How to Soften Broad Shoulders? Enhance Your V-Shaped Body!

Do you have broad shoulders and wonder how to dress? Would you like to know what types of clothing could soften your silhouette to help you look your best?

I’m here to help you.

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

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

If you have broad shoulders, you can easily balance your silhouette with flared clothing such as a peplum top, a fitted dress at the waist, or a short skater skirt. To enhance your V-shaped silhouette, you can also choose a top or dress with an asymmetrical neckline. Lastly, be sure to accessorize to draw attention to your waist and bust: a belt, bracelets, or a long necklace...

Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out:

• What body type do broad shoulders correspond to,
• What clothing should be avoided when trying to slim down your frame,
• Simple shopping tips to choose clothes that flatter you,
• Perfect styles of women's tops for those with broad shoulders,
• What type of dresses, skirts, or even bathing suits to choose to enhance your silhouette.

How Can You Tell If You Have Broad Shoulders?

The width of your frame is not necessarily dependent on your weight: it depends on your body shape. You can be slim and athletic with broad shoulders, or somewhat round with rather narrow shoulders.

To determine if you have broad shoulders, start by observing yourself in a mirror. Individuals with a strong shoulder build are said to have a V-shaped physique: this means they have squared shoulders, a narrow waist, and relatively slim legs.

This is not a flaw! This body type is actually quite typical for athletic women who take care of their bodies and stay active every day. However, it’s perfectly normal to want to minimize shoulder width in order to wear certain dressy outfits or even just to feel good in one's own skin on a daily basis.

Some stars regarded as beauty icons have this type of figure:

• 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 If You Have Broader Shoulders?

Do you want to highlight your neckline and slim down your figure? Here’s a short list of clothing items that tend to have the opposite effect:

• Tops with shoulder pads or embellishments (like lace, embroidery, or beads) on the shoulders,
• Tops with off-the-shoulder designs or a Bardot neckline,
• Form-fitting long dresses,
• Blazers and jackets with reinforced shoulder pads,

👉 Do you want to wear a jacket or top with shoulder padding, or are you required to? In that case, feel free to pair it with a flared skirt or pants that will draw the eye downward and help balance the width of your shoulders.

5 Tips to Tone Your Shoulders

Knowing how to enhance your figure doesn't necessarily require being a stylist or a fashion expert. The key is, once you've identified your body type, to learn the details that can truly complement it.

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

🔸 Opt for tops with wide straps: this will help prevent revealing too much skin between your neck and shoulders and will naturally create a more streamlined look for your shoulders.

🔸 V-neck or generously round necklines are perfect for accentuating your bust: they will elegantly highlight your figure.

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

🔸 A beautiful long necklace is perfect for completing an outfit and drawing attention to the lower part of your body. In winter, you might choose to wear an open long scarf.

🔸 Finally, by pairing a dark top with light bottoms, you'll create the illusion of slimmer shoulders. This works with black and white, but also simply with a pastel top and, for example, a pair of jeans. In the same vein, opt for solid-coloured tops and patterned bottoms (preferably horizontal, if possible).

What type of top to wear when you have broad shoulders?

Some styles of tops are perfect for enhancing a V-shaped body type. These include:

• Asymmetric tops with one shoulder exposed,
• Peplum tops that flare out at the waist with frills,
• Kimono jackets worn loose to accentuate your neckline while balancing your silhouette.

Which Skirt or Dress Should You Wear to Flatter Your Figure?

When you have broad shoulders, you might think that skirts and dresses aren't suitable for you, as your athletic silhouette can make it challenging to find the right fit with these types of clothing. It's true that a fitted maxi dress or a pencil skirt may accentuate the V shape of your body type.

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

• The flared skater skirt, perfect for accentuating your waist and giving your silhouette an hourglass shape, very sensual,
• The bohemian flared dress, fitted at the waist, which creates the same effect as the skater skirt.

👗 To explore more examples of unique outfits that enhance your silhouette, feel free to visit our online boutique dedicated to bohemian fashion. You'll discover flowy and flared garments that are perfect for showcasing your figure. Plus, shipping is free!

Long Bohemian Dress

To draw attention to your waist, you can also wrap a scarf around it or opt for a wide belt, which will give you a chic look by structuring 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 balance your overall look.

👉 Do you prefer pants? In that case, go for a straight-leg bootcut jean or a trendy boyfriend style. Unlike slim and form-fitting pants, these options are great for balancing your frame by echoing its width at the bottom, which helps prevent your shoulders from appearing too broad.

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

Body-hugging and minimal coverage, swimwear is a garment that needs to be selected carefully to accentuate your silhouette. If you have broad shoulders, opt for styles such as:

• A peplum swimsuit, which, like the top of the same name, flares out and enhances your hips,
• A bra, with a cut that is perfect for streamlining your shoulders,
• An asymmetrical bikini that beautifully accentuates your décolletage.

👙 When wearing a bikini, it's best to opt for a short-style bottom, as it highlights V-shaped body types.

I hope this article has helped you discover tips and outfit ideas to help you feel beautiful and comfortable in your clothes. Self-confidence is often a key element in overcoming the little insecurities that can hold us back in life!

If you want to learn more about the asymmetrical dresses and tops mentioned multiple times in this article, I invite you to check out this article I wrote about them, which will help you determine if they might be right for you!