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Trouble Identifying Body Type

hissylizard

Was wondering if I could get some help on my body type. I recently got engaged and need some help pin-pointing my body type before getting depressed trying on dresses, during what should be a joyful time. I've read all the posts on here about the different types and how to dress them...

My measurements and pics below:
Height: 60.5"
Weight: 112
Shoulder (around): 34"
Bust: 35" (32DD)
Waist: 27"
Hip: 35.5"
Shoe size: 4.5 - 5.5 US

http://postimg.org/gallery/2rbd2246/

As indicated above, my main problems are:
1. My shortness - which drives problems 2 and 3
2. Protruding stomach (I have side pics to illustrate)
3. Large bust
4. I have small feet and need to wear US 4.5 in high heels to keep my feet from sliding down, so I often wear flats...but they give me no height

Also, I don't really fit square into a body type. I am not a classic apple, because I have some waist definition...I am busty but have narrow shoulders, so not IT...I have too many curves to be a rectangle. And I don't see myself squarely in any of those letter-types (e.g. X or O), or objects (cello, skittle, etc.).

The kind, objective help I see here is much appreciated...more helpful than my mom or fiance saying "you are what you are, you have a cute figure, and you are too hard on yourself." I struggle a lot with body image because I feel like I am against everything the world consided beautiful by being short, skinny-fat, and pale. I know things could be much worse, so I try to count my blessings.

Thanks for your help.

Body Type

19 replies

Latest reply was from hissylizard

Jenny H

Could you be hourglass?

adorkable

Veteran

Congratulations on your engagement! I definitely know what it's like to be hard on yourself. It's not your body - it's the clothes! (Although goodness knows, once you try on EVERYTHING in the store and nothing fits, it's hard not to feel like a freak - but I'm telling you, it's the clothes that are at fault!)

You look like an hourglass more than anything else to me - based on the measurements, we might actually be built somewhat similarly, although I'm a wee bit taller.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I'm not good at this, but am seeing an hour glass shape. I can sympathize with being short and curvy, I have a lot of the same measurements as you but am a little taller and don't have tiny adorable feet like you. I hope you can start having fun with fashion!

Kristin L

Veteran

Congrats on your engagement! Most people don't fall into 1 body type, and even then there are modifiers to help try to figure out which type they are. If you're not an hourglass, you may be a petite pear with a large bust. Or something like that.

Tina

Veteran

I think your primary body type would be curvy hourglass. What you call a 'protruding' stomach is merely part of the curve(s) of your body. You have a fabulous figure and I'm sure you will find a dress to complement it.
You should have a look at the last post Angie did on dressing an hourglass body type.
Congrats on your engagement!

Gigi

Veteran

I think you may be an hourglass who carries her weight high on her hips. Have you ever looked at Imogen Lamport's figure 8 description? (Everyone on the forum knows that I see figure 8's lurking everywhere! I was so relieved to find that my unusual hip style had a name.)
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-8.html

A lot of people fall into two categories for body type. I myself find it more helpful to think things like: I have hips like an hourglass, a stomach like an apple, etc. And then I pick dressing tips from each type to help me.

Since you are short and short waisted, do you shop petites'? That might be a really good option for you. If it weren't for petites', I'd have hardly a thing in my closet (I am 5'2" and also short waisted).

Also, do you know of the blog Alterations Needed? The gal who runs it has very small feet, like yours, and has reviewed different places to get those small shoes. Jean at Extra Petite (another blog) might have the same issue too; I can't remember. I count myself lucky that I have average-sized feet and so don't have to struggle with shoes.

hissylizard

Thanks everyone. I was not sure if I was really an "hourglass" either because I am wider in the waist than I would like. I feel like a 27" waist on someone my size is huge and with my small-boned frame, makes me feel like I am "skinny fat" (aka high body fat% but normal BMI). I do go to the gym regularly, but I guess not enough to get that enviable sleek, toned look. I wish I could blame the clothes, but I honestly think I am just too flabby.

Gigi, thanks for the blog. I went to those petite blogs and forum and I really felt fat hearing about women who are my height but weigh 90 lb. But even though I am small boned (my wrist is like 5" around), I feel like I would look emaciated at 90 lbs (but many petites can looks healthy at that weight). Do you know of any blogs for people who are petite AND curvy? Didn't do much for my already fragile body image. The Alterations forum has some good tips about shoes. That's going to be a pain finding white heels in a 4.5 to go with my dress. My favorite shoe store is Marmi...they carry shoes all the way down to a 4 :). .

Gigi

Veteran

Sorry about the blogs, hissylizard...I guess I wasn't thinking. :^/ My apologies.

I don't know of any blogs for people who are petite and curvy, but it may be worth starting another post on the forum to that effect. There may very well be someone here who knows of one!

Anonymous

I think a high-hipped hourglass!

Liz

Veteran

For petite and curvy, try

http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/.....be%20today

I wish I could wave my hand and make all your body-image difficulties disappear! Can I ask you to do this? Promise that you will no longer only list what is wrong with your body. That if you start thinking about what is wrong with your body, you also owe it to yourself to list what you have that is enviable: your slender arms, pale skin (yes, I happen to love high contrast skin/hair), your beautiful bust, and your lovely narrow hips, slender legs, and long leg line.

I know you'll want to fight me on that "long leg line" thing because you're so aware of being short. But do you see how your hip bone creates that "high shelf" at your waist? That, combined with your slender legs, makes it look like your legs start way, way up at your waist -- a long leg line. You can really work this to your advantage when you choose and wear clothes.

Aubergine

Veteran

First of all, Hissylizard, you look like a nicely proportioned hourglass who doesn't have a wide waist at all! You actually seem kind of similar in shape to me, only slimmer.

Second, it sounds like I'll have to check out Marmi shoes, as a fellow tiny-footed person! I remember it was a pain finding shoes for my wedding. I eventually ended up with a pretty basic dyeable peep-toe pair.

I do know what you mean about the petite blogs. They're definitely a good resource on brands and things, but I don't look at them much because they can make me feel like I'm the only short person ever who's not a size quadruple-zero or something. I like Wardrobe Oxygen, but don't think I've seen any other blogs by curvier petites.

catgirl

Veteran

I'm not good with identifying body type, but I just wanted to tell you I do not think you are "skinny fat" or that 112 pounds and a 27" waist is in any way outsized! At that weight (and I am very close to your size) I was scrawny to the point of ill health. Not saying that is the case for you or others who are smaller - but I wouldn't even describe you as a curvy girl. Or maybe I'm not sure what curvy means any more?

You look absolutely beautiful and slim to me. Please don't beat up on yourself. Some people are just built tiny and some are not...

I feel I have to overcome my own body dysmorphia issues sometimes. I will always compare to size 00 and criticize myself but will never look at someone larger than me and feel slender in comparison.

hissylizard

Gigi, no worries about the blog referrals. I think the petite blogs have some good info on what to wear for petites, but if you have a variation on that body type, you have to take it all into context. I'm not 95 lb, 32-24-33. I guess I feel pressure that I am too "fat" for my height because if I am as short as I am, I should have these measurements.

I did actually find a resource where someone acknowledges my existence: http://www.insideoutstyleblog......vy-petites . I really like this site. Very thorough and contemplative, which is good for people who are kind of "in-between."

Liz, thanks for the blog, I will have to check it out. Yes, I know I am very hard on myself. And I need to find positive things about my appearance, as you did. I don't know if I am an "8" because in the pics I saw, those women had a more pronounced "dent" or "shelf" in between their hips and waist. While I carry most of my weight in lower stomach, my biggest hip measurement is around the crotch area. I think most of my hip measurement comes from my butt LOL. I also never really considered myself "long-legged" for my height, since I even had to hem petite pants hahaha.

Aubergine, the link to Marmi shoes is: http://shop.marmishoes.com/. They have a few actual stores in the US. They are not the cheapest, but the Vaneli lines are not too bad. I have also seen this brand of shows on the clearance rack at DSW. Like, some size 5 leather boots for $60!

Alaska, yes I have the same comparison problem. I always compare where I come up...short :(. I do think people look best at different weights. I would definitely call myself curvy (I consider"curvy" to mean proportionally large bust and/or hips).

adorkable

Veteran

You are absolutely lovely!

The more you say about your body, the more I think we are built similarly.

I'm short (5'4" on a good day), slim in terms of clothing sizes, but very curvy in terms of both chest size (I wear a 28-mumble - trust me that the mumble covers a letter pretty far on in the alphabet) and hip-to-waist ratio. I also feel very self-conscious about the lower part of my belly (no thanks to polycystic ovaries).

With that in mind, there are a few things that I no longer even try on because I know they don't fit or look good, and trying them on almost never fails to make me feel bad about myself. There are also a few things that almost always look good on me. I'm sharing them as they may be of help to you:

Things I avoid:
* Button-down shirts (except in a VERY relaxed fit, and only for casual dress)
* Most woven tops or dresses
* Anything with underbust seaming or detailing, unless it's cut EXTREMELY generously, and even then it must be knit fabric AND have significant stretch
* Tops that are not fairly fitted at the waist
* Low-rise pants

Things I love (and that love me back):
* Fitted knit tops with cowly necks - examples here and here and here
* Knit dresses, especially fit-and-flare, and in petite sizes (lacking examples at the moment)

As a generally small person with a lot of curve to me, I'm particularly conscious about volume - I like blousy, drapey, voluminous looks on others, but they tend to swallow me AND make me look heavier at the same time.

hissylizard

Adorkable (love your username, BTW ), I think we have a similar shape, and tend to avoid the same kinds of clothes (why do so many petites clothes have boxy waists?!). Though, I saw an extremely busty woman today rocking a button down, so there is hope :).The green cowl looks great on you, nice color. I have been on the fence about very pronounced cowl necklines because they can enhance the bust.

I have PCOS too...hence the issues with my stomach.

April

Veteran

Hourglass.

viva

Veteran

When I looked at your picture, I immediately saw an hourglass -- and a very trim and tidy -- but curvy -- hourglass. As someone who lacks curves, I really appreciate them in others. You have a gorgeous shape. Also, we share the challenge of not having a small waist, so we can commiserate on that. If we must.

I hope that understanding more about your shape helps you start looking for -- and not fretting about -- a wedding dress. Congratulations on your engagement! I am sure the right dress is out there for you and your beautiful shape.

DonnaF

Veteran

Welcome, hissylizard! I think we are similar shapes, but I am .5" taller. (You know how us shorties have to squeeze in every .1 inch!!!) I agree that you are an hourglass, and unlike me, a high-hipped one. Imogene (or one of the other bloggers?) says that with Petite hourglasses, the waist is a little larger, maybe because all the internal organs have to fit in a smaller space, so yup, you can absolutely be an hourglass and have a 27" waist. I also mostly avoid Alterations Needed and Extra Petite because I cannot relate to their 00 bodies and 00 sized out problems. Tiny Euro and probably Asian sized clothing can work for them, but not for my proportions.

Diana here got married last summer, and IIRC she got her gown in the evening wear department; it wasn't an official wedding dress so was a more reasonable price.

hissylizard

Viva, thanks for your kind comments.

Donna, I always felt that since I was short-waisted, there was only so much room for my organs (and fat )to go...except out. My mom is more "rectangle" shaped, but she has always been thin. Most of her height is in her legs. She has the same issue.

Yes, I have heard you can save bundles on a wedding dress if you get a white dress not labeled as a "wedding gown."