How To Find Your Body Shape And The Most Flattering Clothing To Wear
Plus, the celebrities with bodies just like yours!
If, like us, you grew up reading lots of fashion advice about what to wear to flatter your body, and therefore you also know that the struggle to figure out which of the many beautiful body types you actually have is real. And yet, figuring it out is essential when dressing your body for fashion success.
It may sound trivial, but in reality, there are advantages to knowing what body type you have, especially when it comes to knowing which clothing choices will be the most flattering and attractive on you.
Celebrity stylist Corey Roché offered us simple explanations for each of the five basic female body shapes so you can figure out which one you have, as well advice on wardrobe essentials for your shape.
How to find your body type
To find out your body shape you will have to measure your shoulders, your bust, your waist, and your hips. When you're done, use those measurements to help you figure out what shape most fits your body.
What are the 3 main body types?
While there are several body shapes, there are three main body types: Ectomorphs, Endomorphs, and Mesomorphs.
1. Ectomorph
Ectomorphs tend to be long and lean with little body fat or muscle. This body type loses weight easily.
2. Endomorph
Endomorphs have curvier bodies with plenty of body fat and muscle. This body type gains weight easily.
3. Mesomorph
Mesomorphs have a balanced amount of body fat and muscle. This body type is often described as athletic, strong, and solid.
What is my body type?
After taking your measurements, read through the descriptions of each of the five main female body shapes below to see which is most like yours, which celebrities share your type of figure, and the best clothing choices for to your flatter your shape.
Apple-shaped body type
Celebrities with an apple body shape:
Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Tyra Banks
How to tell if you have an apple-shaped body:
"Your shoulders and hips are around the same size," Roché says. "Apple-shaped ladies have little difference between the measurements of their chest, waist, and hips. You as an apple-shaped girl have chest and waist size measurements that are fairly close, but your hips are about six inches smaller than your chest."
Apple body shape traits:
- Your hips and shoulders are about the same width; waistline has the same width or is wider.
- You gain weight mainly around the waist, at least in proportion to the other parts of your body.
- You have slender lower legs and arms.
- Your high hip is wider than your lower hip.
- Your bust and midriff are larger than your hips.
- You are short-waisted.
- Your thighs or hips are the narrowest part of your body.
10 best clothing choices for an apple-shaped body:
- Bras that support and lift
- Trouser jeans
- Colorful medium-heeled pumps
- Single-breasted, tailored and structured jackets
- Sheath dresses in a firm fabric
- Knee-length structured pencil skirts
- Form-fitting tops in stiff fabrics
- Straight-leg pants with a flat front
- Belted trench coats with epaulets
- Swing tops
Pear-shaped body type
Celebrities with a pear body shape:
Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson, and Rihanna
How to tell if you have a pear-shaped body:
"Your hips are wider than your shoulders," Roché says, "They are also wider than your bust, making them the widest area of your body. In numbers, your hip measurement is more than five percent bigger than your shoulder or bust measurements. With a pear figure, one of your best assets is your slim midriff, which many women envy you for. Make sure to show off your killer waist and balance your wider lower half. These basic items should be the foundation of a great wardrobe."
Pear body shape traits:
- Your hips are wider than your shoulders.
- You have round, sloping shoulders.
- You have a well-defined waistline (and might even have killer abs).
- Your buttocks and thighs are the fullest part.
- You tend to gain weight in your thighs.
10 best clothing choices for a pear-shaped body:
- Bright scarves
- Knee-length A-line skirts
- Form-fitting blouses with ruffles
- Long A-line coats that end below the widest part of thehips
- Classic or open-toe pumps in nude
- Short, fitted jackets with puff sleeves that end at the waist
- Empire-line dresses that flare out with details around the bust
- Figure-hugging off-the-shoulder tops in light or bright colors
- Form-fitting shirts with boat necks and big sleeves
- Boot-cut stretch jeans in dark denim
Hourglass-shaped body type
Celebrities with an hourglass body shape:
Kim Kardashian, Dita Von Teese, Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry, and Eva Longoria
How to tell if you have an hourglass-shaped body:
"Your shoulders and hips are around the same size," Roché says. "Your waistline is significantly smaller. The rule of thumb here is about 75 percent: Your shoulder and hip measurements are within five percent of each other. Your waist is at least 25 percent smaller than your shoulder, hip and bust measurements. Your waist is eight to 12 inches smaller than your hip or bust measurement."
Hourglass body shape traits:
- Your hips and shoulders are about the same width.
- You have round, sloping shoulders.
- You have a well-defined waistline.
- Did we mention cleavage?
- Your buttocks are rather round.
- Your lower hips are wider than your high hips.
- Your thighs are full but narrower than your lower hips.
- You gain weight through your hips and above the waist.
10 best clothing choices for an hourglass-shaped body:
- Wrap dresses
- Belted, figure-hugging coats
- Mid-sized belts
- High-rise pencil skirts in soft fabrics
- Straight-leg high-rise trousers with a defined waistband
- Figure-hugging sweaters in fine knit with a rounded V-neck
- Classic pumps
- High-rise jeans with stretch in a boot-cut style
- Well-fitting, supportive bras
- High-rise A-line skirts
Rectangle-shaped body type
Celebrities with a rectangle body shape:
Anne Hathaway, Queen Latifah, Cameron Diaz, and Sophie Turner
How to tell if you have a rectangle-shaped body:
"Rectangles have a very athletic frame," Roché says. "That allows them to wear boyish clothes as well as a wide range of feminine ones. Your shoulders, waistline, bust, and hips are around the same size. Your shoulder, bust, and hip measurements are within five percent of each other. Your waist is less than 25 percent smaller than your shoulder or bust measurements. Waist measures from one to eight inches (2.5 cm – 20 cm) smaller than the bust."
Rectangle body shape traits:
- Your hips, waistline, and shoulders are about the same width.
- You gain weight evenly but may gain some more through the upper body on the back or neck.
- You have rather straight shoulders.
- Your buttocks are flat.
- You have an athletic build and a small bustline.
10 best clothing choices for a rectangle-shaped body:
- Button-down shirts
- Mide-sized belts
- Ballerina flats
- Skirts with box pleats
- Mid-rise pants with pleats
- Blouson-style blouses
- Camisoles for layering underneath
- Shorts with pleats, ruffles, or other embellishments
- Knit-tube or dropped waist dresses
- Double-breasted jackets
Inverted triangle-shaped body type
Celebrities with an inverted body shape:
Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Renée Zellweger, Miley Cyrus and Victoria Beckham
How to tell if you have an inverted triangle-shaped body:
"Your shoulders are wider than your hips," Roché says. "They are the widest part of your body. Your shoulders are more than five percent bigger than your hip measurement."
Inverted body shape traits:
- You have prominent, broad, straight shoulders that are wider than your waistline or hips.
- You have an athletic build.
- You probably have rather flat buttocks.
- You might have a larger chest and fuller back than rectangles.
- You usually gain weight through the torso and back area.
10 best clothing choices for an inverted triangle-shaped body:
- Light or bright trousers with front pleats
- Distressed jackets in dark colors
- Kimono-style shirts in dark colors
- Super-comfortable slouch-knee boots
- Peplum skirts
- Soft and drapey wrap cardigans in dark colors
- Short one-shoulder or tunic dresses that show off your legs
- Waterfall colored shirts in dark colors
- Straight jeans in light or bright colors
- Chunky-heeled shoes
All images: Karen Cox/SheKnows
Lisa Fogarty has written numerous articles for USA Today, The Stir, Opposing Views and other publications.