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Body Type

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Body Type?

Patricia

What body type am I? When I look in the mirror I see a pear but the pictures i took look kind of like a rectangle. As you can see though I have quite a full derriere which makes it tricky to buy pants that fit. I read Angie's recent post on dressing for the pear shape and lots of those tips work for me but not all.

My measurements are 33-27-38 although my shoulders aren't narrow.

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Body Type

22 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

catgirl

Veteran

I could be biased but you look like an inverted triangle to me! Your shape from the front is broader in the shoulders, yes?

Marmee

Veteran

Okay, I could be biased as well, but I agree with alaskagirl. IT.

Patricia

Well, if I measure across the front of my shoulders it is 15" and if I measure around the circumference it is less than my hips.

Maybe it is the angle that my daughter took the picture from. I"ll have her take another one.

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Liz

Veteran

Our answers are going to be interesting, I think! I see a combination of body types. Perhaps IT from waist up, combined with some low-hipped hourglass or pear. "Low-hipped," meaning your widest point doesn't come on your high hip but your low hip. You might want to draw from several body-type dressing guidelines, depending on what parts of your shape you want to draw attention to.

catgirl

Veteran

Ok that is a new angle. Now you look a bit like forum member Anne - rectangle with IT tendencies on top and pear on bottom? Or is that an hourglass? Sheesh, you'd think I'd be better at this after all this time!

In any case you are very pretty and fit looking!

Patricia

Thanks Alaskagirl that's so kind!!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This body type stuff is so tricky! You are sweet for humouring us with extra pictures.

My best guess is a long waisted rectangle with pear tendencies. You could look at rectangle guidelines for the top, and pear guidelines for the bottom.

Another way at going at this whole business is to ask: where do I tend to have fit problems with my clothes? That can also be revealing.

And welcome!

anne

Veteran

Just what I was thinking Una - you're very similar to me Patricia- almost the same measurements with a long torso, low hips, square shoulders and a fuller bottom. I suspect you are taller than my 5"4, (feel free to look at my forum post pictures)

What I do in practice is what Suz suggested "You could look at rectangle guidelines for the top, and pear guidelines for the bottom" Plus read up on short leg long waisted modifiers (I'll see if I can find the link) They are really the more important factors I think for our body type.

E

Veteran

I suspect most of your hip measurement is in your derriere vs your hip bones, which is why, imho, you look more rectangle-y from the front (my hip measurement around is also bigger than my shoulder measurement, but my shoulders are wider than my hips from a front-on view). Perhaps that's also why some of the pear guidelines work and others don't? You do have strong shoulders. So I'm going to jump on the rectangle primary w pear secondary bandwagon!

anne

Veteran

http://youlookfab.com/2008/05/.....g-waisted/

anne

Veteran

http://youlookfab.com/2009/06/.....g-waisted/
Also maybe helpful from another site. Look up inside out style go to body types and look at X shape. I can't seem to paste the link.

Gigi

Veteran

Anne, I think this is the link you wanted:

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-x.html

Patricia, this is for the hourglass shape (the X shape in Imogen's system), but I think maybe Anne is thinking it would be useful because the X shape carries weight lower on the hip. You can check out other guidelines on that site too (it's a very good site). Imogen calls the rectangle the "H" shape, and the pear the "A" shape.

froggiebecky

Veteran

I'm jumping on the rectangle bandwagon as well, because it looks like most of the weight is behind you (forgive the pun), rather than on either side. You do have strong shoulders, too. I suspect both are due to lots of exercise!

I'd tend to swing a little away from the pear classification because it doesn't look like you have much bulk on your thighs. They're well-shaped, but my eye isn't drawn there. I'm sure you could pick up a few tips from the pear suggestions, though, as it relates to dressing your derriere.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I agree with Suz, and I thought, even before I read the comments, that you reminded me of Anne!

I wanted to encourage you to think of the assets in your body type, as well as the things you have to "dress around." For example, your rear is a great balance to your shoulders. Your long, slender torso lets you wear different rises in pants with little fear of muffin top. Also, I think the body type guidelines work best when we use them as a jumping off point, not an end in themselves, IYKWIM.

Patricia

Thank you ladies!!

Anne - I am also 5' 4" so I will troll through your posts to see some of the things you have discovered. Thanks for those links, they are very helpful.

I did start going to the gym and lifting weights a couple of years ago which has improved my shoulder line and firmed up the thighs and bum but I have always had the booty issue no matter what my fitness level.

My weight is very definitely behind me (haha). I think that is why the fit style suggestions for bottoms with the pears work for me as those pant styles balance out my rear, but the tops don't always. I am not fond of the look of skinny jeans unless I wear a thigh length top with them. I struggle to wear some of the long lean rectangle looks though because my bottom often interferes with the flow and line.

I feel a bit like a body type chameleon as I can follow hourglass because of my shoulders, pear due to the booty and rectangle from the front view.

I will figure out my camera and tripod and get some outfits up to give me feedback.

JulieJohn

Veteran

I like the (wedding?) photo over your right shoulder - it caught my eye. In fact, all your photos are so fab.

Now to your bod - I am pretty clueless but you got some good advice here. You look great, can't wait to see your future posts. I wanted to add that I'm glad you think of yourself in a 3D way, that will be helpful. I have a wide, flat bottom, so kinda the opposite of yours. So much diversity in this human form, no?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am 5'4" also and share some body type similarities. I am actually short-waisted, but I have a long rise, so it can appear that my torso is long although it's actually quite balanced with my legs. And I have a curvy backside and strong thighs. And a square shoulder line. And small bust with a long neck, and short hair.

Angie pegged me as smack in the middle between a slim hourglass/ racy rectangle.

I tend to look at what I want to highlight -- as Beth Ann suggests. And I also more or less follow rectangle guidelines for the top (i.e. recommendations for necklines that work on a small bust, in particular) and hourglass recommendations for the bottom, although because my hips are relatively narrow I can also follow some rectangle guidelines there -- i.e. I don't get the brilliantly easy jeans fit that a true rectangle would get and I don't feel great in cargo pants -- yet I do have a fair bit of flexibility when it comes to trouser and jean styles and can experiment.

rachylou

Veteran

I see rectangle too, with pear tendencies - the pear part meaning you carry some visual weight lower down in the hip area, not on the torso. Makes you look long waisted, or perhaps you are...

I'm apple-y - short waisted, round tum-tum... lol.

Anonymous

Welcome! I think you resemble Anne also in body shape. I hope you enjoy participating here!

anne

Veteran

Great advice hear - and being a body type chameleon has a lot going for it! Lots of flexibility.

Gigi thanks for finding that link for me. I had it up on my phone in another browser window and it just WOULDN"T paste!! Imogen's tips for I shapes are worth having a look at too - a long waisted rectangle look
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-i.html

Patricia

Thanks Anne, I bookmarked those links and will read through those as well. I read up on the post on long waisted and I am not sure that I am . I can only just fit two hand widths between my bust and my narrowest point. It may be that my short legs add to the appearance of a long waist though. I may play around with some of those proportions.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome, Patricia. You are fabulously athletic. Fab tat too.

You are like Auzzie Anne's body double. Pear and Rectangle with a very long waist. So exactly what Suz and Anne said. You are not an IT. xo