I'm a little confused, could someone help?

sunshineseungri

Okay so I'm new with this style stuff, and I'd really like to dress for my body shape, but the only problem is, I'm really confused about it. I've taken my measurements and done the calculators, and I should be a pear (bust: 31, waist: 26, hips: 35) but my shoulders are 35 too, so I'm not sure what shape that makes me. If someone could please help me figure it out, it would be extremely appreciated! (Sorry if I've written this weird or sound dumb, I'm new with fashion/style stuff but I'd really like to get into it. Thank you for anybody who is able to give me any fashion help/tips/advice!)

7 years ago

Body Type

8 replies

Latest reply was from Marina

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Check out the "Advice" tab in the blog, here. There are some guidelines including this: http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....body-type/ I imagine that you'd be an hourglass based on your proportional shoulder and hip measurements--bust size is factored in as a modifier to the basic body shape.

7 years ago

Summer

Veteran

I agree with Emily that you may be an hourglass, but do check out that link, and see which guidelines align best with your body.
Also, feel free to post a picture, if you wish. We'll be happy to give feedback.

7 years ago

Liz

Veteran

It's difficult to determine body type with a number calculator, because measurements are done around a shape, while the shape types as most people talk about them are determined by what your silhouette looks like when see from the front only. Plus, as you've seen, many calculators do not take shoulder size into account -- but shoulder shape is a big factor of determining your silhouette.

Therefore, the best way to determine body type is to take a photo in fitted clothing, straight on, with your arms at your sides. Then look at the silhouette.

7 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm....sounds like we are the same proportionally and I am a rectangle. I am 34 - 29 - 38, so the difference between our measurements, as well as the difference between our bust to waist, waist to hips, bust to hips measurements is exactly the same number of inches. My shoulders are also 38", the same as my hips. I used to think I was a pear, but Angie and others told me I was a rectangle. My height is 5'8", I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Height definitely makes a difference because it "stretches out" the silhouette making it seem less curvy. Based on measurements alone I would guess you are a slim hourglass but you could find pear recommendations useful anyway.

Our measurements are quite similar -- except my bust is a bit bigger (not much, I assure you!) and my shoulders are wider at around 38". Angie typed me as smack between a slim hourglass and a rectangle.

7 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Some people call this an "athletic hourglass" -- it's your shoulders that balance your hips, rather than your bust. You'll probably be able to work with figure-flattery guidelines that apply to both rectangles and "classic" hourglass figures. As Suz noted, these proportions on someone who's 5 ft tall will read very differently than they will on someone who's 6 ft tall, so height is definitely a factor.

7 years ago

Bonnie

Veteran

Not a confusing question at all. I've got a similar measurement differential and have decided that I'm between a rectangle and hourglass. I photographed myself in some of my outfits so see which were more flattering and decided which silhouettes worked best on me. I decided not to worry about choosing a shape category, but pay attention to both rectangle and hourglass advice.

7 years ago

Marina

Active Member

Hello, Sunshine
I understand your confusion. I'm 35-25-40, so theoretically I should be a pear too. Problem is: a "true pear" wouldn't have that much bust/waist difference and a "true hourglass" wouldn't have a visible top/bottom imbalance. At some point I realized bust-waist-hips measurements and body shapes are not really "black or white". I'm not really a pear or a hourglass, but I do have things in common with both - it is not uncommon to be "in-between" two shapes at all. After that I started to focus more on why certain things will favor/disfavor certain shapes to understand what will or won't work for me instead of focus on figuring which shape I'm. Crudely speaking clear/bright colors, patterns and details will draw attention while dark/sober colors and plain/simple shapes will avoid doing so. Horizontal lines will visually enlarge an area while vertical lines will elongate (and longer = slimmer). When an outfit doesn't work for our body is because it's drawing attention to any imbalances/accentuating disproportions instead of balancing them.
From your measurements, looks like you do have well balanced shoulders/hips with a smaller waist, but there is an imbalance between bust/hips and bust/waist difference is not very accentuated. My suggestion for you is: when choosing an outfit start looking where your upper clothes will create your top horizontal line: on your chest (like strapless or spaghetti straps tops or dresses) or your shoulders (like a blazer or shirt). Go with usual pear tips for the first and with hourglass tips for the second (like choosing and empire waist with spaghetti strap dress, but preferring a wrap dress with short or cap sleeves). And last, our vertical proportions and bone structure may affect how our shape looks like, so you may want to give those things a look too. Hope this helps.

7 years ago

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