Find out your Body Type!

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Having a hard time finding the right clothing for you? Believe me, the problem is not you or your body… don’t ever think that!

Although each body is unique, they can still be grouped by the silhouette created from the type of clothing being worn.

Knowing what type of body makes it easy to dress with the right clothing cuts, shapes, lengths, and volumes in the right places of your body!

Take a look!

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Step 1: Know Measurements

All bodies are perfect in their own way, they just have different proportions in the shoulders, busts, waists, and hips.

To be clear, weight has nothing to do with body type. We are talking about how to take advantage of your body’s silhouette and enhance the most flattering parts you love.

Now grab your measuring tape and let’s get started!

Body Measurements

1. Shoulders

Place the measuring tape around your arms, wrapping it at the top of your shoulders, right above your shoulder blades. This may be a little tricky to do by yourself, so we recommend asking someone to help you out with this part!

2. Bust

Grab your tape and wrap it under your arms, placing it at the fullest part of your bust. Use a bra type that you normally wear, or no bra if you typically don’t wear one. Just be sure not to press it too tight!

3. Waist

Search for the narrowest part of your waist, which is normally located above the belly button. Take the starting point of your tape, place it on your front waist, and wrap the tape around until it’s back in front where you can see the final number.

4. Hips

Look for the fullest point of your hips and wrap the tape around your hips and butt. Try measuring yourself wearing thin layered clothing to have precise results.

Step 2: Recognize your Body Type

Body Types

1. Hourglass Body

If your hips and bust are nearly equal in size and you have a well-defined waist that's narrower than both, you have an hourglass shape. Your legs and upper body are likely considered proportionate. 

Characteristics:

Your shoulders and hips are about equal width.

• You have a defined waist.

• You likely have a larger bust and backside.

• You describe yourself as curvy.

2. Inverted Triangle Body

If your shoulders are broader than your hips, you’re likely an inverted triangle.

Characteristics:

• Your shoulders are the broadest part of your body.

• Your bust may be larger.

• Your hips and waist are narrower.

3. Rectangle Body Shape

The rectangle body shape is characterized by equal bust, waist, and hip measurements.‍

Rectangles tend to be tall and lean. They are not particularly curvy, the waist is not well-defined, and the bottom is rather flat.

Characteristics:

• Your shoulders, bust, and hip measurements are fairly uniform.

• Your waist is more straight than curvy.

4. Apple-Shaped Body

You know you have an apple body shape if you have a larger bust as compared to the hip section, an undefined waist, round shoulders, a smaller hip, and slimmer legs and arms. You also tend to put on weight first in your upper body section before the rest.

Characteristics:

Your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips are fairly uniform—but your shoulders and hips may be slightly narrower.

• Your waistline is rather undefined.

• You have a large bust.

5. Pear-Shaped Body

The pear body shape is characterized by large hips, which are wider than the bust and shoulders. Other characteristics of this body shape are a defined waist, and proportionately slim arms and shoulders.

Characteristics:

• Your hips and thighs are wider than your shoulders and bust.

• You have a defined waist that is narrow compared to your hips.

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So, did this help you discover your body type, or at least get a hint of your body dimensions? Well, make sure you know before going back shopping so you know which parts of your body to highlight with clothing.

We’ll be posting Body Types Part 2, where we’ll explain how to dress for each body type, as well as what kind of cuts and lengths to search for. Stay tuned!

*Visual Media by Nordstrom Webpage