This article was co-authored by Nejla Renee. Nejla Renee is a fashion stylist, image consultant, and personal shopper based in New York, New York. With over seven years of experience, Nejla specializes in helping people enhance their positive attributes and express their identities through style. Nejla holds a BS in Marketing and Finance from Northeastern University and worked in finance prior to starting her own business. Nejla combines her business experience with her personal creativity, passion, keen eye for detail, innate sense of style, and strong understanding of fit and proportion to help her clients create peace and acceptance around their style.
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Knowing your body type can be helpful for choosing clothing that will accent your best features. It’s easy to determine your body type with nothing more than a tape measure. Start by taking measurements of your bust, waist, and hips. Then, use this information to determine which body type best describes your measurements. No matter what your body type, remember that bodies come in many shapes and sizes and all bodies are beautiful!
Steps
Taking Your Measurements
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1Remove your clothing or wear a camisole and pair of underwear. To get accurate measurements, it helps to have little to no clothing on. Strip down to your underwear if you’re able, or put on something light and form-fitting, such as a tank top and a pair of leggings.[1]
- You may also find it helpful to look in a mirror while you take your measurements. This will help you to determine if you’re positioning the measuring tape properly.
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2Measure around the fullest part of your chest. Use a soft, flexible measuring tape to take all of the measurements in inches or centimeters. Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust, which is usually the area of your chest that's level with your nipples. Keep the measuring tape snug around your chest, but don’t pull it so tight that you’re squeezing your breasts or chest. Check the measurement and record it.[2]
- Some people also take the shoulder measurement into account when determining their body type, but it's optional. If your shoulders are wider than your bust, waist, and hips, you might be you might be an inverted triangle type.[3] Take a shoulder measurement to help you determine if you are.[4]
Tip: If you find it hard to position the measuring tape, ask a friend to help by taking these measurements for you.
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3Locate the smallest part of your waist and measure it. This is usually just below your ribs and about 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) above your belly button. Wrap the measuring tape around this part of your body and record the measurement in inches or centimeters.[5]
- Make sure that the measuring tape is not too tight. Check to ensure that it’s snug, but that you can still fit 1 finger in between the measuring tape and your skin.
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4Identify the widest part of your hips and measure them. This is usually at the level of your crotch. Wrap the measuring tape around your hips at this point and record the measurement in inches or centimeters.[6]
Identifying the Shape of Your Body
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1Compare the 3 measurements to determine which is the largest and smallest. Rank your bust, hip, and waist measurements from largest to smallest to help you visualize the shape of your body. However, if the difference between 2 measurements is 1 in (2.5 cm) or less, consider them equal.[7]
- For example, if your bust was 34 in (86 cm), your waist was 38 in (97 cm), and your hips were 48 in (120 cm), then your hips were the largest and your bust was the smallest measurement.
- You may have a couple of measurements that are very close or even equal. Note this as well since it will affect your body type. For example, if your bust was 38 in (97 cm) and your hips were 39 in (99 cm), but your waist was 42 in (110 cm), then your bust and hips are about equal and your waist is the largest measurement.
Tip: You might even notice a distinct silhouette in the mirror while taking your measurements. Consider what shape might fit easily over your chest, waist, and hips when you face yourself in the mirror.
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2Identify yourself as a pear-shape if your bust and waist are smaller than your hips. If your hips are the largest of the 3 measurements, and your bust and waist are equal in size or if your bust is smaller than your waist, you’re a pear shape. This is also known as a triangle shape and it’s a very common body type.[8]
- For example, if your bust is 32 in (81 cm), your waist is 34 in (86 cm), and your hips are 40 in (100 cm), then you’re a pear shape.
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3See if you’re an inverted triangle if your bust is larger than your waist and hips. This shape is the opposite of the pear or triangle shape. In an inverted triangle, the chest and/or shoulders are wider than the waist and hips. This is a common body type for athletic men and women, but some people may naturally have this body type.[9]
- For example, if your bust is 40 in (100 cm), your waist is 36 in (91 cm), and your hips are 35 in (89 cm), then you’re an inverted triangle shape.
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4Call yourself a square if your bust, waist, and hips are all about the same size. If there’s no more than a 2 in (5.1 cm) difference between your bust, waist, and hips, then you’re likely a square shape. This is a common shape for people who are athletic and for young girls. However, some people naturally have this shape.[10]
- For example, if your bust is 36 in (91 cm), your waist is 35 in (89 cm), and your hips are 37 in (94 cm), then you’re a square shape.
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5Know that you’re apple shaped if your waist is wider than your bust and hips. If your waist is 2 in (5.1 cm) larger than your hips and bust, you may be an apple shape. Some people with apple-shaped bodies have slim hips and slender legs as well. If you’re a woman, you might also have a full bust.[11]
- For example, if your bust is 42 in (110 cm), your waist is 48 in (120 cm), and your hips are 40 in (100 cm), then you’re an apple shape.
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6Identify yourself as an hourglass if your waist is smaller than your bust and hips. Hourglass shapes usually have bust and hip measurements that are about the same size, and their waist measurement is noticeably smaller than the bust and hip. This creates a noticeable curving silhouette going from the bust to the waist and hips.[12]
- For example, if your bust is 38 in (97 cm), your waist is 30 in (76 cm), and your hips are 40 in (100 cm), then you’re an hourglass shape.
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7Draw a shape that represents your measurements if you’re unsure. If you’re having trouble determining your shape, try creating a scaled down drawing of your silhouette. Draw 3 parallel lines on a piece of paper that are each 1/10th of the size of your measurements. Space them so that the lines are each 2 in (5.1 cm) apart. Then, connect the edges of the lines to see what shape they create.
- For example, if your measurements were 32 in (81 cm), 36 in (91 cm), and 44 in (110 cm), then your lines would be 3.2 in (8.1 cm), 3.6 in (9.1 cm), and 4.4 in (11 cm). Connecting the ends of these 3 lines creates a pear or triangle shape.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat should I wear if my chest is bigger than my lower body?
Nejla ReneeNejla Renee is a fashion stylist, image consultant, and personal shopper based in New York, New York. With over seven years of experience, Nejla specializes in helping people enhance their positive attributes and express their identities through style. Nejla holds a BS in Marketing and Finance from Northeastern University and worked in finance prior to starting her own business. Nejla combines her business experience with her personal creativity, passion, keen eye for detail, innate sense of style, and strong understanding of fit and proportion to help her clients create peace and acceptance around their style.
Fashion Stylist & Image ConsultantIn this case, your goal is going to be to give your lower body more volume. So, you might wear baggier jeans, large skirts, or bigger shoes to give your lower body a bigger visual impact.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionHow can I figure out my body shape if I don't have a measuring tape?Nejla ReneeNejla Renee is a fashion stylist, image consultant, and personal shopper based in New York, New York. With over seven years of experience, Nejla specializes in helping people enhance their positive attributes and express their identities through style. Nejla holds a BS in Marketing and Finance from Northeastern University and worked in finance prior to starting her own business. Nejla combines her business experience with her personal creativity, passion, keen eye for detail, innate sense of style, and strong understanding of fit and proportion to help her clients create peace and acceptance around their style.
Fashion Stylist & Image ConsultantLook in a mirror and try to visualize your body in two halves, split at the waist. You can generally get a pretty good sense for what your body shape is based on the balance between the top and bottom half of your body.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionHow can I use my height and weight to determine my body shape and size?
Community AnswerYou can't. It depends on how your weight is proportioned. One 5'6" 140lbs girl might be an hourglass, while another could be an apple.
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuJdzUV4QA&feature=youtu.be&t=20
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuJdzUV4QA&feature=youtu.be&t=37
- ↑ http://www.oprah.com/style/whats-your-body-shape/all
- ↑ https://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-find-body-shape-calculator/slide2
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuJdzUV4QA&feature=youtu.be&t=47
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuJdzUV4QA&feature=youtu.be&t=56
- ↑ http://www.oprah.com/style/whats-your-body-shape/all
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuJdzUV4QA&feature=youtu.be&t=90
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuJdzUV4QA&feature=youtu.be&t=120
About This Article
To determine your body shape, start by looking at your midsection and determining if it is the largest part of your body. If it is, and you have slimmer legs and hips, you have an apple shape. Alternatively, if your midsection and bust are smaller and your hips are wide, you are likely pear-shaped. An hour-glass shape has a small waist and more ample bust and hips, while a rectangle shape is when extra weight gathers around the stomach and back. Finally, if you have a fuller upper body with large shoulders, it’s called a wedge shape. For tips on how to take your measurements to determine your body shape, read on!
