Body Type and Shirt Sizing questions

Hi! I am now trying to dress this body type concern. I might have sort of an idea but since my shoulders (ex swimmer here) tend to bug me the most I try to ignore that part.

1) what is my body type?
Some measurements according to my dress figure:
I'm between 5'4" and 5'5" (can't wear petites - my arms are like spiders)
Bust -29/30D
Waist - 24.5
Hips - 34
Shoulder line on shirts that fit me best is 14"
Anne Fontaine 38 is a 14.5" which leads me to question 2
My tops are bigger than my bottoms which makes me think I'm not an hourglass unless I'm wearing something sleeveless!

2) I am in between sizes so I size up and I let people know I do this, is this appropriate though?

1 - wearing a regular tank S from HM and grey skinnies (inseam on these are 31.5")
2- close up of the shirt, black is so hard to see
3- AF shirt and Moto skinnies
4- AF shirt with sequin vest so you can see the shoulder line better and when I sit down I am so short

Thank you and I appreciate all feedback!

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11 years ago

Joy

Veteran

You are beautiful! I'd guess you are an inverted triangle (IT) with hourglass tendencies.

harmonica

Your body looks great and strong ex swimmers *do* have advantages (a childhood friend of mine have such great posture - I blame it on all the hours in the swimming pool)

I'm no expert on body types, but IT with hourglass tendencies sounds reasonable. And I don't find it rude to inform people that you size up. Let's hear what others have to say

Greek Goddess

Active Member

Your shape remind me of mine, I thought I was an inverted triangle with neat hourglass tendencies. Some clothes make me look more hour glass but when in my undies I definitely have slimmer legs and hips than my wide shoulders. I need a size bigger on top to accommodate my large chest. I find it easier to get separates that fit than say dresses which are too big on the waist if they fit on my chest. I never worry about the size on the label, if something fits well it doesn't matter what it is. I don't like clothes that don't fit correctly.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are so fab! A wonderful smile, and I'm so glad you posted, Kalli. What a treat

Definitely a gorgeous IT - actually, your measurements are similar to my own, although I am larger on the hip and narrower on the shoulder. That makes me more of an hourglass, although I'm not very curvy and straddle the lines between Rectangle and Hourglass. We wear the same bra size and love Anne Fontaine shirts!

Kalli, sizing up for your lovely strong shoulder line is a great idea. I'm not sure I've answered your second question though. Let us know if you have further questions.

pil

Now that your question has been answered, can I say I pictured you as a blonde : )

Suz

Angie has you sorted - and you are so pretty! And our measurements are similar, too, and I also have a strong shoulder line but a slightly smaller bust and hip, so I am slightly more rectangular. Angie said I was smack dab in the middle between hourglass and rectangle. BTW, I sometimes have to size up a bit for my shoulders as well, but I am lucky that I can also sometimes wear petites (if I size up that way) because unlike yours, my arms are on the short side.

Kalli

Thanks everyone for helping me solidify my own thoughts!

@Joy - thanks for pushing my ego up helps a lot when one is shy

@ Harmonica - I never thought about it that way, before I had a chest of some sorts, I was thinking broad shoulders are so manly so it's a sensitivity of mine but I am learning to embrace it, on the flip side I took up running hoping I could um add some padding to balance out my shoulders.

@GreekGoddess - I notice you embrace your strong amazing frame, I should learn to do the same.

@Angie - you did answer my question. Although I wonder if it's always true when in doubt to size up for most things? Yes I love Anne Fontaine because her shirts are super comfortable. Although for bras it seems as if the options keep shrinking every year :(.

@Pil - hmm maybe I have a thing for blondes

@Suz - hurray for girls with strong shoulder lines, I'm looking at your amazing collection of jackets because that is a serious hole that is missing in my wardrobe. For some reason I wanted to deemphasize the shoulder line so I would just wear cardigans.

Yeah, I decided to just GO with the shoulders...and amazingly started to feel better right away (I had been wearing cardigans almost exclusively for years). Jackets can be so many things -- authoritative, true -- but also fun, edgy, arty.

BTW, I love your sequinned tank!

Glory

just chiming in to say you look lovely in the photos. Angie has you sorted on type!

Raisin

I was going to say you look like a IT to me too. It's funny how so many of us have similar measurements, I'm a bit taller than you but very close in measurement, but I think my hips show wider so I lean more hourglass. I'm not always too sure about my shape though. Huh, maybe I should ask the forum? Lol.

Anonymous

Hi there! You have a great figure for clothes (and especially blazers) so please don't rule them out. Some people have a hard time filling out the shoulders of their jackets, but you won't. I used to think my shoulders were huge and I fixated on them. Now I just avoid ruffled, puffed and flutter sleeves and shirring (gathers) where the shirt sleeve connects to the shoulder yoke and I can wear pretty much everything else. I even found I could wear epaulets, which I was afraid of. You are a smaller version of a runway model, not manly at all!

ETA: You look astounding in those Anne Fontaine shirts. They look like they were custom made for you.

qfbrenda

I'm glad Angie got you sorted out. There are several of us who are also ITs around here. Welcome.

Beth Ann

So nice to see, you, Kalli! I see your sorted as to your body type. I, for one, love a strong shoulder line in a woman. It creates a more defined torso, to my eye.

You have beautiful, dramatic coloring also, reminding me of Zap and Rae. You should definitely wear jackets --- maybe some buttery leather?

@Suz - thank you, it was a whimsical purchase circa 2004 and meant to be worn alone as a tank, I didn't wear it for a while and decided to upgrade it's status after seeing it done on a mannequin at the mall (hurray for mall trolling)

@Glory - thanks for chiming in, makes me want to post more

@Raisin - I think you are an hourglass too, I wouldn't be unhappy with your legs either, I am going to embrace my swimmers shoulders, you should embrace your running legs

@clearlyclaire- I think the problem is in a terrible buying mode meaning you lie to yourself you'll buy one size down and never wear the blazer which is what I did (I gave them to my sister) now I have to purchase a black blazer but which one? There are so many! Gosh, it's the same shirt in all the photos. I have several of them, I think I started having a weakness for them in 2007. I believe everyone should someday try one on if they can. Made me truly rethink how I shop because it filled a need but I wanted other things.

@qtbrenda - such gracious welcome I am thankful

@BethAnn - thank you for the nice compliment, I am definitely coming into peace with my looks more as time goes or is it just the aging process? I do have a buttery leather jacket and I feel more in my future. I was admiring one of my idols Emmanuelle Alt and she purposely wears jackets with a strong shoulder, she must be an IT also?

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