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The Female Horizontal Body Types:Hourglass,Inverted Triangle, Triangle, Rectangle, Diamond, Oval
If you like your body shape you are either male or a veryunusual female! However, whether you like your body or not, if youunderstand what your current shape and proportions are and know a fewstyle guidelines for your shape you are well on your way to lookingyour best.
> Determineyour vertical shape (male and female)
> Determineyour horizontal shape (female)
> Determineyour horizontal shape (male)
The female body types most people are familiar with are whatimage consultants refer to as the horizontal body shapes.These are:
- Hourglass
- Inverted triangle (also referred to a the cone or v shape)
- Triangle (also referred to as pear)
- Rectangle (also called the ruler, the brick, orthe straight body)
- Diamond (one of 2apple shapes), and
- Oval (the second apple shape)
Yourhorizontal shape isimportant for the clothing silhouettes and design elements that willbook best on you. However, the other important proportion is yourvertical body type. There are 3 of these:short legs long body;balanced body; and long legs short body.
TheFemale Vertical Body Proportions:Short Legs Long Body, Balanced Body, Long Legs Short Body
Your vertical proportion is important for the lengths ofclothes (both for tops and for bottoms) that will be mostflattering on you.
However, for your most flattering styles, you also need totake other aspects of your body into account. These include:
Please note...
Dressing to flatteryour shape is one of thefundamental steps to looking your best. However, it is just 1 of 6steps. Be sure to check out all of the 6steps to savvy style to ensure you know all the fundamentalsas well as how to build your own inspirational wardrobe.
Need Help With Your Body Shape Assessment?
If you would like help assessing your body shape I offerthis service as part of my in-personStyle Consultation or as anonline service.
Your faceshape
Your weight
Your height
Your bonestructure
Your shoulder size and angle
Your neck length and circumference
Your age
Any figure variations such as a large bottom, a largestomach,or saddle bags
Get started by assessing your verticalbody type and your horizontal body type (see below).
What is the Perfect Shape?
Luckily beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, thecurrentstereotype of the ideal female body shape is moderately tall with abody balanced vertically, an hourglass figure and an oval shaped face.
For males the ideal is tall with a balanced vertical body anda trapezoid torso (that is, broad shoulders and chest tapering tomedium waist and hips) and an oval face.
So, You Don't Have The Ideal Shape?
Not many of us do (only something like 2% of thepopulation). However, you can create the illusion of aperfect body by choosing clothes to create the illusion of the idealproportions. It's all about balancing your perceived shape tothe ideal shape (or moving your appearance in that direction,anyway).
For example, as a female, if you have long legs and a short,rectangle torso you can create the illusion of a longer, leaner,inverted triangle torso (the next best female shape). Do thisby choosing tops that emphasize your shoulders and that flow throughthe waist, with a hemline between the lower hip to the tip of yourfingers and with no horizontal seams across your torso.
As a male, if you have short legs and a long rectangle torsoyou can create the illusion of longer legs and a shorter trapezoid bodyby choosing shirts that make your shoulders look wider and tuck in yourshirt to make your torso look shorter (as long as your stomach isn'ttoo big). Choose trousers that are darker than your shirt andshoes in the same color as your trousers, or darker, to make your legslook longer.
Changing Shape
Of course understanding your current shape doesn't rule outchanging your shape through diet and exercise or, more drastically,through plastic surgery. The idea is to make the most ofwhatever shape you are now.
If you do change shape by more than 5.5cm (2 inches) then youshould re-assess your body shape and ensure your clothing choices stillflatter your current shape.
DetermineYour Vertical Body Type
Start by assessing your vertical body proportions.This is the proportion of the bottom half of your body compared to yourtop half.
Vertical shape is important for identifying your best garmentlengths (tops and bottoms) and will come into play in determining ifyou should tuck-in tops or wear top garments un-tucked.
There are three vertical body types and these are applicableto both males and females.
The most accurate way to determine your vertical shape is tomeasure your full height and the height to your low hip-line (your lowhip-lineis the circumference around your hips where your bottom is fullest) anddetermine where your hip-line comes in relation to yourheight.
Alternatively use the rough assessment guidelines below...
Short Legs, Long Torso
If your legs are short compared to your upper body you haveshort legs and a long torso...
- Your hip-line height is less than half your height
- You may also have a low waist -- your waist will belower than your bent elbow
- You will have a long torso -- typically you will put onweight first on your thighs and hips
- Your bottom will typically be low and heavy
- You may also be short -- although tall people can also beshort legged
Your main style aims are tocreate the illusion of longer legs and a shorter torso.
Do wear...
Jewellery, scarves and garment designs that draw theobserver's eye up towards your shoulders and face
Short to medium-long tops
Tucked-in tops (if young and slim)
Layered tops
Medium or light tops and dark pants or skirts
Medium to wide belts
Straight skirts
Straight or boot-leg pants
Pant, sock and shoe colors the same
Medium to high heels
Pant hems to the ground
Don't wear...
Long tops (if you are short)
Pants or skirts with a dropped waistband
Tight or tapered skirts
Tight or tapered pants
Cropped pants
Balanced Body
If your upper body length is about the same as your lower bodylength you have a balanced body...
- Your hip-line height is half your full height
- Your waist is at your bent elbow
- Females may be low busted
- You tend to put on weight around your torso or hips andthighs
- You probabaly have a round well formed bottom or you havea flat bottom
- You have proportionally slim arms and legs
If you are less than 160cm (5'3") with a small to medium bodyscale then you are also petite.
Your main style aim is toelongate your mid-torso.
Do wear...
Jewellery, scarves and garment designs that draw theobserver's eye up towards your shoulders and face
Medium-long tops
Un-tucked tops
Tops and bottoms in the same color
Tops and dresses that flow through the waist
Skirts and pants with narrow waistbands or no waistband
Straight or flared skirts
Waisted, low-rise or hipster pants
Straight or flared pants
Don't wear...
Short tops
Empire line tops and dresses
Wide belts
Pants or skirts with a high waistband
Long Legs, Short Torso
If your legs are longer than your upper body you have a longlegged vertical body type...
- Your hipline height is higher than half your full height
- You should also have a high waist -- your waist will behigher than your bent elbow
- You will have a proportionally short torso
- Your bottom will typically be round and high
- You tend to put on weight around your waist, above yourwaist or on the back of your hips
- You may also be tall -- although short people can also belong legged
Your main style aims are tocreate visual balance by creating the illusion of a longer mid-torsoand shorter legs.
Do wear...
Design details that draw the eye down, such as borderprints on skirts and pants (unless you are short)
Medium-long to long accessories (unless you are short)
Skirts and pants in the lighter colors than tops
Medium-long to long tops (if you are short, no longer thanknuckle length)
Un-tucked tops
Tops and dresses that flow through the waist
Skirts and pants with narrow waistbands or no waistband
Straight and flared skirts
Low-rise or hipster pants
Straight and flared pants
Don't wear...
Focal points that draw the eye upwards
Pin stripes
Short tops
Empire line tops and dresses
Wide belts
Pants or skirts with a high waistband
Tapered pants and skirts
DetermineYour Horizontal Body Type
Need Help With Your Body Shape Assessment?
Before you can dress for your shape you need to understandwhat your shape and bodyproportions are. For professional help, either in-person or online, usemy image consulting services.
Your horizontal shape is the relationship between your chest,waist and hip-line. It is their relative proportion to each other thatis important rather than their actual size.
Your horizontal body type is used to identify the clothingstyles that will suit you best. Although it is important to note thatother factors can change some of these recommendations, such as faceshape, neck and shoulder size and prominent features.
Ifyou are male identify your horizontal body shape here.
If you are female identify your horizontal body shape from the picturesand descriptions below.
Todo this assessment stand in front of a full length mirror. A longstraight object such as a long ruler or a broom handle will also beuseful to work out whether your hip-line is narrower, wider, or thesame width as your bust-line. The easiest way to see this is to holdthe ruler under your arm pit, in-line with your shoulder joint, andrest it on your hip.
Selectthe link on your horizontal body shape, below, to find out the generalstyleaims and specific dos and don'ts for your horizontal body type.
HourglassFigure
This is known as the ideal body shape. You have an hourglassfigure if...
- Your full hip-line and your full bust-line are the samewidth and your waist is well defined
- You most likely have a balanced body vertical body shape
Check the general style guidelines for your hourglass figureby clickinghere.
Get personalized style recommendations that take all of yourbody proportions into account by clickinghere.
InvertedTriangle
This is the second best female shape. You have an inverted trianglebody shape if...
- You have a proportionally large bust, or you have broadshoulders, or both
- You have narrow hips with a well defined waist
- You most likely are a long legged vertical body shape withproportionally slim legs
- You may also have a flat bottom
Check the general style guidelines for your inverted trianglefigure by clickinghere.
Get personalized style recommendations that take all of yourbody proportions into account by clickinghere.
Triangleor Pear Shape Body
The triangle body type is often also referred to as pear-shaped. Youhave thisshape if...
- Your full bust-line is proportionally narrower than yourfull hip-line and you have a well defined waist
- You typically have narrow shoulders
- You most likely have a balanced body or short leggedvertical body shape
- Your thighs are typically full
- You may also have a full rounded bottom
Check the general style guidelines for your triangle figure byclickinghere.
Get personalized style recommendations that take all of yourbodyproportions into account by clickinghere.
Rectangle
You have a rectangle body if...
- Your full bust-line and full hip-line are about the samewidth and you have little waist definition
- Your legs and arms will typically be proportionally slender
- You have a small to medium bust
- You most likely have a balanced body or long leggedvertical body shape
- You may also have a flat bottom
- You may have had an hourglass figure when you were youngeror slimmer
- You may look shorter and heavier than you really are
Check the general style guidelines for your rectangle figureby clickinghere.
Get personalized style recommendations that take all of yourbody proportions into account by clickinghere.
Oval
This body shape is also often referred to as an apple shape. You havean oval horizontal body if...
- You have the overall appearance of being round especiallyaround the waist-line
- Your waistline is undefined
- You have a large, low stomach
- You may have "love handles"
- Your hips are wide
- Your upper thighs are full
- You may also have a full bottom or a flat bottom
Check the general style guidelines for your oval figure by clickinghere.
Get personalized style recommendations that take all of yourbody proportions into account by clickinghere.
Diamond
This body shape is also referred to as an apple shape. You have thisbody shape if...
- Your waist is undefined
- You have a large, high stomach
- You may have "love handles"
- You may also have a full bottom or a flat bottom
Check the general style guidelines for your diamond figure by clickinghere.
Get personalized style recommendations that take all of yourbody proportions into account by clickinghere.
Still not sure which shape you are?
It can be difficult to be objective about your own body shape.So,if you still can't decide which shape you are...
If you're in Sydney, come and see me for a shape analysisand style consultation for men,forwomen
Or, take advantage of my onlineshape analysis service
>>Next...take the guess work out of discovering the best styles for yourbody proportions
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