How to determine your body shape

With words like ‘pear’ and ‘apple’ thrown around as references, determining your body shape can often feel like a) ordering a fruit salad and b) completely overwhelming. But knowing your body shape and how to accentuate your best features when you dress can work wonders for your confidence. We’re about to make the process so much easier.
Below, we have broken down the most common body shapes and made a cheat sheet for what clothes will work for you (plus, how to find your ultimate pair of jeans because no woman can be without her staple denim), so you can feel your most confident, all the time.
HOURGLASS
An ‘hourglass’ body shape is traditionally well-balanced between your top and bottom half, with a bust that is relatively in proportion with the size of your hips. A major feature of an hourglass body shape is a defined waist.
TRY: Hourglass figures are also relatively easy to dress for. Most tops will work well, especially when paired and tucked in to accentuate your slim waist.
IDEAL JEANS FOR YOU: Levi’s Wedgie Fit Straight Jeans are vintage inspired - designed to be snug through the high and thigh and creating a perfect peach shaped butt (loved by Kylie Jenner) for a super flattering silhouette.
PEAR
Those that identify with a ‘pear’ body shape typically have wider hips than their bust, but are curvy through their middle.
TRY: High-waisted pants or skirts will be the most flattering, as well as slim fitting tops that will draw attention to your top half and accentuate your curves in the right places.
IDEAL JEANS FOR YOU: Levi's 721 High Rise Skinny. They’ll cinch your waist in while lengthening your legs and smoothing your hips.
APPLE
An ‘apple’ body shape tends to have a larger bust than hips and a less defined waist, but slim arms and legs. Weight is often gained in the upper or middle parts of the body.
TRY: For an apple body shape a high-waist is also preferable. Wearing skinny jeans and a long shirt will help create the illusion of a longer silhouette. V neck and patterned shirts are a go, but avoid high necks.
IDEAL JEANS FOR YOU: The Levi’s Mile High Super Skinny will be your go-to, slimming the tummy and shaping the legs, perfect to layer a long shirt over the top of.
RECTANGLE
A ‘rectangle’ body shape can also be known as a ‘straight’ body shape. This is probably the most straight-forward - having generally the same measurements for all sections of the body. This body shape also often has a smaller bust.
TRY: This is one of the easier body shapes to dress. Higher-neck shirts work well as they emphasize the length of the neck. Mid- to low-rise pants also work well for this body shape. Pants and shirts that crop just above the ankles and wrists are also flattering as they draw attention to the slimmest parts of the body. Shift and shirt dresses are also simple options that work well for this shape.
IDEAL JEANS FOR YOU: Levi’s 501 Original Cropped Jeans. They’re the perfect mid-rise cut that also crop at the ankle to help accentuate your legs.
INVERTED TRIANGLE
An ‘inverted triangle’ body shape (not picture above) usually has a smaller bottom half than top half, with little definition between waist and hips.
TRY: Avoiding any extra width in the top half is the key to dressing an inverted triangle body shape. This means opting for single breasted jackets and avoiding shoulder padding at all costs. Go for tops that cinch at the waist to give your waist more shape. In the bottom department wide leg styles are a great cut for you.
IDEAL JEANS FOR YOU: Levi’s 315 Shaping Bootcut will give the appearance of slimmer and longer legs with a flared ankle and cut that sits slightly below the natural waist.
For more great clothing options and to find your perfect pair of jeans, head to levis.com.au and check out the brand’s Fit Guide.
Main image credit @elleferguson
What body shape do you think you identify with?
57 Member Comments
my body is more like a pear id like to be more of an hourglass though
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I am more of a pear-ish type shape. My favourite jeans are from Kmart! They are high waisted, very comfortable to wear, and cost $15. And they look good too. Sorry Levi’s.
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I used to be an hourglass ! Now I am more rectangle haha so funny ! Sigh . Ageing is tough
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I think I am a mix between a pear and a rectangle! A hour glass figure would be nice though - haha.
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I think I'm an hour glass too but I'm not a fan of Levi jeans!
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Im like Anne and I hate shopping for clothing. Just the thought of it makes me stressed.
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I am a pear shape. Nice to know what type of clothing is better suited to my body shape.
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I think I’m an apple. I know that with my big bust it just looks weird if I don’t have some skin showing.
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I guess I'm an hourglass. I look awful in baggy or shapeless designs
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Typical Pear shape. Thanks for the information on what jeans would suit.
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Body shapes are hard.
I am some where between an hourglass and a pear but closer to the hourglass shape (I have a a small waist with wide hips and a bust to match but then I also have massive thighs that won't shift).
Finding clothes especially trousers is very hard. I just had a look at those two suggestions and neither will come close to fitting me.
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If I find a pair of jeans that fit everywhere there will be a gap at the back of my jeans around my waist or hips (where ever they sit)
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I get that too Luna - but I have discovered the Guess brand of jeans pretty good for shaping better around the waste.
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I have a similar sort of problem with jeans sometimes. They could fit everywhere else, but I still have a gap at the back around my waist because that's my slimmest part. I find I have to shop with brands that do half sizes in jeans (like, for example, Just Jeans, or Mavi if I wanted to go higher end) because when it comes to that area, I've found I'm between sizes. I can only go down to a smaller size if the jeans are ultra stretchy (like Just Jeans' 4D Stretch jeans, for example).
I also don't tend to wear pants often as I can't find a pair that will fit me correctly at the waist, yet be comfortable or flattering enough for my larger thighs. Half the time I can't even get into a pair to begin with + a lot of them also have slanted pockets which only accentuate my hips even more, so by & large I've given up on the idea of wearing pants again. (Don't even get me started on finding a pair long enough for my tall body!) I have 1 pair in my wardrobe which are very flattering, but that's it.
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I have a massive problem getting the pants over my thighs to begin with, sometimes the largest pair in the 'wide leg' variety which the shop stocks cannot get over my thighs.
I do prefer trousers due to chafing but the last three pairs of trousers which I bought I needed to alter and I ended up taking in the waist in by 8cm... which I cannot do with jeans due to demin being so thick... oh the joy
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I normally wear dresses/skirts due to that reason. Pants that aren't meant to be above the ankle are, or just sit weirdly. I haven't thought about looking for half sizes before but might have to start venturing out and trying those on
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The whole body shape thing just confuses me... I don’t think I fit exactly in any one of these.... so I’ve given up trying to use it as a guide. I just wear things that a comfortable and work with my body.
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I don't think anyone fits exactly wink ; ) You are not alone in that!
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Still unsure lol Always assumed pear. Could be hourglass though.
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A wonderful read and very helpful, thanks.
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Those pictures look way different from how I always imagined the body shapes - I always thought bust size had a considerable effect on which type you are/look like as well, but all the busts look the same in the picture!
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I'm definitely curvier on the bottom aka Pear, so I usually wear dresses the accentuate my smaller waist but hide my curvier legs.
Been continuing my gym routine maybe eventually I'll have equal proportions so that jeans don't look so wonky.
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I am definitely a short rectangle! I wish I could lose more fat from my waist!
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