How to Determine Body Shape

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This article was co-written by Nejla Renee. Nejla Renee is a fashion stylist, image consultant and personal shopping consultant based in New York City, New York. With over seven years of experience, Nejla specializes in helping clients enhance their positive qualities and express their identity through fashion. Nejla holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from Northeastern University and worked in the financial industry before starting her career. Nejla combines work experience with personal creativity, passion, meticulous observation skills, a natural gift for fashion and a deep understanding of fit and proportion to help clients create style perfection.

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Knowing your body type will help you choose clothes that flatter your body. You will easily determine your body shape with a measuring tape. Let’s start measuring bust, waist, and hips. From those figures, you can determine your body shape. No matter what body type you are, remember that human body shapes are diverse and all are beautiful!

Table of Contents

Take body measurements

Take off all your clothes or just wear your underwear. To get an accurate measurement, it’s best not to wear a lot of clothes. You can either take off your underwear, or wear something light and comfortable, like a tank top and leggings. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You should also look in the mirror when taking measurements. The mirror helps you determine if the tape measure is in the correct position on your body.

Measure at the largest bust. Use a tape measure to take measurements in inches or centimeters. Wrap the measuring tape around the largest part of your breast, usually across the nipple. Hold the tape measure against your chest, but don’t pull it too tight or it will tighten your chest. Check the measurements and record them. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Many people often include shoulder measurements when determining body shape, but this is not required. If your shoulders are wider than your bust, waist, or hips, then you probably have an inverted triangle shape. ^{[3] X Research Source} Having more shoulder measurements will help you determine your body shape. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Define body shape

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Compare 3 measurements to determine the largest and smallest part. Rank bust, hips, and waist from largest to smallest to visualize body shape. However, if the two measurements are only about 2.5 cm or less apart, consider them equal. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

For example, if your bust is about 86 cm, waist 96 cm, hips 122 cm, then hips are the largest part of your body and bust is the smallest.
Your measurements may be close or equal. Take note of all of this, this is also a body type. For example, if your bust is 96.5 cm, hips 99 cm, but waist is only 106 cm, then you have bust and butt roughly equal and waist is the largest part.

Tip : You may find it easier to recognize your figure in the mirror when taking measurements. You can see with your eyes to guess your body shape just by observing your chest, waist, butt in the mirror.

You are pear shaped if your bust and waist are smaller than your hips. If your hips are the largest of the three measurements, and your bust and waist measure the same, or your bust is smaller than your waist, you have a pear body shape. This is also known as the triangle body shape and is a very common body shape. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

For example, if your bust is 81 cm, waist 86 cm, and hips 101 cm, you are pear shaped.

Determine if you are an inverted triangle with your bust larger than your waist and hips. This body shape is the opposite of a pear shape. The inverted triangle body shape has a bust and/or shoulders that are wider than the waist and hips. This is a common body shape for athletes and athletes, but there are a few people who are born with it. ^{[9] X Research Source}

For example, if your bust is 101 cm, waist 91 cm and hips 89 cm, you have an inverted triangle body shape.

You have a rectangular body shape if your bust, waist, and hips are roughly the same. If your bust, waist, and hips don’t move more than 5 cm, you have a rectangular shape. This is a common figure among athletes and teenage girls. However, many people are also born with this physique. ^{[10] X Research Source}

For example, if your bust is 91 cm, your waist is 89 cm, and your hips are 94 cm, then you have a rectangular body shape.

You are an apple shape if your waist is wider than your bust and hips. If your waist is about 5 cm larger than your hips and bust, then you are probably apple shaped. People with an apple body shape have narrow hips and slim legs. If you are female, your breasts will probably be fuller. ^{[11] X Research Source}

For example, if your bust is 106 cm, your waist is 122 cm, your hips are 101 cm, then you are an apple shape.

Determine an hourglass figure if your waist is smaller than your bust and butt. Hourglass body shapes usually have bust and hip measurements that are roughly the same, with a slightly smaller waist and hips. This creates an hourglass-like curve from the bust to the waist and hips. ^{[12] X Research Source}

For example, if bust 90 cm, waist 68 cm, hip 92 cm, then you have an hourglass figure.

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Draw a shape that represents your measurements if unsure. If you have trouble determining your figure, draw a thumbnail to your measurements. Draw 3 parallel lines 1/10 of your measurements, 5 cm apart each. Then you connect the ends of the lines together to see what shape they make.

For example, your measurements are 81cm, 90cm, 101cm, then the line you draw will be 8cm, 9cm, 10cm. Connecting the ends of these 3 lines will create a pear shape or an inverted triangle.

Advice

The human body comes in many shapes and sizes, so know that you probably won’t fall into a certain category listed. For example, you might have a pear-shaped bust and hips but a slightly larger waist than those two measurements.
If you are still in your teens, your body shape will change in the future. For example you have a rectangular body shape now, but later you will develop more curves.
Ask a professional if you are unsure about your body shape. Find a tailor or a fashion store that has expert measurements. They can help you figure out your body shape.
Be happy with your own body. This sounds stereotypical, but it’s true. Love your body as it is and be proud of it.

Steps

Take body measurements

Define body shape

Advice

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