What Are the Different Women’s Body Types?

By Tania Lasenburg | March 26, 2020

Have you ever thought about how many different types of body styles there are? Even though there are billions of people on the planet, everyone looks unique.

The female body is represented in several different ways, but five body types appear the most. You’ll want to know what body type you have so that you can understand what clothing will suit you best.

For example, you might seek out specific swimsuit styles for an hourglass figure. On the other hand, having a pear or apple body type might mean that a different style will look better on you.

To help you make more informed decisions about your clothing purchases, we’ll explain the five most common women’s body types below!

Hourglass

The hourglass body shape is the one typically associated with beauty.

Every body type is beautiful, but an hourglass figure is what many women look up to. The main reason for this is how proportionate it is.

An hourglass body figure is defined by having similar bust and rear measurements. This often results in having healthy curves with a narrow, defined waist.

The body type’s name is exactly what an hourglass figure looks like; even on the top and bottom with a slim midsection. As you might imagine, most outfits look good on this body type and should aim to emphasize curves. 

Rectangle

Another proportionate body type is the rectangle shape, which is often involved with being skinny. 

Unlike the hourglass, women with a rectangle body will have a bust, rear, and waist measurements that are all fairly similar. The other difference here is that the rectangle body shape is usually less curvy. 

If you look in the mirror and see a vertical shape with little hip definition, then you likely have a rectangle body. This all results in a lean body style that looks amazing in tighter fitting clothes.

Many supermodels sport a rectangle body as it has a natural slim look. Skinniness is often attributed to beauty, so this is an image that many people find highly attractive.

Apple

Moving on from proportionate body types, we have the apple shape. This is also known as the inverted triangle. 

Women with an apple body type have a greater focus on the upper body. There is more of an emphasis on the shoulders and bust with a less defined waist and lower body.

Apple body shapes involve your shoulders and waist being roughly the same measurement with a slightly larger bust measurement. 

This helps to create the appearance of an apple, as the body shape starts slimmest at the bottom, fills out around the midsection, and slightly slims up towards the shoulders.

With this body style, you often want to wear clothes that accentuate your bust. This is the most prominent feature of this body shape, so why not flaunt what you’ve got?

Pear

Unlike the apple body type, the pear shape is all about the lower body. It’s the opposite of the apple and is also referred to as the triangle. 

If you have a pear body style, then your hips are your largest measurement by far. Your hips will easily be the widest part of your body and this is hard to miss. 

With a pear body shape often comes a slim bust section. Especially in comparison to your waist, your bust will be significantly smaller.

At the same time, you’ll also have a slim midsection, which will help you look skinny.  

That said, a pear body style usually means a great rear and this is what you should keep in mind when thinking of clothing. Find clothes that show off the curviness of your lower body and the slimness of your midriff.  

Round

The last common body type is the round shape.

This can be viewed as the opposite of the hourglass. It’s characterized by having a wide midsection and relatively similar bust and waist measurements.

This creates a round appearance that gives the body shape its name. Being distinctly different from the hourglass, you might think that the round body shape is unflattering.

This is completely inaccurate and you can still look stunning with a round body shape. Looser fitting clothes with flair are your friend here as they won’t draw unnecessary attention to any individual aspect of your body.  

Closing Thoughts

Women all look different and sport a unique appearance, but their body shape often falls into one of a few categories. This means that most bodies share a set of characteristics that differ from woman to woman.

Of all body types, there are five that you’re most likely to come across. This includes the hourglass, rectangle, apple, pear, and round body shapes. 

Hourglass, rectangle, and round body types are proportionate while apple figures emphasize the upper body and pear figures are all about the lower body. 

With this in mind, beauty comes in many different forms and no shape is better than another. Regardless of your body type, look for clothes that suit it well to make you look and feel your best!