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Round or elliptical: lightbulb moment

Anonymous

Ironkurtin's post yesterday: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-the-model got me thinking about proportions again, and lately the whole issue of round vs. elliptical has been on my mind.

So in doing a preliminary search through the archives, I found a 4-year-old thread by Anne: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-waistcoat
where she links to one of Imogen's blog posts:
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......tical.html

Around the same time, Kari started a similar thread:
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......tical.html
Where she linked to an article at academichic:
http://www.academichic.com/200.....oportions/

We've had this discussion before, and I was firmly of the opinion that I was round, not elliptical. After all, I'm always complaining about a protruding tummy, right? Well there are some other factors at play. When taking any test of this kind (like the Kibbe body type test) I'm always thinking compared to what? Do I have angular facial features or soft ones? I don't know, compared to what? Am I tall or just average? I don't know, compared to what? (or whom) It's at these times that I wish I was in a room full of fabbers so I'd have someone outside my direct gene pool to compare myself with.

Well, stay with me here, DD really wanted a dress form for her birthday. She wanted to stand it in the corner of her room and display outfits on it and also use it for sewing. DH and I found one that wasn't too expensive on Amazon and ordered it. We found one that was as close as possible to DD's and my measurements but of course Isabella (said dress form's name) has a much fuller bust. The adjustable ones were much more pricey.

Anyway! This thing came in the mail and (besides her ample bustline) she looks so tiny from the front! I thought maybe there had been a mistake. I got out the measuring tape. But there was no mistake. Her measurements are correct to what we ordered, actually an inch bigger in the hips than both of us, even though she looks smaller (in pictures, too). Wait for it.....

Lightbulb moment! Isabella is round and I am elliptical after all. Even though she doesn't have a prominent derriere, Isabella has a cylindrical torso and hips. Her ribcage appears much narrower than mine, which is broad and flat in comparison. Going back to Imogen's post, I had my major aha moment. So that's why I can look really wide in stiff sheath dresses or pencil skirts (compared to the model or someone who wears the same size as I do). I need visible seaming or tapering to diminish the width. I feel less than fab in A-line or full skirts.

So how do you know you are right when you take these tests? Has anyone ever drawn out their silhouette on paper? Do you need other friends doing the project with you to gauge your results? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Body Type

52 replies

Latest reply was from kkards

Anonymous

I don't know round and elliptical (have to go check those posts out) but I tell you, I know what you mean.

I am happy with my weight and body, but have had that exact same thought of "WHAT?!" when putting a sheath dress on or some other kind of dress where it just looks ridiculous to my eye and does not reflect what I look like.

But, I have just recently realised why. I am very narrow when viewed from the side, but look wide from the front. My ribcage is anteriorly-posteriorly flattened, and my hips are broad but shallow in depth. I do not have large breasts, and I do not have a big bottom. It does look like I have been flattened!

And this explains to me why I can have similar measurements to other fabbers but consistently be a size or more larger in clothing. My shoulders and hips *are* wide in shape compared to my size. Someone who is more round could probably fit a smaller size, whereas my hips and shoulders are flattening out and require more room to fit in, even though our actual circumference is the same, it's the geometry that is different.

Thanks Claire, for this, because I think it will help me a lot!

catgirl

Veteran

This was my whole "front vs. side" dilemma... I have depth rather than width of body, which means I look way better from the front than the side.

catgirl

Veteran

Ceit, you were exactly the person I thought of - I remember seeing your side views and thinking how slender you are!

Anonymous

I totally understand now, Una! I can't believe I never put this together before.

nancylee

Veteran

Claire, I've never ever considered this, but now that you've explained the difference between round and elliptical I can totally see it. And I think I'm in the elliptical camp as well. Sheath dresses or certain pencil skirts often make me look like a wide load even though I'm fairly slim, but (like Ceit) I've never understood why!

My VC midi tube skirts work because they are quite tapered, but most other pencil skirts just don't flatter my shape. From now on I'm going to look for seaming and tapering. Thanks so much for sharing your insight!

Liz A.

Veteran

How interesting! Now I want to know who else shares my measurements so I can compare! Any other 36.5", 28.5", 38.5" ladies out there?!

I do know that people are always shocked to find out how much I weigh when I happen to let that nugget of info slip...

MsMaven

Veteran

Years ago I bought an adjustable dress form. Although the inches could be adjusted to my inches, the shape still wasn't mine. The form has a much larger ribcage than I do, so to get a similar size for the upper body and bust, I had to crank down the chest and add padding on the bust. The shoulders were more square than mine, and the stomach much flatter. So a dress I sewed might look fine on the form, but not quite right on me.

Using the form taught me a lot about my body shape. Measurements at different body points and two dimensional drawings of a body from front or back are only part of the story. While we humans look a lot alike in basic ways, we have countless variations in our shapes that make it harder for those who don't fit a two-dimensional pattern.

At the end of the day, we just have to try clothes on and when in doubt, post a photo here for the YLF opinion.

always trying

Veteran

Wow..this explains even more to my experience with proportions in my post the other day-where i said proportions are relative. also has something to do with a couple of other posts since then. I also said fit and look of some garments work while others don't has something to do with the body measurement length between bust and waist, waist and widest part of hips etc.
My conclusion, for me, is to get a good hold on things like where on my body is the best spots for tops to hit, relative to what kind of bottoms -ie. skinny jeans, straight or wider leg, and fuller skirt, pensil, or longer ones. also biggest thing this accomplishes is abolish the idea of " I can't wear that' because maybe i can-it is just a matter of wearing it the right way for ME..and not try to look like someone else.

Anonymous

Thanks for chiming in ladies!

Ceit, I am constantly amazed at the sizes that people on the forum wear. Many people in the "medium size" camp actually look very small to me, and you are one of those. Also I wonder, with your knowledge of anthropology, if these difference can be seen at the skeletal level, or are they a function of organs, muscle and skin tissue?

Una, you have dressing your body all figured out! You do indeed look tiny from the front. I might have to start posting both views in my pictures, but that scares me because of the tummy angle!

Nancy, I'm drawn to the knit dresses and skirts in a way, but I want my structure for a security blanket too! Maybe with this mixed media trend I'll be able to find a woven dress with stretchy knit side panels for improved fit.

Liz, try this old thread on finding your YLF body type twin:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....tripletetc

MsMaven, boy do you have a lot of wisdom on this. When I read something like that, I think maybe we give the clothing designers too hard of a time. With all of our differences, it's amazing we can ever find mass-produced clothing that fits off the rack at all! I'm finding out how un-symmetrical I am, as well. Hopefully I can hide that with clothing.

Anonymous

Heh, Claire, we are the same height I think (5'7") but I would guess I am at least 2-3 sizes larger than you in terms of clothing!

And yes, we all vary skeletally along with soft tissue. It's complicated, and depends on genetics, ethnicity, and a host of other factors.

Anonymous

OMT, that's exactly right, and that was a very good thread. I think my first year here, I experimented with everything, and threw out everything I thought I ever knew. After awhile, I settled down and found some formulas that seem to work for me, some of them were things I've always gravitated to, a few pushed me a little, but I've learned never to assume you can't wear something without trying different versions of it-- tenaciously-- first.

Anonymous

If I go by Imogen's recommendation,

if you look at yourself in the mirror and measure the visual width of your hips, then turn to the side – and measure the visual width of your buttock/stomach – is there a big difference or are they fairly similar?

I'm round. I just happen to have a tape measure in my purse, and I'm wearing slim jeans, so I figured it out. I measure 15" across the hips (front view) and 14" across the side (buttock/stomach). Please note I measured below the waist. I have a slight stomach but it's not prominent. Most of the width comes from my butt. Also, I have an hourglass figure and am not big in the waist. I have noticed that certain garments make me look wider from the side than others. When trying on clothing, I always check to see how I look from the side.

@ Liz: My measurements are similar to yours - 36" / 27" / 36" (37" if I'm bloated). I'm 5'2" tall and weigh 120 lbs. My shoulder measurement equals my hip measurement,. According to Imogen's way of measuring, I'm short waisted. I find that short-over-long silouettes (such as a cropped jacket or vest over a longer top) work fabulously for me, if that means anything.

Lastly, although I'm short, I'm not fine boned. My bones fall into the medium range--not large, not fine or delicate. Bone structure helps me determine the size of my jewelry, size of prints for garments, etc. I almost always wear size 6 or S(6-8), though I wear size 4S in Express Editor pants (original fit; the wide waist ones they have now literally slide off my hips) and size PXS(4-6) for blouses and jackets that I think will be too large if I order my regular size. It all depends on the brand and style.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

This may seem a bit off the topic, but I realized this when I read about a bra fit idea to measure across the front of the body, from outside one breast to the outside edge of the other with a ruler. Something like 11" meant a C cup, etc - I don't remember the details. But it hit home for me that measuring around my whole torso was not the same as figuring out how big my actual breasts were. Maybe I have a fatter back and the corresponding cup size only counts what's in front, which leaves empty cup space?
Anyway, yes, we are 3D and I totally get what you are saying.

catgirl

Veteran

Heh. Soft tissue.

I remember seeing a friend in high school reach for something on a shelf and noticing how thin she was from the side. Notice I never post side view pics... I am Team Ignore when it comes to that!

Astrid

Veteran

This is really interesting. I'm not sure what I am, do you have to be one or the other? When I look at front and side view like Ruth mentioned then I don't see that much difference in the top half, while my hips look wider from the front than when I look at the side view. I do like quite slender from the side except for my big bum. Probably more elliptical too then?

I also notice this with bra fit, like Mo said. I need a size 30 band, but most of the time the wires are too narrow for me. They are cut for someone that isn't as wide in front but has a deeper ribcage. What works best is actually a size 32 to fit the wires and then having the band altered to be tighter.

cciele

Veteran

Lightbulb, indeed! Thank so much for bringing this up, Claire. It's been quite illuminating for me. I think I am mostly elliptical, although I do have a chest and booty ... hmm..

Anonymous

Ah yes, the bra issue. I need cups that are spaced farther apart, but my small band size often has them close together, likely for a round body. More later, lunchtime now!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Heheh....I'll bet there are a few of us here who coulda' told you that you aren't "round," Claire!

But seriously -- it is tricky, isn't it. This has been an interesting thread. I just did Ruth and Mo's measurement trick and confirmed what I already knew -- despite my "roundish" bottom, I am elliptical, with broader measurements from the front. I had noticed this for years in my own mother (whose body type is similar to mine). And I noticed it in myself when I could easily slip through narrow doorways or fence posts as a kid, just by turning sideways!

This is one reason I look much better in the tapered VC skirts than in most pencil skirts. But I can do regular pencil skirts IF they are snug enough and just the right length. And yes...vertical seams help -- so the Halogen skirt in the right size is a good pick. Or denim skirts with seams.

Mo, I was especially interested in the bra measurement trick. Wow...no wonder my bras never fit in the old days. I need a C or D cup but a teeny tiny band. Astrid -- it is tough to find these bras, but they do exist, and wow, what a difference it makes when it actually fits where your breasts are. Ha!

kellygirl

Veteran

Fascinating, Claire. I obviously missed this thread the first time around. It makes total sense and now I "get" why i look like a broad plank in a sheath or pencil skirt! It also really clarifies the bra issues for DD's. I have one round and one ellptical and the elliptical is much harder to fit! Those cups just aren't far enough apart. Thanks for bringing this up! I feel enlightened.

Anonymous

Mo, now you have me wondering if I'm wearing the correct bra size. I wear size 34B, which I think is correct. I base it on what I thought was the commonly recommended way to measure for proper bra size. I'm 34" around the chest and 36" across the breast, which is a 2" difference. But when I measure across the front as you say, I get 11" which would, if you're correct, be a C cup???

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I can't find the site and don't honestly remember the exact details - sorry, Ruth. I want to say 11" across was a C for my 32 band size? Maybe? If so, that might correlate to a B for your 34 band size? Again, I don't remember the specifics. Wish I could!

Kristin SF

Veteran

A little OT but have you ever considered making your own dress form? Could be a really fun project to do with your daughter.

I remember my MIL made a duct tape dress form as an experiment, even though she already had a fully adjustable one in her sewing room. It was certainly interesting!

https://www.google.com/search?.....mozilla:en

Sarah A

Veteran

Lovely post Claire! Yes, I will join many of you at the elliptical table as well. I have always thought I looked thinner from the side than the front with exception of my rear end which is round for sure. Great food for thought here on proportion and figure flattery!

ramya

Veteran

Omg!!@ now I get why most tops are too wide for me!!
I am roundish. That also explains why my friend needed bigger cloth sizem even though she was tiner. She is elliptical.
This also explains why my mimo suggested sewing in tucks between the bra cups because something was always off with our bra. She has same built as me.

Astrid

Veteran

Suz, the right bra definitely makes a big difference, I agree. It's a science all on its own.

Anonymous

Mo, well have to call an all points bulletin search for that article you read. Maybe someone can dig it up. It sounds really interesting. Where do you hold the ruler? And can we talk about bust shape sometime? I was reading in a fashion book about how every decade has a specific shape, ie. the '50s was conical, the 60's was high and childlike, the flappers were loose and free, etc. We have been in these molded T-shirt bras for some time now, but recently I've seen pics of a silhouette where the bust is pressed more flat against the chest, creating a larger, but flatter circle. Do you think we're going to have a shift in bust shape? I need bras so I'd like to know before I buy any.

Ruth, so interesting! Do you know a rule for determining bone size?

Suz, no wonder you look so smashing in the knit tube skirts (and why I can sometimes veer into frumpy/dowdy territory with a plain old straight skirt)! I am loathe to give up bodycon silhouettes on the bottom especially, because they seem to help solve this wideness issue. I recall posting many skirts which fit perfectly, but kept drawing comments to the effect of, "Your skirt looks too big. Can you take it in?" It's nice to finally be able to put my finger on why.

Kristin, I've read about making your own dress form. The cheapskate in me tried to talk DD into being happy with a homemade version, but she wanted the "real deal". Now that I know a custom form is so much more accurate.....nah.....I still don't think I'll wrap my body in duct tape. But wouldn't you guys get a good laugh at the pictures if I did!

Kelly and Sarah, welcome to Team Elliptical.

Anonymous

Astrid, you are probably elliptical too. I didn't mean to leave you out! Did you actually measure? *sheepishly* I actually haven't measured yet either. I like to jump to my own, sometimes rash, conclusions. Hmmmm, maybe that's what got me into trouble in the first place!

Sarah A

Veteran

I have totally gotten the duct tape supplies for the DIY... havent made the dress form yet! (Wondering now if when I do I'll think it looks like "me" or not?)

Astrid

Veteran

No, I didn't measure. Just had a quick look in the mirror.

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