I a mix of an inverted triangle and a rectangular (I have a somewhat straight waist). While I find the body shape rules useful to some extent, what I don't really like about them is that they are based on the idea that the ideal type is the hourglass as the supposedly most feminine and therefore desirable body form for women. So the advice about 'finding balance' is actually more about making you look more like an hourglass. I actually like my broad shoulders and supposedly more 'masculine' body shape because I find it lends character to my look and makes me look strong. So I often break the rules and let my shoulders shine 🙂 I also find that other aspects about body shape come into play as well: because I have a fairly short neck turtlenecks look awful on me and because my torso is shorter compared to my legs wearing high-waisted bottoms or fully tucking in shirts, sweaters or T-shirts makes me look very truncated.
I can identify with your thoughts on body shape. I look for mid rise jeans. Also, I have found that tucking one little piece of my shirt just over one hip bone adds a vertical interest and creates a waist. I totally agree that turtlenecks just don't work. But, a very open cowl neck or off the shoulder or boat neck look great, along with v necks.
I used to be a pear/hourglass inasmuch as I carried my weight on my curvy hips and thighs below my well defined waist but I have broad shoulders with little in the way of a bosom. Unfortunately menopause and extra kgs have made my waist disappear and morphed me into a pear/apple. I'm on my way back down the scale now and I think I'll end up as a pear/rectangle. Like you I don't hold to the rules but strive for some balance that is pleasing to my eye. I'll try new silhouettes in stores regardless of the rules. If I hate them, that's an easy no. If I like it in store, I might bring one item home to play with and style with my current wardrobe. If I can't make it work, I bring it back or sell it on. I find this keeps my style fresh whilst minimising my purchasing mistakes!
I typically follow the rules if I’m trying to minimise what I don’t like - not necessarily to create the hourglass shape. I’m an inverted triangle/rectangular, so certain tops make my shoulder appear too wide and in this case I choose shoulders that minimise this. But even tho my body is quite straight vertically, I still prefer straight lines and shapeless clothing, because this suits my personality and style.
I'm an hourglass with a tendency towards pear. I'm also 5'11", with a medium build but smaller bones. While I find advice on silhouettes generally suits me (fitted and accented waists, and draping, mostly), my height and build monkeywrench other rules. Higher waists look like maternity was wear on me. Bold chunky jewelry I "should" be able to carry off at my height looks clunky on my smaller bones, but dainty jewelry makes me look huge. Same with prints. And I'm tall enough that large expanses of print can resemble upholstery on me, regardless of the size. I have found some tunics and loose sweaters that should obliterate my shape can look amazing, because their fabric is such that it drapes over my curves really nicely. I keep any guidelines that work for me, and try to figure out why the fails fall. My most recent insights are that jewelry needs to balance my bones, build, and height, so medium weights work best, but layered dainty pieces give the same effect, and are easier to find right now in my aesthetic. And texture is way more forgiving on me than prints, and more versatile. But you'll pry my horizontal b&w stripes and plaid out of my cold, dead hands, because they're cool and I love them.
I belong to the "pears", Soft Gamines and the Deep Winter Softs. I dress the lower half of my body darkly in black, charcoal black and anthracite (trousers/skirt, shoes...) - this visually lengthens my lower body. On top I'm wearing Deep Winter colours, but a little softer. I make sure my waist is slightly defined and that the clothing is tapered (neck, wrists, etc.). There are a few more things I pay attention to, but that would be too much for now. It is clear that clothing does not always meet all the requirements: it is very rare that a blouse has Deep Winter Soft colours and is 100% suitable for the Soft Gamine type. But if a few characteristics are met, I'm already satisfied. To be honest, I'm often overwhelmed by what's on offer and I don't really enjoy shopping 😅 So if I go into a store and can sort out about 3/4 of the clothes based on the colours, that helps me enormously. Or if I think two items of clothing are great but can only afford one, I see which one is more gamine.
I love what you said about goals! I’m a pear shape. The traditional advice is only about balance and de-emphasizing your hips. Sometimes I follow that advice, but honestly, I really like my hips and a lot of times I prefer to emphasize them. The bigger concern for me is elongating my shorter legs.
Petite (5'1" tall) rectangle body shape with a short torso. (My rib cage and hip bones have no more than a finger width between them.) I was formerly very active into weight lifting and bodybuilding with naturally broad shoulders and muscular legs. Adding muscle made me look like I had a waist. Now (at 65 years of age), I have a menopause middle and less muscular overall. I don't mind the natural width of my shoulders, and I choose to accentuate them. My challenge in dressing is that my hips are a clothing size smaller than my waist, so I am always altering clothing to fit my hips and lessen the overall volume on my short frame. I also strive to create vertical length with my style lines in my clothing. I don't mind actually creating more inverted triangle shapes on my body to create the illusion of length, but I also try to define my waist to make my body look balanced. I have also found that fabrics with softness, stretch or draping are less overwhelming on my short frame vs anything stiff.
Thanks for sharing Andrea. I often get trousers altered as I am full around my hips compared to my waist. Sewing has been a great skill for this reason ☺️💕
Hi Sarah, very good tips as per usual, I am a pear shape, but, find now as I am older I also have a bit of an apple shape too!!!!...I love your concept of wear anything but keep things balanced!!!!..you look amazing in that skirt and you have such a small waist!!! its been a few years ago that I even had a waist!!!!!!....look forward to next video...thanks sarah, from Margaret in South Australia...
I’m a very petite hourglass - big bust but hips a bit wider when I stand face-on. I enjoy playing up my hips and also wearing a puff sleeve to add volume otherwise I can tend to just look thin.
HI Sarah, I'm a petite hourglass, and what you're advised to wear for this body shape pretty much goes against the grain of today's trends, such as boxy cuts (which hide the curves and make you look bigger) and oversized everything basically, plus all those heavy, block-heeled or thick-soled shoes. Being petite, doing any of these just drown my frame. As a consequence, I find it hard to be trendy and am more or less forced into the classic style. I do manage to get trendy with balloon sleeves and wide leg jeans, so it's not all bad, but finding a balance between trend and body shape/height is a bit tricky for me!
I totally get it! I stay well away from trends for the most part as they will only work for a small minority and then it will be yesterday’s news! Best to develop your own personal style ☺️💕
Love it i never folow rules, as long as you feel confident in it. I do feel though, there are a lot of things which don't look the best on me and that is ok
There's an old song that includes the words "emphasise the positive, eliminate the negative". We can emphasise the features that we like, as you did with that beautiful belt. We can't eliminate parts of our shape that we don't like, but we can disguise, skim over, de-emphasise and divert attention elsewhere.
I’m a pear and we also do well in A-line skirts, but I ALWAYS have something bright and bold or layered going on on top , as a Bright Spring, so that works out well! (I also have a rather eye-catching sternotomy scar from a heart valve operation ten years ago.) 🤣 💔
Great video, Sarah! Thank you for the insights on your process for designing an outfit and breaking the rules strategically. Learning about my own body shape has helped me, too.
Great video. I'm something between an hourglass and a column, but find that trying to add interest to my waist is a no no, because its really very wide in comparison to my shoulders and hips. However putting some interest in my narrowish shoulders and narrowish hips works. The other thing that works for me is slicing myself in two or three... it's as if I was ever so slightly too wide, so when I wear a solid top, it looks better with buttons down the middle, or an A skirt like yours (drool, so gorgeous) would have to have buttons down the middle for it to look good in me. I learned all this in your course, lovely Sarah! (PS- I'd kill for your waist).
I'm only starting out with body shape. I think I am rectangular. I don't know much about fitting things for my body well. I know if I wear things tight around my waist, it doesn't look good and is very uncomfortable.
Keeping observing and noting what you like and don’t like and it will become clear. Alternatively, if you feel like you are wasting time and money on poor choices, get in touch for a consultation ☺️💕
Loved this Sarah. Thank you. Quick question for you though. My shoulders are 38" wide, and my hips are 34" (i have a 28" waist btw), does that 4" difference make me an inverted triangle? I'm 5ft 2". Thank you.
Thank you. I don’t base shapes or advice on measurements as everyone holds them differently. When I work with clients, I ask them to provide photos ☺️💕
I'm a little tall (5'8") and with long arms & legs, and a short torso. I've always been slim, slightly wider through the hips, and flatter on top, but in recent years I've gained a little weight through the bust and stomach. It's a challenge!
I’m an hourglass not a fat hourglass a normal sized one. There’s one rule for hourglass ⌛️ fitted at the waist! I couldn’t help but notice you are pandering to the overweight. Because of them I’m forced to spend a small fortune on alternations. America sizing has completely taken over! A size 2 tag doesn’t mean you’re a size 2. That’s American sizing. Before 1999 a size 2 was tiny! NOW it’s really a size 10.
Overweight people aren’t forcing you to spend on alterations. You, and many others including many bigger people, have to either get alterations or settle for ill-fitting clothes because the fashion industry shifted to mass manufacturing
I was always more of an inverted triangle, and also have a short waist. Then I had twins. My weight didn't change all that much, but I couldn't figure out why I couldn't dress myself anymore till I realized that my rib cage was literally larger than it had been because one of my babies had been pushed up under my ribs. That was ever so long ago but I still struggle finding things I like to wear as more of a rectangle, with strong shoulders. I agree with secretbookcase3082, that I like my strong shoulders, and athletic build. I work at being muscular & looking lean and strong. I don't feel the need to balance out to try to look like an hourglass, BUT I don't like appearing blocky. Also I have struggled for years with the low belly bulge created by the c-section. No matter how thin I am, it's there, and I can see it through fitted clothes, jeans and trousers with stretch. Shape wear isn't always great because it's made to create a little waist, which doesn't work on my build. There's only so much my waist can be pulled in being short with those wider ribs. At any rate, this wee rant is because I find dressing how I like difficult at times, so I wear oversized things a lot. Mid rise wide leg trousers or jeans with racer back tank tops, and such like, often with a blazer. Thank you for your channel. I find the conversations you start really interesting food for thought.
Thank you so much for sharing. I would imagine many women can relate to the significant changes in one’s body after childbirth. Most of my clients that come to me have similar thoughts. You are not alone! ☺️💕
I a mix of an inverted triangle and a rectangular (I have a somewhat straight waist). While I find the body shape rules useful to some extent, what I don't really like about them is that they are based on the idea that the ideal type is the hourglass as the supposedly most feminine and therefore desirable body form for women. So the advice about 'finding balance' is actually more about making you look more like an hourglass. I actually like my broad shoulders and supposedly more 'masculine' body shape because I find it lends character to my look and makes me look strong. So I often break the rules and let my shoulders shine 🙂 I also find that other aspects about body shape come into play as well: because I have a fairly short neck turtlenecks look awful on me and because my torso is shorter compared to my legs wearing high-waisted bottoms or fully tucking in shirts, sweaters or T-shirts makes me look very truncated.
Exactly! Everyone has different goals so the ‘rules’ don’t work ☺️
I can identify with your thoughts on body shape. I look for mid rise jeans. Also, I have found that tucking one little piece of my shirt just over one hip bone adds a vertical interest and creates a waist. I totally agree that turtlenecks just don't work. But, a very open cowl neck or off the shoulder or boat neck look great, along with v necks.
I used to be a pear/hourglass inasmuch as I carried my weight on my curvy hips and thighs below my well defined waist but I have broad shoulders with little in the way of a bosom. Unfortunately menopause and extra kgs have made my waist disappear and morphed me into a pear/apple.
I'm on my way back down the scale now and I think I'll end up as a pear/rectangle.
Like you I don't hold to the rules but strive for some balance that is pleasing to my eye.
I'll try new silhouettes in stores regardless of the rules. If I hate them, that's an easy no. If I like it in store, I might bring one item home to play with and style with my current wardrobe. If I can't make it work, I bring it back or sell it on.
I find this keeps my style fresh whilst minimising my purchasing mistakes!
That’s the way to do it! ☺️💕
I typically follow the rules if I’m trying to minimise what I don’t like - not necessarily to create the hourglass shape. I’m an inverted triangle/rectangular, so certain tops make my shoulder appear too wide and in this case I choose shoulders that minimise this. But even tho my body is quite straight vertically, I still prefer straight lines and shapeless clothing, because this suits my personality and style.
Love that. You have to bend the rules sometimes so that they work for you ☺️💕
I'm an hourglass with a tendency towards pear. I'm also 5'11", with a medium build but smaller bones. While I find advice on silhouettes generally suits me (fitted and accented waists, and draping, mostly), my height and build monkeywrench other rules.
Higher waists look like maternity was wear on me. Bold chunky jewelry I "should" be able to carry off at my height looks clunky on my smaller bones, but dainty jewelry makes me look huge. Same with prints. And I'm tall enough that large expanses of print can resemble upholstery on me, regardless of the size.
I have found some tunics and loose sweaters that should obliterate my shape can look amazing, because their fabric is such that it drapes over my curves really nicely.
I keep any guidelines that work for me, and try to figure out why the fails fall. My most recent insights are that jewelry needs to balance my bones, build, and height, so medium weights work best, but layered dainty pieces give the same effect, and are easier to find right now in my aesthetic. And texture is way more forgiving on me than prints, and more versatile. But you'll pry my horizontal b&w stripes and plaid out of my cold, dead hands, because they're cool and I love them.
Love this. A perfect example why information on body shape needs to be unique ☺️💕
I belong to the "pears", Soft Gamines and the Deep Winter Softs.
I dress the lower half of my body darkly in black, charcoal black and anthracite (trousers/skirt, shoes...) - this visually lengthens my lower body. On top I'm wearing Deep Winter colours, but a little softer. I make sure my waist is slightly defined and that the clothing is tapered (neck, wrists, etc.).
There are a few more things I pay attention to, but that would be too much for now. It is clear that clothing does not always meet all the requirements: it is very rare that a blouse has Deep Winter Soft colours and is 100% suitable for the Soft Gamine type. But if a few characteristics are met, I'm already satisfied.
To be honest, I'm often overwhelmed by what's on offer and I don't really enjoy shopping 😅 So if I go into a store and can sort out about 3/4 of the clothes based on the colours, that helps me enormously. Or if I think two items of clothing are great but can only afford one, I see which one is more gamine.
Colour definitely helps narrow down the options for shopping! 💯☺️
I love what you said about goals! I’m a pear shape. The traditional advice is only about balance and de-emphasizing your hips. Sometimes I follow that advice, but honestly, I really like my hips and a lot of times I prefer to emphasize them. The bigger concern for me is elongating my shorter legs.
Yes! Thank you! I never assume my clients want to achieve an hourglass, it’s a very outdated idea ☺️🍐
Petite (5'1" tall) rectangle body shape with a short torso. (My rib cage and hip bones have no more than a finger width between them.) I was formerly very active into weight lifting and bodybuilding with naturally broad shoulders and muscular legs. Adding muscle made me look like I had a waist. Now (at 65 years of age), I have a menopause middle and less muscular overall. I don't mind the natural width of my shoulders, and I choose to accentuate them. My challenge in dressing is that my hips are a clothing size smaller than my waist, so I am always altering clothing to fit my hips and lessen the overall volume on my short frame. I also strive to create vertical length with my style lines in my clothing. I don't mind actually creating more inverted triangle shapes on my body to create the illusion of length, but I also try to define my waist to make my body look balanced. I have also found that fabrics with softness, stretch or draping are less overwhelming on my short frame vs anything stiff.
Thanks for sharing Andrea. I often get trousers altered as I am full around my hips compared to my waist. Sewing has been a great skill for this reason ☺️💕
Hi Sarah, very good tips as per usual, I am a pear shape, but, find now as I am older I also have a bit of an apple shape too!!!!...I love your concept of wear anything but keep things balanced!!!!..you look amazing in that skirt and you have such a small waist!!! its been a few years ago that I even had a waist!!!!!!....look forward to next video...thanks sarah, from Margaret in South Australia...
Thank you so much Margaret! Please send some nice Ozzie weather this way! ☺️
I’m a very petite hourglass - big bust but hips a bit wider when I stand face-on. I enjoy playing up my hips and also wearing a puff sleeve to add volume otherwise I can tend to just look thin.
Love that! Thank you for sharing! ☺️💕
HI Sarah, I'm a petite hourglass, and what you're advised to wear for this body shape pretty much goes against the grain of today's trends, such as boxy cuts (which hide the curves and make you look bigger) and oversized everything basically, plus all those heavy, block-heeled or thick-soled shoes. Being petite, doing any of these just drown my frame. As a consequence, I find it hard to be trendy and am more or less forced into the classic style. I do manage to get trendy with balloon sleeves and wide leg jeans, so it's not all bad, but finding a balance between trend and body shape/height is a bit tricky for me!
I totally get it! I stay well away from trends for the most part as they will only work for a small minority and then it will be yesterday’s news! Best to develop your own personal style ☺️💕
Love it i never folow rules, as long as you feel confident in it. I do feel though, there are a lot of things which don't look the best on me and that is ok
Love it Rosa! Keep breaking those rules ☺️💕
I am a busty or curvy inverted triangle, I am short waist/long leg, petite with a medium bone scale.
Thanks for sharing ☺️💕
There's an old song that includes the words "emphasise the positive, eliminate the negative". We can emphasise the features that we like, as you did with that beautiful belt. We can't eliminate parts of our shape that we don't like, but we can disguise, skim over, de-emphasise and divert attention elsewhere.
Very true ☺️💕
Thanks Sarah from Scotland
My pleasure Hilary! Thanks for watching ☺️💕
I don’t use the 5 system I much prefer Kibbe although it took me a while to get my head around it.
@@siafrajames8401 I see the merit in that system but, like any others, it’s not without its limitations ☺️💕
I’m a pear and we also do well in A-line skirts, but I ALWAYS have something bright and bold or layered going on on top , as a Bright Spring, so that works out well! (I also have a rather eye-catching sternotomy scar from a heart valve operation ten years ago.) 🤣 💔
Love that! You know how to accessorize! 😉☺️💕
Great video, Sarah! Thank you for the insights on your process for designing an outfit and breaking the rules strategically. Learning about my own body shape has helped me, too.
You are so welcome! Thanks for sharing Susie ☺️💕
Great video. I'm something between an hourglass and a column, but find that trying to add interest to my waist is a no no, because its really very wide in comparison to my shoulders and hips. However putting some interest in my narrowish shoulders and narrowish hips works. The other thing that works for me is slicing myself in two or three... it's as if I was ever so slightly too wide, so when I wear a solid top, it looks better with buttons down the middle, or an A skirt like yours (drool, so gorgeous) would have to have buttons down the middle for it to look good in me. I learned all this in your course, lovely Sarah! (PS- I'd kill for your waist).
Oh thank you Maria! I’m so glad you have a deep understanding of your own shape and what works for you! This makes me so happy ☺️💕
I'm only starting out with body shape. I think I am rectangular. I don't know much about fitting things for my body well. I know if I wear things tight around my waist, it doesn't look good and is very uncomfortable.
Keeping observing and noting what you like and don’t like and it will become clear. Alternatively, if you feel like you are wasting time and money on poor choices, get in touch for a consultation ☺️💕
I love that belt. It's so fabulous. Thank you for these visual demos and examples of swinging the balance.
You are so welcome! That belt has worked hard in my closet Nicole ☺️💕
I’m an hourglass shape. I find shopping for dresses ok but dressing casually not so much. Anything that’s not fitted makes me look bigger.
I totally get that! ☺️💕
Great advice, Sarah 🌟👍
I'll try the necklace and bag placement tips 🥰 xxx
Hope it works for you Richelle ☺️💕
Great tips Sarah! Loved the necklace tip and the handbag, so easy but effective!
Thanks so much! Glad you liked the tips Tessa! ☺️💕
Loved this Sarah. Thank you. Quick question for you though. My shoulders are 38" wide, and my hips are 34" (i have a 28" waist btw), does that 4" difference make me an inverted triangle? I'm 5ft 2". Thank you.
Thank you. I don’t base shapes or advice on measurements as everyone holds them differently. When I work with clients, I ask them to provide photos ☺️💕
While I like the Obi belt, I thought the gray leather skirt and sweater were perfect as is.
Thanks for sharing! I don’t like the waistband of the skirt so it worked for me.
Hi Sarah, where do you get your colour analysis drapes from? Thanks, Kim
I have to since if I follow guidelines for body type, body proportions, height, and scale they conflict.
Yes there are often conflicting guidelines for shapes, best to discover what suits your unique shape ☺️
I never heard of an obi belt. It makes a good addition to an otherwise plain skirt. Just wondering if it would work for short waisted people?
Generally speaking a slimmer belt would work better ☺️
@@sarahryanthestylecoach ok thanks
I'm a little tall (5'8") and with long arms & legs, and a short torso. I've always been slim, slightly wider through the hips, and flatter on top, but in recent years I've gained a little weight through the bust and stomach. It's a challenge!
Thanks for sharing! Yes, that’s another thing, our bodies do and will change. That’s when you can adapt your knowledge as you move through life ☺️💕
I’m an hourglass not a fat hourglass a normal sized one. There’s one rule for hourglass ⌛️ fitted at the waist! I couldn’t help but notice you are pandering to the overweight. Because of them I’m forced to spend a small fortune on alternations. America sizing has completely taken over! A size 2 tag doesn’t mean you’re a size 2. That’s American sizing. Before 1999 a size 2 was tiny! NOW it’s really a size 10.
Thanks for sharing!
Overweight people aren’t forcing you to spend on alterations. You, and many others including many bigger people, have to either get alterations or settle for ill-fitting clothes because the fashion industry shifted to mass manufacturing
@ I’m always doing alterations ☺️
Hate to tell you, but most women have to hire tailors. I guess the trick is finding brands/designers that cater more to your size and shape.
I was always more of an inverted triangle, and also have a short waist. Then I had twins. My weight didn't change all that much, but I couldn't figure out why I couldn't dress myself anymore till I realized that my rib cage was literally larger than it had been because one of my babies had been pushed up under my ribs. That was ever so long ago but I still struggle finding things I like to wear as more of a rectangle, with strong shoulders. I agree with secretbookcase3082, that I like my strong shoulders, and athletic build. I work at being muscular & looking lean and strong. I don't feel the need to balance out to try to look like an hourglass, BUT I don't like appearing blocky. Also I have struggled for years with the low belly bulge created by the c-section. No matter how thin I am, it's there, and I can see it through fitted clothes, jeans and trousers with stretch. Shape wear isn't always great because it's made to create a little waist, which doesn't work on my build. There's only so much my waist can be pulled in being short with those wider ribs. At any rate, this wee rant is because I find dressing how I like difficult at times, so I wear oversized things a lot. Mid rise wide leg trousers or jeans with racer back tank tops, and such like, often with a blazer. Thank you for your channel. I find the conversations you start really interesting food for thought.
Thank you so much for sharing. I would imagine many women can relate to the significant changes in one’s body after childbirth. Most of my clients that come to me have similar thoughts. You are not alone! ☺️💕