How to find your body shape
Knowing your shape isn't about changing your body. It's a shortcut to clothes that feel right the moment you put them on.
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If you've ever loved a top on the hanger and then felt strange in it, you're not alone. Very often the problem isn't you, and it isn't the top. It's that the cut was made for a different shape. Once you know your own shape, shopping gets much easier, because you can skip the pieces that fight your proportions and go straight to the ones that work with them.
There's no good or bad shape here. Every shape has its own strengths, and most of us are a blend of two. Think of this as a starting point, not a label you have to live inside.
What you'll need
- A soft measuring tape (the bendy kind used for sewing)
- A mirror, or a friend to help
- Close-fitting clothes or underwear, so the tape sits flat
- A pen and paper, or the notes app on your phone
Stand up straight and relaxed, with your feet together. Breathe normally. Keep the tape snug but not tight, and level all the way around. If it slopes down at the back, your numbers will be off.
The four measurements
Shoulders. Measure around the widest part of your shoulders, with the tape going over the top of your arms. This one is easier with a helper.
Bust. Measure around the fullest part of your chest, wearing the bra you'd normally wear, with the tape straight across your back.
Waist. Find the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above your belly button. If you don't have an obvious narrow point, measure where you bend when you lean to one side.
Hips. Measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat. This is often lower than you'd expect, so slide the tape up and down a little to find the widest spot.
Write each number down. Now you're ready to compare them.
The five shapes
Hourglass. Your bust and hips are about the same width, and your waist is clearly smaller than both. Your curves are balanced top and bottom. Clothes that follow your waist usually look great on you.
Pear (also called triangle). Your hips are wider than your bust and shoulders. You might find that pants fit at the hip but gap at the waist. Pieces that add a little interest up top and skim over the hips tend to work well.
Apple (also called round). You carry more of your weight through the middle, and your waist isn't much smaller than your bust or hips. Your legs are often a standout feature, and you may have a full bust. Pieces that drape and lengthen work well for you.
Rectangle (also called straight). Your shoulders, bust, waist and hips are all fairly similar. You have a sleek, even line. You can play with shape and create curves where you'd like them, or lean into clean, straight cuts.
Inverted triangle. Your shoulders or bust are wider than your hips. You might have a strong, athletic upper body. Pieces that balance the top with a little more volume or detail below tend to feel just right.
Not sure which one you are?
That's completely normal. Bodies don't read the rulebook. A few things that help:
- Look at the biggest difference. Is the gap between your hips and bust the most noticeable thing? Then pear or inverted triangle is likely. Is it your waist compared with both? Then hourglass. Are all your numbers close? Then rectangle or apple.
- Think about what fits you badly. Jeans that gap at the back suggest pear or hourglass. Shirts that pull across the shoulders suggest inverted triangle. Dresses that are tight at the middle but loose elsewhere suggest apple.
- Choose two if you need to. Plenty of people are a pear with an hourglass waist, or a rectangle with a bit of apple. You can borrow tips from both.
Your shape can also shift over time, with age, pregnancy, fitness or simply life. If clothes that used to work suddenly don't, it's worth measuring again. Nothing has gone wrong; your body has just moved on, and your wardrobe can too.
Height and size matter too
Shape is only part of the picture. Your height and size change how a piece sits on you.
What to do with your shape
Once you know your shape, you don't need to throw anything away or follow strict rules. Use it as a filter. Next time you shop, ask yourself whether a piece works with your proportions. Over time, you'll find your closet is full of clothes you actually wear.
That's the whole idea behind Capsoire. Our quiz is coming soon. It will ask a few quick questions about your shape, and you'll be able to add your height, an age range, an occasion and the budget you'd like to stay in. Then it will put together a small capsule of pieces chosen to flatter you, all designed to mix and match.
If you'd like to go deeper, we've written a guide for each shape: hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle and inverted triangle.