So, you have ordered a new dress. The model was your size, and the dress looks stunning on her. You bite the bullet and buy the dress for yourself.
After weeks of waiting, your package finally arrives, and you eagerly rip the package apart. The dress looks and feels amazing in your hands.
So, you run off in glee to try it on. But when you look at yourself in the mirror, your new dress looks…strange…and awkward on your frame.
Why could this be happening to you? It looked so good in the photograph of the model. Well, it is more than likely that you and the model have very different body types (Also check out How To Master The Model Off-Duty Look).
How can this make such a big difference in the way that clothes fit? Typically, it all has to do with the frame of the body.
Someone that has a pear-shaped body will not have prominent shoulders like someone with an inverted triangle body shape.
So, a dress will hang differently on each person’s body. When this happens, you can end up looking a little stranger in a dress than a model.
The question now is, how can you find out what your body shape is? In this article, we are going to go over the methods that you can use to determine your body shape in just five minutes.
It really is a quick and painless process that will save you headaches down the line.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!
What Are The Main Female Body Shapes?
Women or people with female anatomy will usually fall into a range of specific body shapes. You can determine what shape you fall under by looking at what the proportions of the female body.
Specifically, the proportions of the waist, bust, hip, and shoulder measurements.
The proportions of these parts of the body will vary from person to person. But they can be used to determine what your body shape is.
There are five main body shapes, which include the following: Inverted Triangle, Rectangular, Hourglass, Pear, and Apple.
You may find that you do not fall into one of these body shape categories. Some people have a combination of them.
If this is the case for you, it is important that you take both of these shapes into consideration when you are shopping. Doing this will ensure that you buy clothing that is flattering to your form.
Can The Shape Of A Body Change?
This might not come as a surprise, but yes, it is possible for your body can change and develop as you get older. This is especially the case when you hit puberty.
At this age, the hips, and bust can grow in size, which can in turn contribute to the body’s change in shape. On top of that, women can go through great physical changes when they give birth.
But that is not all, when a woman gains a lot of weight or loses a lot of weight, their body can be altered as well.
So, if your body shape changes, don’t feel bad. It is a natural part of life. You look fantastic just as you are. But with a little help, you can highlight your strengths and bring your fashion game to a whole other level.
You will have a main or dominant body shape, one that comes down to your physical bone structure. But this shape can change as you gain weight in different areas of the body.
For example, if you have a tendency to gain more weight in the lower half of your body, you can go from a rectangle shape to a pear shape.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, every body type is stunning. You just might have to change up how you style yourself to bring out the new curves you have acquired.
The most frequently seen body type today is the pear shape. This means that a person will have larger hips, a smaller bust, a subtle waist, and shoulders that are not as wide as the hips.
The least-seen body type is the hourglass. This body shape is typically identified by proportional bust, shoulders, and hips.
You will also see people with the hourglass figure have a smaller and a more prominent waist.
Despite being one of the rarest body types, people covet the hourglass body type. It is often considered to be the ideal body shape for women.
That being said, body shapes have been going in and out of fashion for hundreds of years. So, do not think that you NEED a certain shape to look good.
Everybody’s shape is different and beautiful. Embrace what you have!
How To Measure Your Body?
If you want to find out your body shape, you need to take a few measurements. This process is quick, painless, and super easy to do.
So, start off by getting a fabric measuring tape, wear clothes that are fitted but do not squish your body down, and grab some paper and a pen to note down your measurements.
With that, you can start measuring. This process should take about five minutes.
To get your body shape, you need to measure four main points on your body. You need to measure your hips, bust, waist, and hips to determine what your body shape is.
Take care to keep your measuring tape level with the ground while you are measuring, this will ensure a more accurate measurement.
On top of that, make sure that the measuring tape is taught without squeezing the area too tightly.
Take all four measurements we mentioned above. Missing out a measurement can mean that you do not get an accurate representation of what your shape is.
Forgetting to measure your shoulders, for example, can take you from an hourglass figure to a pear shape.
So, take care to get your shoulder measurements, bust measurements, waist measurements, and hip measurements.
With all of these numbers, you will bet a more accurate representation of what your shape actually is.
Is A Measuring Tape Necessary To Find Out Your Body Shape?
If you don’t have a measuring tape handy, you can easily determine your shape without measurements.
It can also seem intimidating to write down your measurements in black and white. If this is the case for you, there is an alternative method.
All you need is a mirror, and form-fitting clothes that do not squish your body in any way. Simply stand in front of the mirror with your feet about a shoulder’s width apart.
We recommend that you wear black to see a more defined silhouette.
Now, take a close look at your shape and evaluate the width of your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips.
Take note of what the widest section of your body is, it might help to take a quick picture and draw lines across the four areas we are evaluating.
This should give you a good idea of what your body shape is and what category you fall into.
When you are reviewing your photo, or looking at your reflection in the mirror, take care to pay special attention to the things we have listed down below:
Which area of your body is the widest? Are your hips the biggest, or are your shoulders wider than the rest of your body? Take note of which area is the widest and note it down.
Do you have a defined waist? Is it noticeably bigger or narrower than other areas of your body? Take note of what you see.
What area of your body will put on weight the easiest? Knowing this can help you to better understand what body shape is most dominant for you.
When you go shopping, are your jeans way bigger than your tops? Paying careful attention to your sizing can give you an idea of what your body shape is.
While you can determine your body shape by simply looking at your body, this is not a surefire method. But, it does give you an idea of what to look out for.
Different Body Shapes And What They Mean
If you have a rough idea of what your body shape is, you can get an idea of what clothes will look flattering and improve your overall style.
That being said, you do not need to follow this fashion advice. Simply wearing what you like and what makes you feel good is far more important.
Understanding what styles will work best for your silhouette can be highly beneficial. Especially if you want to bring your fashion game to the next level.
In this section, we are going to go through each of the five main body types and advise you on what points to emphasize to really highlight that gorgeous figure of yours.
The Pear Body Shape
Otherwise, known as the triangle shape, this body type is defined by hips that are larger than your bust. People with this shape will also have a more defined waist and smaller than your hips.
A woman with a pear body shape tends to gain the most weight in their hips and thighs.
They will also have shoulders that are narrower than the hips. So, a person with a pear-shaped body will have larger hips, a small waist, and small shoulders.
Your measurements will at least be two inches larger than your shoulders.
People with this body shape will be best off highlighting the small waist that they have, and also not drawing too much attention to the lower half. That is not to say that curves are bad.
They are stunning. However, the best outfits tend to be ones that are balanced. As such, we recommend that you wear bottoms that are roomy and do not draw too much attention to the hips.
Fit and flare dresses are a great option for this body shape. Alternatively, you could go for high-rise trousers or straight-leg pants. Both of which will help balance out your body.
It is not a good idea to wear clothes that end at the hips or are voluminous at the hip. Clothing like this can make your outfit look unbalanced.
Wearing something like a puff-sleeved blouse or an off-the-shoulder dress are both great options to help balance your overall look.
The Inverted Triangle Body Shape
If you have the inverted triangle shape, your shoulders, and bust are wider than your hips. When people with this body shape gain weight, you will generally see it in the upper body.
People with the inverted triangle shape will also not really have a very defined waist, smaller butt, and more prominent shoulders.
In general, people with this body shape will have shoulders that are about four inches bigger than the hip measurements. Your bust should also be about two inches larger than your hips.
The general consensus about this body shape is that you should go for clothing that has a nipped-in waist. This can make your body look a little more balanced overall.
It is not recommended that you wear tops or dresses with big and flamboyant details on the shoulders. This is particularly important if you are wearing fitted or skinny jeans.
Alternatively, you might find that wrap tops and dresses are a good idea for you. They work well for people with an inverted triangle shape because they help cinch in the waist.
The main goal with clothing for this body shape is to add waist definition and to give the illusion that you are more curved on your lower half.
The Apple Body Shape
The apple or oval body shape is one that is defined by someone that has a waist that is of equal size to their bust and hips. People with this shape also do not generally have many definitions for the waist area.
You may also have a larger bust if you have this body shape. When it comes to weight gain, people with the apple body shape will gain weight in the middle or stomach area first.
Your waist will typically be larger than your bust by two inches if you have this body shape.
People with this shape should stick to clothing that is structured. Wearing clothes that have an empire cut or wrap-style clothing will help highlight and define the waist.
Doing this can help you to look more balanced.
The Hourglass Body Shape
If you have an hourglass body shape, your bust, shoulders, and hips will be equal in measurement. People with this body shape will also have a very defined waist with a large bust and derrière.
People with this body shape will have a waist measurement that is at least eight inches less than their shoulders, bust, and hips.
This is one of the most coveted body shapes. It is well proportioned, balanced and a well-defined waist is something many women would kill for.
Wrap tops and dresses are great ways to make your waist look smaller and snatched. But, you can wear anything you like with this body shape.
It is not recommended to wear boxy clothes as it gets rid of the silhouette of a trim waist.
The Rectangular Body Shape
A person with a rectangular body shape has almost equal measurements for the hips, waist, and bust area. These people will not have a very defined waist and will not generally be very curvy.
This body type is often called an athletic body type. If you have this body shape, there should be less than eight inches difference from hip to shoulder.
This is a very flexible body type and one that you can wear almost anything with. You could wear tops with a boat neckline to help widen your shoulders.
Wide-legged trousers are also a good idea to help make your waist look narrow.
We do not recommend boxy clothes or anything that is too straight up and down. Instead, wear clothes that will define your waist and give the illusion that you have an hourglass shape.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning how you can easily determine what your body shape is.
At the end of the day, it is important that you don’t just follow how to dress your body shape to look good by the world’s standards.
Dressing according to body type is supposed to flatter your body and give you a more feminine appearance. Not everybody wants that for themselves.
Some of us are happiest looking more androgynous, and others are happier highlighting broad shoulders or a less feminine figure.
What we are trying to say is that the clothes you wear should make YOU feel good. Dresses in a way that highlights features you like and covers features that you do not.
It is far more essential for you to feel good in your own skin.
Don’t worry about following a series of convoluted rules trying to look good by the standards of the world. What you like and what makes you feel confident and stunning is far better for you.
My whole life, I have always been a little bigger than my friends. I was always a bit taller, wider and just bigger built. From my late teens, I would say that I was curvy. I really struggled to find clothes that fitted me, as my hips went out, but my chest didn’t really.
I created WarningCurvesAhead.com because I wanted other women to feel the sense of empowerment I have felt since changing up my wardrobe and finding out what clothes suit my body shape, skin tone and style.
I hope that you too can join me on this journey, and start making some amazing fashion choices that celebrate your beautiful body- instead of hiding it!
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