Am I am hourglass or a pear?

[Gammeldragz]

I really can't tell and it's driving me mad. I've always thought I was hourglass shaped, but my thighs and hips are pretty big so maybe I'm a pear. I also can't work out if the widest part below my waist is my thighs or hips (Never entirely sure where one ends!). Please can I draw on the hive mind of mumsnet to finally get an answer?

I've lost weight and need new clothes but I hate clothes shopping and am not very good at it so I thought shopping for styles based on body shape would help...

cherry what kind of clothes/styles do you tend to go for? Any tips? Thanks.

passthecake I'm 5'10", so also fairly tall. Just those pesky thighs, I can't remember whether they were much smaller when I was slim.

Human-shaped and gorgeous to boot

I think maybe just go and try a load of styles on and see what you feel great in. I think that’s usually a better bet than “pear/hourglass/athletic/whatever should wear this but not this” advice.

Verbena thanks and you're probably right, but I wanted a shortcut! I find clothes shopping stressful, we're not near to shops so I rarely get time and prefer to shop online.

Well done on your weight loss! You look fab.

You're a similar shape to me, though I'm slightly more obviously pear (smaller boobs). I've recently lost some weight too (not as much as you, but about a stone and a half), and am really enjoying chucking out the rule book and trying lots of different shapes that I always thought I 'shouldn't' wear.

I'd say have a bit of fun playing, and just enjoy your lovely new shape.

Slightly more pear because your hips are wider than your shoulders but a lovely shape and figure none the less. You go in and out ☺️

Maybe start with hourglass advice then. Maybe order a load of bits you like the look of and send back what doesn’t work? (Sounds way better than shops, actually, and you can try on with a cuppa to hand and your own music to listen to)

Verbena that sounds like a good plan! I'm struggling to find a shop with stuff I like in my price range, but I hated all the supermarket clothes last time I was in Asda and Sainsbury. Asos and Boohoo was all wierd cuts. Don't want to spend too much as I've still got a bit of weight to go but the last bit always takes ages and I'm desperate for stuff to wear for summer!

Hourglass I think

Do you wear same size on top and bottom?

itsbetter I don't know, I don't have many clothes that fit! Some 12s some 14s, 12s tend to struggle over the boobs if they're fitted though and some 12s fit my bottom half and others I'm a 14 depends on cut.

I think you are hourglass.

I always thought I was an apple. I just did my measurements and I'm 34, 30, 38. I think that makes me a pear?

I'm mostly avoiding the issue and wearing either maxi dresses or stretchy wide trousers and vest tops. Which is fine in this weather but I really struggled in the cooler months.

namechanger yes that sounds more pear to me.

I doubt an apple would have a 30" waist.

Wow, 50lbs is amazing (& about what I have to lose!), I'm also tall - I have found (both when slim and fat) that the tall ranges are the only ones that will give a good fit in clothes, so no matter your shape if the sleeves/waist/length is wrong then they all look a bit weird in a regular fit. ASOS have a great tall section, Top Shop, Next (although terrible fabrics and a bit naff, every now and then there's some good stuff) also worth looking at DP and New Look tall sometimes.

Could I ask (if that's ok!) what weight you've got to now? I've got a goal of Christmas and used to be a very similar shape to you, much older though sadly!). I'm aiming for 12 stone and hoping it brings me back to something I'm happy with and at that weight I was a 12/14 am only 8lbs down from my heaviest at the moment though..

H&M can be good for reasonably priced stuff in a mixture of styles (though am out of touch as I’m attempting a year of no clothes shopping in an effort to streamline my wardrobe and sew a bit more)

Theres barely any difference between them but I guess you are a pear

I'm a tallish (5'6") slim (size 8/10) pear if that makes any difference. I wear a lot of high waisted skinny jeans (dark if I want to slim down my hips, lighter if i don't care) and A-line or skater shape skirts with tucked in top to emphasise my waist or similarly cut dresses. Tight, straight dresses don't work well as they hide my waist and make me look wider in a non flattering way. I prefer more structured tops with jeans as I have a slight tum so anything very floaty and loose makes me look about 3 months pregnant and doesn't flatter my waist. I do wear normal stretchy and also and slightly loose t shirts with high waisted jeans though - zara do some really nice basic stretchy ones. Just avoid the very square shaped, kinda cropped, very loose t-shirts that are in at the moment - I find a slightly longer, slimmer cut T-shirt that just reaches the top of the hip bones to be more flattering.
I also find some peplum tops can look nice with high waisted skinnies but these will add visually to your hips. I have two nice long sleeve peplums that are fitted with a longer length from Gap that are flattering. The peplum is quite flat if that makes sense so it doesn't stick out a mile.

My top tips in short - emphasise your waist!
More structured tops work better than very floaty things and make sure tops fit well on the shoulders. Structured dresses are infinitely better than floaty ones which could make you look totally shapeless.

Definitely a pear. I agree define your waist in dresses. I like culottes at the moment with a top tucked in. Skater type dresses would look good too.

Well done on your weight loss.

I'd say a pear.

chips I'm 11.5 stone, I was definitely size 12-14 at 12 stone (still am lol). Goal is between 10.5 and 11, will depend on whether I've toned up and got some muscle. I'm more going by size as I'd like to be a definite 12 not a maybe 12. Possibly even a 10 but may be pushing it.
You're so right about the tall fit, definitely more of it around these days I'll have another look at Asos, (Student discount too) but a lot of their clothes are a bit too fashion for me.

cherry excellent starting points these, thank you.

Defo hourglass. Your hips are equal to your shoulders and your waist is narrower than both.

Absolutely not a pair! Are people blind? A pears shoulders arent as wide as their hips!