The Best Office Outfit Formula for Every Body Type

No two of us are shaped exactly the same, so here at Who What Wear, we love to celebrate the many different body types of women. And these beautiful differences definitely affect how each of us dresses on a daily basis. After all, there is no shame in being aware of which areas of your body you want to emphasize or minimize. In fact, it tells a lot about a woman if she knows how to dress in a way that shows off her body in a way that makes her feel most confident—especially in the workplace. Because what better place is there to feel 100% secure in yourself than in the daily routine of your career?

Ahead, we've categorized a handful of very generalized body shapes and suggested an outfit for each should you feel like the described shape aligns with your figure. To preface, the below formulas are merely a guideline based on pieces that women with those particular body types tend to gravitate toward. By no means are these rules or facts. Only you know your body best, we are just here to give you a helping hand should you feel a little lost on what you think feels and looks best on you.

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(Image credit: Collage Vintage)

Curvy With a Tiny Waist: Midi Skirt + V-Neck Blouse

Opt for a midi skirt that will flow away from the tiniest point of your body: your waistline. The pairing of a V-neck blouse will draw the eye down toward your cinched waist.

Slim Lower Body & Carry Weight Around Your Middle: Swing Dress + Cropped Blazer

A swing dress easily flows over your midsection and accentuates the smallest parts of your body, which are your bust and hips. A cropped blazer on top will add structure and a strong focal point up toward your narrower shoulders.

Not Very Curvy & Hips Are Around the Same Size as Your Waist: Pencil Skirt + Wrap Top

Odds are you have strong shoulders and a tiny waist. The best way to show off those assets is with a wrap top that will accentuate your waist and a pencil skirt to show off your straighter midsection.

Curvier on Bottom & Narrower on Top: Formfitting Top + Wide-Leg Pants

If you're looking to draw more attention to the top part of your body, try a more formfitting top and culottes on the bottom, which will most highlight your lower body.

Petite Overall: Mock-Neck Top + Straight-Leg Trousers

A slight mock turtleneck will elongate your petite frame just a bit, and the accompaniment of straight, slim trousers will complement your smaller frame.

Lauren Eggertsen
Editorial Director

"Copy (200 words): Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Where and has worked at the company for nearly seven years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Sydney Sweeney, Lindsay Lohan, and Megan Fox. 


She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, and Milan, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Elle.com, HarpersBazaar.com, and Vogue.co.uk. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.