What is my body shape? Use the body shape calculator to find out!

Women come in all shapes and sizes and the only thing that makes one petite is height (under 5’4″) so naturally the next question is “What’s my body shape?” Knowing your body shape can help ensure that you find clothes that are flattering and also help you with styling to ensure that your overall look is balanced and shows off your best features 😊

Step One: Measure your body

Often people will look at the different body shapes and the descriptions and make up their own mind about which shape they are without measuring. This can be inaccurate so I definitely recommend measuring.

The best way to measure yourself is to be completely nude though I know that may not be so comfortable for everyone so just ensure that you don’t have any padding or loose fitting clothes that may affect the measurements in any way. Using a measuring tape is the best option but if you don’t have one, you can use string and then measure the string using a ruler. You want to measure all the way around the body in the following areas:

Renaes measurements

Bust: This is the fullest part of your bust. Measure all the way around the back as well.
Waist: This is directly under your rib cage. This should come in slightly (depending on your shape of course)
High Hips: There are two hip measurements. The high hips is the top of your hips where your hip bones are.
Lower Hips: The lower hips is the biggest part of your bottom. It usually sits around the crotch.

Step Two: Identify Your Shape

After you have your measurements, put them into the calculator below but please note that the “hips” measurement refers to the lower hips. So in the calculator, lower hips comes before high hips:

Body Shape Calculator

The calculator will classify your body into one of seven categories:


The most famous body shape and the most balanced of the body shapes and in the past, the most coveted. The bust and hips are approximately the same, the waist is smaller and well-defined.

Top Hourglass

Same as the hourglass with a smaller and defined waist except your bust is bigger than your hips.

Bottom Hourglass

A clearly defined waist, smaller bust, larger hips.


Very similar to a bottom hourglass except your hips have a more shelf-like appearance. Smaller defined waist, smaller bust, larger hips.


Triangles have a slim upper body and wider hips. Typically, the hips are wider than the shoulders. Waist is not clearly accentuated

Inverted Triangle

Inverted triangles have a larger upper body in proportion to their lower body, including shoulders and bust with more narrow hips and again a not so clearly defined waist.


Hips, waist and bust are about the same size and you usually have a more athletic body shape.

Step Three: Style to your body shape

Each of the body shapes have their unique strengths. Over time, culture has played a big part too in what is considered to be an attractive shape for a woman, though now I hope that we are becoming more inclusive and we understand that all shapes are beautiful in their own way. Once you have measured and defined your shape, the idea is to create balance within your style. What this means is, if you have more size on the top of your body for example, it would create more balance if you were to add interest to the bottom half of your body for example through flared or boot legged pants or patterns or bright colours on the bottom half. If you are larger on the bottom half, this would be opposite and you would style to accentuate the top half of your body, for example, by wearing patterns on the top half, scarves, bigger necklaces, turtlenecks etc. If you are a rectangle or do not have as much of a defined waist, the idea is to create curves through various styling techniques, such as by wearing belts to define the waist or diagonal lines from the waist to draw the attention up and slimming the waist. As mentioned, we now live in a time where curves are celebrated too so it’s totally fine to break the rules! If you have curves on the bottom half and you want to show those off, it is perfectly fine to wear a tighter fitting skirt but to balance it out some, it may help to add more interest up the top too as this will accentuate the top half too and bring attention to the features that usually get neglected.

We’ll be sharing many more styling tips for each of the shapes as we go so feel free to subscribe so you are up to date with when the posts are coming out. And, leave a comment. What shape are you? Was this a surprise to you? How will knowing this information help you with your style?

Big love from your (pear-shaped) friend,

11 thoughts on “What is my body shape? Use the body shape calculator to find out!”

  1. I love this. It is always handy to know how to dress when you are abit out of shape! I love the ideas on how to accentuate the good bits and how to hide the other! I’m a bottom hour glass, with stumpy legs, but I love wearing flares or leggings with tunic and colourful necklaces. I find being a smaller build, clothes need to be slightly fitted otherwise I turn into a tank. Thanks again. Subscribing 🙂

    1. Awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. There is no “out of shape” though 😂😂 I guess we all think that the “hourglass” is the perfect shape because of the symmetry and everything else is out of line 😂 But the “perfect shape” is cultural and changes with the times.. Plenty of celebrities (Thank you Kim Kardashian especially!) showing that bigger hips are sexy! Pretty sure Kim is a bottom hourglass so embrace those curves babe! X

  2. This was such an interesting article! Thankyou! My shape has kind of morphed over the years, with having kids and ‘stuff’ 😉 I usually just guess which body shape I am, as you mentioned in the article!… but, now I’m actually going to measure properly. Will let you know! Love the styling tips!
    Lyndal Jane

  3. Just getting back to you re the body shape calculator. I put my measurements in and got ‘Rectangle’ …..I’m pretty sure that isn’t me! Am I doing something wrong?
    My measurements are:
    bust – 90cm
    waist- 71 cm
    high hips – 91 cm
    low hips – 99.5 cm
    Thanks,Renae 🙂
    Best wishes
    Lyndal Jane

    1. Hello Lyndal! You are a actually an hour glass 🙂
      I think you may have put your high hips in the low hips section in the body shape calculator. I added a note on there saying that “hips” refers to lower hips but it is confusing because the order in the calculator seems wrong as it should go from top measurements to to bottom measurements but actually the two bottom measurements are swapped. I also found this when I was filling it out so I will try to clarify that in the article a little more but it’s great you have commented that as I am sure others will relate!
      So your numbers in the calculator should read:
      (The two bottom numbers are swapped).
      Does hourglass feel more like you? Hourglass styling is a lot of fun!

  4. Thank you Renae!!

    Hourglass seems more ‘me’….though I thought I would be more a bottomy hourglass. 🙂
    I’m looking forward to your tips on styling an hourglass!! I need all the help I can get!!
    Best wishes
    Lyndal Jane

  5. Thank you for the information, I actually had never even thought about what body type I might be and how styling that particular shape could bring about more balance and accentuate my body better. I was sure I was going to be an hourglass shape but turned out to be a rectangle. Looking forward to seeing what kind of clothing suites my body type the best!

    1. Rectangle is a lot of fun to style! But interesting that you thought you’d be a different shape! Perhaps you don’t have a defined waist? Be sure to pop back as I’ll be posting some rectangle tips soon.

    Actually this is exactly the information that I was looking for information about the body shape and when I landed on your website and read this post, it answered all my questions in details.


  7. How handy is this body shape calculator !!!! … I am 5’3″ Wohoo, I make the ‘petite’ category. I’ve always thought there were only 2 body shapes.. a pear or an apple. Naturally I thought I was a pear, as I am quite small busted and wider at the hips, turns out I am actually a bottom hourglass (I didn’t even know this was a ‘shape’!) I have always loved wearing patterns and especially scarves.

    Thanks for confirming that I am doing the right things for MY shape!

    1. Hey Lorin, thanks for your comment 🙂 Yes, I was actually unaware of the “bottom hourglass” too! The styling is very similar to styling for a pear, it’s just that proportionally, your boobs are a bit bigger proportionally with your waist and hips than a pear but yeah, still smaller on top! You can definitely wear patterns. You want to create balance so I would definitely encourage more going on the top half than the bottom so yes to scarves!! So glad the post was affirming for you!

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