriend style. Unlike slim fits and all tight pants, these options are great for softening your silhouette by balancing out your width towards the bottom, which helps prevent your shoulders from appearing too broad.

What type of swimsuit should you wear to enhance a V-shaped body type?

Form-fitting and minimally covering, a swimsuit is a garment that should be chosen carefully to enhance your figure. If you have broad shoulders, opt for styles such as:

• A peplum swimsuit, which, like the top of the same name, is flared and will enhance your hips,
• A bustier, whose cut is perfect for slimming your shoulders,
• An asymmetrical bikini that highlights your neckline.

👙 When wearing a bikini, it’s best to choose a short-style bottom, which flatters V-shaped body types.

I hope this article has helped you find tips and outfit ideas to feel beautiful and comfortable in your clothes. Self-confidence is often the key element in overcoming those little insecurities that can ruin our lives!

If you want to learn more about asymmetrical dresses and tops, which have been mentioned several times in this article, I invite you to check out this article I’ve written about them to see if they might be a good fit for you!