How to Find Your Body Type: Make Flattering (& Ethical) Choices

You bought a garment that looked good on the mannequin or online listing but ended up making you feel like a sack of potatoes? 

There’s nothing wrong with you or your body! You simply haven’t been shown how to dress for your specific shape.

So, we’ll cover how to find your body type and highlight the best (and worst) clothes for it, helping you buy the right garments and feel confident whenever you wear them. 

Why knowing your body shape does (and doesn’t) matter

Every body shape is beautiful, and we believe it’s important to wear what makes you happy, even if it goes against what’s “technically” best for your type. So, don’t take any of these as strict rules, but more like suggestions.

With the theory of body shapes, you should also keep in mind that:

• All bodies are different, and they don’t always fall within one set body type
• Your body shape isn’t necessarily set in stone, especially if you gain or lose weight at different times of your life  

At the same time, it can be frustrating when our outfit doesn’t look right or highlights exactly what makes us self-conscious. Knowing your body type can solve this.

That’s why we put this guide together for you! And did you know that…

Knowing your body type will help you make more sustainable clothing choices, too

Yes, for real! This is because, once you’re clear on how to dress for your body type, you will:

• Know exactly what to look for when buying new clothes or styling what’s already in your wardrobe 
• Stop purchasing clothes on a whim and binning them (= wasteful) or returning them (= free returns come with a high environmental cost) because they don’t fit you well 
• Fall in love with the right clothes, those that really suit you and make you feel happy and confident whenever you wear them
• Rewear your clothes more often, and keep them for years instead of always feeling the need to buy new ones or chase impersonal trends 
• Save money, which will also make it easier to invest in fewer but higher-quality and more sustainable items, supporting ethical brands 

A win-win, right?

“How do I know what body type I am, though?”

We’ll show you!

How to find your body type

You could read our simple overviews, look at yourself in the mirror, and google the celebrities with that body shape to see who you’re most similar to.

However, the best way to find your body type is to measure yourself first:

• Shoulders: measure around their highest point
• Bust: measure over the fullest part of your breasts
• Waist: measure around its smallest point
• Hips: measure around the largest part of your bottom

Then, many online guides ask you to calculate the difference between some of them, converting it into a percentage… Which can be quite confusing

So, to make things easier, you could use this body shape calculator:

1. Open it in another tab, and enter your measurements
2. You’ll find out your body type automatically 
3. Jump to that section of our guide, and read our tips for that specific body shape. Easy!

What are the 5 different types of body shapes?

Some guides list additional ones with reeeeeeeally minor differences, but the main body shapes are: hourglass, pear, rectangle, apple, and inverted triangle.

Let’s look at them one by one (unless you’ve already discovered yours).

1. Hourglass body shape

Your bust and hips are wider (almost the same size) with a much narrower waist.

Famous hourglass figures

Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Salma Hayek, Beyoncé

Styling tips for the hourglass body shape

Since your body shape is naturally balanced, the goal is to embrace it, accentuating the waist without drawing too much attention to your shoulders and hips. 

• Tops – Choose fitted ones over shapeless, loose, or boxy tops. If you want to show off your chest, opt for wider necklines. If not, choose slimming ones like V-necks and heart-shaped necklines. Overall, avoid embellishments around your shoulders (like ruffles or bows) and wide sleeves. Belts are a huge yes. Garments that end at the widest part of your hips are not usually recommended for this body shape.
• Trousers – Choose mid- and high-waisted designs instead of low-rise
• Skirts – Avoid boxy or straight designs. Instead, prioritise pencil skirts that emphasise your waist or longer and/or voluminous ones. Oh, and steer clear of embellishments around the hips, like big pockets or ruffles 
• Dresses – Yes to fitted or belted dresses that accentuate your hourglass figure, as well as wrap dresses. Boxy cuts and embellishments around your shoulders and hips are not recommended. If you wish to downplay your curves, try vertical lines.

2. Pear body shape

Also known as a spoon, bell, or triangular shape, this body type means that your hips are larger than your top half.

Famous pear figures

Shakira, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Paris Hilton

Styling tips for the pear body shape

Create a balanced silhouette by taking attention away from your hips and directing it towards the upper part of your body

• Tops – Embrace bold colours, textures, prints, details, layers, and embellishments, especially around your neck and shoulders. Yes to lower and wider necklines rather than V-lines. Choose fitted tops (not boxy ones) with voluminous short sleeves or tapered and fitted long sleeves. Opt for tops that are either cropped at the waist or get to your hip bones, not below. Jackets and coats should also be cropped or, if longer, well fitted.
• Trousers – Choose darker colours and clean designs, without eye-catching details, embellishments around the top, big pockets, chunky belts around your hips, or excessive patterns. Usually, relaxed fits will be most flattering for you, especially mid- or high-waisted ones. Avoid low-rise trousers and skinny jeans
• Skirts – Prioritise skirts with a fitted waist but a wider shape towards the bottom. Avoid heavy horizontal designs and embellishments, like stripes or tiers with frills
• Dresses – Choose designs with a fitted waist (especially with belts) and wider bottoms. Steer clear of straight and boxy cuts or dresses with embellishments around the hip and skirt area 

3. Rectangle body shape

Some people call it straight, I-figure, or banana. Either way, this more rectangular body shape means there isn’t a big difference in width between your chest, waist, and hips

Famous rectangle figures

Kate Middleton, Queen Latifah, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow

Styling tips for the rectangle body shape

Aim to break up that rectangular shape by defining your waste (and, if you also wish to create more curves, emphasising your shoulder and hip area)

• Tops – Use wider, round necklines to create more curves, or stick to lower and longer necklines (like V-lines or heart-shaped ones) to appear more slender. On the contrary, consider avoiding straight and square necks. Do play with embellishments around your neck and shoulders (including voluminous sleeves), and draw even more attention to your top half by wearing bold colours and patterns. Choose relaxed fits, especially those that finish at hip level (not cropped or too long), or highlight your waist with belts in darker colours (not embellishments that would make it look wider)
• Trousers – Create some volume with relaxed fits, gentle flares, or boot cuts as well as embellishments and details around the waist (like big pockets). Play with colours, too. Consider sticking to low- and mid-rise designs rather than high-waisted trousers or jeans
• Skirts – Yes to bold colours, details, prints, and designs that become wider towards the bottom! If you prefer straight or high-waisted skirts, use belts to highlight your waist
• Dress – Avoid boxy designs, and instead, choose dresses with embellishments around your shoulders or skirt, and play with belts, too. Wrap dresses can also work really well

4. Apple body shape

If you’re apple- or round-shaped, your chest and waist measurements are bigger than your hips 

Famous apple figures

Oprah, Mindy Kaling, Drew Barrymore, Adele 

Styling tips for the apple body shape

Focus on drawing attention to the lower part of your body, creating curves below your waist

• Tops – Choose wider and lower necklines, especially with embellishments (but avoid the latter around your waist!), diagonal lines, textures, and prints, especially in darker and neutral colours. Try to avoid horizontal lines. Prioritise voluminous, loose, and flared sleeves. Consider flowy fits and tops that wrap around your waistline, not cropped tops, fitted designs, and tops that end above your hips
• Trousers – Embrace brighter colours, volume (such as wide-leg and flowing designs), embellishments (like large belts or details around the hips), and low- or mid-rise trousers, never high-rise
• Skirts – Draw attention towards the lower part of your body with bold colours, voluminous designs (like flared, full, and bubble skirts), but not ruffled or tiered options
• Dresses – Rather than fitted ones, choose dresses that flow over your waist and create an elongated figure, especially flowy ones, empire, or wrap designs

5. Inverted triangle body shape

This means that the top part of your body is much larger than your hips

Famous inverted triangle figures

Zendaya, Priyanka Chopra, Demi Moore, Danielle Brooks

Styling tips for the inverted triangle body shape

Draw the attention away from your upper body and, instead, direct it towards your waist and bottom areas, creating curves

• Tops – Embrace slim and long necklines rather than broader ones. With short sleeves, choose tight-fitting and tapered designs. With longer ones, the opposite: soft, flared, and flowy ones. Prioritise tops in darker colours and clean, uncluttered designs, especially fitted ones that reach below your hip line. Avoid chunky knitwear, horizontal stripes, and embellishments around the top. Yes to belts around your waist
• Trousers – Create curves and interest with bold or light colours, patterns, prints, and lots of details and embellishments around the hips. Play with more relaxed fits, like flares and harem pants, or if you prefer, cigarette-style trousers (not skinny ones, though)
• Skirts – Once again, play with bright colours, patterns, horizontal designs, and embellishments that create curves around your hips
• Dresses – Avoid designs or embellishments that would emphasise your shoulders and chest area. Instead, choose dresses with simple lines or details and embellishments towards the bottom (bonus points if you style them with a belt around your waist!) 

Find the best sustainable clothes for your body shape on Project Cece

Once again, you shouldn’t restrict yourself if you don’t want to. In the end it's about how you feel in your clothes and this guide can help you feel more confident in them and avoid buying things you'll end up not wearing.

So, you know what to look for, but where can you find the perfect clothes for your body type, style, and sustainable preferences? Right here on Project Cece!

We brought hundreds of ethical brands in one place and added categories and filters to simplify your choice.

Now that you’re clear on how to find your body type and what best complements yours, it’ll be a breeze to look for the right sustainable clothes for it.

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