Lisa, I am pretty well convinced that these terms can be pretty broad. I am not a “slim” or “ compact” hourglass these days. My waist is thickening — I guess it’s 30” now. My bust is definitely not 40”, so the 10” requirement goes right out the window (my hips are probably 40” but I’m too freaked out by that to even measure). But with a 32F (or even G in my sports bra) bust, I don’t think that anyone would argue that my shape is anything less than hourglass. It’s defined mostly by a *high* waist, with a current bit of extra padding around the low hip, which makes me lean toward pear. This effect is further compounded by the fact that my shape is quite elliptical — from the side I tend to look slimmer (I don’t carry much extra weight in the tummy, and I don’t have much of a booty), but my predominant body type is pretty apparent from the front and back. I think a lot of the people who identify more as rectangle or apple have a different type of side view. Does that make sense?

I remain confused I definitely look different from the side, and not in a good way.

Pretty sure this is the first place I heard the term athletic hourglass, or slim hourglass, though I would not be surprised if they're used elsewhere. I would never have called myself hourglassy but realizing that my upper half and lower half are visually balanced as long as I emphasize a strong shoulder line was very helpful. My worst looks from a flattery perspective are long, unstructured tops that obscure my shoulders and waist while visually widening my lower hips.

The other useful thing was thinking about primary body type *plus* modifiers. So wide shoulders with large bust is different from wide shoulders with small bust.

I do think some people are quite clear and fit a body type really clearly....and others are a blend of two or more body types. And different stylists have different ideas on even what the types are - Trinny and Susannah had many more types in their book.

I also agree with La Pedestrienne - modifers are important. I am relatively busty, with broad shoulders and a short neck. I would say I am an hourglass, although not an extreme one, and some recommendations for hourglasses don't work for me. If I work around my short waistedness, and my shorter neck I have the best success. Open necklines, not cutting myself off at my widest point, not wearing sleeves that end at my bust - these would be the things that makes the biggest difference. My worst outfit would be a boxy loose crew neck tee with short sleeves (mid upper arm) worn with high contrast bermuda shorts.......

Lisa, I think you are an hourglass but not an extreme one....and slightly short waisted - your legs and arms are slender and long. You are not a pear and I don't see you as an IT.

Anne - I think you look wonderful in dresses, skirts (full and straight) and all the playsuits seem to work on you.

I'll bet we could learn more about our body types/modifiers/ proportions by imagining our worst outfits than by talking in the abstract! Great idea, Sally.

I just spit out my water laughing at your worst outfit, Sally ! MINE TOO, yet sadly, it's probably my work-outside uniform in the summer . Well, maybe not bermuda shorts, but still...... lol. And yes, you and I are versions of the same body type. Good eye.

I do think understanding the types and how to dress for them has helped me a lot. In recent years with some outfits my female patients have insisted I've lost weight ( double edged sword as they clearly thought I must have looked fatter before ) when I know that I haven't and may in fact have gained a little more. I tell them no, I've just learned to dress to hide it better. This is following pear and apple guidelines together.
I know my weight can't be hidden altogether, as I clearly see from photos even more than the mirror, but it is nice to get the compliments even though undeserved ( and a bit double edged!)

It might have been fairer to pick a better outfit than that one. The same sort of shape tunic worn with leggings was also awful on me.

Jenni - I would take it as a compliment as they were meant in a kind way. I know what you mean about double edged though!!

Sal, you and I have some similar modifiers and flattery priorities. My worst outfit in terms of flattery would probably be a short shapeless shift dress with short sleeves that cut across the bustline. Everything that hides my narrowest points while emphasizing my broadest ones.

Oh, I like the “worst outfit” twist!

Mine would be a knee-length pencil skirt and a top that starts with a deep V, then widens to a shapeless trapeze, with spike-heeled sock boots.

FashIntern, I believe the question you are asking me has already been answered previously and this is not the correct location for an answer.

Staysfit, sorry if you are offended. I certainly didn’t intend that, and my question, although directed at you in this case, is really just a reflection of my confusion whenever I see comments on YLF like the one you made.

Everyone, I hope you'll forgive me for not going back to make individual remarks.It's making me dizzy trying! I really appreciate everyone's response, and especial thanks to Staysfit for so thoroughly answering my initial question (ie when you thought you were one body type and dressed accordingly, and then changed your view on it, what changes did you make)

Agree with everyone about body modifiers making a big difference.

Fashion term, my waist also goes up and down a bit with weight loss and gain, though I'm always pretty much long waist. I'm always long torsoed, and unlike Suz, who I'm quite similar to in other respects, also long in the rise too.

Speaking of body type similarities, Angie, Suz and I have often thought we have lot of them. I don't feel much similarity with yours though, but you think you are similar to Suz!

As for what our worst outfit would be (in terms of body type) I'm not going to do an outfit as such, but mentioned some I've worn (meaning that they did appeal to me on some level) but were pretty bad

Low rise vertically striped cords slimfitting around the thighs (very bad look around thighs)
leggings or bare legs (at beach) with a thin tee fabric tunic that catches on my tummy without defining anything else in my figure (whoops still wear that sometimes!)
tapered tracksuit pants (didn't go past the fitting room)
sweetheart neck dresses - popular in the 80's very bad with a small bust! (I didn't have any, but my friends laughed behind my back at the fact that I liked them)
Fashiontern - I thought Staysfit answered that question in what she said earlier - in what I quoted in my original post.

At the beach, wearing a tunic for protection from the sun, you’re examples from rules of fashion.
I don’t think I look like Suz. She’s got back! I never did, just a bubblebutt which has faded. But I have noticed the pairing off/ grouping of similar body types, and am trying to think of whose is similar to mine.
ETA: Suz, I mean that as a compliment.

Compliment accepted, Fashintern. Though at the moment, my "back" could use a return to the gym.

Anne, I think the modifiers can be key among those who are more generally similar. So you, Angie, and I are all slim or straight hourglasses...but...we can't dress identically for flattery because...

Angie has a very long neck, short hair, a regular waist (neither long nor short), a short rise, and relatively longer legs than you and me. She also has long arms. She dresses to fill or flatter the neckline. She often aims to lengthen the leg line, also, unless going for a JFE look. She will emphasize or surrender the waist at her pleasure.

I have a slightly long neck (but not as long as Angie's), short hair, a slightly *short* waist, a *long* rise, and my legs are just slightly short in proportion to my overall height. In particular, my calves are proportionately short. I also have short arms. I'm 2 inches shorter than Angie yet my frame is overall a bit larger than hers and even at my lowest weight, I am less elegant looking and more compact. I dress to fill or flatter the neckline (but this is a lower priority/ need for me than for Angie, or rather, I have slightly more options for doing so). I almost always aim to lengthen the leg line. And I emphasize or surrender the waist at will.

Your general body type is similar to Angie's and to mine, but you have a regular length neck, long hair, a long waist and a long rise. You don't need to worry about filling in the neckline/ chest area as much in your dressing. And you have the perfect waist to highlight. This might be why you sometimes find it difficult/ counter-intuitive to surrender the waist -- even though you actually look great in that type of outfit, too.

The current high waists and wide crops l are absolutely made for you. Go for it!!!

Suz, you have engaged and listened VERY well over your years on YLF and have my figure flattering priorities down pat. IMPRESSED. You can dress me I have narrow shoulders that need structure around my shoulder neck point too. You have more neckline options than I do. Since I never wear heels, I create my longer leg line from the hips upward by tucking and semi-tucking. Like you! (Although you wear heels and can elongate that way). And you are ABSOLUTELY elegant. I've met you, so that's PROOF. And when am I hugging you again, btw?

Anne, MILK THOSE HIGH RISES. I'm with Suz. They were made for you, and you wear them better than most.

Lisa P, one day we will go shopping together.

Sal, you crack me up.

Hey Angie, i dont suppose you could do a post for us long arm ladies pretty please? Coats especially are often too short in the arms for me. Dm's advice- buy long gloves (also in short supply)!

Angie says I’m a straight hourglass but it’s not clear how I should use that info. For a while I tried putting on things that would suit an hourglass (some Drapier things) but you need more of a waist and more boobs especially to pull that off. And then I tried some rules for the straight body type, but because I have rounded shoulders and a rounded bottom, those rules don’t work that well either. Long cardigans look terrible on me (though I bet they’d look good on you because you have square shoulders). Generally the rules for pear work best for me: fill in my top, make legs look longer on the bottom. I think a-line skirts work well, but the straighter versions are the best. I love straight shift dresses (they’re hard to find) or something slightly a-line.

I think the elongated waist means that we have to wear more structured looks in the torso area when emphasizing the waist. For me, nothing looks worse than a jersey dress that’s been belted with a tiny thin string belt.

I’ve decided that high rise skinnies actually emphasize my long rise, but looser, tapered, paperbag pants / mom jeans seem to hide the crotch point better and there’s so much going on at the waist that it distracts away from the short legs.

I don't think I know my body type really - I think it's a rectangle with a hint of hourglass (I have a defined waist) but I def. also have a butt. ha! I always identified "pear" with the look of the shape from the front - more bottom heavy just like the look of a pear and I don't have that shape. But I'm not straight either. I don't focus on it much - I just sort of try things out and get a general feel for what works and stick with those silhouettes.

Fashionintern - yes that's why I still have that tunic. But when I replace it I've look for something different!
I have to say "she's got back" isn't an expression here in Australia that I am aware of! You've been broadening my vocab.

Suz, what an exhaustive post. Yes I'm aware of most of those modifiers, for both Angie and you (and me). I was way too tired to type them all out (cycling to work for 2 hours a day is rather wearing) and didn't want to offend you by saying what you now have said yourself - that we are a larger and more compact (ie more sturdy) than she is. Angie has a delicacy of frame that I don't share, and sometimes I think she can get away with looks I couldn't for some reason.

I do surrender my waist pretty often actually. Every bloaty day, and many casual ones. (today for example) That's why I decided to keep my cocoon dress even though many of YLF didn't like it

I might not need to fill in my neckline, but I sure need to fill in my chest area - that is a definite priority for me!
And I will stock up on high rises while I can.

Smittie, I think we've also felt that we have lots of similarities so interested in hearing responses to your questions. I can resonate with
I think the elongated waist means that we have to wear more structured looks in the torso area when emphasizing the waist. For me, nothing looks worse than a jersey dress that’s been belted with a tiny thin string belt.
Christina - I love bootcuts too! and you certainly have great long legs.

Texstyle - interesting that Lisa, khards and you don't think about body type much. For me it was looking for info on it that brought me here, and we did talk about it more in the early YLF days. I don't think about it as much as I used to now.

Anne, you are in GREAT shape from all that cycling and it shows!

Anne, that was the title of a song by Sir Mix-a-Lot a couple decades ago that you might recognize. It was a big hit in the US.

The first verse begins with "I like big butts and I cannot lie" and most of the song is about the rapper's attraction to women with large behinds. The second and third verse challenge mainstream norms of beauty: "I ain't talkin' 'bout Playboy/'Cause silicone parts are made for toys" and "So Cosmo says you're fat/Well I ain't down with that!"

Sir Mix-a-Lot commented in a 1992 interview: "The song doesn't just say I like large butts, you know? The song is talking about women who damn near kill themselves to try to look like these beanpole models that you see in Vogue magazine." He explains that most women respond positively to the song's message, especially black women: "They all say, 'About time.'"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Got_Back

That all sounds very heavy, especially in light of the history of representation of black womens bodies at least as far back as Sarah Baartman, but the song is a fun listen.

https://youtu.be/_JphDdGV2TU

FashIntern, sometimes it’s hard to determine tone from a post. My answer to your question is long and complicated and I do not want to post it here because it goes too far off the topic. This is a thread about body types, not why I once owned a collection of a line dresses I didn’t wear.

Staysfit, tone is indeed difficult to read. It seems that explaining where a thing came from does not disarm it for you. And apparently you didn’t understand that I was backing away from that earlier question in my comment to you. Not sure what to do at this point other than reiterate that I’m sorry to have offended you and 8 don’t want to extend this any further.

In terms of body type, I would see myself as a pear or hourglass. If I gain weight it is usually around my hips and thighs. I don't think there is a huge difference between my shoulders, bust and hips so I could be an hourglass. My waist is defined and is certainly not as small as it once was but is about 10 inches smaller than my bust and hips. To my eye and to most people I look curvy no matter what my weight. I am built that way.
I have a long neck and a long rise. I look better in clothes that have some structure. Oversized clothing is not my friend. Even fluid fits are iffy. Shoulders need to fit on my shoulders. Dropped shoulders are awful on me. I like to tuck tops in. I prefer mid rise or high rise pants/jeans. I stay away from skinnies because I end up looking like an ice cream cone. I also don't like a lot of stretch in denim but that is about the way clothes feel and not look. A whole other topic!

Staysfit, I am sorry too, for kind of answering for you by pointing to my quote from you.
Style Fan, I think we have a bit in common on the bottom half with the long rise.
I am amazed at how many people have a 10 inch difference. I just measured, and have a 6 inch difference, if I puff my chest out as hard as I can! That difference has been consistent over the years though the figures have differed. I can hardly imagine having a bust 4 inches bigger (pregnancy and breastfeeding excepted) or a waist 4 inches smaller. That's why, like Kathie, I feel like I have a rectangular shape in that part of me, though like her it's actually underbust/Waist similarity that is the reason, only 2inches different

Suz, thanks. I love my bike rides in the lovely spring mornings; such a great start to the day. I only work in the city three days a week, and sometimes don't ride if I have a late meeting etc. Glad you can see the effects, I sure miss it in winter!

As an IT, I have always wanted to have more hips (not ore thighs, I have enough padding there). I have found experimenting with padded shapewear extremely liberating and eye-opening as to why some items I was struggling to make fit simply did not, while others look a hundred times better with my natural shape. Bizarrely, temporarly borrowing someone else's body shape through these additions has worked towards reconciliating me with the body I was born with.

I read all your comments and I just wanted to say that once you actually experience it, no matter how well you intellectually understand it, you will discover things.

Anne- that’s very close to my difference between bust and waist.- 4.5-6”, depending on slight variations in my weight. There’s a 9-10” difference between my waist and hips. (I’m starting to think I should call this athletic pear.) And back to one of your earlier comments- yes, I think I’m a bit taller than you are (5’6”), and we’re super close in size. This has been a great thread- so many points have resonated for me.

Thanks for the history/ music lesson Fashiontern - I am always up for it (interest in historical clothing was my gateway into interest in history and in fashion). I think the song itself isn't unknown to me, just what it meant.

Kathie- I'm 5'4" so yes, a bit shorter. I'll be looking out for your posts carefully now! I agree, a very interesting thread.