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...

If anyone's got any advice for shorts, that would be great. Nearly every pair I try on looks awful, I have one high waisted stretch pain that look okay and fit perfectly but that all.

I'm feeling better about not being able to tell now as there seems to be a fairly even split. Maybe I'm a crossover!

Pear for sure

I just screenshotted your pic and used paint and drew a line from shoulders to hips there is little difference. Thats the definition of pear. Your hips are most certainely not disproporrionately big in comparison.

If you’re a 12-14 top and bottom then an hourglass.

If you’re consistently a size smaller in tops than bottoms a pear.

It sounds from your posts like you’re hourglass. But you don’t gave a huge bust so would be able to wear pear type styles too.

shesabelter genius! What about thighs though, they are wider than my hips?
Maybe I can be an hourglass with big thighs, that will hopefully shrink a bit more!
museumum yes I think I'll just go for styles that suit both, my boobs aren't huge but I do find it hard to get fitted tops that fit them and aren't baggy on the waist. I like a fitted silhouette on the top. I'd love to wear shirts but the buttons always gape!

I have these short shorts for holidays/the garden and the longer ones for out and about. I'm 6ft, 10.5stone and a similar shape.

Thanks I like both of those shorts, the first ones are very similar to the ones I wear but not high waist.

I think you're an hourglass/athletic shape. Most people are in between two body shapes. You can probably wear anything and it will look great on you.

Thanks, that's interesting OP - I think 11.5 stone would be a bit ambitious for me but if I can get to a 12/small 14 I'd be over the moon!

rightknockered thanks, I've never been called athletic before! I wish I could wear anything, but I seem to be an odd shape (height doesn't help) and a lot of clothes don't look right on me! Which is why I hate clothes shopping.

Spent the last few hours trawling online shops and yet to find anything I really like, I'm either incredibly fussy or the current trends are just not my thing...

You're an hourglass I think. Definitely not a rectangle like what a PP suggested! I'm a rectangle and there is no waist. lol

Snap! We have exactly the same body!

I think it’s a fairly easy body shape to dress, whatever category you call it!

Primarily it’s about what to avoid. First ‘rule’ for me is that I avoid any item that stops (or starts) at my widest hip/thigh line. It’s just common sense that it draws the eye right there. So I have many longline tanks & tees. Shows off our slim waist, but skims over (sucks in!) the next bit. Then pants/skirts flow out under that.

Other tricks I use is boatneck necklines if possible, a-line skirts to knee (never fishtail or tight pencil styles), wrap-dresses (whether sleeveless, capped or long sleeved). I also draw attention to my best areas with brighter, or statement pieces. For me that’s chunky necklaces (you’ve got a lovely neck, too), statement ring (shows off my wrists), cool shoes (shows off nice calves/ankles).

Capped sleeves always in summer, they balance out our hips, and take us from pear to hourglass in one move. I reckon I can visually take off an extra 3kg with these tricks, while I work on doing it for real 😝

Oh, and let me save you some time. ALL SHORTS LOOK AWFUL ON OUR BODY.

Sorry to say, but I’ve done the research on this. Go with skirts instead, it’s a fool’s mission. Closest I’ve gotten to decent shorts is ‘wide’ legged jersey gauchos. Finishing just under the knee, worn with fitted longline tee. Fold over top gauchos, so they’re seemless over our hips. Find them on eBay.

When you were bigger were you the same size on top and bottom?
I'm very pear and no matter how much j weigh I'm still 2 sizes bigger on the bottom

You're a pear. Still have a great waist though.

Try Pepperberry for tops and dresses. They are the same company as Bravissimo and their clothes are designed for boobs! You really don’t need to be very big for them to fit and flatter you though, especially if you have a relatively small waist.

You look similar to me and I am a pear.

I'm 5'8 and 10 stone 3. My ideal weight is about 9 stone. At this weight I tend to look a bit barrel like, imo.

I can wear short shorts though as my legs are quite long and I exercise loads so don't look too bad.

I'm this shape too, 5'7. When I'm slim I have your measurements but I find when I put weight on my hips get wider first. Usually I have 11-12ins difference between my hips and fattest part of my hips (which others are calling thighs).

When buying jeans etc I use the 'fat hips' measurement as I figure they still have to get over the wider bit and fit there!

I also avoid anything that stops at the widest point but I find A Line skirts and skater dresses look awful on me. I prefer the fitted ones! I also try to avoid anything that draws attention to my tummy.

I've been pregnant for a year so can't help with current trends I'm afraid.

Pear. But not dramatically so.

Cropped straight leg trousers work well instead of shorts.

Empire line Maxi dresses.

Fit and flare.

Nipped in under the bust or at the waist.

Well done on your weight loss! I’m erring towards hourglass. I am a tall pear - 5ft 10, size 12 (10 on top) - but your boobs are bigger than mine. I’m 35” / 29” / 39.5” if that helps. A lot of what I’ve learnt about dressing a pear shape will be applicable to you, except some tops e.g. boat necks might not be flattering as they over-emphasise your chest - v-neck and sweetheart neckline might be better.
You need to emphasise your waist but that isn’t always easy as a tall girl as the waist on standard sized dresses is sometimes on the ribs rather than the waist. Tall-sized dresses are better but there’s less choice. I wear a lot of separates, particularly as I’m a different size top to bottom.
Good styles: a-line, fit and flare, wrap dresses. Beware anything with pleats on the hips.
Jeans: I should be wearing bootcut but I can’t quite bear it, I wear slim / straight A’s that’s more flattering than skinny.
Shorts: always hard due to my thighs. I wear a boyfriend style so they’re not too tight on the thighs but had the waist taken in.

Hourglass surely - pears have narrower shoulders in proportion to their hips?

I think this thread shows no one knows what each body shape looks like or what the definition is!

Or that we don’t know what a pear looks like. 😂

To be fair though hourglass and pear are kinda easy to interchange unless we have the measurements

Have a look at Styled by Susie on facebook, she does your body shape and colours (for a price) and there's also a great community for advice.

You look fantastic either way