What Female Body Shape Are You? How to Identify Yours

Personal wardrobe stylist Yvette Jordan shares the most common body types & how to determine your shape

Co-authored by Yvette Jordan and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: January 5, 2026 Fact Checked

• Female Body Types
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• Determining Your Body Type
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• Video
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• Tips

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Female body types traditionally include rectangle, triangle (pear), round (apple), inverted triangle, hourglass, and diamond. You can find out what body type you have by taking simple measurements, so you can plan how to dress or where to focus your health routine. Interested in hearing more? Keep reading to understand the 6 female body types and get steps on measuring for your body type with insights from personal wardrobe stylist Yvette Jordan.

An Overview of Female Body Types

Personal wardrobe stylist Yvette Jordan says the main female body types include the pear, H (rectangle), T (inverted triangle), and X (hourglass). To find your body type, measure the width of your shoulders, the circumference of your bust, your waist, and your hips.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Female Body Types

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   Rectangle Jordan says this shape is also called the H body type, and is characterized by a waist measurement that is close to both the shoulder and hip measurements. So, those with a rectangular body shape lack clear definition at the waistline and hips. It’s considered an athletic frame with shoulder and hip measurements that are usually very similar.

   • Common features: Straight shoulders, small bustline, little to no curves, and weight gain mostly in the upper back.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Yvette Jordan is a personal wardrobe stylist with over 15 years of experience. She specializes in wardrobe styling that helps inspire confidence in her clients.
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   Pear/Triangle The pear shape is another common body type, says Jordan. The most recognizable part of a triangle (or pear) body type is that the shoulders are narrower than the hips. The upper part of the body is noticeably smaller than the lower part.

   • Common features: Defined waist, large hips, thick thighs, and weight gain mostly on the lower hips and thighs. Jordan also notes that people with a pear body type often carry most of their weight in their belly.
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   Hourglass Jordan says this shape is also commonly known as the X body type. It means the waist measurement is significantly smaller than the shoulder and hip measurements. Typically, hourglass shapes have shoulders and hips with similar measurements. It’s actually the small waist that brings attention to equally broad chest and hips.

   • Common features: Defined waist, rounded hips, thicker thighs, and weight gain distributed evenly.
   • Hourglass top: A variation on the hourglass where the upper body (bust and shoulders) is more pronounced and curvier than the lower body.
   • Hourglass bottom: A variation on the hourglass where the lower body (bottom, hips, and thighs) is fuller and curvier.
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   Inverted Triangle Jordan notes that this shape is also known as the T body type. She says people with this shape have shoulders that are noticeably wider than their hips. Generally, inverted triangle shapes are known for having a narrower lower body and wider upper body, which gives them an athletic look.

   • Common features: Broad chest, shoulder, and back, shapely legs, and weight gain mostly in the stomach and upper body.
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   Diamond While a diamond body type is similar to the round or oval type, diamonds have a fuller waistline with narrow shoulders and hips.

   • Common features: Wide waistline, narrow hips, and weight gained in the midsection.
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   Round/apple Women who are apple-shaped (also called round or oval) have a larger-sized bust, a pronounced belly, and wide hips. Apple body types are curvy and have similar bust, waist, and hip measurements, though the hips are often more narrow than the waist.

   • Common features: Undefined waistline, rounded shoulders, slim legs, and weight gain in the chest and abdomen.
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Section 2 of 2:

How to Determine Your Body Type

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   Measure your bust, waist, and hips to calculate your body type. According to Jordan, the most important measurements to take are the width of your shoulders, the circumference of your bust, your waist, and your hips. Wrap a flexible tape measure around the fullest part of your bust to record your bust measurement. To measure your waist, take measurements around the narrowest part of your torso, just above your belly button. Then, measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks.

   • Once you determine your body shape, use an online body type calculator to easily see what body type you have so you can learn to dress for your type.
   • Take our Body Type Quiz to see where you fit in!

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Tips

• The Kibbe body types system includes 10 more detailed body types, such as Dramatic, Natural, Classic, Gamine, and Romantic; each type falls on a spectrum of “yin” (soft) and “yang” (angular) features. Find out more about Kibbe body types, or take our fun Kibbe body types quiz!
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