I don't know what shape I am any more

[ICriedAllTheWayToTheChipShop]

I have always, pretty much my whole life, been a pear shape with small boobs, wide hips and a big bum, and big thighs. I've lost a lot of weight over the last couple of years and just the other day I was measuring myself to see what size I should order for some trousers I was looking at online. I was a bit taken aback to see that my hips measured only an inch more than the band size on my bra! So clearly I'm not really a pear any more but I don't know what I actually am and what styles are going to suit me now. Looking at this picture, all I see is a big rectangular torso with no shape and then some more rectangles for legs, but I'm not particularly kind to myself and probably need some objective outside opinions. What shape would people say I am and what might suit me/give me a waist/make my torso look softer?

I’d say inverted triangle.

You look fab OP - I’d say rectangle to inverted Triangle

Melissa Murrell on Instagram/ YouTube does some good “dressing for your shape” guides

I would think a “fit and flare” dress would give you more of a waist - but check out MM!

What are your actual measurements? You definitely aren’t a pear in my opinion x

Maybe wearing a darker colour on your top half would suit you.

Oh, I wouldn't go out like this, it was just so people could see my shape properly. I wear the pink top under other things and the leggings are strictly for yoga.

No I didn’t mean that, you asked what may suit you so I thought maybe a dark top and you could add some wide legs trousers.

Cracking legs! With your shoulders I’d say an inverted triangle. You can wear different styles, but yes, darker colours on your top half and avoid jersey tops.

I'm 30-26-31. I used to be 36-34-40. I've lost most of the fat from my arse, that's what's made the difference, but I also have a great big ribcage that pokes through my clothes. I just don't think it looks nice at all.

I think maybe your shouldners are broader than your hips, which is why inverted triangle.

It's going to take some adjustment after decades of trying to make my hips look smaller! I probably need to go out and try lots of different styles on and go for things that I might have avoided in the past. I definitely wouldn't have gone anywhere near a peplum.

I'd start with a very decent bra fitting.

You're meauremnts suggest you are a rectangle body shape as your waist is only 4 inches smaller than your hips. For reference I am hourglass and have the same size waist as you but 37 inch hips! I would love to have your figure. I would go for straight styles, body con. Waist emphasis will not suit you

I used to be more pear-shaped when I was younger, with a dramatic waist/hip difference.

My shape has changed a lot since I started training regularly, my shoulders are more defined, and my obliques are larger giving me the waist to hip difference of only 18 cm (used to be over 30). This means that I can wear basically anything, everything straight from the rack fits me. You might be positively surprised OP, it’s easy to dress your shape.

This shape of garment would be great on you - there’s so much going on with the way it’s cut, and the wide hems would correspond with your shoulders:

https://www.wiggykit.com/products/the-leo-jumpsuit

But then, you could equally wear this outfit:

https://eu.thefrankieshop.com/products/beaufille-ella-mini-skirt-midnight-blue

This shape:

https://www.meandem.com/crease-less-linen-halter-neck-stripe-maxi-dress-light-cream-multi

But also this:

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/tailored-blazer-with-lapel-buttons-p02736494.html?v1=522389616&v2=2546081

Really, almost anything with clear, intentional structure.

Have a look at insta stylebyclairelopez - she's a very similar shape to you. She often wears jeans with pockets on the front to add width.

I would have thought you could wear whatever you like with a figure like that. Square shoulders are great, I would emphasise not minimise them!

I've never even thought about jumpsuits but maybe I should try some on. I love that wide-leg denim one. I do have a lot of wide-leg stuff atm and I've always liked a flare. It's just a weird thing to adjust to - I'm not used to having no curves.

I would say a figure 8, from the photos and your measurements your shoulders and hips are more or less the same and your waist is much smaller. And you have a higher hip shelf which is a figure 8
I have a figure 8 and look similar to you , my hips are a bit bigger than yours but I have broader shoulders, a small waist and a high hip shelf, my shoulders and hips look the same width.
If you took a photo straight on rather than at that angle we’d probably see your shape better

Clothes provide curves, @ICriedAllTheWayToTheChipShop! Or angles, or ways to trick the eye. Look at the back of the Zara jacket, or the way the jumpsuit and maxi dress make the eye travel from one place to another. And the Frankie Shop outfit would lean in to your actual shape and celebrate it by emphasising strong shoulders and slim hips.

You’re very lucky to have emerged from your weight loss with model proportions!

What height are you?

This does everything for a waist and hips - look at the video.

https://www.asos.com/topshop/topshop-denim-dropped-waist-seam-detail-maxi-dress-in-mid-blue/prd/209347308#colourWayId-209347325

Rectangle. And a great figure. I’d just avoid anything that hangs down widely from the top/shoulder area. But you can wear most things and look great.

I'm 5'5". I'm struggling to see the good points at the moment, I was unhappy being overweight but at least I had curves. I don't think I look very feminine any more.

Have you ever been pregnant? A lot of women are left with flared ribs after pregnancy and if you have poor posture and / or a weak core they won't correct on their own. A good physio will be able to give you strength and breathing exercises to correct flared ribs, if indeed that's what you have.

How about a long pleated skirt?