To dress your body well, you have to know your body shape. Yet it seems many of us go through life second-guessing our body shape. Do you know yours?
In this blog, I break down the 5 main body types and help you determine your unique shape – so you can start dressing with confidence and build a wardrobe that you love to wear.
How to Determine Your Body Shape
The only way to truly know your body shape is to measure yourself. Of course, you could guess your proportions but I think knowing your exact measurements is important if you want to be 100% accurate. Not to mention, having your exact measurements to hand will make online shopping a lot easier!
So grab your measuring tape, strip down and follow my guide on how to measure your body accurately.
What is your body shape?
Pear, Skittle, Diamond, Banana, Brick, Hourglass, Lollipop — the number of names given to the different body shapes and their variations can be quite overwhelming. It’s no wonder so many women are confused by it.
To simplify the body analysis process, I have broken it down into 5 distinct body types which are based on the following: triangle, inverted triangle, hourglass, oval and rectangle. Each of these 5 main body types also has its own set of variations.
Your body may also be tall, petite or plus size, and each comes with its style challenges and tips. There’s also our vertical shape to consider and the overall structure of our bones and shape, if we’re soft and round, or more angular, bony or muscular. But don’t worry, I’m updating the body shape style guide with new content every month. For now, let’s focus on finding your dominant body type based on your basic measurements.
By now you should have your 6 body measurements. Simply check these against the chart below to reveal your most likely body type. You should be able to better identify your body shape, now you have your measurements- the general proportions for women have been summarised below in a body type chart guide.
Body shape chart
Body shape attributes – upper body
| Body Type 1 Triangle / Pear | Body Type 2 Inverted Triangle / V-shape | Body Type 3 Hourglass / Figure of 8 | Body Type 4 Rectangle / Ruler/ Brick | Body Type 5 Oval / Apple / O-shape | |
| Upper Body | Smaller | Bigger | Equal | Equal | Bigger |
| Shoulders | Narrow | Broad | Equal | Equal | Varies |
| Bust | Small | Small – Medium – Large | Small – Medium – Large | Small – Medium – Large | Oval – Small Apple – Large |
| Torso | May be standard, shorter or longer | May be standard, shorter or longer | May be standard, shorter or longer | May be standard, shorter or longer | Apple – Standard / shorter Oval – Longer |
| Waist | Smaller | Smaller | Smaller | Equal or slightly smaller | larger |
Body shape attributes – lower body
| Body Type 1 Triangle / Pear | Body Type 2 Inverted Triangle / V-shape | Body Type 3 Hourglass / Figure of 8 | Body Type 4 Rectangle / Ruler/ Brick | Body Type 5 Oval / Apple / O-shape | |
| Lower Body | Bigger | Smaller | Equal | ||
| Hips | Bigger | Smaller | Equal | Equal | Smaller Diamond variation = Wider |
| Legs | Slender / Thicker thighs | Slender / Athletic | Slender / Thicker thighs | Rectangle – Athletic Ruler – Slender Brick – Thicker thighs | Shapely |
| Bottom | Round / Large | Small / Flat | Shapely | Small / Flat | Small / Flat |
| Calves | Defined / No definition | Defined | Defined / No definition | Defined / Muscular | Defined |
The 5 Body Types Explained
Type 1: The Triangle / Pear
The classic triangle shape has a bottom-heavy figure and a slim upper body.
Your hip measurements are larger than your shoulders and your legs are in proportion with the upper body.
Type 2: The Inverted Triangle / V Shape
The inverted triangle shape has a top-heavy figure with an undefined waistline (compared to the hips)
Your shoulders are wider than your hips, and your legs are often long and slender.
Type 3: The Hourglass / Figure of 8
The classic hourglass has a well-balanced figure and a defined waist.
Your bust and hip measurements are roughly equal, and your legs are usually long when compared to the upper body
Type 4: The Rectangle / Ruler / Brick
The rectangle shape has a well-balanced figure with no defined waistline.
Your shoulder, bust and hip measurements are roughly equal, and your legs are either in proportion with the upper body or much longer.
Type 5: The Oval / Apple
The oval has a larger midsection and an undefined waist.
Your shoulder and hip measurements are roughly equal, while your waist tends to be larger than your hips. Your upper body appears bigger than your lower body, and legs can be equal in length or longer.
An important note body shape:
Understanding your body shape is a great starting point – but it’s just that, a starting point. Most women don’t fit neatly into one shape, and these systems weren’t created with every ‘body shape’ in mind.
You might be a blend of two or even three shapes, and what works best for you will shift depending on your clothes, your lifestyle, and how you feel in your body.
I never like to use body shape analysis in isolation with clients; it’s the styling and playing dress-up part of the process that brings the theory into practice. The real magic happens during the play phase—when we experiment, try things on, and explore new silhouettes together. That’s where the confidence builds and the freedom to express your style comes from, not solely relying on a body shape guide.
That being said, if this is enough information for you to feel confident – that’s excellent news!
How To Dress For Your Body Shape
Now you know your dominant body type, finding outfits that flatter your figure is about to get a heck of a lot easier! There are plenty of “rules” out there for each body shape to help you accentuate your best features and balance your figure. But don’t let ‘rules’ stifle you; they are just tools. Learning how to dress for your body shape is an art — and I believe it’s always best to know these rules before you break them.
But ultimately, personal style is personal. Never take advice from a stylist as the final word. If you feel comfortable with your shape, don’t ever feel like you ‘need’ to achieve balance and to cover this or minimise that.
Check out my complete “Dressing for Your Body Shape Style Guide”, as we don’t usually fall into just one body type; we can often lean towards a second shape. There are so many variations for each of us, making all bodies beautifully unique. Feel free to experiment and choose clothes that make you feel good.
