shape
carat
color
clarity

Women: what''s your body type?

Which label best fits your body shape?

  • Pear / Spoon / Bell

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • Hourglass

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • Show me the results / other / I`m a guy

    Votes: 1 100.0%

  • Total voters
    1
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musey

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Sep 30, 2006
Messages
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A thread over in LIW got me going on this... interesting stuff!

Don't we all like to say we have an "hourglass figure?" I thought that just meant curvy with a small waist. Shows what I know!
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There are apparently pretty strict measurement ratios that dictate different female body shape labels:


Apple (triangle downward)
Apple shaped women have broader shoulders and bust, and narrower hips. Body fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.

Banana or straight (rectangular)
The waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hips or bust measurement. Body fat is distributed predominantly in the abdomen, buttocks, chest and face.

Pear or spoon or bell (triangle upward)
The hip measurement is greater than the bust measurement. The distribution of body fat varies, with fat tending to deposit first in the buttocks, hips and thighs. As body fat percentage increases, an increasing proportion of body fat is distributed around the waist and upper abdomen.

Hourglass shape (triangles opposing, facing in)
The hip and bust are almost of equal size (within one inch) with a narrow waist (9" or more smaller than the hip and bust measurements). Body fat distribution tends to be around both the upper body and lower body. This body type enlarges the arms, chest, hips and rear before other parts, including waist and upper abdomen. Note: because of the preference shown to physical symmetry, many celebrities falsely claim hourglass measurements but actually rate closer to a straight figure or apple.


A study of over 6,000 women carried out by researchers at the North Carolina State University around 2005 found that 46% were banana (rectangular), just over 20% pear, just under 14% apple, and 8% hourglass. I'm interested to see if that's reflected on PS!


femalebodyshapes.jpg


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_body_shape
 
I'm a pear! Waist is 12" smaller than hip, bust is 4" smaller than hip. Pear describes me exactly... but I never thought of myself as that because of the stereotypical image that comes with that label, I guess!

Wouldn't it be funny if women subconsciously chose diamond shapes that matched up with their body shape (not sure what that would be for hourglass, lol)? Or the OPPOSITE of their figure shape?
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ROUND


What? That's a SHAPE too!
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ETA: I'm definitely hour-glass. My waist is the smallest part of my body, followed by my top. I'm usually 1-2 sizes smaller on the top than my bottom....people just dont make clothes for women with child-bearings hips!! I get tons of compliments on my big booty though
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Wow...I''m a banana! I would have never thought....I''ve always been told I''m an hourglass.

My bust and hips are the same size and my waist is 8" smaller.
 
Also a pear...

And empire waist dresses DO look good on me.
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Date: 5/29/2009 2:35:54 PM
Author: sammyj
Wow...I''m a banana! I would have never thought....I''ve always been told I''m an hourglass.


My bust and hips are the same size and my waist is 8'' smaller.
You''re really close! I bet you could look like both shapes, depending on what you''re wearing
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Date: 5/29/2009 2:36:01 PM
Author: elledizzy5
Also a pear...


And empire waist dresses DO look good on me.
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LOL
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ditto! Though I often have trouble finding empire dresses that fit on both top and bottom.
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Hourglass! I've a teeny weeny waist, big boobs and hips. Makes clothes shopping a nightmare
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but otherwise I'm happy the way I am!

ETA interesting that the hourglass body type "enlarges the arms" first - I've never had thin arms and it's my least favourite part of my body! Suppose I'll have to learn to accept it.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:34:28 PM
Author: kama_s

ETA: I''m definitely hour-glass. My waist is the smallest part of my body, followed by my top. I''m usually 1-2 sizes smaller on the top than my bottom....people just dont make clothes for women with child-bearings hips!! I get tons of compliments on my big booty though
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That''s how I am too, but I''m a pear. I guess to be hourglass, your bust and hip measurements are supposed to be within 1" of each other.
 
I don''t know my actual measurements, but I''m pretty sure I''m a banana. When I gain weight, it usually goes to my face (ugh), back-end and abdomen.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:39:25 PM
Author: Porridge
Hourglass! I''ve a teeny weeny waist, big boobs and hips. Makes clothes shopping a nightmare
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but otherwise I''m happy the way I am!
Ditto! I''m a size (at least) smaller at my waist than I am at my bust/shoulders. Shirts fit one part or the other - rarely both. And the waist to hips thing is the biggest pain when buying pants. I think I''m going to give up and get 10,000 dresses (all the same pattern) and only wear those.
 
36-31-41

Is that pear or hourglass? I fit both criteria...
 
I don`t know my measurements, but I''m pretty sure I am a pear. But my fat distribution always starts at my arms. Don''t know why, but the arms are always the first to go.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:42:16 PM
Author: princesss
Date: 5/29/2009 2:39:25 PM

Author: Porridge

Hourglass! I've a teeny weeny waist, big boobs and hips. Makes clothes shopping a nightmare
14.gif
but otherwise I'm happy the way I am!

Ditto! I'm a size (at least) smaller at my waist than I am at my bust/shoulders. Shirts fit one part or the other - rarely both. And the waist to hips thing is the biggest pain when buying pants. I think I'm going to give up and get 10,000 dresses (all the same pattern) and only wear those.
Yeah buying shirts is a pain. They either hang loosely over the stomach or gape and stretch across the boobs! Pants are SO annoying - I rarely find a good pair. They're either too tight over the thighs/hips or way too loose at the waist. I usually just get them taken in at the waist.

10,000 dresses you say...I'm in
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So far we have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYY more hourglass figures than average! But the banana to pear ratio is pretty much on track. I''m so interested to see how the votes progress!

femalebodyshapepollresults.png
 
I thought I was a pear, but I might be a banana.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:40:03 PM
Author: musey


Date: 5/29/2009 2:34:28 PM
Author: kama_s

ETA: I'm definitely hour-glass. My waist is the smallest part of my body, followed by my top. I'm usually 1-2 sizes smaller on the top than my bottom....people just dont make clothes for women with child-bearings hips!! I get tons of compliments on my big booty though
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That's how I am too, but I'm a pear. I guess to be hourglass, your bust and hip measurements are supposed to be within 1' of each other.
Oh, let me check if that's the case with me.

ETA: 1.2-1.4 inch difference.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:42:55 PM
Author: Starset Princess
36-31-41


Is that pear or hourglass? I fit both criteria...
Pear
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your waist should be 9" or more smaller than your hip/bust measurement AND your hip/bust measurements need to be within 1" of each other in order to be hourglass. If your bust and hip measurements are more than 1" off from each other, you would go with the next category (which could be any of the other three, but in your case it's pear).

Welcome to the pear club!
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Pear ... but I have wide shoulders so some folks (in my thinner days) would think I''m hourglass. The girls in my family all had wide hips & narrow waists but mini buhbbies. Even our Banannas are probably Pear by strict definition.
 
hmmm, never knew I''m a BANANA
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Well, predictably, I''m an hourglass. Definitely knew that though - I agree with princess and porridge, clothes shopping is a pain sometimes!
 
When I''m in shape I''m definitely an hourglass. When I gain weight I gain it all over.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:47:21 PM
Author: kama_s
Date: 5/29/2009 2:40:03 PM
Author: musey
Date: 5/29/2009 2:34:28 PM
Author: kama_s
ETA: I''m definitely hour-glass. My waist is the smallest part of my body, followed by my top. I''m usually 1-2 sizes smaller on the top than my bottom....people just dont make clothes for women with child-bearings hips!! I get tons of compliments on my big booty though
2.gif
3.gif
That''s how I am too, but I''m a pear. I guess to be hourglass, your bust and hip measurements are supposed to be within 1'' of each other.
Oh, let me check if that''s the case with me.

ETA: 1.2-1.4 inch difference.
That''s way too close, it counts in my book
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PS women are definitely sexier than average (see current results below). Should anyone be surprised?
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femalebodyshapepollresults2.png
 
where is pale and floppy??
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I''ve always been an hourglass.

Although now I look and feel like a pear on steroids.
 
I''m a banana based on my measurements, but I also have slightly wider shoulders like an apple. This might be from years of swimming though...
 
Hourglass here. I had no idea there were such strict measurement requirements to fit into the hourglass category. Although I never gain weight in my arms, chest, hips or rear, just my thighs. Very interesting info!
 
Hourglass. Hips = Bust, Waist is 11" smaller.
 
Date: 5/29/2009 2:39:25 PM
Author: Porridge
Hourglass! I''ve a teeny weeny waist, big boobs and hips. Makes clothes shopping a nightmare
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At least we don''t get the dreaded "muffin top" unless out pants are REALLY tight!
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