Hey PI Girls! We are doing a series of posts on “How to Dress for Your Body Type,” asking ladies who have made it work and love their figure. The point is that every shape is beautiful, and everyone should embrace and love the natural beauty God gave them—no matter the size!
In these posts, we are going by the standard sizes in the fashion industry, but understand that they don’t apply to everyone. Hope you find these tips helpful!
See the other body types: “Petite Edition,” “Tall Edition” and “Plus Size Edition.”
Body type: Curvy
Name: Giovonnie Samuels, actress
Question: What are some signs that you’re “curvy?”
Answer: With curves come responsibilities. Just kidding…but knowing what kind of curve you have helps. Are you “blessed” up top and small on the bottom? You’re an apple! Have a little more than junk in your trunk and not so much on top? You’re a pear! Like me, little in the middle, but you have a bit more on top and bottom? You’re an hourglass. If you feel like you don’t have a shape or any curves, you are still a shape. You’re a rectangle!
Question: Who are some of your style icons with your body type?
Answer: Beyoncé, sometimes…depending on what she wears, she looks more like a pear. Scarlett Johansson and Salma Hayek definitely have the hourglass shape—smaller in size, but still very curvy. Jennifer Hudson, big or small, has the hourglass shape.
Question: What are some clothing brands you have found that work well for your body type?
Answer: Jeans for a curvy girl are like a best friend. Hard to find, but when you do, you stick with them! The best place for me to find jeans has been Levi’s because they have a Curve ID for all curvy girl types. Also Target, H&M and Nordstrom Rack. I’m all about the sale.
Question: When and how did you begin to love your body type?
Answer: When I was 14 years old, I was actually embarrassed about my shape, so I covered everything up all the time. It wasn’t until the wardrobe stylist on All That on Nickelodeon showed me the way. Since then I haven’t been afraid to wear color or show my shape.
Question: What are a few tips you’ve found helpful in dressing for your body type?
Answer: Here are some good tips to try:
- Scoop-neck and V-neck tops are great for girls with hourglass and apple shapes. Empress or high-neck tops make you look bigger than what you are.
- Shorter tops that stop around the waistline will show off your hourglass curves.
- Belting is your best friend as an hourglass if you don’t have a tailor, and for rectangle shapes, it gives you the illusion of a waistline.
- Fitted jeans, high-waisted pants or shorts, wrap dresses and A-line skirts are excellent for girls with hourglass and pear shapes.
Find Giovonnie: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Find tips to dress for other body types here:
How to Dress for Your Body Type: Petite Edition
How to Dress for Your Body Type: Tall Edition
How to Dress for Your Body: Plus Size Edition

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I guess I’m considered curvy… I really don’t know. :0
Could you guys do a slim edition? I’m tall but I’m also not curvy :p
I have a question. How do you deal with the dilemma of being petite and hourglass curvy? They contradict each other! To look taller, I need to wear long tops, short tops that work well with an hourglass shape make me look short! Also, anything that makes me look short make me look a lot, uh heavier than I actually am!
Yes!!! I have the same problem! I’m 5’5″ and most of my height is in my legs, so if I don’t play it just right, I look short and stumpy! plus styles that would fix that problem do not accent where my curves are!! I totally understand!
What about that rectangle shape? It’s what I am and I’m not big on jeans, skirts work for me 🙂
Anyone else want a “how to dress for your body type: Extremely tall chick edition”?
I don’t know if I’m curvy or rectangular… I don’t have a lot of curve in my waist (or any… My jeans fit me but are always slipping because there’s no curve there!), but highwaisted pants seem to love me!! I’m more on the curvy side up top (at least for my age and height – I’m 15 and 5’6 or ‘7). Anyone else have this problem?
I really hope they do a kinda tall with a good butt but the torso of a rectangle girl edition lol. Cause I’m five nine but technically be considered hourglass but my waist literally has no definition it’s the shape of a brick! So it’s it’s hard finding my type in these dress for your body things lol.
These really help for the dresses
These really help for the dresses.
Can you do one of these for busty girls, I really struggle to find modest tops because of my bust line. It always seems things end up looking WAY sexier than intended.
As a girl with curves, I appreciate this article! I have an large hourglass figure, but I’m 5’5.
Can you do an article on how to dress a pear shaped body? Thank you!