Finding and understanding your body type

Ask Angie: Body Type?

I know this is probably your most common question but what body type am I?

I tried to include a picture but I can't figure out how to attach it! My dimensions are bust=34", waist=30", hips=38", thighs=23" and my shoulders are definitely wider than my hips!

I must have a distorted image of my body because up until I read the body type descriptions on your page, I always thought I was a pear shape. I've been asking family and friends and they don't seem to think that at all. I've always thought of my hips and thighs as very large and have spent most of my life trying to minimize them. But after reading the descriptions, I am leaning towards rectangle or inverted triangle. Any feedback to help me straighten out my self image and dress well for my body type would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

The latest reply was from nadinef45 . You can follow further contributions to the conversation through the RSS 2.0 feed.


14 Replies

Posted 1 year ago

Hi Nadine...One way to help assess your shape is by your sizing. If you wear a larger size on top than on bottom, then you're an inverted triange. If you wear a larger size on bottom than you do on top, then you're a pear. But you could fall somewhere inbetween two or three shapes...so we really do need a photo to help ya out.

Go to http://www.photobucket.com

Activate a membership and upload a photo then post the link to the photo here. Its best to wear fitted jeans and top--like a cami or tight tee shirt.

Posted 1 year ago

Here's a picture of me. I'm the only woman in the picture. Hopefully this helps!

http://i397.photobucket.com/al.....ure085.jpg

Posted 1 year ago

I'd say you're a rectangle....but Angie's the expert....let's see what she has to say.

Posted 1 year ago

Also, in your opinion do I need to be minimizing the size of my hips and bottom half or making it more curvy to balance out my shoulders? I don't know why I can't tell!

Posted 1 year ago

It's kind of hard to tell because of the way your legs are positioned, and it looks like the pocket might be poofing out on the left side which is adding some width to your hips that might not actually be there. I definitely don't think you have big thighs at all. You look like you're a lot taller than me and your measurements are all proportionately bigger than mine, but my thighs are only 2" smaller than yours.

I guess I have to ask: Do you wear a different size on top than on the bottom?

For the time being, I'm also going to guess rectangle, but it would help to see you straight-on with your legs together so we can judge how they relate to your shoulders.

Posted 1 year ago

I will try to post a better picture later.

In the mean time, my bust measures small on sizing charts, my waist large and my hips medium. I tend to wear a size 8 in pants and a medium in shirts but i think that's mostly because of my shoulders and waist.

What shape are you?

Posted 1 year ago

I echo what the other ladies have said, you are probably a rectangle but we'd need a better photo to say for sure.

Posted 1 year ago

Thanks for the picture. I'm afraid I can’t be sure. I’m unable to compare the width of your shoulders with the width of your hips. A straight-on picture in jeans and that top would really help. Hands by your sides.

Posted 1 year ago

here is an updated picture.

http://i397.photobucket.com/al.....0775-1.jpg

let me know what you think.

Posted 1 year ago

Hi Nadine,
Just wanted to say that our measurements are almost exactly the same (or at least they were a few months ago; I can't find a tape measure and just checked the who's who to see what they were) and Angie said I was a pretty pear! I think your thighs are slimmer though so maybe rectangle?

Posted 1 year ago

Hmm I can't decide between rectangle with pear tendencies or pear with rectangle tendencies. I am sure Angie will know though.

Posted 1 year ago

here's another picture. i think the jeans in the last pic are a little tight which might distort my body shape.

http://i397.photobucket.com/al.....0774-1.jpg

Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for taking great pictures! I'd say you're an hourglass with pretty pear tendencies. You are curvy. I don’t see rectangle. You’re not straight. Fabulous jeans!

Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for the feedback! I would have never guessed that!

Posted 1 year ago