What tends to suit an inverted triangle shape

These are styling options, not rules, and none of them is required. The measurements say how three or four circumferences relate; they do not say what will look better, and this page does not claim that they do. It is organised by the effect you may want to try, or none.

The one fact the outfit is working with

Bust minus hips of 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) or more. That is a statement about two circumferences; the rule does not measure shoulders or front-view width. The options below are organised by intention: add visual weight below, keep the top simple, mark a waist, or put the focus on the upper body. None follows from the measurements.

Bringing the eye down

Full, A-line or pleated skirts, wide-leg or flared trousers, lighter or patterned colour below plain above, and detail at the hip — pockets, a contrast waistband — all add visual width below the waist.

Keeping the top quiet

V and scoop necklines, raglan or dropped shoulders, unstructured jackets and plain tops keep the top simple. Cap sleeves, boat necks and shoulder detail do the opposite, which is not wrong, only the opposite intention.

Making a waist

An inverted triangle result has bust minus waist under 9 inches. A belt at the point you measured as narrowest, a wrap top or a nipped jacket seam marks the waist; combined with a fuller hem it produces the silhouette many guides describe. Neither half is required.

If you would rather use the upper body

Fitted tops, structured shoulders and statement necklines over a straight or slim bottom put the focus on the upper body. A very slim bottom under a very built-up top makes the difference more visible, which is fine if that is the aim.

• The rule and the apple naming problem: inverted triangle body shape
• The other “apple”: apple outfits
• Measuring the bust so the boundary is right: how to measure

References

The rules and figures on this page come from the sources below. Reference values are conventions from the literature, not targets.

1. Simmons, Istook & Devarajan (2004). Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) for Apparel, Part I: Describing Female ShapesJournal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management 4(1):1–16 · JTATM 4(1)Defines the nine FFIT shapes (hourglass, top and bottom hourglass, spoon, triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle, diamond, oval) from bust, waist, high-hip and hip circumferences on 3D body scans of North American women. The rules on this site are this set, as later revised.
2. Sokolowski (2020). Modification of the Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) Formulas to Include Plus Size Bodies3DBODY.TECH 2020 Conference Proceedings · proc.3dbody.tech/2020Shows the 2007 FFIT formulas assumed the waist is smaller than the bust and so failed on many larger bodies; adds the Diamond and Oval rules and a ≥ 0 lower bound to Triangle, Inverted Triangle and Rectangle. This site uses the revised formulas.