Q&A for How to Determine Your Body Shape

In this case, your goal is going to be to give your lower body more volume. So, you might wear baggier jeans, large skirts, or bigger shoes to give your lower body a bigger visual impact.

Look in a mirror and try to visualize your body in two halves, split at the waist. You can generally get a pretty good sense for what your body shape is based on the balance between the top and bottom half of your body.

You can't. It depends on how your weight is proportioned. One 5'6" 140lbs girl might be an hourglass, while another could be an apple.

A two piece with high-waisted bottoms would accentuate curves and conceal any problem areas around the tummy, if you have any.

You have a pear body type, not an hourglass shape. The pear body type has a smaller bust.

Cover your shoulders, wear a cinched waist (whether it be from ties, bows, belts, or the cut of the shirt), and wear peplum-style, patterned, or brightly colored skirts or pants. Combined with a darker top, this accentuates your hips along with the cinched waist, giving a more hourglass-looking silhouette.

You could do exercises to make your stomach flatter and your waist smaller, but you can't really change your hips or bust without surgery. It is probably best to be happy with the body you have.

Yes! Most men do not gain weight in the hips, butt, bust, or thighs primarily. Most men have rectangle, apple, or inverted triangle body shapes because they tend to gain weight in the middle. Also, measurements differ in men. For example a woman with the measurements of 35-33-36 (bust, waist, and hips) would be considered an apple but a man with those measurements would be more on the pear side.

Most likely a rectangle or banana if you gain weight proportionally in your upper, middle, and lower body equally (sometimes a little more in the middle). It also depends on if you butt is round vs flat and if your hips are straight vs curvy.

It may change, yes. There may be small or large changes as your body develops into a woman's body. Most of that is natural and you can't really control it. However, you can always control your eating and exercise habits to ensure you stay at a healthy weight.

If you have a small waist in comparison to your breast and hip sizes, you are probably an hourglass.

Breast generally stop their development when you reach 18 years. However, being a pear shape they might be done growing. Don't worry, be happy with yourself.

If you have wide hips you may be a pear, but if you have a fairly uniform width down your body, then you may be a ruler/rectangle/banana.

Depending on your bust and shoulders, you would most likely either be a triangle or pear shape. Both are very good!

It depends on your hip measurements. You could be an hourglass if your hips are about the same size as your bust, or if your hips are smaller, then you could be an inverted triangle shape.

If you want to make your shoulders look smaller and your hips bigger, keep your shoulders covered and go for peplum style skirts that will give extra flare to the hips. Patterned, ruffled, or brightly colored skirts will also make your hips stand out more. For example, have a tight cheetah pencil skirt with a classy black top

Stand in front of a mirror in your undergarments, and use that to find your body shape.

Eating more (natural) fats would be best, such as avocados, olives, and nuts. You can also find shakes meant for promoting healthy weight gain.

Just define a waist; belt your dresses at the waist and play with volume.

Most teenagers still going through puberty typically have rectangle body types, but if you have developed more you may be able to tell or guess. For example, if your measurements make you a rectangle, but you're almost a pear/hourglass/apple, etc., then you can infer what shape you will be when you are done with puberty. Also, if you look at your relatives, you may be able to estimate your shape based on genetics. (If both your grandma and mother are pears, then chances are their genes will make you a pear too.)

Try working out for 30 minutes each day. Find workouts that mainly target those 2 areas. Be sure to drink lots of water and eat healthy foods as well.

Up to 80% is determined genetically. The remaining 20% is dependent upon environment and personal choices.

You are most likely an hourglass figure if you have an equal distribution of curves and a small waist, but you may be an apple if you have a smaller lower body with disproportionate breasts.

No. As you have hips larger than your bust, you are probably a pear figure.

Yes, in some ways, culture can affect body shape. For example, if a particular culture praises heavier women and primarily consumes a rich, high-calorie diet, then most of the women in that culture are likely to be overweight.

That would be the hourglass shape. It says in the article, weight is gained in the hips, butt, thighs, and stomach.

Maybe. Do you have similar measurements? Do you gain weight in the belly? Are you straight without curves? If you answered yes, you could be a ruler/rectangle/banana shape. Most bananas gain weight in the belly and back first rather than in their chest, face, and upper arms and legs. So you are most likely a banana or pear.

There's no way to target fat loss in the breasts, but many women experience a reduced breast size after starting a disciplined workout routine of any kind.

You most likely have an apple or rectangle/banana shape. But it can depend on your curves, too.

You should wear things with wide necklines, sleeveless tops, jewel necklines, and brighter color. Bell/ boot-cut or straight pants/jeans in darker colors are best, as are medium length shorts and skirts.