Trainers for your body type – styles for hourglass, pear and rectangle shapes

As fashion trends come and go, there are some we love and fully embrace and others we hope will pass quickly.

One comeback that pretty much everyone celebrated was the return of trainers – offering comfort and fashion all in one practical purchase.

There is no shortage of options and inspiration out there, and all of our favourite celebrities – from Beyonce to the Duchess of Cambridge – have been photographed wearing them.

But which trainers should you buy?

Most of us know the clothes that suit our figure, but do you know what type of footwear will be the most flattering?

Susie Hasler, from StyledBySusie.co.uk, has explained the best type of trainers for your body – and it can make a big difference to the overall look.

Dainty trainers

If you have a rectangle or a strawberry body shape, choose dainty footwear that will balance out your shape.

Rectangles are slender with a lack of waist definition – think Duchess of Cambridge, Fearne Cotton, Jennifer Aniston.

While strawberries – such as Cindy Crawford, Salma Hayek, Billie Faiers – are typically broader on the top than the bottom, with narrow hips.

Kate is a rectangle with slender legs and ankles, so is more suited to daintier, more feminine, footwear.

A chunky shoe would overwhelm her silhouette.

Brands such as Superga and Converse are perfect brands for these shapes as they balance out these body shapes.

But rectangles and apples would need to avoid Fila or Puma Calis, for example, because they are too bulky.

White Supergas are dainty enough to flatter very slender frames – their design is timeless. And they’re understated because they’re not covered in lairy logos either.

They are basic enough that they look great with dresses as well as tailored trousers and culottes.

If you’re looking to add curves to your shape and you want something chunkier than a baseball trainer, look no further than a Converse high top.

This style of trainer can add length to the legs if you choose a lighter colour, like Alexa Chung has been pictured wearing.

If you have slender legs and you want to make them look more shapely, choose thinner soles.

Or, if you really want to add curves to your legs, choose a patterned or darkly coloured pair.

Chunky trainers

Bigger, statement trainers are perfect for Pear, Hourglass, Apple shaped.

If you’re not used to wearing chunky trainers or even any type of trainer with dresses, it can take a while to get your head around.

It’s likely your feet will look huge to you when you look down at your feet, but if you look at yourself in the mirror, you’ll see how much they benefit your silhouette and the proportions of your outfit.

If you are an apple shape, narrow shoulders and hips, but carrying most of your bulk around the bust and tummy – such as Catherine Zeta Jones, Pink, Jennifer Hudson – chunky trainers are for you.

The same applies for hourglass figures, perfectly balanced and in proportion, such as Holly WIlloughby and Meghan Markle, or pears, with narrow shoulders, broad hips and small waists – think Emma Willis, Kimberley Walsh, Kim Kardashian.

The beauty of a chunky trainer is that it balances out curves.

For example, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Lizzo have been pictured wearing chunky trainers and they work perfectly for their voluptuous silhouettes.

A dainty Superga or Converse would be too understated for them and not have the same impact.

Chunkier thicker soled styles are great for making the legs and ankles look slimmer. They’re also great if you want to balance out a big tummy.

Puma Cali, Adidas Superstars or Adidas Stan Smiths would be my top picks.