Am I a rectangle or inverted triangle? Something else? - YouLookFab Forum

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Am I a rectangle or inverted triangle? Something else?

smiles33

Hello everyone! I'm a newbie who has decided that it's time to update my wardrobe. Before I do so, I want to make sure I'm investing in quality pieces that will flatter my body type and coloring.

Here's what I know about my body:

- 5'7" and 150 pounds, usually an 8 or 10
- Long neck
- Long torso, though I'm thinking now that instead of being high waisted, I just have a high rise based on a blog post I read here (side note: I had an ex-boyfriend tell me once I have a long flat ass....)
- Small bust
- Do not have a defined waist (I'm 99% certain I'm not an hourglass)
- Average-sized hips and a flat bottom
- Hips and shoulders are about the same width, though shoulders may be slightly wider (hence the question re: inverted triangle)

EDITED because I'm allowed to upload photos now! I still included the first two that I had originally linked to on our family photographer's website, but I'm also going to add one that I took on my cell right before my kickboxing class dressed in tighter workout clothes.

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Body Type

20 replies

Latest reply was from Golden

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I wasn't able to see the pics. Can you try another link?

smiles33

I just edited it to remove some "junk code" the photographer had added to the end of the link which made the blogging platform not recognize the .jpg ending. They work now!

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Gorgeous family! It's still a little hard to tell. Actually you look hour glassy to me.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I think you're a rectangle from the t-shirt shot. But a selfie will help!

I admire you taking professional shots of your family, it's a great idea and I've never done it.

smiles33

Thanks, columbine and ironkurtin! I think the purple dress is more flattering, so maybe that's why I look more curvy there? I really don't have a defined waist (or any curves) which I why I'm so certain I'm not an hourglass.

Ironkurtin: I'm not sure if you have kids, but if you do and you can find a reasonably priced photographer (or just get a tripod), I urge you to take family photos! My photos of the 4 of us are some of my most precious assets because it captures a moment in time of my happy family. Yet it wasn't always this way. My brother and sister-in-law gifted us a photo session with their wedding photographer 4 years ago (after they married) and it took me more than a year to build up the "courage" to book a session and use it. I usually hate seeing photos of myself and am the stereotypical mom who is always taking photos of DH and the kids. But on a parenting board I regularly frequent, there was a poster whose mom passed away and when she went to sort through her mom's things, couldn't find many photos of her mom. She urged all of us to get into the photo with our kids, as our kids won't care if our arms looked flabby, if we have double chins, or if we have dark circles under our eyes. That hit home for me, so I booked the session and now I take a ton of photos, even if I don't like I how look in them. We have had 3 sessions now (one per year) and I love the photos more than vacations or buying things!

This is our most recent family photo from this past summer, but I'm not sure if it will show up here due to my Facebook privacy settings:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akam.....513382388_

ironkurtin

Veteran

Those are great points. For me it's more, my husband just forgets to do it. He and the kid went to Mexico together and he took lots of pictures of stuff to paint and almost none of the kid (insert various irritated and snarky comments from me). Maybe I will force the issue.

smiles33

ironkurtin: that's funny!

I uploaded a selfie while wearing tighter workout gear and it made me realize my hips are smaller than my shoulder width, so maybe I am an inverted triangle after all?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You have a great shape! And I loved those family photos that were up there earlier.

I would say you are a rectangle / IT hybrid, maybe veering more to the IT side because your shoulders are not just wide but also look a bit broad (i.e. front to back or roundness on the upper arms).

Angie distinguishes between a "square" shoulder line and a "broad" one and it's a pretty useful distinction, I find. I can see it in real life at my house.

I'm a slim hourglass/ rectangle hybrid with a strong shoulder line -- from the front my shoulders actually do look a bit wider than my hips. But my shoulders are not broad....my frame is small. So I'm not a real IT.

Meanwhile, my daughter is an IT/ rectangle blend. She's about my height and weighs a few pounds more. Her shoulders are about the same WIDTH as mine -- but are a lot BROADER due to her frame size and musculature.

It's really interesting!

catgirl

Veteran

If you can get a pic straight on with your arms relaxed at your sides it would help a lot. When I take phone pics my shoulders come in a bit like yours are here, but I am a true IT and you can see that when I stand at ease.

N-Marie

Veteran

From your last shot I would say IT. I have a similar body type, but you are taller

catgirl

Veteran

Suz, interesting! What do your am by small in frame? I'm pretty small (ir bones and height). Is frame size part of being IT, or more likely? I often think of small gymnasts or swimmers which is what I'd look like if I were in better shape.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I'm always surprised when people say IT, because that's a really rare body type, and it's odd that there are so many on the forum. Smiles, I don't think you are an IT. I think you are a rectangle with a secondary hourglass.

catgirl

Veteran

Another way I know I'm IT is by fit issues... Shoulder fit is ALWAYS my struggle. Very little problem with fitting bottoms (except for length, of course). I wear a size larger on top. These are all clues although the picture is best!

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....angle-when

smiles33

I find this all fascinating! I guess it just reinforces Angie's observation that we may be a hybrid of body types.

I read that link re IT body trials and tribulations, alaskagirl, and while it made me laugh, I don't think I'm a typical IT. I know one girlfriend who definitely is (size 4 tops and size 0 bottoms) and she does make me think of a swimmer.

Growing up, I always thought of myself as having a boyish/straight figure, as my shoulders aren't that much wider than my hips and I'm not curvy at all (flat chest and flat bottom). But after putting on 20 pounds and having 2 kids, I think I have become curvier (my hips are bigger). So interesting to see these changes and try to figure out what kinds of tops and bottoms I should focus on.

Suz: I am not familiar with the distinction between a square and a broad shoulder line. Couldn't find anything in a quick search on the site (though I did learn that shoulder pads apparently made a come back in 2009!). I do not have a dainty frame, but I also wouldn't describe myself as broad shouldered. I have worn strapless dresses, spaghetti strap tanks, and boatneck/bateau necklines without feeling like I'm overemphasizing my shoulders. I do tend to avoid spaghetti straps & strapless tops now because I have such a long torso and small bust that there's too much exposed flesh.

Anyhow, thank you all for your insight! I'll try to get one of my kids to take a photo of me with my arms down to see if that changes folks' opinions.

K. Period.

Veteran

I agree that your fitted workout wear pic looks pretty much like you are somewhere between a rectangle and an hourglass. Maybe a slim or straight hourglass? Hourglass light? You have a good waist indentation, which I would love to have. And your shoulders and hips look balanced. No burly swimmer shoulders. FWIW, the swimmer's shoulders are the visual that I think most exactly nails an IT!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

You are beautifully proportioned. I think you are a rectangle. That is a great body type, you can wear most things easily.

A long neck and smaller bust (your bust looks average not small to me though) look great with higher necklines. Which is the trend right now.

As for the boyfriend who said you have a long flat ass. Wow, just wow. Good thing he's an ex. I had a boyfriend tell me I was ugly, so shame on those men.

ironkurtin

Veteran

...did you tell that boyfriend that you were asking about your butt, not him? Because if not there's a quick way for him to lose 10 pounds of ugly fat.

shemarie

Great that you can post pictures and I'm following your question with interest! Very interesting discussion r.e. square/strong/broad shoulders...I'd love to learn more, Suz. Sadly, I'm pretty convinced mine are all the above. Like Una, the give-away is in fitting issues. For me, absolutely, positively nothing fits both my shoulders and my waist, even as undefined as that is. I do not own a single blazer or button-up shirt (except silky/blousy things that can be semi-tucked) because anything that hits where a shoulder seam should actually hit is about three or four sizes too big and wide everywhere else. It's like my shoulders are a size 12 and everything below that is a 6. Add being tall and being flat-chested and it's a wonder I can dress myself at all! And don't even get me started on jackets or winter coats. It's a blessing that I live in a very temperate climate and that slouchy, over-sized fluid fits are in. Hopefully shoulder pads are now gone for good. Shudder!

smiles33

LOL: yeah there's a reason he's an ex. To make matter worse, I never even asked him what he thought of my body. It was an unprompted observation that he felt the need to share. I never even realized my butt was long and flat until he pointed it out!

Cocolion: what is an average bust? I always assumed, based on what I see around me (and I'm not in an area where women are surgically enhanced), that a 34B is pretty small. I'm not complaining, as I have friends with DD and larger cups with neck and shoulder pain. But I do recognize that some styles like scoop necks, v necks, and wrap dresses really aren't flattering on me.

Ok I am off to read more about rectangle bodies with small/average bustlines.

Golden

Veteran

You look like a rectangle hourglass combo to me if that makes sense? Great figure btw.