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What’s This About
These are complete outfit ideas by occasion for a man whose hip and lower torso outline looks broader than his shoulders, the outline usually called the triangle body shape.
Each outfit names the garments and says what each choice is meant to do, for occasions such as:
a board meeting and a spring business lunch
a private members’ club luncheon
a summer garden party and a Mediterranean holiday evening
a weekend brunch and a country estate weekend
an autumn gallery opening and a winter theatre evening
and many more!
The brands are examples of a style of garment, not requirements, and you can apply the same ideas at other price points.
Key Points
01Fit comes first: buy trousers that give the hips, seat and thighs room, then have the waist taken in if it gapes.
02Shoulder structure, spread collars, layers and lighter colours on top are common ways to add presence above the waist, but none has a guaranteed optical effect.
03Darker trousers keep the attention higher, while cream or light trousers put more emphasis on the lower half; both are valid choices.
04Balancing the outline is a common aim, not a requirement, so compare each suggestion in a mirror before you commit.
The triangle body shape, a name from familiar styling usage, describes an outline in which the lower torso and hips look broader than the shoulders.
It is a description of how the outline reads, not a measurement, and it says nothing about weight, health or fitness.
The outfits below are built for occasions, from a board meeting to a winter theatre evening, and most of them use a familiar approach: a little more structure, detail or lighter colour above the waist and calmer trousers below.
That approach is one option if a more even outline is your aim; if you like your outline as it is, wear the outfits for the occasion and ignore the balancing notes.
Fit comes before any of it.
Buy trousers for the hips, seat and thighs first, so they fasten without pulling and the cloth hangs from the widest point of the seat rather than clinging; a waistband that gapes is usually the easier alteration.
Check jackets and knitwear standing and seated.
If your abdomen is also the fullest area of your outline, the oval body shape guide and the diamond body shape guide cover the extra room through the middle, and our triangle body shape guide covers the garment choices in more detail.
The brands named are examples of the kind of garment meant, not the only route to it.
Board Meeting Outfit
Begin with a three-piece suit in charcoal grey wool with a subtle herringbone pattern, cut by a tailor such as Anderson & Sheppard, whose house style uses a soft, natural shoulder line with minimal padding and fullness through the chest.
A soft shoulder follows your own shoulder line; if you want the jacket to add more definition at the shoulder, ask for a little more padding or a roped sleeve head instead.
Either way, check that the jacket closes over the hips without the button pulling and that the skirt of the jacket hangs clear of the seat.
A waistcoat that fits through the midsection without pulling at the buttons keeps the shirt neat under the jacket.
A waistcoat with a lower V opening shows more of the shirt and tie, which is meant to give a longer line through the torso; compare a lower and a higher opening in a mirror.
Warm Weather Alternative: Consider a lightweight wool-mohair blend suit, for example from a tailor such as Cifonelli; mohair cloth tends to hold its shape and feel cooler than heavier wool in warm weather.
Select a white twill shirt with a moderate cutaway collar, from a shirtmaker such as Turnbull & Asser.
If the shirt billows at the waist, back darts or a slimmer cut give a cleaner line across the chest.
A cutaway or spread collar opens outward towards the shoulders, which many people find draws the eye wider at the top of the outfit.
Add a diagonal-striped tie in aubergine silk jacquard, such as one from Tom Ford, in a width that sits in proportion with your lapels.
The diagonal stripes add movement to the shirt front, and the tie itself forms a long, narrow line down the centre of the torso.
Finish with John Lobb William II double monk-strap shoes in black calf leather; a shoe with a substantial profile sits comfortably under fuller trouser legs.
Add a paisley pocket square in tonal greys with touches of lavender, such as one from Brunello Cucinelli, and a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G in white gold.
Private Members’ Club Luncheon Outfit
Wear a navy blazer in a wool-silk blend, such as one from Loro Piana, with a softly structured shoulder that is meant to add a little breadth without obvious padding.
The slight sheen of a wool-silk cloth can add some interest to the upper body.
Warm Weather Alternative: Switch to a lightweight blazer, for example from Zegna, and tropical weight wool trousers, which keep a tailored look while wearing cooler.
Layer over a white cotton-poplin shirt with subtle Bengal stripes, from a shirtmaker such as Charvet, with a moderate spread collar.
Vertical stripes are often suggested for a longer line, although controlled studies of striped clothing have found effects in both directions, some the reverse of the usual advice, and none that settles a rule, so wear the stripes because you like them.
Olive cavalry twill trousers, such as those from Ralph Lauren Purple Label, cut with room through the seat and thigh and a slight taper below the knee, finish the outfit.
A mid to dark trouser keeps the attention on the blazer and shirt if that is your aim; the summer outfits below show the lighter option.
If a taper makes your hips look broader by comparison, choose a straight leg instead.
Add a Drake’s burgundy grenadine silk tie and a Cartier Santos watch in stainless steel.
A sterling silver collar bar, such as one from Dunhill, lifts the tie knot and adds a small horizontal line at the collar.
Summer Garden Party & Yacht Club Soirée Outfit
Choose an azure blue blazer in a linen-silk blend, such as one from Loro Piana.
A structured shoulder line is meant to add breadth at the top, and the light cloth keeps the blazer comfortable in summer.
Layer over a pink Egyptian cotton shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons, from a shirtmaker such as Charvet, with a moderate spread collar.
A light shirt and a bright blazer bring colour up towards the face and shoulders.
Evening Alternative: For cooler evenings, add a lightweight cream cashmere jumper, such as one from Tom Ford, draped over the shoulders, which also adds a little width at the top of the outfit.
Cream cotton-silk blend trousers, such as those from Brunello Cucinelli, with a subtle taper and turn-ups, suit a summer garden party.
Cream trousers put more emphasis on the lower half than dark ones, so this outfit suits you if you are happy with that; make sure the seat and thighs have enough room for the cloth to hang rather than pull, and choose stone or mid-grey trousers if you would rather keep the attention higher.
Accessories: A Turnbull & Asser silk pocket square in geometric paisley featuring complementary azure and pink tones.
Complete with a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony in rose gold and tortoiseshell sunglasses from Tom Ford.
Weekend Brunch Outfit
Wear a charcoal grey cashmere crew neck, such as one from Tom Ford, cut with some ease through the body.
A denser knit structure holds its shape at the shoulders and skims rather than clings over the midsection.
Warm Weather Alternative: Replace the cashmere with a cotton-silk blend polo in grey mélange, such as one from Loro Piana, with a collar firm enough to keep its shape and a body that skims rather than clings.
Add light wash selvedge denim, such as a pair from Brunello Cucinelli, with a straight leg.
A straight cut falls from the widest point of the thigh instead of narrowing towards the ankle, which many people with a broader hip outline prefer to a skinny fit.
A light wash puts more emphasis on the legs than a dark one, so choose a darker wash if you would rather keep the attention on the knit.
Finish with Common Projects Original Achilles low-top trainers in white leather, aviator sunglasses, for example from Tom Ford, and a Hermès H Guillochée belt buckle on a 32 mm black leather strap.
Country Estate Weekend Outfit
Begin with a white Sea Island cotton crew neck T-shirt, such as one from Sunspel, as a smooth base for layering.
Layer with a light wash denim shirt worn open; the two open front edges form long vertical lines down the torso.
A shirt with a firm collar and chest pockets adds detail and a little bulk to the chest.
Top with a sage green cotton Ventile jacket, such as one from Private White V.C., with epaulettes and bellows chest pockets that add detail at the shoulders and chest.
Choose dark chinos or straight-leg jeans with room through the seat and thigh to go underneath.
Wet Weather Alternative: Substitute a Barbour Sapper wax jacket in olive, which has similar military details; the waxed cotton keeps its shape and keeps the rain off.
Complete the look with Crockett & Jones Chiltern chukka boots in snuff suede and a Mulberry messenger bag in oak natural grain leather.
Add a vintage Rolex Explorer for understated luxury.
Spring Business Lunch Outfit
Choose a lightweight blazer in basket-weave wool-silk-linen, such as one from Loro Piana; the textured weave adds interest above the waist, and a lightly structured shoulder keeps a tailored line.
Warm Weather Alternative: Opt for an unlined jacket in a fine, lightweight wool, such as one from Kiton; an unlined jacket gives up some structure in exchange for wearing cooler.
Layer over a sky blue Oxford cloth button-down shirt, from a shirtmaker such as Turnbull & Asser.
The soft roll of a button-down collar suits a business lunch, although it sits closer to the neck than the cutaway in the board meeting outfit, so it adds less width at the collar.
Wear it with mid-grey or navy trousers that have room through the seat and thigh.
Add a printed silk pocket square from Rubinacci and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch.
Complete with Edward Green Dover split-toe derby shoes in dark oak antique calf.
Mediterranean Holiday Evening Outfit
Choose a camp collar shirt in sky blue Irish linen.
A camp collar lies open and flat against the shirt, which can draw the eye outward towards the shoulders.
Evening Alternative: For cooler evenings, add an ivory cashmere-silk cable knit jumper, such as one from Loro Piana, draped over the shoulders, which also adds a little width at the top of the outfit.
Pair with linen-blend trousers in natural ecru, such as those from Orlebar Brown, cut with a relaxed leg that hangs from the hips without clinging.
As with the garden party outfit, the light shade puts more emphasis on the lower half; a relaxed cut that does not pull at the seat or thigh is what keeps the line clean.
Add dark brown woven leather sandals, such as a pair from Tom Ford, and a Cartier Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold.
Complete with Oliver Peoples Gregory Peck sunglasses in tortoiseshell.
Autumn Gallery Opening Outfit
Layer a John Smedley Merino roll-neck in charcoal underneath a tweed sports jacket in earth-toned check, such as one from Huntsman, with structured shoulders.
The check adds interest above the waist, and the structured shoulder is meant to add width across the top of the outfit.
Transitional Weather Alternative: Replace the roll-neck with a Charvet cotton oxford shirt and add a lightweight Johnstons of Elgin cashmere sleeveless jumper in charcoal for layered sophistication.
Add a cashmere scarf in tonal greys, such as one from Begg & Co, whose drape adds some volume around the neck and shoulders.
Complete with Edward Green’s dark brown suede Shanklin chukka boots and tobacco moleskin trousers, such as those from Cordings; a mid to dark trouser keeps the attention on the jacket.
Add a vintage Omega Constellation for old-world charm.
Winter Theatre Evening Outfit
Wear a navy wool peacoat with peaked lapels, such as one from Crombie, with a firm shoulder.
The double-breasted cut adds width across the chest, and the peak lapels point outward and upward, which many people find draws the eye towards the shoulders.
Check that the coat buttons over the hips without pulling.
Indoor Alternative: Indoors, the coat comes off and the knitwear beneath carries the outfit on its own.
Layer a chunky cable knit cardigan in oatmeal cashmere, such as one from Johnstons of Elgin, over a Fair Isle jumper in tonal blues.
Two knits add bulk above the waist, which is one way to add presence at the top if you want it; if the pair feels too warm or too bulky, wear the jumper alone.
Balance with Loro Piana cavalry twill trousers in dark brown or Drake’s chocolate brown wide-wale corduroy.
Complete the ensemble with Dents cognac leather gloves lined in cashmere, a matching William Lockie cashmere beanie, and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date timepiece.
Taking Your Wardrobe Further
These outfits are a starting point, and you can adapt any of them to your own wardrobe and budget.
The fit does most of the work.
Professional styling is mostly a matter of getting the fit right and then choosing clothes that suit the occasion.
Knowing which body shape description fits you and which colours you like near your face can make the choosing quicker; neither is a prerequisite for dressing well.
Our guides also cover styling by occasion, location, season and time of day, garments, footwear, accessories and heritage fashion brands.
You can explore your body shape, your colour preferences and your fashion style yourself, for free.
The fourth step below is a paid service, and the first three do not depend on it:
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments suit different silhouettes, so knowing your proportions is a useful starting point, though it is not something you have to settle before you can dress well.
To compare your proportions with the seven descriptions, take our body shape quiz for men.
The colour quiz below is separate, and you can take it first, later or not at all.
2. Find Your Seasonal Colours
The garments that make up your outfits come in many colours, and you may prefer some near your face more than others.
Comparing them is what a seasonal colour palette is for, and you can try it by taking our seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Fashion Style
The third quiz is about personal fashion style, and it stands on its own whether or not you have taken the other two.
Take our fashion style quiz for men; it suggests styles, outfit ideas and fashion brands to explore.
4. Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
For personal help, you can book paid consultations with our image consultants and fashion stylists.
Our styling services for men page lists the paid consultations.
Wearing luxury brands isn’t enough on its own: what makes an outfit work is how the garments fit you and how they suit the occasion.
Knowing your proportions and the colours you like helps, and our personal style guide covers the rest, but none of it is a prerequisite for getting dressed well.
For more on labels, see our guide to logo-heavy luxury brands and how to wear them.
Contact us if you would like to ask about a consultation.