So frustrated with trying to determine my body type! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Body Type

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

So frustrated with trying to determine my body type!

Narnia

UPDATED with pictures and measurements.

Hoping you experts can help!

So here's the deal. This has probably happened for many a lady before me, but I simply cannot find a body type to identify with, all of them have something that is absolutely contradictory in it, and mostly it seems to be the feature I'm supposed to "play up". (It's never actually all that play up worthy).

So to start, I'm on the tall side (5' 9") and big boned. It's a safe bet that there's a good amount of Viking somewhere in my ancestry.

At first I thought I was an inverted triangle. My shoulders and chest are very broad. I have relatively large bust, a wide back, wide rib cage, and not a ton of tapering in my waist. Sounded fairly top heavy to me....

But then my bottom half isn't exactly tapering to a triangle tip. My butt is flat, but my hips are definitely broader than my bust (by maybe 5") and my thighs are fairly large (it's a nightmare finding jeans that will fit over my thighs but not gape at my hips. So then I thought maybe rectangle....

And maybe that's the answer, and all that's throwing me is that I don't have the "boyish" chest. But most of the articles on rectangle claim that it's the shape to kill for, and you don't have to play anything up or down. Not for me! I think if I'm not careful, I look like a hulking log with no waist, no bust, just one giant shapeless woman.

I started toying with the Pear shape, because of my largish hips and thighs, but the shapely shoulders and defined waist was throwing me off.

So frustrated! And so eager for some guidance. How do I dress my "log" of a body (that's sometimes what it feels like), to feel more flattering.

Pics:
http://my.picresize.com/MMX7QRHOWS
http://my.picresize.com/3D5IRXUU5A
Bust: 39"
Waist: 35"
Hips 43"

Body Type

22 replies

Latest reply was from Narnia

Anonymous

Aw! Don't feel bad, we all have our dressing issues! Can you put on a tight cami and leggings and take a picture? If you haven't been a member long enough to directly post the pic, you can use photobucket and then put a link for us to click on.

MsMaven

Veteran

If it makes you feel any better, you made me laugh. I understand your frustration. I remember reading that rectangles can have a medium to large bust, although that isn't typical for this body type.

Please do take the suggestion to put up some photos showing your silhouette. You may be surprised at what others here see for you.

Narnia

Oh doh, good thinking. Unfortunately not 'till tonight when I get home. Till then! Thanks for the help!

missvee

Veteran

Do you think you could be an hourglass shape? It sounds like you have a reasonably balanced silhouette,- bust vs. hips, and a somewhat defined waist. Agree with CClaire that it would be nice to see a picture! In the meantime think about the outfits that you wear that make you feel good, or get compliments when you wear them. And don't worry about not fitting into the categories perfectly - they're just guidelines after all!

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I'm going to guess maybe hourglass too, but would need to see a picture. My advice with those hard to fit jeans would be to buy what fits your butt and thighs and have the waist altered - such an easy fix!

Narnia

Mmmh, outfits that I think look good on me. I suppose I'm generally happiest in a pencil skirt that hits at or just below the knees, or wide, flowy trousers and an untucked fitted knit top that's on the long side (but that might just be my long torso coming into play).

I really don't like seeing my thighs in jeans. Which is why I tend to like wide trousers and skirts. Or long tunics. A-lines are okay, like not awful, but definitely not helping that much. I think the extra volume makes me feel a little like a giant cup-cake even with very slight A-lines.

I think scoop necks, v-necks boatneck, and princess necklines are flattering on me, especially princess. I hate the way I look in sleeveless tops, but cap sleeves are marvelous.

Empire waist can also be good (though it can be hit or miss). I definitely tend to prefer placing my "waist" just below the bust rather than at my natural waist. I especially have trouble with the look when I belt at my natural waist, and almost always end moving the "line" to either just below my hips (the long untucked knit look) or up to just below my bust (the empire look).

Mmmh, thanks for really getting the thoughts rolling!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

If it helps, all your descriptions of what you are comfortable in totally resonate with me! Although, I am much shorter than you. I always thought I was a pear until I came here and was declared an hourglass. Pics are super helpful.

Shu

Ha, I'm 5'10" and fairly big boned too, and the word "hulking" totally resonates with me. One thing to remember is that an hourglass is measured from your shoulders, waist and hips rather than your bust, waist, and hips, so if your shoulders and hips are the same width looking in the mirror and you have a defined waist, you are most likely an hourglass - but I agree with the wise women above, we need a picture ;).

Narnia

I just update with pics. Sorry for the quality of the camera. I don't really have skills in that department.

Thanks again for the help!

debs

Hello! I have been following YLF for a while, but just signed up and this will be my first post. I was confused on this issue myself and found this web site helpful. According to InStyle you are a triangle.

http://www.instyle.com/instyle.....%2c00.html

Does that sound right?

bran888

Hi there,

are you measuring at your natural waist (just under the rib cage, a little above the belly button?) I think that your waist looks defined from the front view, and your hips look balanced by your shoulder/bust. I think you might be predominantly hourglass with a secondary apple. Hopefully others will chime in, too!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I think you body looks much better than your description of it! Don't worry, you will be sorted out here - we all were. Koodos for haveing courage to post the pictures: this is the first step on the style journey.
I will leave the definition to the experts - and hopefully Angie will chime in...

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Amy and was thinking "hourglass," but since I haven't done a body type yet, I'm not the best expert. Thanks for reminding me to get this done, too, Narnia.

HeleenH

Veteran

You have a beautiful smile and a gorgeous body. I would say you are an hourglass. I played with your picture in Photoshop, you can just see the hourglass

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

missvee

Veteran

I still think hourglass best defines your shape. You have a very nice, balanced figure.

Narnia

Thanks! You are all so kind!

Bran, I was measuring there, but I think it's probably good for me to remember that when I loose a little weight, that is the first place to shrink. I guess that makes me hourglass with a little bit extra at my belly.

And I don't always feel hulking. Just when I've dressed myself, lets say, unwisely. Hoping to do that less often in the future.

bran888

You are definitely not hulking, you are lovely! I think that dressing for your body type really improves the way that you see yourself (I definitely feel that way personally).

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Hi Narnia! first off, nice figure and truly outstanding smile!

IMO, this is the trouble with some systems and some of the promoters of those systems. My question is: do you really care what your figure type "is", or do you just want to find some flattering looks for your figure (whatever type it may be)?

Let's face it, not everyone fits into these systems, and a lot of people who invent them will let you know that. They're just guidelines to help you find out what works for you. In a case like yours, where you're all mixed up, this is what i would suggest - work it backwards. Choose a type that sounds close, then try out the guidelines and looks suggested for that type (preferable by shopping your closet) and see how you like the results. Experimenting like this for a while should give you insight into which type's recommendations tend to help you make outfits that you like.

In real life, most ladies find that even if they are a classic hourglass, pear, rectangle, whatever, that most of the 'tips and tricks' for their type will give great, flattering results, but some just fall flat. You'll end up experimenting and trying out the recommendations anyways to find what works for you, what you like. So go ahead and start out - it won't be a waste of time, quite the contrary, and there's no 'rule' that you have to know what type you are to try out a look!

Good luck, hope this helps, and have fun!! steph

krishnidoux

Veteran

When I read your description, the picture in my head was very different from what I saw! A beautiful hourglass, with shoulders to be envied, radiant smile,perfectly proportioned body. If you are Viking descend, you are more like Asterix's Falbala character!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another hourglass vote! Welcome to the forum

Steph, your comment rocks.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Amen, Steph. Guidelines are a place to start, not laws. Like recipes! I always wind up altering them to suit me more.

Besides, if I followed guidelines, I'd be in a bunch of peplum jackets - and nooooo thank you!

Narnia

You all are very right. If I focus on what I'm really looking for, it's that I want to stop having that feeling, where I get dressed in the morning, and I think we're good, but then all day, every time I catch a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror (or a one way window, etc) I cringe, and wonder what was I thinking.

I suppose I'm already off to a pretty good start just ruminating on what I like on myself versus what I always end up not liking.

Anyway, thank you all for the help!