Body Type Quiz: What Is My Body Shape?
Seven quick questions, no tape measure needed. Find out if you are hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle or inverted triangle, and see the outfits that work best for your shape.
Knowing your body type is not about changing your body. It is about picking clothes that fit the body you have, so you stop fighting with pants that gap or tops that pull. This quiz asks seven quick questions, no tape measure needed, and gives you your body type plus the outfits that work best for it.
The five body types
Hourglass. Shoulders and hips are close in width, with a clearly smaller waist.
Pear (triangle). Hips are wider than shoulders, often with a defined waist.
Apple (round). Fullest through the middle, often with slimmer legs.
Rectangle (straight). Shoulders, waist and hips are all close in width.
Inverted triangle. Shoulders or bust are wider than the hips.
Every one of these is a good body type. Plenty of people are a mix of two, and your shape can shift with age, weight changes or pregnancy. Treat your result as a starting point, not a label.
How to dress for your body type
The idea is balance. You add a little visual weight where your frame is narrower, and keep things simple where it is wider.
Hourglass: follow your waist. Wrap dresses, belted coats and high-waisted jeans with a tucked top all work. Very boxy shapes hide your shape.
Pear: add interest up top. Puff sleeves, boat necks and printed tops, with A-line skirts and wide-leg jeans below.
Apple: show off your legs and neckline. V-necks, empire waists and long open layers that skim the middle.
Rectangle: make a waist, or lean into clean lines. Belts, peplum tops and wrap styles add curves. Slip dresses and straight jeans look sleek.
Inverted triangle: add volume below the waist. Full skirts, wide-leg pants and simple V-neck tops balance strong shoulders.
Measure it if you want to be sure
The quiz works without a tape measure, but numbers help. Measure your shoulders, bust, waist and hips. If your hips are more than 5 percent wider than your shoulders, you lean pear. If your shoulders are more than 5 percent wider than your hips, you lean inverted triangle. If your waist is at least 25 percent smaller than both, you lean hourglass. If it is not, you lean rectangle or apple.
Once you have your numbers, the dress size chart turns them into your size too.
Fit matters more than shape
No rule beats a good fit. A jacket that fits your shoulders, pants hemmed to your shoes and a waist taken in by a tailor will do more for any body type than a trend will. If your top and bottom sizes are different, buy separates or wrap styles instead of fitted one-piece dresses.
For outfit ideas across sizes, see our plus size outfits, and find your overall look with the style quiz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep going: turn your measurements into a size with the dress size chart, and find your style with the style quiz.
