February 3, 2013

After reading in the past week from two women that they thought they were one shape and learned after joining the forum that they were different, I figured I may as well take some body-shape photos and upload them.

What I learned:
1) Body-shape photos can be really unflattering!
2) I have bad posture. I should work on that.

I've labeled myself an apple/IT for a good while - because on those "what size are you based on measurements" charts, my tummy measurements put me in much larger sizes than my bust or hips measurements. And my shoulder measurement puts me in a smaller size than my bust measurement.....

I think this means that I'll never be able to close a jacket that fits me nicely in the shoulders. And I'm okay with that.

Here's my measurements (not sure if they're helpful) Bust:40 (at widest point), ribs (below bust) 34 (my narrowest point), waist 36 (at belly button - I'm a bit bigger just below it), hips 39 (at widest point).

In the mirror, if I hold up a tape measure in front of me, my shoulders are about 15.5", wide, and my waist and hips are both about 14" wide. Obviously, my tummy sticks out in the front. It's also my most frequently varying measurement.

After look at these pics, I think that walking the dog in the morning is not an adequate workout. :)

Posted in the Body Type category

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

17 Comments

rachylou replied 11 years ago

You look like you're having so much fun in #3! Very cute pic of you.

Ok. Onto business. I feel you're a rectangle and like me, short waisted. I also think that the tank, from the back, gives the impression that you're an inverted triangle (IT).
Marley replied 11 years ago

Amiable - I'm not very good at this, but I'll give it a try. I think you look like a rectangle with secondary apple features. Does that make sense???? (I don't really know myself!)

But, just let me say - you have a cute figure and hey, all women have "tummies" - that's all part of being a beautiful woman, so don't stress over that! And - congrats on mustering up the courage to post the dreaded "body-type" pictures! I think its kind of a rite of passage here on YLF - and you did it! Way to go, girl!
Beth Ann replied 11 years ago

I agree with Rachylou --- rectangle, secondary type IT. And 5'9" with amazing legs --- don't forget that part!
CocoLion replied 11 years ago

I see a rectangle/apple hybrid. But definitely rectangle first. You have really even proportions and I wish I had long straight saddlebag free thighs like that too!
Jenava replied 11 years ago

I see rectangle as well, maybe with apple tendencies. You do have such a cute figure! Great gams. And, like Marley said, most women have tummies - that's completely normal and doesn't detract whatsoever from your figure. Posting body shape figures is a little intimidating, but you've managed it with aplomb. (-:
dizzys replied 11 years ago

Your measurements are very close to mine and I am a rectangle with apple tendencies. I am also short wasted. You look like a rectangle to my eye and may have apple tendencies.....welcome!
Adelfa replied 11 years ago

In your clothes you look like a slim rectangle. I never noticed an apple.
Raisin replied 11 years ago

I'm thinking rectangle too, though I'm no expert at this.
amiable replied 11 years ago

Okay - thank you! I'll go with rectangle! (I'm not as curvy as an apple, come to think of it).

The poses and smiles are because my three year old son was "helping", and being goofy. He's so adorable I can hardly stand it.
krishnidoux replied 11 years ago

Have you measured your shoulders? (you have to enlist the help of someone else).
To me, you look like a very lovely rectangle with secondary IT features. I don't see the appleness, but I see you have a high waist. This might be why you thought you were an apple: the smallest part of your waist is significantly higher than the low-rise pants that have been dominating the fashion world in the last decade or more. So yes, if you put on a pair of pants and it fastens right where the tummy is naturally curvier, you could easily think you're an apple. But really, you are not. Does it make sense? I know apple-shaped people and they do not look like you. You truly look like a rectangle. And a very pretty one at that!

Also, I don't see a "short-waisted" person, but a longer torso even if you do have a high waist. It's a very attractive, athletic looking shape!

You mention you want to work on your posture. May I suggest this one exercise, which will really deepen your waist as well as strengthening the core muscles for correct posture. I warn you it looks easy yet isn't, however if you do it faithfully for a week, you will see where your natural waist is as it will really define it. You will also find it much easier to stand straight. It's an old exercise from the Callanetics method, explained here at 3:13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrEyoC03KwI
This woman explains it very well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vofcj9GWca8
shiny replied 11 years ago

I vote rectangle. Not an IT, because your shoulders have a slope. You have apple tendencies but I'm betting a couple of sessions of yoga and that would completely disappear.

Your figure is actually very similar to my own, except that my shoulders are straight across, and my arms aren't as slender as yours. And my legs aren't so endlessly long. Jealous.

While I can see why you say you have apple tendencies, what's interesting is that you say your measurement is slightly bigger below your belly button. That's not the case with me. Mine is slightly bigger above the belly button! Seems to me that most adult women have a "pooch" which is the area below the belly button. Apple to me is having a pronounced belly, like a man's beer gut, not a mere pooch. Pooches are easier to dress and disguise because you just need to find pants that are wider at the hip. Jeans will suck the pooch in, whereas jeans do not suck in an apple belly, because the belly is above the waistband.
Tina.b replied 11 years ago

You have a great shape, I definitely see rectangle too. Your legs are long and slim, definitely showcase them in your outfits.
cciele replied 11 years ago

Yes, we have similar body shape, except you have longer, slimmer legs. Welcome to another racy rectangle!
amiable replied 11 years ago

Thank you all for your comments! I'm definitely going with rectangle.

Shiny, my shoulders do slope a lot - so no IT.

Krish, I think you're right about my waist being high. Actually, I'm not sure how waist is defined on my body - my smallest measurement is my rib cage - from there it just gets bigger. If my waist is on my rib cage, then it's super high. I don't even want to think about wearing pants or a skirt that high. But empire waistlines (when done well, and not tight) do flatter me - perhaps this is why.

Thanks also for the videos. I'm motivated to do them, I'll watch the vid tonight, and start doing them. I'll report back when I notice a difference!
Suz replied 11 years ago

You. Are. Adorable.

Full stop.
krishnidoux replied 11 years ago

Amiable, no, I don't mean wearing waist that high! But simply medium to higher rise, and also wide legs with wide waist bands, to create an inverted V line. I suspect A line skirts look good on you too. And Suz is right: you are adorable!
amiable replied 11 years ago

No, I knew you didn't mean actually wearing pants that high :) I was just trying to picture it and seeing Steve Urkel!

That explains to me why wide-legs work though! And I do tolerate a higher waist on wide-legs than on skinny or boot-cuts - I suppose the overall line is what works.

A-line skirts (and skirts in general) only work for me if they're tight enough UNDER my belly to not stick out in the front the whole way down - otherwise they emphasize my barrel-shape, and I'd rather un-emphasize that!

Amiable's Blog

Overloading the Forum: Body Shape pics

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