How to Minimize Broad Shoulders? Enhance Your V-Shaped Figure!

Do you have broad shoulders and are wondering how to dress? Would you like to know what types of clothing might balance your figure and highlight your best features?

I'll help you out.

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

It’s quite common for women with broad shoulders to look for ways to soften their appearance, aiming for a more balanced silhouette. That’s why I’m offering you 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 your appearance by balancing your figure 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. And don't forget to wear accessories 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 corresponds to broad shoulders,
• Which clothes to avoid when trying to slim 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 swimsuits to choose to enhance your silhouette.

How can you tell if you have broad shoulders?

The width of your shoulders doesn’t necessarily depend on your weight: it’s determined by your body type. You can be slim and athletic with broad shoulders, or a little rounder with narrower shoulders.

To determine if you have broad shoulders, start by looking at yourself in a mirror. People with broad shoulder frames have what is known as a V-shape body type: this means that the shoulders are square, the waist is narrow, and the legs tend to be relatively slim.

This isn’t a flaw! This body shape is actually more typical of sporty women who take care of their bodies and stay active every day. However, it’s perfectly normal to want to reduce the width of your shoulders to wear certain smart outfits or simply to feel comfortable in your own skin every day.

Some stars regarded as ideals of beauty 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 at all costs if you have broad shoulders?

Looking to enhance your décolletage and slim down your silhouette? Here’s a brief list of clothes that tend to have the opposite effect:

• Tops with shoulder pads or embellishments (like lace, embroidery, beads) on the shoulders,
• Styles featuring exposed shoulders or a Bardot neckline,
• Figure-hugging maxi dresses,
• Blazers and jackets with reinforced shoulder pads,

👉 Are you looking to wear a jacket or top with padded shoulders, or is it a requirement? If so, don't hesitate to pair it with a flared skirt or trousers that will draw attention to the lower part of your body and help balance out the width of your shoulders.

5 Tips for Toning Your Shoulders

Knowing how to highlight your figure doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a stylist or a fashion expert. The key, once you’ve determined your body shape, is to understand the details that can enhance it.

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

🔸 Opt for tops with wide straps: this will help to avoid revealing too much skin between your neck and shoulders, naturally making them appear more slender.

🔸 V-neck or wide round necklines are perfect for showcasing your bust: they will highlight your cleavage with elegance.

🔸 The types of clothing that will suit you best are generally those that are flared. Whether it’s a t-shirt, a skirt, or a dress, don’t hesitate to opt for ones that widen towards the bottom.

🔸 A lovely long necklace is perfect for completing an outfit and drawing attention downwards. In winter, you might choose to wear a long, open scarf.

🔸 Finally, by pairing a dark top with light bottoms, you can create the illusion of having narrower shoulders. This works well with black and white, but also with a pastel top and, say, a pair of jeans. Following the same idea, it's best to choose solid-coloured tops and patterned bottoms (if possible, horizontal patterns).

What type of top to wear with broad shoulders?

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

• Asymmetrical tops with one shoulder exposed,
• Peplum tops that flare out at the waist with ruffles,
• Oversized kimono jackets that accentuate your neckline while balancing your silhouette.

What Skirt or Dress to Wear to Slim Down Your Figure?

When you have broad shoulders, you might feel that skirts and dresses aren’t suited to your shape, as your athletic figure can be hard to pair with these types of clothing. It's true that a fitted long dress or a pencil skirt may accentuate the V-shape of your physique.

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

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

👗 To explore more examples of original outfits that will enhance your figure, you can now take a look at our online store dedicated to bohemian fashion. You'll find flowy and flared clothing, perfect for showcasing your shape. Plus, delivery is free!

Long Bohemian Dress

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 look while structuring your outfit. If you have bare arms or shoulders, another simple tip is to wear multiple bracelets, which will naturally draw the eye towards your hips and balance your overall look.

👉 Do you prefer trousers? If so, go for a straight-leg bootcut jean or a trendy boyfriend style. Unlike slim-fit trousers and other skin-tight options, these are perfect for balancing your silhouette by echoing your width at the bottom, which helps avoid drawing too much attention to your shoulders.

What type of swimwear should you wear to flatter a V-shaped body?

Fitted and minimal, swimwear is a garment that must be chosen with care to highlight your figure. If you have broad shoulders, opt for styles such as:

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

👙 When you're wearing a two-piece swimsuit, it's best to choose shorts-style bottoms, as they really flatter V-shaped body types.

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

If you’d like to find out more about the asymmetrical dresses and tops mentioned several times in this article, I recommend checking out this article I've written on the subject, which will help you see if they might suit you!