I am a ‘tall, slender hourglass.’ In clear terms, I am 5 feet eight inches or taller, between 110 and 150 pounds and the natural shape of my body forms an hourglass. My shoulders and hips are roughly the same measurement, with a waist that tapers inward. Every girl, like myself, has a quantifiable body type that is determined by three factors: height, weight and shape. There is no better way to dress yourself than by using your knowledge of your body type and dressing in clothing that flatters your figure. Generally, one can eyeball his or her own body type, but actually measuring and classifying our exact body type will make choosing any outfit a snap.
There are four common shapes that can describe pretty much anyone. An inverted triangle figure means your shoulders or bust are proportionately larger than your hips. A rectangular body is when your shoulders, bust and hips are roughly the same size, with little presence (if any) of a waistline. Triangle-shaped women have shoulders narrower than their hips. And finally, an hourglass-shaped woman has a defined waistline, with shoulders and hips that are basically congruent and noticeably larger than her waist.
Height is broken into three groups. Short women are between 4 feet 9 inches tall and 5 feet 2 inches tall, average women are between 5 feet 3 inches tall and 5 feet 7 inches tall and tall women are 5 inches 8 feet tall and above.
Weight is almost completely dependent on height and build. Petite women are short and weigh between 90 and 110 pounds. Medium weight women are short and weigh between 100 and 145 pounds. Full-figured women are between 135-170 pounds (for a shorter frame), and plus-size women weigh between 155 and 225 pounds.
Slender: weighing 90-125 pounds for an average height, and 110-150 if considered “tall.” Medium weight: 115-170 pounds for an average-height woman and 135-190 for tall women. Full-size: 155-195 pounds for a woman of average height, and 175-230 pounds for a tall woman. Plus-size: average height weighing over 180 pounds, and over 205 pounds for the tall woman.
All of these combinations create a total of twelve different weight groups and 48 different body types. You, without a doubt, fall into one of these groups. So what does all that mean?
All short girls should be on a lifelong quest for killer heels, and tall girls should avoid stilettos at any cost. Other than that, you can do a million different things to play up your natural build to reach your best body potential.
Inverted triangle and rectangle-shaped women should look for waist-cinching styles, to show off their slender frames, making it easier to pull off many diverse looks. These two builds often are faced with the problem of looking “cute” rather than “sexy,” but this is avoidable. Choosing v-necks, deep u-necks, sweetheart necklines, halters and wrap tops reveal a triangle of skin around the neckline that balances broader shoulders and gives the illusion of a curvier figure.
Triangles and hourglasses may be blessed with natural curves, but struggle with an ever-present “sexy” look. That’s not so good if you wish to sport a more conservative style. Shoes with ankles straps should be avoided; they can make you look bottom heavy and masculine. These ladies are the few that can pull off puff sleeves, a look that can balance out “child-bearing” hips, and accentuate a slim waist.
Look in the mirror and appreciate yourself for your natural beauty. After all, isn’t loving your body one of the best things about being a girl?
