Female Body Shapes

What is your body shape?

Body shape is defined by the ratios of the circumferences of the bust, waist and hips. There are five basic  body shapes, namely the hourglass, triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle and oval.
 

How do you determine your body shape?

1. While naked stand a few feet away from a full-length mirror and observe your overall body shape.

 

2. Then focus on the shape of your torso, that is from your shoulders to hips, paying particular attention to the contours or curves as these will determine your body shape.

 

3.  Measure the widest points of your shoulders and hips followed by the narrowest point of your waist.

4. You can also utilise the Body Shape Calculator at: http://shopyourshape.com/calculate-your-body-shape/ .

Characteristics of the five female body shapes

Hourglass

~ The bust and shoulders are the same width as the hips.

~ A well-defined waist that is eight to twelve inches smaller than the bust or hip measurement.

~ Gently rounded shoulders that align with the hips.

~ A well-defined waist which gracefully curves out to the hips.

~ Rounded bottom. 

~ Considered the most ideal body shape.

Triangle

      

 

~ Elegant neck.

~ Slim shoulders that are narrower than the hips.
~ Bust is small to medium.
~ A well-defined waist which gradually slopes out to the hips.

 

Inverted Triangle

~ Broad shoulders that are wider than the hips.

~ Large bust and a wide back.

~ Waist not very well-defined.

~ Very narrow hips.

~ Bottom tends to be flat.

Rectangle

             

~ The bust and hips are balanced as they are basically the same size.
~ The waist has little or no definition and is one to eight inches smaller than the bust.

~ The bottom is normally more flat than round.
 

 

 

        Oval
 

~ Short neck and full face.

~ The waist is undefined and larger than the bust and hips.

~ Hips are narrow compared to the shoulders.

~ Somewhat flat bottom and slender legs.

Which body shape best describes you?

 

Next Post - Styling the Hourglass Body Shape: Tops, Bottoms and Dresses.