Body shape calculator
Three measurements, in inches or centimetres. You get your body shape and the outfit ideas that work with it, and nothing is saved.
Enter all three measurements to see your shape.
A body shape calculator compares three measurements, bust, waist and hips, and sorts the result into one of five shapes: hourglass, pear, inverted triangle, rectangle or apple. It is a styling shorthand: it tells you which clothes follow your proportions most easily. It says nothing about health or fitness, and no shape is better than another.
How to measure yourself
- Bust: around the fullest part of your chest, with the tape level across your back. Wear the bra you wear most; if the number looks off, our bra size calculator explains how fit changes it.
- Waist: around the narrowest part of your torso, usually an inch or two above your belly button. Breathe out normally and do not pull in.
- Hips: around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, with your feet together.
Use a soft tape, keep it snug but not tight, and measure over underwear or close-fitting clothes. Measuring twice and taking the average helps.
The five body shapes, and what to wear
Each shape below shows the rule the calculator uses, the styling goal, what tends to work, and three outfit formulas. These are starting points that many stylists share, not rules. If you love something that is not on your list, wear it.
Hourglass
How the calculator defines it: Bust and hips are close in size, within about 5%, and the waist is clearly smaller, at least 25% narrower than both.
The goal: Follow the waist rather than hide it.
- Wrap dresses and wrap tops
- Belted coats and blazers
- High-waisted trousers and skirts
- V-necks and scoop necks
- Fitted knits in a fabric with some stretch
Go easy on: Very boxy, straight cuts with no shaping can make an hourglass look wider than she is; add a belt or choose a softer fabric.
Three outfit formulas
- Wrap dress, block heels, a thin belt in the same colour.
- Fitted knit tucked into high-waisted wide trousers.
- Belted trench over a pencil skirt.
Pear (triangle)
How the calculator defines it: Hips are more than about 5% wider than the bust, with a defined or gently defined waist.
The goal: Bring the eye up and balance the shoulders with the hips.
- Boat necks, square necks and details at the shoulder
- Colour, print or texture on top
- A-line skirts and dresses
- Straight or wide-leg trousers with a mid or high rise
- Structured jackets that end at the hip bone or just below
Go easy on: Very tight, light-coloured or heavily detailed bottoms put all the emphasis on the hips; save the detail for the top half.
Three outfit formulas
- Striped boat-neck top, dark straight jeans, statement earrings.
- A-line midi skirt, fitted knit, structured cropped jacket.
- Wide-leg trousers, shoulder-detail blouse, pointed flats.
Inverted triangle
How the calculator defines it: The bust or shoulders are more than about 5% wider than the hips.
The goal: Soften the shoulders and add volume below.
- V-necks, scoop necks and raglan sleeves
- A-line, pleated and full skirts
- Wide-leg and flared trousers
- Print, colour and pockets on the bottom half
- Simple, unstructured tops in soft fabrics
Go easy on: Shoulder pads, puff sleeves, boat necks and heavy detail at the shoulder add width where you already have it.
Three outfit formulas
- Plain V-neck knit, printed full midi skirt, ankle boots.
- Soft shirt, wide-leg trousers with front pleats.
- Raglan-sleeve sweater, flared jeans, platform sandals.
Rectangle
How the calculator defines it: Bust and hips are within about 5% of each other, and the waist is less than 25% smaller: a straighter, more even line.
The goal: Either create a waist or make the straight line the point.
- Belts, peplums and wrap tops to add shape
- Cropped jackets that stop at the waist
- Straight shift dresses and slip dresses
- Sharp, menswear-style tailoring
- Layers with texture and volume at the top or bottom
Go easy on: Head-to-toe clingy fabric can look flat; add a belt, a layer or texture to create interest.
Three outfit formulas
- Slip dress, oversized blazer, loafers.
- Peplum top, slim straight trousers, heels.
- Cropped jacket, straight jeans, belt in a contrast colour.
Apple (round)
How the calculator defines it: The waist is as wide as the bust or hips, or within about 6% of the larger of the two, and weight tends to sit through the middle.
The goal: Lengthen the torso and show your legs, arms and neckline.
- V-necks and open collars
- Empire-line and A-line dresses that skim the middle
- Long open layers: a cardigan, duster or unbuttoned coat
- Straight-leg and bootcut trousers
- Structured fabrics that hold their own shape
Go easy on: Clingy fabric and wide belts at the waist draw the eye to the middle; let a long open layer create a vertical line instead.
Three outfit formulas
- V-neck top, long open cardigan, straight-leg trousers.
- Empire-line dress, pointed flats, long pendant necklace.
- Unbuttoned longline blazer over a tee, bootcut jeans.
Body shape, Kibbe and colour: how they fit together
Body shape is about proportion, so it is most useful for fit: where a dress should nip in, which trouser cut balances your hips. The Kibbe system looks at something else, the overall line of your bones and curves, and it ignores measurements; our guide to Kibbe body types explains the 10 Image IDs. Colour is a third question, answered by our free color analysis quiz. Put the three together and shopping gets much faster: the right cut, the right line, the right colour.
To turn it into a wardrobe, start with outfit formulas and a capsule wardrobe that actually works.
Body shape questions
What are the 5 body shapes?
Hourglass, pear (also called triangle), inverted triangle, rectangle and apple (also called round or oval). Some systems add top and bottom hourglass for hourglass figures with a slightly fuller bust or hips.
How do I calculate my body shape?
Measure your bust at the fullest part, your waist at the narrowest part and your hips at the fullest part, then compare them. Hips more than 5% wider than the bust suggests a pear; bust more than 5% wider suggests an inverted triangle; bust and hips within 5% with a waist at least 25% smaller suggests an hourglass.
Can your body shape change?
Partly. Weight changes, pregnancy and menopause can change where you carry weight, so your shape can shift. Your bone structure, such as shoulder and hip width, does not change, which is why many people stay close to the same shape all their lives.
Is hourglass the best body shape?
No. No shape is better than another; each simply has clothes that follow it more easily. The point of knowing your shape is to shop faster, not to aim for a different one.
What is the difference between body shape and body type?
Body shape compares your bust, waist and hip measurements. Body type can mean other systems: the Kibbe Image IDs, which look at your overall line rather than measurements, or the older somatotypes, ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph.
Should I measure over clothes?
Measure over underwear or close-fitting clothes only, with a soft tape held level and snug but not tight. Wear the bra you wear most, since it changes your bust measurement.
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