Help! What's my body type?

Blog

Forum

Finds

bitsofpieces

(website)

Active Member

I always thought I was an apple, but I'm not really sure...

Here are photos: http://livingcleanforlife.blog.....hotos.html

(If you click on them, they get bigger.)

Note that my stomach is totally relaxed in this picture... I didn't suck it in at all.

16 years ago

Body Type

14 replies

Latest reply was from shana

rute

Veteran

Welcome!
You seem an apple to me!

16 years ago

shana

Veteran

I think you are a rectangle with a bit of a tummy. Maybe that's the definition of an apple but I don't really get the apple description. I feel that it's often used on anyone who has a few pounds to lose (like me!!!). For example, Kristen was probably defined as an apple but after losing a significant amount of weight, she sees that she is clearly a pear. I think it's difficult to tell on a post-baby body too. I know that I probably appeared as an apple for the last year or so after I had my youngest but now as I shed more weight, my inverted triangle tendencies are more pronounced (though I'll always have a bit of tummy left over from the pregnancy).

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

You look like an apple to me, too.

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

If I just saw you from the front I would never guess apple, so I would guess rectangle with apple tendencies.

I find the apple shape confusing too. Many times do I see women post pictures who clearly have more of a midsection than I do, yet they are not apples but I am because their hips happen to be wider than mine or their torsos are longer or something else. I guess it's probably best not to overthink it if you already know how to dress, but if you don't it can be confusing.

16 years ago

bitsofpieces

(website)

Active Member

Hmmm... I am totally unfamiliar with the rectangle type. I have thought of myself as an apple for so long! Maybe I will have to research it more...

I don't really know how to dress for my body type NOW. I knew how to dress when I was 20 lbs thinner, but these days I can't figure out what looks good. Empire tops tend make me look pregnant, but fitted stuff just emphasizes my pooch. I never know what to wear.

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Try banded bottom tops, or tops that skim your body, rather than being really fitted. I am well familiar with the pooch!

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I love volume and even I understand that it can be boring to wear it ALL the time. Variety is the spice of life. So, when I wear something fitted, I wear tops with ruching or an empire waist without gathers or pleats (which result in a maternity look even on the skinniest of minnies). The point of an empire waist is so that it hugs you where you are smallest, and then gently floats away from the tummy and any other business you might not want to share with the world. I definitely recommend you look into Sweet Pea for fitted tops. There is something magical about them that makes them super flattering on everyone.

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I've tried on Sweet Pea tops, and they did not work for me. I know that lots of people love them and they are surely worth a try, but they aren't magical and they don't look super flattering on everyone in my experience.

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I'm surprised to hear that Khris! With your "new" waistline I would have thought that they would be super flattering on you. What about them didn't work? Which styles did you try? It's fine if they don't work for you, I'm just curious as to why you didn't like them.

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Same thing that I don't like about all knit tops- they outlined the pooch. I tried several different styles- wrap, empire waist, t shirt, and band bottom.

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Ah, gotcha. I don't want to push you into wearing anything you're not in love with, but if you ever revisit the idea of trying them, I would advise to size up. I felt the same way when I tried a small but a medium is fine. Even going up 2 sizes probably wouldn't be a big deal. I think Joy (or maybe someone else) did this with success.

16 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Bitsofpieces, I like your blog. You seem to have a very wholesome way to improving your diet. The apple/mid-section challenged shape is kind of a pain to dress because it poses problems while selecting tops and bottom.

I am with Maya about sizing up for Sweet Pea tops. I am a size 8-10 but need an XL in SP which are rarer to come by.

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It was quite a while ago when I tried them, and there wasn't any more up to go. I even tried on some plus sizes, and the fit on those was very akward. I will probably give them another try in the spring.

16 years ago

shana

Veteran

I wouldn't say the SP tops are miraculous but pretty darn close! I just got two (thanks to Tanya & Vani) during the recent smart bargains sale and though I have a much thicker waist than say Tara who looked completely awesome in hers, I really like the fit of their faux wrap style top. BTW, I did size up.

BOP, I also have to work at concealing the tummy flab. I almost always wear a cami with a little bit of spandex. It helps to tame some of the jiggle factor. I also look for higher rises in jeans & pants. It's a tall order when your hips are not much wider than your waist (same issue for me). Wrap tops work fairly well and layering is a great technique. Generally I find that patterns work to conceal the tummy so I will layer a cardigan or jacket over a patterned cami/tee. Floaty tops also work great - I don't really like volume on its own so I will layer a more fitted cardigan over a floaty top.

16 years ago

Category