Fashion trends are constantly changing, and various fashions are dazzling. In today’s fast fashion world, choosing clothes can be tricky. Ever wonder why the same outfit looks great on someone else but not on you? Clothes are meant to work for us. But without knowing your body type, even the best pieces might not flatter you the way they should. Knowing what works for your body type is much more important than knowing what’s in style this year!
How to Determine Your Body Type
Understanding what works for your body type is a journey of self-discovery. The first step is to determine what kind of body type you are.
Here are some common body type categories:
Apple: Heavier upper body, fuller chest, no visible curve at the waist, longer legs.
Pear-shaped: A heavier lower body, with fuller hips and thighs. A smaller waist and a slimmer upper body.
Hourglass: fuller chest and hips, obvious curve at the waist, overall even proportions.
Rectangular: Straight lines from top to bottom. No big difference in width between the chest, waist, and hips. Few noticeable curves.
Inverted triangle type: Wider shoulders. A fuller chest. A more slender lower body.
| Measurement Area | How to Measure | Standard Range (cm) | How to Identify Your Body Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder Width | Measure from the outer edge of one shoulder to the outer edge of the other. Do this across your back. | Women: 36 – 43 cm; Men: 40 – 47 cm | Inverted Triangle: Shoulder width greater than hips. Rectangle: Shoulders and hips similar. Hourglass: Balanced shoulder width. |
| Bust | Measure around the fullest part of your chest while standing naturally. | Women: 81 – 97 cm; Men: 91 – 106 cm | Apple: Larger bust. Hourglass: Balanced bust, proportionate to hips. |
| Waist | Measure around the narrowest part of your waist, above your belly button. Keep your body relaxed. | Women: 61 – 76 cm; Men: 71 – 86 cm | Apple: Larger waist, less defined. Hourglass: Well-defined waist. Pear: Small waist with wider hips. |
| Hips | Measure around the widest part of your hips, making sure the measuring tape is level. | Women: 86 – 101 cm; Men: 94 – 109 cm | Pear: Hips are wider than bust. Inverted Triangle: Hips narrower than shoulders. |
| Thigh Circumference | Measure around the thickest part of your thigh, just below the hip. | Women: 50 – 64 cm; Men: 54 – 68 cm | Pear: Larger thighs. Hourglass: Proportionate thighs. |
| Height | Measure from the top of your head to the floor. | Women: 150 – 170 cm; Men: 170 – 185 cm | Rectangle: Medium height. Hourglass: Average or slightly tall. Inverted Triangle: Taller, with broader shoulders. |
Suitable Dress Code for Various Body Types
Apple type:Apple-shaped figures can opt for V-neck tops for visual elongation, and choose loose-waisted designs to avoid close-fitting.
Pear-shaped: Pear-shaped figure can create the upper body more bright, choose bright colors or decoration in the upper body, shift the visual focus. In the bottom of the pursuit of loose, choose A-line skirt, wide-legged pants to balance the width of the lower body.
Hourglass shape: Hourglass figure can emphasize the waistline, through the waist dress, hip skirt, amplify the curves of the beauty, and choose some slimming design, such as high-waisted pants, slimming tops to highlight the proportion of the body.
Rectangle shape: To accentuate the waistline on a rectangular figure, use belts, waist-cinching tops or high-waisted pants to create a pronounced waistline. And add curves appropriately by choosing tops or skirts with pleats, ruffles or patchwork designs to add curves to the figure. Adopt a narrow top and wide bottom to match. Slim tops with A-line skirts or wide-legged pants create a narrow top and wide bottom to add a visual sense of curves
Inverted Triangle Shape: Reduce the volume of the upper body. Simple tops + loose bottoms: V-neck, dark-colored tops + wide-legged pants to balance shoulder width. Increase the width of the lower body: A-line skirts, bright-colored bottoms.
The True Meaning of Fashion
The most important thing about fashion isn’t trying to fit into someone else’s idea of a “perfect body,” but finding what feels comfortable for you. Once you understand your body type, choosing clothes becomes less about meeting outside standards and more about what works for you. Wearing clothes that make you feel at ease and confident is the real goal. Everyone’s body is unique, and the true meaning of fashion is embracing it, expressing your style, and not just copying others.
No one is born “bad at dressing,” it’s simply a matter of not understanding your body type and what works for you. Everyone’s body is unique. Understanding your body type is the first step to finding the right clothes. There are five main shapes: apple, pear, hourglass, rectangle, and inverted triangle. Each has its own styling tips. Choose clothes that suit your shape. This highlights your strengths and balances your proportions, instead of just following trends. Clothes should serve us, helping to showcase our best selves, not make us look out of place. Understanding your body shape and how clothes fit is a fashion secret anyone can master.