Medium Shape | Body Matrix Categories
Medium-shape body types are neither very sharp nor very soft. They appear moderate and balanced throughout their figure. This is my guide for if you might be in the medium-shape category
Medium-shape body types are neither very sharp nor very soft in their bone structure. They appear moderate and balanced throughout their figure. This is my guide for if you might be in the medium-shape category and how to dress for this feature
Features
Your shape appears in the bone structure. To be medium in shape means you have shapes which are neither notably straight or rounded in your frame - or, perhaps, you have a mix where the shapes are hard to define as overall round or overall sharp. You might appear somewhere between the traditional “rectangular” and “hourglass” shapes, with a blend of soft and sharp shapes to your shoulders, chest and hips. You can be round or straight at any weight. Essentially, those in medium don’t fit naturally in either the round or straight categories, and neither work for them perfectly. These are some features to look out for:
chest and hips which are neither extremely rounded nor angular
proportionate chest and hips for your figure (neither full nor lean)
shoulders which appear neither very squarish nor very rounded
a slightly defined waist
silhouette which could be described as either slightly curvy or slightly straight
Key style words
When thinking about the lines which work best for your silhouette, these are some key words to keep in mind:
slightly rounded or slightly straight
moderate
balanced
slightly stiff/soft
slightly loose/structured
blended
slightly sharp/curved egges
clean
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How to Style
You don’t have to include ALL of the following elements in an outfit to honour your medium shape, but one to three details will help to create this impression. There are also lots of other elements I could include, but I think this is a good starting point!
Mid waist or subtle waist
Those with medium shapes tend to look their best in subtle shapes which are not extreme, so rather than wearing a very high or very low waist, they look their most comfortable and striking in a mid waist. This works best with their moderate shape. Similarly, rather than a very defined, tight waist or a very loose, obscured waist, having a waist somewhere in the middle with a little definition (eg a fresh tuck) works really well for those with medium shapes as it is more subtle.
A mix of lines
When it comes to moderate shapes, sometimes the effect is clearest when looking at an overall outfit as opposed to piece by piece. To wear a slightly loose skirt, for instance, someone with a medium shape might want to pair it with a slightly fitted top (as opposed to a very loose skirt and a very fitted top - they should still be relatively moderate not extreme in shape). Another example could be be a slightly soft top with a slightly structured pair of trousers to find a middle ground.
Moderate shapes
Your outfit should be a collection of balanced, moderate shapes which are not extreme. The necklines, sleeves, trouser legs, toes etc should be hard to define as straight/sharp/pointed/angular or round/soft/rounded/circular. Your outfit should fall somewhere between softly curved and slightly straight.
Slightly soft/sharp
For any of the medium types, the best word to use when looking for clothes is “slightly”. In the case of medium shape, you are looking for slightly soft, slightly sharp, slightly stiff, slightly draped, slightly loose, slightly tight, slightly squarish, slightly rounded. If any piece you are looking at can be easily defined as ‘round’ or ‘straight’ it is probably too extreme for your shape, but if it is hard to tell either way and it only has a subtle influence of softness or sharpness, its probably good for you.
Celebrities with Medium Shape
Amy Winehouse
Angelina Jolie
Audrey Tautou
Bryce Dallas Howard
Eiza Gonzalez
Ellen Pompeo
Emily Blunt
Emma Roberts
Hayden Panetierre
Hilary Duff
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jayma Mays
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Morrison
Jodie Comer
Kelly Osbourne
Kerry Washington
Lady Gaga
Lily James
Lindsay Lohan
Lisa Kudrow
Lupita Nyong’o
Maisie Williams
Miley Cyrus
Natasha Richardson
Penelope Cruz
Pink
Rachel McAdams
Regina King
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Serena Williams
Tracee Ellis Ross
Vanessa Hudgens
I hope you enjoyed my reminder of my body matrix system and how it works. I have expanded upon my system of The Body Matrix in my book ‘How to Dress Your Best’ which you can get here ! There are also free resources across my website which you can peruse at bodyandstyle.com
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I’m trying to figure out how the woman in the yellow palm tree shirt is medium vs round. Her waist seems clearly defined and her shapes look obviously round vs “slightly round” to me. Could you elaborate more on this example ?