Sheldon introduced the concept of different body types, or somatotypes. While many people tend to think that this type of classification only refers to males, it can also describe the female body.

This classifies the body based on how lean a person is or how easy it is for their body to store fat. Females tend to have more fat mass. They also tend to be curvier due to a combination of larger breasts, wider hips, larger buttocks, and bigger thighs. While every body is unique, there are several broad categories for the female body shape.

An older article notes that this historically stems from the fashion industry. These include:. For example, if someone is an ectomorph and wants to gain some weight, while they will have to put in some extra effort, they can do it successfully with a proper diet and exercise routine.

While some people may find it helpful to identify their body shape, others may find little benefit. A person who seems to have an ectomorph body type may believe that they will not experience as many benefits from working out as a type that may find it easier to gain muscle, such as endomorphs.

However, people with all body types will notice improvements in strength, flexibility, and weight if they follow an exercise routine to reach their goals. Some people may assume that certain body types are less likely to develop conditions due to overweight or obesity.

However, this is not necessarily true. Research shows that a person who has an apparently healthy, or moderate, weight can have metabolic obesity, which can lead to an increase in the risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes , ischemic heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Low amounts of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and not following a healthy, balanced diet are all risk factors of having metabolic obesity. While some genetic factors also exist, experts have not investigated this link fully. People should not assume that they are at a lower risk of developing conditions associated with obesity due to their particular body shape.

A person who displays characteristics of one body shape but wants to look like another may develop poor body image issues or body dysmorphia. In some cases, a person may develop disordered eating patterns. A study investigated the effects of social media on females in college aged 18—25 years.

A majority of the study participants had a healthy body mass index BMI. However, even participants with a healthy BMI viewed their bodies as overweight compared to those of social media influencers. Eating disorders can severely affect the quality of life of people living with these conditions and those close to them.

Early intervention and treatment greatly improve the likelihood of recovery. Anyone who suspects they or a loved one may have an eating disorder can contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders , which offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options.

For general mental health support at any time, people can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24 hours a day at or for TTY.

For example, a very curvy person may wish for a more rectangular-shaped body, while someone with a rectangular-shaped body may want to have more curves. The National Eating Disorders Association outlines some thought patterns a person can consider for a more positive body image:.

It is important for people to consider that all bodies are beautiful and unique but are only a part of what defines a person. How individuals treat others and behave are also important aspects. If a person suffers from poor body image issues or body dysmorphia , they should seek support from a medical professional.

All bodies are special and unique. One aspect of what makes them unique is their shape and how they carry weight and muscle.

There are many different body shapes and many different body types. Sometimes, people do not feel comfortable with their body shape. If a person has concerns about their body, they should consult a doctor. What is a mesomorph body type?

Learn about the characteristics of this body type and the best diets and workout routines for people with this body….

Calisthenics is a form of workout that utilizes the person's body weight. Learn more about these exercises and how to do them here. Body image reflects how comfortable a person feels in their body. What makes a positive or negative body image, and is it possible to have a better….

A person can increase the amount of protein that they consume in various ways, including eating certain…. The limbic system is a group of structures in the brain that help with memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Learn more here. Waistband trousers and skirts with elastic bands work well on this body shape.

Faith Lasha, a blogger, shared how she does not follow any set rules to dress her apple body. Bright colors, tucked-in shirt, a jacket that stops at my waist, but I felt like a freaking doll in this outfit i. This body type is the most balanced of all with a proportionate top and bottom part of the body with a well-defined waistline.

So when you look for dresses, choose the ones that do just that for you. It is a body to die for, so flaunt it and in the right way. Since you have a well-balanced figure, your dress styles should do the same as well. The dress should sit well at the right curves and follow the outline of these curves.

Make the most of it because not everybody has this! Dresses that cinch at the waist will be your best fit. V or plunge V and sweetheart necklines help you flaunt your upper body.

To flaunt your waistline, go with a belt at your natural waistline or below the belly button — either way, it only looks great. A-line dresses or similar cuts take care of working on the lower part of the body, and needless to say, body-hugging dresses are your thing because, why not?

Almost anything looks great on this body type. But pairing it up with loose tops or bottoms might kill the look. What is the point, otherwise?

The pear body shape is all in the lower part of your body. Your butt and thighs are visually bigger than your upper body. So, make some space for that base, people. Thanks To Kim Kardashian and others, this body is a rage right now. It is the Best Pants For Pear Shaped Petites.

The advantage of this body type is that you can create an illusion of an hourglass figure if styled correctly. Your shoulders are narrow, and your hips are wide. All you have to do is to strike a balance. Or, wear outfits that enhance your lower body; either way works well.

Wide-legged pants, A-line skirts, or dresses with patterned or ruffled tops that add definition to the upper body look great. Skinny jeans with loose tops help create an hourglass illusion. Crop tops, sweetheart, V or deep-V, padded jackets and tops, scoop, or boat necks will balance your bottom.

The rectangle-shaped body is usually well balanced from the shoulders to the hips. Your arms and legs are the assets. So, focus on enhancing that. Choose A-line skirts, ruffled and layered tops. Dresses that add definition to your bottom and necklines that add meat to the upper body.

Sleeveless, strapless, and sweetheart lines are your thing. Blazers, long jackets, and capes add the much-needed drama here. The inverted triangle is the most athletic-looking body type. Your shoulders are much broader than your hips. You have to remember to add definition to your hips and thereby to focus on creating a balance.

Straight-cut jeans and dresses that naturally have an inverted V-look to them are all clothes that will suit your body. But many inverted triangles love their wide shoulders and want to maximize them. In this case, I work with padded jackets, horizontal stripes, and light colors on the upper part of the body.

Since your hips are much narrower than your shoulders, pencil-cut skirts, skinny jeans, etc. But, do make sure that there is not much layering or definition to your upper body because it needs none. V-neck lines work well and create an illusion of narrow shoulders, so this should be your go-to neckline.

Let all the patterns, ruffles, layers, etc. As long as you remember this, you will do more than good. Athletic body types boast similarly proportioned shoulders and hips, showcasing a sporty silhouette with a toned physique with weight evenly proportionate throughout the body.

Embrace clothing that enhances your natural curves and showcases your athleticism with confidence. Highlight your legs by sporting oversized jeans or palazzos.

Show off your waist with halter tops, or scoop necklines, and you can also opt for dresses to complement your best features.

Dressing according to your body type can make you feel happy, confident, and comfortable in your skin. But, it is important to note that choosing the right shoes based on your body shape is equally important.

Check out the infographic below to find out which type of footwear goes well with your body type. Save Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team. Gone are the days you would feel disappointed or insecure despite wearing your dream outfit as it would not look as glamorous as you expected.

Now, you know the underlying reasons behind feeling uncomfortable in clothes that seem perfect on fashion bloggers, mannequins, and fashion influencers on the cover page of fashion magazines and in the shops, and the models on those online shopping websites.

It is because dressing according to your body type and fashion sense can make you feel like your clothes were made just for you. So, take your required insights from the above tutorial and flaunt your flawless looks! Always remember, you are beautiful just the way you are.

Wear your confidence so nothing steals your shine. Although the 20s are more about experimenting with clothes and the 40s reflect your calm and stable life, these are only general ideas. To dress according to your age, decide how you want people to perceive you. Also, remember that your preferences will change depending on your age.

So, dress however you like to because age is only a number! All you need to do is choose your right fit wisely and be comfortable and confident while you are in it.

You can go for empire line styles, as they will draw attention to the tiniest part of your torso and creates an illusion of a higher waistline. StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content.

Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article. Always felt like your clothes don't look good on you?

It's time to start dressing for your body type! Image: Source: Shutterstock. In This Article. Related: How To Dress To Look Slimmer. Quick Tip. Pick open cardigans with draped fits that are less clinging to accentuate the apple body type best. Ensure the garment ends below the hipline to lengthen the body, and ensure that the clothing skims over the torso and hips.

Related: 12 Best Tips To Find Your Personal Style. Form-fitting, belted jackets are ideal. Short jackets that end just above your hips highlight your curves. If you are petite, opt for shorter jackets that end at your hips. Related: How To Dress To Hide Belly Fat — 8 Easy Tips And Ideas.

Infographic: The Right Pair Of Shoes For Your Body Type Dressing according to your body type can make you feel happy, confident, and comfortable in your skin.

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now. Download Infographic. Key Takeaways For an apple body type, choose clothing that draws emphasis to the legs, such as A-line dresses and skirts, and tops that emphasize the neckline.

Choose clothing that balances the hips and shoulders for a pear-shaped figure, such as A-line skirts and empire waist tops.

When measuring, be sure to stand straight with arms to the side. Make sure the tape is snug against the body, but not too tight such that it compresses the body making the measurement inaccurate. Bust size —the circumference measured around the chest over the fullest part of the breasts, while wearing a properly fitted bra.

Waist size —the smallest circumference measured around the natural waist, just above the belly button. High hip size —the circumference of the upper swell of the hip over the pelvic region. It is around 7 inches 18 cm below the natural waist.

Hip size —the largest circumference measured around the hips over the largest part of the buttocks. This body shape describes a person who typically has waist measurements that are less than 9 inches smaller than the hip or bust measurements.

This body shape describes a person who has hip measurements greater than their bust measurements. This body shape typically presented as the "ideal" describes a person with hip and bust measurements nearly equal in size, with a narrower waist measurement. The female body shapes are based on societal standards that are subjective and are different in different cultures.

The algorithm used in this calculator is based on a study published in the International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, which breaks down the body shapes of women into 7 categories 1. There are very wide ranges of actual sizes within each shape. Also, some body shapes may not fit into any of the shapes listed below.

Waist-hip ratio WHR is defined as the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference. The value is calculated by dividing waist measurement by hip measurement. Waist-hip ratio is sometimes used as an indicator of certain health conditions.

Research has shown that people with more weight around their waist, or who have "apple-shaped" bodies, are at higher risk than those with more weight around their hips, or who have "pear-shaped" bodies.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases NIDDK , women with WHRs above 0. WHR is also used as a measurement of obesity. You can also break up your outfits with layers and different proportions of clothing to enjoy an appealing appearance. An inverted triangle is an upside-down triangle, and any body shape with larger proportions on top than on the bottom will be classified as an inverted triangle.

It is another athletic shape as the waist and legs are significantly narrower than the bust and shoulders. You can confirm your body type by taking the full width of your shoulders, bust, and hips. If your bust and hips are around the same width, but the waist is a significantly smaller number, you have an inverted triangle body shape.

Your shoulder measurements should be at least 4 inches bigger than the hip measurement, or your busy should be about 2 inches larger than your hips. When choosing clothes for this body type, anything with a nipped-in waist will balance out your body shape.

Avoid tops with large-shoulder details, especially when paired with skinny bottoms. It is essential to highlight your lower half and elongate your legs with nude shoes. Wrap tops and dresses can help accentuate the waist and make you look good. It is, without any doubt, the classic bombshell shape.

It is named for the contoured shape of the waist compared to your bust and hips. You can determine if you have an hourglass shape by measuring your shoulders, bust, and hips. Your body measurements will all be around the same width, but the waist measurement has to be at least 8 inches less than your shoulders, bust, and hips.

If your waist is significantly indented or you have a defined waist contour, it signifies an hourglass figure. You can determine you have an hourglass shape by observing your body in the full-length mirror. If your curves resemble a coke bottle, you most likely have an hourglass figure.

Hourglass body shape is most desired due to balanced proportions and a well-defined waist. If you are fortunate to have balanced curves, flaunt them with the right dresses.

Accentuate your waist with wrap-style tops and dresses as they highlight your petite waist and curves well. High-rise bottoms also draw attention to your proportions. Pencil skirts work well with this body type, particularly the ones that end up at the knees, as they elongate your legs and further emphasize your small curves.

It is essential to know that an hourglass body shape is rare, but it can be achieved through augmentation. You must consult an experienced plastic surgeon to learn about the best surgical procedure to get an hourglass shape.

Also known as an oval or circle body shape, the apple body shape is identified for the roundedness that resembles the look of the fruit it is named for.

Obvious signs of an apple body shape include a circular outline, with no definition in the waist, and similar measurements. If your shoulders, bust, and hip measurements are very similar, or identical, or if your waist is larger than your bust, waist, or hip, it means you have an apple body type.

This body shape can be trickier to style as you must find pieces that draw attention away from your midsection and ideally elongate your entire frame. To do this, you must avoid boxy cuts or anything with a lot of embellishment along the waistline that will highlight your middle or any bumps.

It is best to opt for structured clothing that adds sharp lines to your overall appearance, to slim down the midsection of your body. Like a pear, a pear body type is slender on the top and wider in the hips and legs. You can determine if your body is pear-shaped by taking your measurements.

If your shoulder and bust measurements are significantly smaller than the width of your hips, it means you probably have a pear or triangle-shaped body type. A hip measurement that is at least 2 inches larger than your shoulders, or at least 4 in larger than your bust indicates a pear body shape.

It is essential to choose clothes with a sizable bottom that highlights the smaller waist and takes away the attention from the lower half. While having curves is a great feeling, the best outfit must highlight your shoulders, arms, and back and create a waist for more contour and exude a sense of balance.

Fit-and-flare dresses work well for this body type, along with high-rise pants and straight-leg pants. Human bodies come in different shapes and sizes, which makes each of us unique. While some of us are curvier, others have narrow hips and broad shoulders.

You must know that there is no ideal body shape, regardless of what you see or hear from people around you. If you have concerns about your body shape or want to know how to enhance your curves and highlight your attributes, visit Millennial Plastic Surgery for an expert opinion.

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