A quick ? about body measurements and proportions

nicoleb

I was taking my measurements yesterday because they have changed up a bit since i've lost some weight and i remembered...I think it was Mochi(?) saying my shoulders looked in proportion to my hips. So i measured around my shoulders and they turned out to be the exact same measurements my hips are right now....is that part of why my secondary shape is hourglass? Just trying to figure it all out.

In the past i've always just thought of my proportions in terms of bust-waist-hips and for some reason i never measured my shoulders but felt like they were narrow...but now i think i've probably been wrong all this time?

12 years ago

Body Type

11 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

rae

(website)

Veteran

I don't find measurements helpful for body type, because weight can be distributed in strange ways. We aren't 2-dimensional. My weight goes largely front to back, for example, so measurements might show me as a pear even though my silhouette is balanced or even slightly IT if I'm good about running (which I haven't been for some years now).

12 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

i think shoulders:hips is a good indicator that you may have hourglass tendencies.

12 years ago

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

You were on the right track however shoulders width is def important as well. You can usually tell without measurements if your shoulders are the same/bigger/smaller than your hips and it does make all the difference in how you should dress in terms of proportion. Your figure sounds like "athletic" type which has some curves but not as much as hourglass. From what I have seen, this body type usually have same width of shoulders and hips, very much in proportion to each other and slimmer waist.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Nicole, I am also a pear by the standard bust/waist/hip method but an hourglass visually facing forward. Rae makes an interesting point that some of your inches may be in front or behind you (hee hee) and so it's not as obvious face-on.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My shoulder measurement is actually wider than my hips (!! exclamation points because until last year this was never true) but not so much visually so I qualify as hourglass. It's just that not all hourglasses are created equal! I am definitely lacking in the bust department, ahem. I'd say if the measurements are equal you're likely an hourglass but you may have pear tendencies.

12 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

My profile is...flat. I have no booty and my chest is pretty non existent. *tear*

I dunno i still feel like a pear but because of my weight change i feel like *some* hourglass dressing rules i can follow confidently a bit more? Example, i never would of picked that Design History dress last year.

Not that you couldn't rock it being ANY shape you currently are!! I just mean for me to feel confident personally. I hope this is coming off ok o.O

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

TOTALLY okay. I think all of us have had our moments (hours..years...) of body shape insecurity. And it is very difficult to get over old self-perceptions and we tend to carry our imagined shape with us.

12 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Nicole, I think you and I are kind of in the same boat. In some ways, I see myself as a pear, especially when I measure bust/waist/hip; however, if I measure my shoulders, they are just about the same as my hips. Some guidelines for pear shapes work for me; others don't. Some hourglass recommendations also work for me, and others don't. I'm learning to pick and choose.

Most of us have hang-ups of one type or another. Up above, you mentioned wishing you had a curvier bustline. Let me tell you, after a few days of trying on blouses and practically popping out of them all, I'd be much happier with a smaller bustline. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

12 years ago

Anonymous

So many of us are combinations. Weight gain or loss can definitely call for some new guidelines. You can always keep the pear guidelines in the back of your mind, but I would have never pegged you as one. You totally come across as an hourglass to me!

12 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Thanks everyone for the help and thoughts! I went back to Angie's post about body types and read over the hourglass one more thoroughly.

Amy i like your idea of picking and choosing the rules that apply to you while dressing. That makes a lot of sense. It doesn't have to be all cut and dry i suppose as everyone is different.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The body type dressing guidelines are merely guidelines - and a starting point. Take from them what works and filter the rest.

You are a beautiful women, Nicole. That's the most important part to remember.

12 years ago

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