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What makes an IT?

Parsley

Veteran

I feel kind of stupid asking this, but what makes an IT an IT?

I'm trying to figure out my current body type, that has morphed from an apple to maybe something else.
I usually think of an Inverted triangle as someone whose hips look narrower from the front than their shoulders. But what if your hip measurement is small but not narrow? My hips don't look much smaller than my shoulders when viewed from the front, but my hip measurement is 4" smaller than my shoulders (totally flat in the back! ) I have very small thighs, too. Does that make me an IT? I don't think of myself as having a particularly strong shoulder line. I have hardly any waist definition, if that matters, so I guess I could be a rectangle.

I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious.
Any ideas?

Body Type

17 replies

Latest reply was from

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I never thought to actually measure my shoulders! I'm pretty sure I'm an IT, and I think that because I'm often a size smaller on the bottom than on the top. Curious what others have to say here...

I think I'm a secondary rectangle, as I also have little waist definition.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Marcy, I think it really depends on the person (well...duh...). My shoulders actually measure almost 5 or 6 inches larger than my hips (depending on the day) and ...uh....I used to be PEAR shaped! Or at least i was an hourglass with pear tendencies.

And no, although my shape changed with age and weight loss, it's not just weight loss or menopause. I always had those shoulders, after all. But I also had (and still have) relatively muscular thighs. So, back when I carried more weight, the overall look was hourglass tending to pear -- irrespective of my shoulders.

Meanwhile, despite the square shoulder line, my frame is relatively delicate. There's not much meat up there. Even with working out. So...the overall look now, following weight loss and aging, is slim small busted hourglass/ rectangle with a strong shoulder line. How's that for confusion?

I find for my own particular shape, following the recommendations for the Rectangle seems to work best, paying some attention to hourglass, IT, and even pear -- depending on the particular garment. But I am small busted, so the suggestions for the top half are particularly useful to me.

You, on the other hand, have gorgeous slender legs and a bit more of an IT look since you are actually blessed with a bust. But I do think reading the rectangle info could be super helpful as well.

ETA: I guess the question might be what are your figure flattery priorities? For some ITs, the shoulders make them feel like linebackers. So minimizing those is key. I actually LOVE my strong shoulder line (probably because it is wide but delicate) and I dress to emphasize it rather than diminish it.

Meanwhile, I don't care a hoot about defining the waist. It's not as hourglass-shaped as it used to be, but I'm not fussed about surrendering it in any circumstances, so I don't really dress to highlight it, such as it is. I don't mind if it is highlighted, but highlighting it is not a priority.

Another person shaped just like me might have entirely different priorities -- so some of this is a matter of personal style.

unfrumped

Veteran

If looking for labels, or at least leanings, then from your photos I think of a "mild IT" --as opposed to apple, pear. No fruits for you! Not super-exaggerated, but some of the strategies and flattery issues may apply, if that helps you develop a focus or make better on-line choices or somethiing.

However, to me it just looks like you can wear all kinds of things and should be careful not to let rules keep you from experimenting with new looks!

K. Period.

Veteran

I don't think the measurement matters as much as the perception. Like shoulders are more important than chest size for ITs, it isn't the measurement of the hips so much as whether the hips appear to balance the shoulders.

I think I'm a pretty classic IT. I wear 2 sizes smaller on the bottom than on the top. But that alone isn't what cause me to be an IT. What does is that I am visibly narrower on my bottom than on my shoulders. If I stand straight, my arms dangle down without interference from my hips. You can really see it in this WIW, especially the second picture.

If you have a very slim bottom, but the bone structure of it is also proportionally wide, you may also wear bottoms 2 sizes smaller, but the visual impact of the width balances you out, making you a rectangle rather than an IT. Someone with a nice round bottom (not me, don't I wish I did!) but narrow hips may still be an IT even if she doesn't "measure" as one because of the extra inches in the backside.

ETA: FWIW, I think you tend more rectangle-ish than IT-ish.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh - so interesting. I think unfrumped is right - mild IT if you want labels...but I also think K is onto something cool.

I never thought about the sizes thing. I actually wear the same size top and bottom -- usually -- although sometimes I will need a size up on the bottom. So there -- not an IT despite the wide shoulders.

kellygirl

Veteran

I definitely think it's the shoulders that define the IT and not so much bust or narrow hips. My hips are pretty average but my shoulders make them look narrow in comparison. I'm attaching pics of me minus/plus10 lbs. Even with the extra weight, the shoulders are quite noticeable (sigh.)

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catgirl

Veteran

I am a clear IT. When I stand with my arms at my sides and hands straight they don't even touch my hips. That's my test!

ETA: Same as K without even reading her comment! IT minds think alike!

Gaylene

Veteran

I'd echo K. If you are a true IT, you see it every time you look into the mirror. Shoulders are your defining feature. Buying tops, even unfitted ones, is all about getting a comfortable fit across the shoulders, especially if you want to be able to reach forward. And K's description of being able to stand with arms hanging straight down with daylight between them and your hips is spot on. Kelly's picture is also a good guide--if you are in your skivvies or form fitting clothing, you actually can see the inverted triangle shape.

The IT shape is a more masculine shape and it is much harder to find a one-piece garment like a dress because fitting the shoulders usually means having to take in a huge amount in the hips. Like K, my pants are often two sizes smaller than my jackets. To sum up, if you are a true IT, you usually know it.

catgirl

Veteran

The inevitable comment from anyone who sees me in a swimsuit is "are you a professional swimmer?" Which I most definitely am not. If you look at female Olympians who are swimmers you will see the classic IT shape!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your top half is larger than your bottom half - which can include the bust but especially shoulder width. It's as simple as that. You are still an IT, Marcy.

Gracie

Veteran

I also agree with K's assessment (another IT here).

Gaylene

Veteran

Ah, yes, the "are you a professional swimmer" comment. I'd also add the "Hulk" feeling that you get when trying on jackets-- like you could split them open if you rounded your shoulders and moved your arms forward.

Parsley

Veteran

Sorry- I didn't mean to post and run (had to go pick up grandkids from school!)
Very interesting discussion. Some of you are so definitely ITs that it's a no brainer to figure it out: K, Una, Kelly.
But I guess like so many things there's a spectrum. Looking in the mirror my shoulders aren't all that strong, and they're only a little wider than my hips. On the other hand, I do wear at least a size larger in tops than in pants, and then the pants have to be taken in through the hips and thighs. Dresses all have to be taken in through the hips, too.

So I'm going to conclude that I'm some sort of IT/ rectangle combination, FWIW.

Thanks for all your input and wisdom!

E

Veteran

I really enjoyed reading this thread, since I'm somewhere on the IT/hourglass continuum (I think, because I have a defined waist...although my bosom is very modest, so there's something rectangle going on too perhaps). I don't wear a smaller size on bottom, but most of my hips measurement is in the rear, so 'deep' rather than wide, and straight on my shoulders are definitely broader than my hips. You can see it really well in pic 2 of this post although my arms are going diagonally rather than straight down. And I always have problems with woven tops and jackets in that if they fit my shoulders they're too big for my waist. On the other hand, I appreciate my strong shoulders because they let me wear a lot of blousy & waist surrendering tops.

A kind of funny way to find out if you lean IT or pear is to imagine whether you would squeeze out of a fitted dress on bottom up or top down. I definitely find it easier to get a tight dress over my hips than shoulders (and easiest to just not wear tight dresses, lol)!

catgirl

Veteran

Hahaha! Maybe we need to start a series of posts: "You know you're a ______ when....." Think I'll do it.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I saw the other post first but I'm a size to two sizes bigger on top & when my arms are at my sides they are nowhere near my hips. I have some modifying features, my bust & tummy, that give me apple tendencies now. Even when I was at my correct weight I never found the tips for body types helpful - not sure why.

Anonymous

I'm not an IT because I sometimes wear a size larger on the bottom than on the top, BUT, my shoulders are very broad, and that's what I need to fit first in tops and blazers. My bust is 33" inches and my shoulders are 40", so the some of the dressing tips for ITs are helpful to me.