The Body Shape Analyser
How it works
Start with step one: focus on your shoulders, waist and hips. It’s the relationship between those three that tells you your shape (and just so we're clear, your shape is not your size). You can only be ONE shape. Once you’ve found a step 1 match, you’re ready for step two. Match 3 or more features in step two to confirm you have selected your shape correctly.
Stylist tip: Use a mirror to look at yourself—no guessing.
The 5 Body Shapes
Step 1.
Your hips and thighs are broader than your upper body
Step 2.
If you have 3 or more of the following, you are a Pear Shape:
Small/medium bust
Broader hips than waist
Flat tummy
Broader hips than shoulders
Carry weight on lower half of body
Medium/big bum
Step 1.
Your shoulders and hips are broader than your waist
Step 2.
If you have 3 or more of the following, you are an hourglass:
Large bust
Defined waist
Mum tum/pouch
Medium/large thighs
Medium bum
Slim/skinny ankles
Step 1.
Your shoulders are broader than your waist and hips
Step 2.
If you have 3 or more below, you are an inverted triangle shape:
Medium bust
Defined waist
Straight/no hips
Slim legs
Small/Medium bum
Step 1.
Your shoulders, waist, and hips are all the same width
Step 2.
If you have 3 or more below, you are a rectangular shape:
No defined waist
Straight silhouette
Small bust
Slim arms
Slim legs
Shoulders, waist and hips equal width
Step 1.
You’re round in your midsection and have slim legs
Step 2.
If you have 3 or more of the below, you are an apple shape:
Medium/large bust
Large tummy
No waist
Round midsection (waist, torso, tummy)
Midsection broader than hips
Slim/skinny legs
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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Because when you know your shape, shopping and styling become so much easier. It’s not about rules - it’s about understanding what works for you. If you want to be successful when shopping for clothes you have to start with what suits you, not what's in fashion or what you saw someone else wearing.
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Not really! Your size can change, which might alter how you perceive your shape, but your actual body structure - where you naturally carry weight and how your proportions are balanced - stays pretty consistent. Pregnancy, hormones, and ageing can create slight shifts, but in most cases, your core shape remains the same.
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Most women struggle with this because they don’t look at their bodies objectively. Instead of seeing their overall shape, they focus on the bits they don’t like - hips, tummy, arms, whatever it is. But body shape is about proportions, not ‘problem areas.’ A good trick is to step back, take a full-length photo, and look at the overall outline rather than individual parts or ask someone to help you.
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Absolutely. These tips aren’t here to restrict you - they’re here to help you by showing you the best styles for your shape. If you love something that isn’t traditionally ‘ideal’ for your shape, you can still make it work by how you style it.
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No! It’s about balance, not hiding. The idea isn’t to cover up but to create proportions that make you feel your best and that work for your shape aesthetically.
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You do! Everyone fits into one main shape, but it can take a bit of figuring out if you find it challenging to look at your shape objectively. If you feel like you relate to two, look at the key characteristics of each and see which one best represents your natural proportions.