The 5 Body Shapes: Our Personal Styling Philosophy

When women book a personal styling session, the most common thing they say is:
“I just want to understand what actually works for my body.”

At Sweet Elaine Boutique, we believe great style doesn’t start with trends—it starts with body shape. This belief is the foundation of how we style women both in person and remotely, and it’s the reason our approach feels different from traditional shopping or online styling advice.

Body Shape Is Skeletal — and That Changes Everything

Our philosophy is simple: body shape is skeletal. It’s determined by bone structure, not weight, age, or the number on the scale. While bodies can fluctuate, your underlying body shape stays consistent unless it’s altered surgically.

This matters because when women think their body is constantly changing, they blame themselves when clothes don’t work. In reality, it’s often the cut of the clothing or the trend of the moment that’s wrong—not their body.

Understanding your body shape removes frustration and replaces it with clarity.

The Five Body Shapes Explained

In personal styling, we work with five core body shapes:

• Apple: Fuller through the midsection with a broader upper frame.
• Pear: More width through the hips and thighs compared to shoulders.
• Hourglass: Balanced bust and hips with a defined waist.
• Rectangle: Shoulders, waist, and hips are relatively aligned.
• Inverted Triangle: Broader shoulders with a narrower lower body.

These aren’t labels and they aren’t limitations. They’re tools. Knowing your body shape helps explain how fabric naturally falls on your frame, where visual balance is created, and why certain silhouettes consistently feel better than others. Most women clearly lean toward one primary shape, which becomes the foundation for smarter shopping and easier outfit building.

What Is Style Tips Tuesday?

Style Tips Tuesday is our weekly educational series created to help women feel confident getting dressed. For years, we’ve used this platform to teach the same concepts we use in our private styling sessions—body shape, proportion, fit, balance, and real-life styling strategies.

Each tip builds on the next, because style isn’t about memorizing rules. It’s about understanding why something works so you can make confident decisions on your own, whether you’re shopping in-store or online.

Style Tips Tuesday started in our VIP Group on Facebook but over the years it has become clear, all Sweetlifers can benefit from the information. That's why on our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook almost every Tuesday, we publish a tip to educate.

Follow these pages here: facebook.com/sweetelaineboutique & instagram.com/sweetelaineboutique

Work With a Personal Stylist — In Person or Remotely

If you’re ready to move beyond general advice, we offer private personal styling sessions, available both in person and remotely. These sessions are tailored specifically to your body shape, lifestyle, and wardrobe needs, so you can stop guessing and start dressing with intention.

If you prefer to learn at your own pace, our styling ebook dives deeper into body shape, proportion, and how to shop with confidence—using the same philosophy we teach our clients one-on-one.

Because personal style isn’t about having more clothes.
It’s about having clarity.

👉 Book an in-person or remote personal styling session
👉 Download the styling ebook to learn more