Wow, ladies, thank you so much for all the responses! I much appreciate all the conversation going on here. There is so much I want to say, and will, just not right this very moment as I have some repairmen in my apartment to deal with. But shortly, I will write so much more!

I do want to express my gratitude for all the kind comments about my scar. Dressing wise, I will have to keep it covered for at least the first year when out of my apartment, per doctor's recommendations, to protect it from the sun. After some time, when it fades and the swelling is hopefully gone, I will probably feel more comfortable leaving it uncovered. The pictures are different, as I want to post many soon with various necklines, which is tough to do with the neck covered.

Also, and don't laugh at me, how do I determine if I have a large head or not? I seriously have no clue. Should I post a photo, or is there some exercise, or...? Of course, just asking this question makes me giggle a like a school child during birds and bees conversation.

It seems that the opinions on round vs. elliptical thing are fairly divided. It is not particularly important, i am just curious. I have a feeling i am more round but can not really justify it. Does this influence dressing tips in any way?

Much more to come in few hours...

First off, yay for starting your analysis! Second, I don't have anything new to add from what the others have already said. Third, you are slender enough that I don't think the distinction between elliptical or round is necessary. Fourth, I have a relative that had neck surgery and at first she was sensitive about showing it, but now she doesn't even think twice. Plus the fact that her area has a dominant summer season, she had no choice but to get used to it.

Wow, I am so impressed with your post! I am going to read through all the replies later when I have some time and some focus...

I see an hourglass - and WOW, what an hourglass! Very Audrey Hepburn, but better, shapelier, lovelier You look like a professional dancer.

I think you should show your scars, and not let them limit your style choices. I know how self-conscious one is of one's perceived flaws or shortcomings. So... I am going to set aside what I think, and cast my vote - for you to dress the way that makes you feel happiest and most secure about your beauty

Tanya I didn't clue in that you HAD to cover up, as per Dr's orders, but that makes sense. Is your scar in a location that you can add a scarf for sun protection, and not be limited by the necklines on what you buy/keep, esp for summer wear?

The scar would not bother me either!

For the head measurement, I think you could use Imogen's exercise as a starting point, actually. So her exercise is based on the "ideal" that the body is 8 head lengths, right? So measure your head, then compare it to 1/8 of your height. My head is actually about 1/7.5 of my height.

Of course there are other dimensions as well. Head circumference is another big one. Do you have trouble fitting hats? Most one size fits all type women's hats are too small for me, for example.

And then there is how large your head appears. Mine is already objectively large, and I think it can appear larger because I have wide-set features and a large forehead (a so-called "five-head"! Or, as my Dad puts it, it's a "scholar's forehead"). And hair (bangs, volume) can affect the appearance of one's head as well.

Tanya, when thinking about round vs. elliptical, I think it influences your style less than it does what you can actually fit into. For instance, some pants would be cut with more room for a rounded rear than others. So like for example, I have good luck at Express and The Limited when buying affordable work pants.

Additionally, I would think it affects how you are seen in pictures if you care about such a thing. Like you could stand in such a way to appear slimmer in photos, obviously not really a need in your case. HTH.

Tanya, to determine the proportion of your head to your body, divide your total height by the length of your head. Eight is "ideal proportion". Less than eight = long head, more than eight = short head.

Hi Tanya,
Lots of insight here. Nothing to add but to say you have lovely proportions and I'm look forward to the next installment!

OK ladies, the repairmen are long gone and my bathroom appliances are in much better condition and now I can devote myself to much more interesting matters.

Thanks again for all the help, especially the kind words on my scar. I will keep it protected from the sun and covered the upcoming spring/summer per doc's orders, but hopefully will be comfortable to reveal it to the public after that. And you made me comfortable to post my future neckline photos without any covering up. Thank you!

I did the little test with my head and it is about an inch longer than 1/8 of my height. However, I think I have small head circumference (do not laugh, had to measure it for my graduation cap) since rigid hats tend to be blown away from my head by wind. So maybe my head is long but narrow?

Claire, I think that my arms are long, both because of the test you describe and the fact than arm lengths on a lot of normal shirts and coats I buy tend to be a little short sometimes. My ballroom dance coaches also used to comment that I have long arms. That could be an asset technically, but it was also a problem when some of my dance partner has short arms and they had to be wrapped together with mine in certain dance holds.

While it is certain that I have a long torso/upper body, I am pretty convinced that I am long waisted as well, because the waist on many tailored garments such as dresses, shirts and coats pretty often hits me higher than my narrowest point. I think the opposite would happen of i was short waisted. Maybe some of you think my waist is short because it appears so compared to my pretty long rise?

E and Suz, it is fascinating how similar our bodies are minus some minor details. And we have similar colorings too! I see this as a great opportunity to learn from each other. E, I totally agree with you that skirts/dresses do a great job of obscuring the long rise/short legs issue, but I rarely get to wear them as they are not allowed at work. Suz, it looks to me that you have solved the mystery behind our clam digger puzzle.

Back at you Tanya, about the head size. I just know my head is small because most hats "off the peg" are too large for me. When I flew for British Airways we had to wear hats as part of the uniform, and they had to find me a small one. That was my second (head-slapping) clue that my head was smaller than average. Which, in turn, explained why my shoulders looked so large and square in comparison, and why my body seems larger in photos than it really is.

Interesting about the long arms and the dance holds! They must have to measure you against a potential partner's arms, as well as his height, lol! The torso/waist length is confusing. All dress and coat waists hit me above my natural waist too. But the area between the bottom of my rib cage and the top of my hip bone is not particularly long, in other words, I couldn't wear a rigid 3" wide belt comfortably. I think both Angie and Imogen have a test for this (somewhere). One involves measuring and the other you just use your hand's width to gauge.

Hmm, interesting stuff Claire. I think I remember a certain test with hand widths whose outcome was long waist again for me. I can certainly comfortably wear a rigid 3" waist belt. Heck, I think I could (and did) a 4" one as well.

Nope, they do not match our arm lengths in ballroom dancing. Difficult enough to match up heights, dance levels and personalities. Arm lengths to would make finding a dance partner impossible

Tanya, we can definitely learn from each other! I don't have long arms (of course I'm 3" shorter than you), judging by how many long sleeves I can easily pull over most of my hand. In fact, when a sleeve hits me correctly, I feel like it's too short, I'm so used to the extra fabric. lol I'm going to have to do Imogen's measurements now so that I can see whether I have more length in my calves or thighs. I suspect I'm more like you than Suz, because most knee high boots I try on aren't too tall for me (just too wide), and I like myself in clam diggers. Such food for thought!

Tanya, yes, the opposite is true for short-waisted bodies. The waist on regular RTW tops hits me close to the high hip. Also, the bust darts usually point to the lowest part of my bra's underwire. Petites are better lengthwise but don't always work for my shoulders.

It was funny to see your pants post because I am the opposite way (my measurements are very similar to yours but the length proportions total opposites). Those pants would sit at or slightly above my navel and be a couple of inches too short.

We can definitely learn from each other, Tanya! Lots of similarities and just a few key differences. I have shorter than average arms, too, I think -- many sleeves are a bit long for me. But then I am also 2 inches shorter than you overall. I have sort of accepted that most clothes are made for women 5'5 to 5'7 tall and so everything needs to be hemmed. And oh, I wish I had those extra two inches! I'd even go as far as 4 more inches, so I completely hear you on that wish for the extra height. I do think it would create new fitting issues, though.

Tanya I am so late to this thread but I have been meaning to get to it. I can relate to every single item on your "how I'd change my body" list! As you knoe we have a lot in common.
Here is the link to Imogen's long waisted post
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-waist.htm
I know I was long waisted by that definition, though I have noted that my waistline goes up and down a bit with weight fluctuation and at a higher weight it is higher up. So many clothes have the waistline too high from me.
In terms of fitting things between hips and ribs, I like Claire can't fit a 3 inch belt either, which is interesting because I am short and she is tall. 2 inches is my limit. But skinny belts look terrible, unless they are on top of a dress which acts like a girdle.

Tanya, I thnk you have an hourglass figure and it is FAB!

Hourglass for sure, and you are beautiful.

I don't see short legs. I see a well-balanced body.

Looks to me like you should be able to wear just about anything you want.