How to determine your body type and how to live with it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The life hacker tells what the body type is, how to determine it yourself, what to do with the resulting result, and gives advice on choosing clothes for women of any size.

Why does the same outfit look completely different on your friend and on you, even if the height and weight are the same? It's all about different types of figure.

The type of figure depends on the features of the structure and development of bone, adipose and muscle tissues. Most of it is due to genetics, but can be adjusted by diet and exercise.

Any person is beautiful and unique. Everyone's body has its own merits and demerits. Knowing your body type is important in order to train more effectively and learn how to choose clothes so that you look the most attractive.

Female body types

By common features, five types of female figures can be distinguished: "hourglass", "rectangle", "triangle", "inverted triangle" and "apple". To determine which type you belong to, it is enough to arm yourself with a measuring tape and take three measurements.

1. Breast volume: over the usual bra without push-up, at the most protruding point, keeping the centimeter parallel to the floor.
2. Waist: along the narrowest part of the body (just above the navel), without drawing in or protruding the stomach.
3. Hips: along the widest part of the hips, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.

Now we evaluate the results.

• If the chest and hips are approximately equal in volume, and the waist is noticeably smaller (by 20-30 centimeters), then your body type is "hourglass".
• If the chest and hips are approximately equal in volume, and the waist does not stand out much against their background, then you are a "rectangle".
• If the chest is smaller than the hips in volume with a visible waist, then your body type is "triangle" ("pear").
• If the ribcage is larger than the bottom of the body, and the shoulders are outwardly wider than the hips, then your figure is an "inverted triangle" (T-shaped figure).
• If the waist, abdomen and ribcage stand out the most, and your legs are slim, then your body type is "circle" ("apple").

Hourglass

The notorious 90/60/90 - about this type of figure. Such ladies can be proud of a well-defined waist and prominent shoulders and hips. Moreover, such proportions will remain even with weight gain, which is good news.

The X-shaped silhouette of the female body is an unspoken ideal, celebrated since the times of Antiquity. If you are a happy owner of this type of figure, please. The main thing in your case is not to disturb the harmonious proportions of the chest, waist and hips.

The main task

Accentuate the curves of the figure while maintaining the harmony of the top and bottom.

Fit

Almost everything. The figure is most favorably emphasized:

• Fitted silhouettes.
• Blouses, coats and raincoats with a wrap and belts.
• V-neck or round neckline on blouses and dresses.
• Pencil skirt, trapeze or sun.
• Jeans and trousers with a high rise.
• Waist belt as an accessory.

Will not fit

• Baggy clothing that hides the silhouette.
• Straight cut outerwear.
• High or low waist dresses or blouses.
• Jeans or trousers with a low rise.

Rectangle

Women with this type of figure have equal breasts and hips in volume, and their waist is weak or not expressed at all (for example, if with a chest volume of 92 centimeters, the waist is more than 70 centimeters).

This physique is more athletic and athletic than, for example, an "hourglass", and the lack of curve in the waist can be visually increased. In order to emphasize the features of such a figure, you just need to maintain the harmony of the shoulders and hips, visually narrowing the waist. This effect can be achieved by creating additional volume in another part of the body.

The main task

Focus on the waist and beautiful legs, keeping the upper and lower body in balance.

Fit

• Fitted outerwear, coat with a belt.
• Tops with thin straps, blouses with sleeves with a flashlight.
• Jackets or outerwear with a straight shoulder line.
• Dresses without straps or with a wrap.
• A-line skirt, sun or with a slit.
• Slim-fit trousers or jeans with a medium or low rise.
• Classic straight trousers or capri pants.

Will not fit

• Baggy or oversized clothing.
• Clothing that exposes the abdomen excessively.
• Straight styles of outerwear or dresses.
• T-shirts, sleeveless or crew-neck tops, turtlenecks.
• Leggings, pencil skirts.

Triangle (pear)

Owners of this physique can be proud of their graceful narrow shoulders and waist, as well as mouth-watering hips. It is worth considering that with such parameters, exhausting yourself with strict diets, trying to make the fifth point less than it can be, is pointless.

The type of "pear" figure is preserved in case of model and overweight. It is better to draw more attention to a beautiful neck, collarbone and arms, which can be easily done with the help of suitable clothing.

The main task

Balance the hips with emphasis on the upper body.

Fit

• Fitted outerwear, a-line coat.
• Any fitted clothing with overhead shoulders (coats, jackets, jackets).
• Blouses, tops and tank tops with open shoulders, sleeveless or wide neckline.
• A-line skirt or pencil.
• Dark trousers or straight cut jeans.
• Pants or jeans that flare downwards.

Will not fit

• Baggy outerwear, long straight-cut coats.
• Tops or blouses with a neckline, turtlenecks.
• Bright massive straps at the hips.
• Tight trousers or pipe trousers, especially in light colors or with a bold print.
• Trousers or jeans with decorative elements on the pockets or belt, fluffy skirts, flared skirts.
• Pants or skirts with a lot of weighting elements: lace, ruffles, folds.

Inverted triangle (T-shape)

This type of physique is characterized by broad shoulders and relatively narrow hips (for example, 95 and 90 centimeters, respectively). Often, the owners of this figure have legs that are longer and slimmer than other women, with which they can be congratulated.

To add more harmony to the "inverted triangle", let's use some stylists' tricks. With the help of suitable clothes, we will visually reduce the shoulders, increase the hips and emphasize the waist. For this, a straight cut is most suitable, the minimum amount of detail in the chest area, the maximum on the hips.

The main task

Balance the top and bottom without forgetting about the waist.

Fit

• A-line coat.
• Square, V- or U-necklines on dresses, tops or blouses.
• Pants or jeans with a low rise.
• Dresses or tops with a peplum (frill below the waist).
• Wide massive thigh straps.
• A-line skirts, wrap-around, pleated or oversized.

Will not fit

• Long straight coats, baggy outerwear.
• Tops or blouses with a wide boat neckline.
• Bright oversized sweaters or jumpers.
• Clothes with false shoulders.
• Blouses or jackets with puffy sleeves.
• Dark straight trousers or jeans, leggings.
• Pencil or ankle-length skirt.

Circle (apple)

The owners of this type of figure have a straight silhouette without a pronounced waist, but with an outstanding chest. The bulk of the figure is in the upper body (but the legs remain slim the longest).

Women-"apples" should carefully monitor excess weight: it tends to be deposited on the stomach.

Main goals

Visually stretch the figure, define the waist and emphasize the beautiful neckline and legs.

Fit

• A-line coat, outerwear with an A-line silhouette (narrow at the chest and widening downward).
• V-neck blouses or tops.
• Dresses with A-line or wrap.
• Flared trousers and jeans with large pockets.
• Clothing with large details (frills, patterns, draperies) below the hip line.
• Solid color clothing with vertical darts.

Will not fit

• Tight or baggy clothing.
• Sleeveless tops and blouses with a neckline or ties at the neck.
• Turtlenecks, short tops.
• Clothes with a bright print, ruffles, decorative elements on the shoulders and belly.
• Skinny trousers, trousers and jeans with no pockets or low rise.
• Tight skirts, pencil skirt.

Any figure is beautiful and attractive, especially if it is beneficial to emphasize it. How do you dress to look your best?