How To Determine Your Body Shape

The ongoing challenge goes on with every shopping attempt to go find that perfect outfit that flatters. The most important thing to determine first before you step into that shop or shop online is to determine your body type. Many people neglect this important step and then spend countless hours shopping and trying on clothes only to get frustrated and give up. We will help you determine your body type if you do not know it already and help point out styles that will flatter your body shape.

Many designers in the fashion world have neglected that womens’ bodies have changed dramatically over 50 years. Here at Zen Knits, we strive the create body conscious flattering clothes for all women in every shape, size and age. We translate the current fashion trends into fashions that flatter. We use quality fabrics that are easy care, iron free and travel well. Our knits accentuate the body parts we want to accentuate and hide the ones we want hidden.

chart of size changes over time
From the MS thesis in Textiles by Debra McLendon under the direction of Dr. Cynthia Istook at North Carolina State University titled, An Investigation of the Sizing, Grading, and Fit of Commercial Sewing Patterns.

Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions.” Coco Chanel

To create great fashion, you must understand body types.” Sandra Tierney


The Different Body Types Descriptions and Celebrity Examples

Inverted Triangle
Your shoulders and torso are wider than your hips.
Salma Hayek
Column
Your shoulders and your hips are the same width but your torso seems to be on the longer side thus making it difficult to find one piece bathing suits to fit for example.
Britney Spears
Rectangle
Your shoulders, hips and torso are the same width. The challenge for this body type is to create curves.
Debra Messing
Apple
Your shoulders and torso and wider than your hips. This body type has little or no waist.
Queen Latifah
Pear shape
Your shoulders and torso are smaller than your hips. Finding the right style to even out the proportions is key with this body type.
Jennifer Lopez
Hour glass
Your shoulders and hips are about the same width and you have a tiny waist.
Halle Berry

What is your body type

We will be writing a series for each body type and how to dress for each body type. Please sign up to our newsletter to be alerted when the series of articles is done.

Dress For a Pear Shaped Body | Tunics

The big dilemma with the pear shape body type is trying to find the right clothes that balance out the proportions. Tunics are the answer! Tunics can be found in all styles, fabrics and prints for almost every occasion from casual to special occasion. The trick is making sure that when you do find a tunic that you like, that it should flow straight down from your shoulders to the hemline. If it bunches or clings at the hips then it is either too small or not the right fabric. Below is a Zen Knits tunic featured cruise print.

zen tunic top cruise print

If your shoulders are substantially narrower than your hips, and/or yours hips are wider than you probably fall into this category of “pear shape”. Try to avoid clothes that cling to the hips. This would include most “fitted” styles. Go for fabrics that drape and flow.

Our review of all body types and their celebrity match.