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?

Sorry for depressing you... I know the labels sound a bit reductive but I see them simply as a tool for helping me find out what suits me without having to try on everything in the shop. If I see something I really love I'll probably buy it regardless of whether it emphasises my waist or minimises my shoulders or whatever but I do find it useful to have at least a few guidelines.

That is a stunning waist! Everything will look gorgeous on you. Try all classic styles at M&S. Palazzo Jeans, straight cut and pleated trousers. Linen shirts with beautiful underwear. Pencil skirts and cashmere jumpers at Uniqlo. Try little black dresses. Try Monsoons Polka Dot Dresses. Emphasize your waist, wear stilletos and courts. TU stocked up with fantastic blouses, try them all on over your clothes to see which one you love. Only buy what looks and feels amazing.

I agree.

Wear a larger size top..it would be more flattering

It can help to know though unless you’ve got a lot of time to try on countless styles.

Can people not read?

The OP has made it clear that she’s only wearing the clothes in the photo because they show her shape. They’re not clothes she wears to look good in.

I’m very much of the school of focusing on the clothes rather than my body - but I can understand that a huge weight loss and change in proportions might be discombobulating - which is why I’ve tried to make helpful and encouraging suggestions.

Interesting comment in the light of what you posted on the bikini thread.

Thanks... I'm well aware that I don't look "nice" in the photo but if I'd used one where I was wearing a baggy maxi dress it would hardly have helped people to make useful suggestions. I also didn't say in my OP that it was deliberate, wanted weight loss (it wasn't) and I probably should have done. But never mind!

I really appreciate all the more helpful comments and I'll be taking on board the suggestions to try different styles and see what suits. I'd never heard of a figure 8 shape or a high hip shelf before so this is all good learning stuff.

I would have thought that the S&B board was exactly the place to discuss dressing for your shape and adjusting to a new body after weight loss, so I'm not sure why some posters are depressed by it. I do have some negativity about my body generally but I'm hardly alone in that and I don't think it should be a reason to not ask for advice.

I follow someone on Instragram called Does my Bum Look 40 and she looks like she has a similar to shape to you so maybe check out what she wears. She’s always trying on different outfits in her posts.

You have a wonderful figure!
I would say very athletic but not rectangle because you have a lovely well defined waist. You can basically wear anything you like and that makes you feel good. Don’t be shopping online until you really know your new figure, go out to department stores and try on all sorts of stuff so you can really compare for size and style.

I’d disagree, @Pancakeorcrepe. Trying on in High St shops these days is a thankless task - even if you can find anything worth trying on.

The OP would be far better off exploring the limitless wealth of choices online (with attention and a tape measure) and ordering things that seem unmissably wonderful to her. Cuts, colours, proportions she hasn’t tried before. And then considering them at leisure in front of her own mirror, mixed with other new things, under lighting she trusts and with no pressure at all.

Yes there will be a period of adjustment, when she may spend some time returning parcels. It’s a stage. Gradually she’ll become more accustomed to accurately assessing how things fit on her new frame. She’ll see for herself that she really can wear pretty much anything - and she can begin to enjoy shopping for, and wearing, clothes.

The bikini thread was a woman happy and embracing herself where this lady is unhappy 🤔

No - that was your interpretation. She asked people if she looked bad . She knew they were not the most flattering because of her weight. Sorry @ICriedAllTheWayToTheChipShop but there is a credible link here but I've made my point to the poster who posted very contradictory viewpoints.

When you ask opinions on here you want other people's views and a looser top was definitely not derogatory it was my opinion

I'd never heard of a figure 8 shape or a high hip shelf before so this is all good learning stuff.

I would have thought that the S&B board was exactly the place to discuss dressing for your shape and adjusting to a new body after weight loss, so I'm not sure why some posters are depressed by it

I think what whiteblackwhite meant is that "dressing for your shape" is a very restrictive approach to clothes and some posters are very obsessive about-the "emphasise your good points, minimise your flaws approach" There are so many posts along the lines of "beautiful but I can't wear that because I'm a ..." or limit themselves to certain styles "because I'm a...."

There are others who focus on the clothes not the body, beyond "does it come in my size and does it fit"

I think the "what shape am I" approach is limiting and restrictive and probably causes more problems than the hell, yeah let's go for it approach.

Shame you didn't read why she did that though.

I’ve had this figure all my life including large ribcage… OP what looks good are knee length dresses with a clear waist — on your waist not the tailored waist. So a knee length shift with a ribbon around your waist. Also short skirt (in a flowy or skater style) with a boxy jumper.

Have you ever lost 50% of your body weight in a relatively short time and been left with significantly different proportions to what you had before? Because I feel like people aren't really understanding where I'm coming from here. I used to have a good instinct for what would work on my body because I was so used to dressing it. Now I'm less confident. All I was really looking for from this thread was a starting point for what styles I might try. I won't be buying things I don't like just because they're supposed to be suitable for my shape nor rejecting things I love because they're not, but it's useful to get at least some sort of idea if you've lost a bit of confidence in yourself.

What I notice is that you’ve got very long legs so you’d look great in any kind of trousers. I think you need a bra fitting as the current band is too tight, giving you a line across your torso, and not enough support in the cups.

I get you OP, have also lost weight and my body shape has totally changed. so the clothes I always considered flattering are not any more, they just hang funny and do nothing for my figure. Try the link I posted above, it has some good suggestions

If it's overwhelming it's ok to take things slowly. I used to be a classic hour shape but that was pre kids. I'm roughly that shape now, although I've not measured myself in a long time. I'm a size 8 and a 30 DD-E so probably not too dissimilar to yourself

What sort of clothes are you most comfortable in?
What does your day to day life look like?

I have different wardrobes for different occasions.
I have jeans and t shirts for most occasions. I used to be more into v neck jumpers but have moved more to cardigans in recent years. I'm 5ft2 and tend to wear bootcut or straight jeans as I'm often in heels or boots and it allows flexibility. I used to have leather knee boots and used to have taper jeans for those
For work I had tailored trousers and blouses with a v neck jumper or tailored dresses with cardigans. I like higher necklines and knee length dresses.
I dress up my work dresses or do skirt and top combos for wearing out to nicer places. I like a full circular skirt and classic cuts of dresses.

I wear more standard colours for clothes but often have brightly coloured tights and shoes.

There is a whole world of clothes out there for you to explore! I think I would start by taking your "day" look and see what tweaks can be made to transition from styles you used to like to what now flatters your figure.

I think you look good but could maybe now add some muscle which may make you feel more confident? I have a similar figure but I have noticed a big difference in how I feel about my body since I started weight training and eating more protein.
In terms of clothes, I think anything that accentuates your waist would be good so perhaps fit a flare dresses.