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Help me with body type, please

jenny1963

Hi!
I need help!!
I always thought I was a pear, but am not sure now if I'm a ruler.
I do know that I have short legs, LONG rise, long torso, long neck, narrowish sloping shoulders, and am tallish/slender (5"7"). I also appear more slender in clothes than I am. My measurements (which seem not to matter too much here) are 35.5" x 29.5" x 38". I carry weight in my thighs and butt, and since I had a kid, also in my tummy.

I will attempt to post some pics that I took myself. Sorry for the lame quality. I'll ask my husband later to help me. How to attach pics?

Body Type

25 replies

Latest reply was from cheryle (Dianthus)

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I think you can upload pics to Photobucket and give us a link here, or wait a few days and attach a photo to your post. It's hard to say what shape you are, without a photo, and you might be a combination of body types. In the mean time, Angie's posts on pretty pear, racy rectangle, hourglass, and so forth, might help to give you an idea.

jenny1963

Thanks!!

jenny1963

http://s530.photobucket.com/us.....s/library/

These are horrible but are a start

anne

Veteran

I can't say for sure, but I think you do have some tendencies towards rectangle (which I think is what you mean by ruler) I also didn't see "narrowish sloping shoulders" - in fact I thought you may have a secondary body type of inverted triangle!

MsMaven

Veteran

Yes, I agree with Anne, in that some of the photos make you look more like an inverted triangle. Other look more like a rectangle--not much of an indented waistline. I don't see the narrowish shoulders either. Photos can deceive though, as do mirrors.

jenny1963

Thanks!!
Hmmm. I think I always thought my shoulder were narrow, because my mother always said I needed shoulder pads, which I put into everything! They're sloped shoulders; I always assumed they were small.
My waistline has never been too much of anything (although I did have a nice flat tummy for a long time), and now, after a baby at 41, it's even less impressive:-)

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Hi Jenny

I think you're right....you have a rectangle body type. But I agree with others - some photos make you look like an inverted triangle.

Can you do this?

1. Measure yourself around your shoulders. Not the bust - your shoulders.

2. Measure the slimmest part of your waist.

3. Measure yourself at the widest part of your hips.

These numbers will be a better guide.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I forgot to add....you're slender and very impressive for a mom at 41!

anne

Veteran

Maneera, I don't know that the numbers will help that much - since a measurement includes depth as well as width, if you know what I mean, (And Jenny has given us all those numbers apart from the shoulders, already). That's why Angie likes a photo. She is probably way too busy with NAS to get to this thread today though.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I agree Anne. But i am asking for shoulder measurements only because some images have Jenny looking like an IT while others have her looking like a slim rectangle. The shoulder measurement might throw some light, don't you think?

anne

Veteran

Ah ok Maneera, that does make more sense.

I have to say though Jenny, that I had another look and I am pretty sure now that you aren't an IT. When you are so slim it can be hard to tell anyway, but you don't look (or say in your description) that you put on weight around your shoulders or upper back, which tends to be a feature of ITs. I now think you are a very slim rectangle with a comparitively large bust (are you breastfeeding?)

jenny1963

Maneera!! I love you! lol. That's hilarious. OMG! I had my baby 10 1/2 years ago: I'm 52! You made my day!!

Thank you, columbine, Anne, MsMaven, for your help!! Thank you SO much!

This is so fascinating to think that all your life you're one thing (pear,) and to be something completely different! And to have thought my whole life I had narrow shoulders: lol.

Truthfully, because I have short legs (or a long torso, etc.,) it's been my leg length that I've spent much of my time trying to camouflage and have been super-focused on.

Let me measure again:
shoulders: 37-37.5"
waist: now its 29.5-30"
hips: 37-38"

Interesting...

jenny1963

Hi again, Anne, no I'm not breast-feeding, and I DEFINITELY do not put weight on in my shoulders or upper back. So, rectangle, you think?

(time passes)

Okay, I looked up rectangle, and I don't think it's me. I'm way chunkier than the women identified as being rectangles! My top half is not chunkier, but my lower half really is. This is confusing to me.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Lol! Jenny....you've got a fab figure!!!

The measurements clearly indicate that you're a very slim rectangle with a secondary body type of hourglass (most hourglass figures have a 8" to 9" difference between their hip/shoulder and waist measurement and yours is very close). Your shoulders and hips are balanced. You say that you carry most of your weight on your thighs, which is agsin true for hourglass body type.

If you've read Imogen at http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com, she describes your body type as an I shape, as opposed to H for a not-so-slim rectangle shape. You definitely ARE NOT a pear.

Have fun reading up on how to dress for your newly discovered body type!

jenny1963

You make me laugh!! XX I'm off to read!!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous

I'm far from an expert, but would vote for rectangle as well. I think the boat neckline on your top and the placement of the shoulder seams creates the illusion in some pictures that your shoulders are a little broader. Agree with others that you have a lovely slender shape - i bet a lot of clothing styles look great on you!

anne

Veteran

You are in GREAT shape. Maneera has pointed you to a good resource in Imogen's page. One key point in that "I" description is that it is for long torsoed short legged people.

I can relate by the way with you comment that "Truthfully, because I have short legs (or a long torso, etc.,) it's been my leg length that I've spent much of my time trying to camouflage"

I'm the same. Having short legs and a long torso is by far the greatest dressing challenge I face. My body type is a bit of a mixture (something like pear/ rectangle with a very small bust) but it really the vertical proportions that I work on. Happily both Angie and Imogen have lots of information about those!

jenny1963

Thanks so much, anne, Ryce, and Maneera! I'm reading about it, but now that I've found this blog and forum, I don't want to go to Imogen's. lol

I think you're right, too, that I need to take some other pics, not in the boatneck.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Welcome, Jenny! Definitely not a pear. I see slim rectangle, too.

I can relate--I thought I was a pear, too, for many years, just because I've always had a small bust. It didn't occur to me to take my shoulders into consideration--ha hahaha!

anne

Veteran

You don't have to read a whole new blog (I understand, I don't read many blogs either)- I have identified the relevant posts for you

On the I-shape

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......odies.html

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......oyish.html

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-i.html

On vertical proportions

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......onger.html

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-rise.html

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-legs.html

And from Angie

http://youlookfab.com/2014/02/.....type-2014/

http://youlookfab.com/2012/05/.....ing-rules/

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Anne. Imogen does a great job of explaining the salient features/distinguishing attributes of each body type. It'll really help you to read the posts Anne has been sweet enough to link above. Once you have a better understanding of your body type, Angie has done a marvelous job on how to dress for it.

Beth Ann

Veteran

You've gotten awesome input already. I'm just popping in to say hello, and to say that I find a difference between my type with regard to structure (I am and have always been an hourglass) and weight distribution (I was a pear, now am an hourglass/apple). Over time, I think most of see our weight distribution shift, even without any weight gain. I still struggle with dressing, because I "learned" to dress my pear, and hate my hips and booty. Now (I'm 52 also), I'm thankful for the booty, and work at dressing around a slighty squishy and full midsection.

You look terrific - slender and proportionate. I'd encourage you to do something I'm working on: Dress to highlight features you like, and in a way that makes you happy!

jenny1963

OMG! this is such a lovely community!! You are guys are so so great!!

Anne, I cannot believe you posted those links for me!! You are amazing!! I'll admit I stayed up late (only a few days left until my daughter returns from slipway camp!) to read Imogen's blog! I guess I should/ve just waited for you! Thanks!!

Thanks Beth Ann, FireCracker, Maneera!! I really appreciate all the help!

You're right!! As my body has changed, I have to spend my time changing my concentration from my leg length/torso length or other concerns, now to camouflaging my tummy, so I don't have to wear spanx all the time! I have definitely been challenged to deal with (cannot say I'm comfortable with) my baby rolls that will never go way (unless I got a tummy tuck, says my doc.) Not up for that, so I guess patterns are where it will be at. Poor grammar, but I'm rushing!

ElleH

Veteran

You look like an hourglass rectangle to me. Great slim figure. I understand the tummy issue. I have it too.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Jenny, it looks like the fab ladies have sorted you out. I just wanted to say hi and sympathize with the shifting that goes with our age (another 52 year old here). It is a fight but we can win it. LOL