A definitive guide to choosing viscose for your body type.
This article is designed to help you, the reader, understand how to pick the right viscose clothing for your body type. Viscose is a versatile fabric with a luxurious feel, but its drape and weight can dramatically impact how it looks on different figures.
What is Viscose?
Viscose is a semi-synthetic fabric, which means it is made from wood pulp. Viscose is a popular choice for clothing because it drapes well, is breathable, and is relatively inexpensive. It has a silky feel and is often used as a substitute for silk. Viscose is also known as rayon.
Choosing Viscose for Different Body Types
Understanding your body type is the first step to choosing the right viscose clothing. The following are some common body types and how to dress for them.
The Hourglass
An hourglass figure is characterized by a well-defined waist, with the hips and bust being roughly the same size. The goal for this body type is to highlight the waist.
- Dresses: Choose dresses that cinch at the waist, such as wrap dresses or A-line dresses with a belt. The drape of viscose will beautifully accentuate your curves without adding bulk. Avoid shapeless, baggy dresses that will hide your figure.
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Tops: Look for tops that are fitted at the waist. Peplum tops or blouses with a tie-waist are excellent choices.
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Skirts: Pencil skirts or A-line skirts work well. The fluidity of viscose will create a flattering silhouette.
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Pants: High-waisted pants with a wide leg or a straight leg will emphasize your waist and create a balanced look.
The Apple
An apple body type carries weight around the midsection. The goal is to create the illusion of a waist and draw attention to the legs and bust.
- Dresses: Choose dresses that flow away from the body from the bust down. Empire-waist dresses are a great option, as they are fitted at the bust and then flow outward. The soft drape of viscose will be perfect for this style. Avoid dresses that are tight around the waist.
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Tops: Opt for V-neck or scoop-neck tops to draw attention to your neckline and décolletage. Tops that have a slight flare at the bottom will also help to skim over the midsection.
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Skirts: A-line skirts are a fantastic choice, as they create a balanced look by adding volume to the lower body.
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Pants: Choose pants with a straight leg or a slight flare at the bottom. This will help to balance out your upper body. Avoid skinny jeans or leggings, as they can make your legs appear disproportionately small.
The Pear
A pear body type is characterized by wider hips and thighs, with a smaller bust and waist. The goal is to balance the upper and lower body by adding volume to the upper body and minimizing the lower body.
- Dresses: A-line dresses or dresses with a flared skirt are excellent choices. They will beautifully skim over the hips and create a flattering silhouette. Look for dresses with details or embellishments on the top, such as ruffles or a statement collar, to draw the eye upward.
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Tops: Opt for tops with shoulder pads, ruffles, or bold prints to add volume to your upper body. Off-the-shoulder tops or boat-neck tops are also great options to broaden the shoulders.
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Skirts: A-line skirts or full skirts in a darker color will minimize your hips. The soft drape of viscose is ideal for this style.
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Pants: Choose dark-colored pants with a straight or wide leg. Avoid skinny jeans or pants with a lot of detail or pockets on the hips.
The Rectangle
A rectangle body type is characterized by a straight, athletic figure with no defined waist. The goal is to create the illusion of curves and a waistline.
- Dresses: Choose dresses with a belt or a defined waistline. Wrap dresses or dresses with ruching at the waist are also great options. The fluid drape of viscose will help create a softer, more feminine look. Avoid shapeless dresses that will hide your figure.
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Tops: Look for tops with ruffles, draping, or other details to add volume to your bust. Peplum tops or tops with a tie-waist will also help to create a more defined waistline.
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Skirts: Flared skirts or pleated skirts will add volume to your lower body and create the illusion of a curvier silhouette.
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Pants: High-waisted pants with a wide leg or cargo pants with pockets will add volume to your hips and create a more balanced look.
The Power of Draping and Fabric Weight
The beauty of viscose lies in its draping quality. It flows and moves with the body, which is what makes it so flattering. However, the weight and weave of the viscose can make a big difference.
- Lightweight Viscose: This type is thin and breezy, perfect for summer dresses, blouses, and skirts. It drapes very fluidly and can be great for creating a soft, feminine silhouette. If you have an apple or pear body type, a lightweight viscose can be a great choice because it will skim over your problem areas without adding bulk.
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Medium-Weight Viscose: This is the most common type of viscose and is used for a variety of clothing, including dresses, blouses, and pants. It has a good balance of drape and structure and is versatile enough for all body types.
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Heavyweight Viscose: This type is thicker and has a more substantial feel. It can be used for tailored clothing, such as blazers, pants, and heavier dresses. This type of viscose has more structure and can be a good choice for creating a more tailored, polished look.
The Role of Color and Pattern
The color and pattern of your viscose clothing can also affect how it looks on your body.
- Dark Colors: Dark colors are known for their slimming effect. If you want to minimize a certain area of your body, choose a dark color for that piece of clothing. For example, if you have a pear body type, you can wear a dark-colored skirt to minimize your hips.
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Light Colors: Light colors can make you appear larger. If you want to add volume to a certain area of your body, choose a light color. For example, if you have a pear body type, you can wear a light-colored top to add volume to your upper body.
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Small Prints: Small prints or patterns can be very flattering and are great for creating a balanced look. They don’t draw too much attention to any one area of the body.
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Large Prints: Large prints can make you appear larger. If you have a pear body type, avoid large prints on your lower body. If you have a rectangle body type, you can wear large prints to add interest and create the illusion of curves.
The Importance of Fit
The fit of your viscose clothing is crucial. Because viscose is a drapey fabric, a poor fit can be very noticeable.
- Don’t Go Too Tight: Viscose clothing should not be skin-tight. It should drape and flow over your body. A tight fit can be uncomfortable and unflattering, as it will highlight every lump and bump.
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Don’t Go Too Loose: While viscose should drape, it shouldn’t be so loose that it looks baggy or shapeless. You want the fabric to follow the natural lines of your body.
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Find a Good Tailor: If you find a piece of viscose clothing that you love but the fit is not perfect, don’t be afraid to take it to a tailor. A good tailor can make small adjustments that will make the garment look like it was made just for you.
Practical Examples for Each Body Type
To make this information even more actionable, let’s walk through some specific, practical examples for each body type.
Hourglass Examples
- Dress: A deep-red viscose wrap dress with a V-neckline and a tie-waist. The fabric drapes beautifully over your curves, and the tie highlights your narrowest point. Pair it with a simple gold necklace and black heels for an elegant evening look.
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Top: A black viscose peplum top with a subtle sweetheart neckline. The peplum flares out from your waist, drawing attention to your defined midsection. Tuck it into a high-waisted pencil skirt in a bold print to create a perfect balance.
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Pants: High-waisted, wide-leg viscose pants in a cream color. The high waist emphasizes your small waist, and the wide leg flows gracefully, giving you a chic, sophisticated look. Pair with a fitted, scoop-neck top.
Apple Examples
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Dress: An emerald-green viscose empire-waist maxi dress. The dress is fitted at the bust and then flows down, skimming over your midsection. The V-neckline draws attention to your décolletage. Wear with wedge sandals and a statement earring.
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Top: A navy viscose tunic with a subtle A-line shape and a deep V-neck. The tunic style flows away from the body, and the V-neck draws the eye upward. Wear it with dark-wash straight-leg jeans.
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Pants: Black viscose straight-leg pants with a flat front. These pants will help to create a clean line and balance your upper body. Pair with a flowy, colorful top.
Pear Examples
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Dress: A cobalt-blue viscose A-line dress with a boat neck and short sleeves. The A-line shape skims over your hips, and the boat neck helps to broaden your shoulders. Pair with a chunky necklace to draw the eye upward.
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Top: A crisp white viscose blouse with ruffles on the shoulders and a subtle print. The ruffles add volume to your upper body, and the blouse can be tucked into a dark-colored skirt to create a balanced look.
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Skirt: A black viscose pleated midi skirt. The pleats add movement and drama, and the dark color minimizes your hips. Pair with a brightly colored, fitted top to draw attention to your upper body.
Rectangle Examples
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Dress: A blush-pink viscose dress with a built-in belt and a flared skirt. The belt cinches in the waist to create the illusion of curves, and the flared skirt adds volume to your lower body. Pair with a thin belt in a contrasting color to further define your waist.
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Top: A deep purple viscose blouse with a mock neck and dramatic draping across the chest. The draping adds volume and interest to your bust area. Tuck it into a high-waisted, pleated skirt to create a beautiful, feminine silhouette.
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Pants: High-waisted paperbag-style viscose pants in a camel color. The paperbag waist adds definition and volume to your midsection, and the wide-leg cut creates a more balanced, curvy look. Pair with a fitted, off-the-shoulder top.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Viscose
Viscose is a beautiful and versatile fabric that can be a fantastic addition to any wardrobe. By understanding your body type and how the unique properties of viscose can be used to your advantage, you can choose pieces that not only look amazing but also make you feel confident. The key is to select garments that work with your body’s natural shape, using the fabric’s drape, weight, and flow to create the most flattering silhouette.