Body shape? Rectangle, yes? - YouLookFab Forum

[photo removed now that several people have answered my post]

I'm *pretty* sure I'm a rectangle, but I'm not *entirely* sure:

My shoulders are broad-- it's almost harder for me to find a blazer that fits in the shoulders than to find a pair of good fitting jeans. Most jackets that fit in the shoulders just flop shapelessly around my torso. (Or vice versa-- a blazer fits perfectly along my torso, but then I can't move my arms because the shoulders are too snug). I don't think I'm an inverted triangle, though.

I'm very flat, all-around. Since I gained thirty pounds in the past few years, I'm finally barely a B-cup. And my butt is pancake flat.

I always gain weight in my thighs first. Even when I'm back down to a nice, thin weight (I have ten more pounds to go, hence the reason I've got some love handles peeking out in the pic below), my thighs are still huge. I've only recently started gaining weight in my lower belly, but you've always been able to see a rib or two up top. Does this mean I'm really more of a pear?

I don't think I can be an hourglass, either, though, because I HAVE to belt anything for me to look like I have a waist at all. Everything pretty much just "hangs" on me if it fits in the shoulders and the hips.

So am I correct in assuming that I'm a rectangle with maybe pear as secondary shape?

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13 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

you actually look like an hourglass to me.

Shoot and Groove

(website)

Active Member

I thought most hourglasses looked like the beautiful Christina Hendricks (Joan, from Mad Men)? http://weblogs.variety.com/pho.....dricks.jpg

I have no chest to speak of, but does that matter with hourglasses? Or is that solely the shape of person from the front view? :-\

DressLover

One of my complaints with most identifying body type methods is the author wants to lump hourglass and full figure into the same category. Being an hourglass is about proportions, not strict bust and hip measurements. For example, did you know Audrey Hepburn was an hourglass? And Angie is an hourglass too.

Anyway, back to the question at hand. I'd say you are an hourglass with pear tendencies since that is where you gain your weight.

Suz

I'd say a very pretty hourglass, too.

From the front you are looking at your shoulder to waist to hip ratio. Bust is irrelevant for this purpose (though not in other ways.) Spoken by another small-busted hourglass.

The reasons that jackets may not fit properly is that you have a relatively slender rib cage. You'll need to pay attention to the cut.

Also, how tall are you?

I'd actually suspect Christina H. of being an inverted triangle. And DL is right... it isn't about boob size, it's about shoulder/waist/hip ratio. Now, within each category are variables. If you are a small busted hourglass, you would have an easier time wearing high neck/ embellished tops than a busty hourglass.

I think you're an hourglass, too. You have a very nice defined waist, and your broad shoulders make up the top half of the hourglass.

Turkey Vulture

I'd say hourglass leaning toward rectangle. it's true that you tend to gain weight in your thighs and hips (me too!) but in terms of your skeletal proportions, your torso is the same width as your hips. You do have waist definition which puts you in the hourglass category, but your ribcage doesn't taper much from top to bottom...you have a pretty straight frame from shoulders to natural waist.

My guess is that styles that look good on hourglasses and rectangles will look great on you, and that you can also pull off pear styles as well! Lucky you, you've got tons of options!

DressLover - I think you're right. I, personally, have always just assumed "full figure" = "hourglass", but I guess that's not always the case!

Suz - I'm 5'5" and have fairly long arms. Do you have any suggestions for blazers perhaps?

Queen Mum - I tend to stay away from higher necklines because my own neck is wider and shorter . . . so it seems I usually have to decide between the lesser of two evils-- showing a bit more decolleté to give the appearance of a longer/leaner neck, or a higher neckline to give the appearance of bigger bust. I generally tend toward the lower neckline. For some reason, not having big boobs doesn't bother me nearly as much as not having a long, thin neck.

I also wanted to add that, when I'm not lazy, and I consistently work out my obliques and ab muscles, I *can* manage to get a much more defined waist . . . I just haven't done that in several years, so I assumed I was kinda "forcing" my body into an hourglass shape. lol. I'm still ten pounds and two sizes over my average weight/measurements, so I bet some of that will come off my love handles and waist as I continue to lose, too.

Sadly, no jacket recommendations; I'm a YLF newbie myself and haven't shopped enough in years to have an educated opinion! But I am sure if you post it in another thread (preferably with some pics) people will help!

Anonymous

Looks like an hourglass to me!

firefly

Just adding to the "hourglass" chorus.

lyn*

Hourglass You have a well-defined waist.

Maybe secondarily rectangle. I think the hip weight gain thing is just part of being a woman.

Thanks everyone. =) Being an hourglass is a bit surprising for me!

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