Biting the bullet: what body type am I?

The first photo is just a lame WIW. But there's no way I wanted a picture of me in Tshirt and leggings showing up on the YLF home page! Yikes...

I think I am a rectangle with pear tendencies. Or is it the other way around? Or am I better balanced than I thought, with the extra gut turning me into an apple?

I think of myself as a rectangle because of my lack of a defined waist. But I have historically been a smaller size on top than on the bottom, which is why I think I have pear tendencies. I also don't have the lean limbs (!) and small bust which rectangles normally have, which rather adds to my confusion.

So what say you? And while we're added, did wearing a form-fitting top with these slouchy pants make them a little more successful? I'm only giving them till the end of August or thereabouts before retiring them, but I would still like to know what you think. I'm not overly fond of the outfit either way, but I'm not going out today, so I'll save the better ones for another time. ;o) If I do have to run out, I'll put on a better pair of sandals, to up my game a bit.

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11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's a bit tough to say from the pics, but to me you look as if you could be an hourglass. If your shoulders are approximately as wide as your hips, that would be it. I DO see a waist there (and a pretty one) despite your argument to the contrary.

In pic 2 your shoulders look a bit narrower than your hips (which would explain why you think you have pear tendencies) but it could just be the way you're holding your arms.

What pretty colours on you!

Well I guess we all agree I'm not an inverted triangle, LOL! On the measurement charts, bust and hip sizes usually line up fairly well, but my waist is several inches bigger. It would just figure if I'm such a mishmash I don't fit any particular body type. I never manage to be standard anything...

I do thank you for the kind words, Suz.

Keix

I would call you a rectangle with apple tendencies, because I'm not really seeing a pear shape in your pics. I also wear a larger size on bottom than on top, but I carry weight in my rear and thighs rather than my hips, so my front profile is still very much rectangular.

Parsley

Hi JR,
I think you and I have similar body types, and I never know what to call myself, either.
Right now I'm calling myself an apple with rectangle tendencies, but you may have more of a defined waist than I do, so maybe you're the opposite. I don't think you're a pear.

I think your white pants are just too big, and it's time to take them in or replace them to show off your new slimmer figure. Anyway, what a good problem to have!

Anonymous

First of all, I think the red top looks great with the white clams. Is that the outfit you're referring to? Very spiffy!

I think you are between a rectangle and an hourglass. If you have a certain area that's hard to fit, you can always borrow another body type's dressing guidelines for that. I'm similar to you, and sometimes I steal tips for the apple because I have a pooch I want to disguise.

Great job making your things work until the next season or size rolls around! The white pants look really cute cuffed like that.

Parsley, yes the pants are too big. I am embarrassed to admit they're a recent purchase too, but I wanted something that would fit immediately and was afraid to size down. I should have sized down. They were loose to begin with and just a few pounds down makes them look really baggy. Oh well, at least they weren't expensive. You are right, I have very much enjoyed having this problem. ;o) I've renewed everything a couple of times over now, so if I've had something over a year, it's one of the veterans in my closet. Still another fifteen pounds to go, at least, so it's not over yet.

Claire, I hear you on the pouch issue. I am seriously considering a tummy tuck when this is all over, I will have so much excess skin. I bought both the shirt and the pants to wear for Canada Day... LOL! With white sneakers and red laces. So terribly tacky, but fun.

Tina

Just chiming in to cheer you on! I think you look great but if you have a goal then go for it!
As to body type, I say rectangle with apple tendencies as well.

CocoLion

I say hourglass with apple tendencies. Just because you are so balanced, that's the hourglass, and also having a bust.

FYI I have a smaller pants size than top size but am still an hourglass with pear tendencies. It's about the width, from a front view, of my hips and thighs which are quite curvy. So it's more about the front silhouette than the measurements or size.

biscuitsmom

I'd say hourglass w/rec tendencies also.... those colors are great on you and just wanted to say Im so glad you joined YLF- really enjoy your posts!

Glory

I am to new to know anything about body types but want to say you look great in the white bottoms with red t.

Gaylene

I'd go with the rectangle/hourglass. I've always thought an apple had more of a rounded tummy area when viewed from side while you look fairly straight through the mid-section in the side photo.

And, wow, do those colours look fabulous on you!

Jem

I'll add my vote to rectangle, too. I don't see pear, at all. BTW, congrats on the weight loss! It's alot of work but you are doing amazing!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

JR, if you could take photos with your arms down and from the front in form fitting attire - that would really help.

Thank you everybody for the kind words. Reds have always been very kind to me. The green T in real life is much greener and less flattering than in the picture, which has skewed it more towards blue. And I really think that most bright colours look better with some white to play off of. I usually include some white flowers in every flower bed for this very reason. The other colours just seem to get happier.

Angie, will do. Somehow it was stuck in my mind we were supposed to do this with our arms up. And I think I will not wear a Tshirt; it seems to make it harder to judge shoulder width. I'll start a new thread when I do to make it easier to monitor.

mrseccentric

Hi JR! you don't have to start a new thread - there should be a button at top right of your OP that says 'Edit', press that and you can add words, pictures, etc. Many members add "ETA: New Pics" (ETA = Edited To Add) to the subject line. This way can make it more clear that it's part of the same convo, but to each their own

ETA: some ladies like to put a link to the previous thread in the OP (Original Post) of the new thread, that's popular too.

new pics should really help! Also, i find it's possible to 'reverse engineer' your body type. Just try out the most likely dressing/styling recommendations for the body type you think you might be and see how they work. If you like the result, try more for that body type - if not, try recs for another type.

This way you can start getting some ideas even if you're having a hard time figuring out what body type you are. Besides, in real life the recommendations for any particular type don't work for every individual woman in that type - you have to try them out anyways. HTH! steph

MrsE, that reverse engineering idea is pure genius. I am actually planning a try-out session one of these days, to find what kind of dresses - if any - fit and flatter me now. That should probably help me a lot.

And you are so right that we have to do our individual experiments in any event. It's just that if I have a better starting point, it will take me less time to get good results. :o) Which is why I appreciate all the tips around here.

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