• Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Style
      • Beauty
      • Fashion
        • Date Night
        • Fitness
        • Body Type
    • Fitness & Weight Loss
    • Family & Friends
      • Holidays & Gift Ideas
      • Entertaining
        • Holiday
        • Recipes
    • Home
      • Home Decor
        • Seasonal
        • Inspiration
      • Cleaning & Organization
      • DIY
    • Recipes + Meal Ideas
      • Comfort Food
      • Healthy
  • MIMI’S FAVES
  • VIDEOS
  • SHOP
    • Angelina Belle Boutique

Mimi G. – Flawless After 40 Over 40 Fashion, Beauty & Style

Body Type•Fashion•Style

How to Find Your Body Type Like an Expert

November 13, 2019

Professional StylistHave you been struggling to get dressed lately? Well, believe me I’ve been there and it ain’t nothin’ nice!  If you’ve been dealing with some unwelcome changes in your body, knowing your body type will make getting dressed SO much easier! The reason is, when you know how to find your body type and wear the best styles for your body, it’s easy to camouflage “problem areas”.

(scroll down to fill out the form below to have the cheat sheet sent directly to your inbox)

Do you know how to find your body type?

Maybe up until now, you didn’t really care what your body type was. Before, you didn’t stress about what to wear.  Fashion was fun, and you were pretty confident that you looked good. But now, things are starting to change.  Do any of these sound familiar?

  • Your body is not quite the same as it used to be.  Perhaps you’ve put on a few pounds, or still have “baby weight” to lose from a recent pregnancy.
  • Lately, you haven’t been as diligent about working out as you would like.  It’s so hard to make time for yourself, but now beginning to show.
  • Choosing an outfit for a night out takes longer than it should, and isn’t as fun as it used to be. Sometimes it’s not fun at all!

Hmmm, maybe now you should pay closer attention to your body type.  You can refine your wardrobe, get rid of what doesn’t work (a.k.a., makes you look “fat”) and make dressing less of a chore.  Trust me, this will help!

FIND YOUR BODY TYPE LIKE AN EXPERT

Privacy Policy

This FREE Cheat Sheet will show you how.  Join our VIP Newsletter to get yours now!

Finding your body type is essential to your wardrobe

That’s right, in order to select your most flattering styles, you must know and understand your body type. Then, once you know your body type, it’s easy to determine the styles to shop for. 

Just do a simple Google search, and you’ll find tons of information about which clothing styles work for each particular body type. But, don’t worry – I’ll be covering this in more detail in future posts!

The key is to properly identify your body type and understand it.  That’s what I’ll show you today.

In this post, I’ll explain

  • the real reason your shape is important, and
  • the easiest and most straightforward way to determine your body type – the way a stylist does it

There won’t be any fancy calculator or formula, because I want you to understand how to identify your shape, so you really get it.  Trust me, this will make dressing so much easier for you!  Once you get it, choosing the right styles will become second nature.

You’ll be able to find your body type in just a few simple steps. No guesswork.  No eye-balling your shape.  No fruit or fancy geometric photos (okay, maybe one, but it’ll help I promise).  But I’m sure you already know the shapes – you just need to know how to correctly identify yours!

You will need:

  • Measuring tape
  • Pen and paper
  • Full-length mirror (to make sure you are measuring the appropriate areas)
  • Someone to measure you (if possible)

The Reason You Must Find Your Body Type

Why Body Type Matters

Once you know how to determine your body type, you will be able to identify the clothing styles that are most flattering to your figure, and which ones to avoid.     Find Your Body Type

The coveted hourglass

  • An hourglass body type is considered the “ideal” body shape, because it’s perfectly proportioned. As a result, it’s the easiest to dress.
  • Here, the bust and hips are the same width, and the waist measures 9″ – 13″ smaller than the bust and hips.

When dressing any of the other body types, the goal is to select the proper styles of clothing to camouflage specific areas, giving the overall impression of an hourglass shape – basically, visually balancing the figure.

Why size doesn’t matter as much as you think

A heavy woman can look much thinner than she is, if

  • She has an hourglass shape and dresses it appropriately
  • She has another body type and dresses it appropriately (visually balancing the figure)

Likewise, a thin woman (or even someone with the perfect hourglass figure) can look awkward and frumpy by wearing the wrong type of clothing. It’s all about proportions.

Do you Really Know Your Body Type?

Life Beyond yoga pants

So, between running the house and taking care of your family, most days you’re in your Yoga pants.  I get it.  Who has time to think about her body type anyway, right?

But, looking your best and taking care of yourself has always been important to you.  And, as fashion-conscious as you are, you probably have known your body type for a long time. Isn’t that right?

Or, you might think you know…

Often women select a body type based on what they see in the mirror, not based on true measurements.  We, as women, are highly critical of ourselves, and it’s easy to over-emphasize a particular “figure flaw” or, more appropriately, “figure challenge” when we are the ones making the call.

This is why today, I want you to take my advice.  I want you to grab that measuring tape and take your measurements, the same way I used to measure my clients in my wardrobe consulting days.

How to Find Your Body Type

Measuring Tape on Waist

1.  First, take and record measurements of the following:

  • around shoulders
  • around the largest area of the bust
  • around waist
  • around the largest area of hips

Pull the measuring tape evenly and securely, but not too tight across the body.

2.  Next, with these measurements, review the descriptions of the basic body shapes below:

There Are 5 Basic Body Shapes:

  • Hourglass – bust and hips are about the same width, with a defined waist
  • Round or Diamond – (or “Apple” ) – bust, waist and hips are close to the same width; usually smaller shoulders and no waist definition
  • Triangle – (or “Pear”) – hips are wider than shoulders and bust
  • Inverted Triangle – (“Athletic”) Shoulders are wider than hips; may have full bust – the body area above the waist is larger than below
  • Rectangle – (or “Square”) bust, shoulders and hips are close to the same width with little waist definition

This infographic illustrates the 5 body types so you can easily visualize each one. 

Remember, the last one on the right, the “hourglass”, is the ideal body type because it’s proportions are equal.  It’s ideal, not because it’s better of course, but because it’s easier to dress. 

Again, our goal is make the other body types look like the hourglass by selecting the right clothing styles.  

Five female silhouettes. Types of female figures.

Now Go Shopping

Now that you know your body type, you’ll be able to determine which styles to focus on when shopping for clothes.  In general, the idea is to play up your assets and camouflage any “figure flaws”.

Get an Idea of the Best Styles for You

Now that you have identified your body type, it’s time to select the best styles for your shape. The easiest way to get started is to do a simple Google search for “dressing a <your body type> __________body type”.  This will give you plenty of ideas about styles that will be flattering on you.  

Also, I will address clothing styles for various body types periodically in my fashion related posts, so be on the lookout for those!

shopping bags

It’s Not Just about the Clothing

Would you believe that clothing styles are not all that matter when it comes to dressing your body type?  It’s true.  Jewelry, accessories, and even hair styles are just as important when dressing your shape.  Again, it’s all about proportion.

woman shopping in boutique

Dress for the Body You Have

I know you care about how you look.  But it’s hard, especially when you’re stretched thin and don’t have time for yourself.  The struggle is real!

However, regardless of any recent changes in your body you can still look good and feel confident. By following these instructions to find your body type through measurements, you’ll be able to focus on only the best styles for your shape. 

Believe me, when you really know how to dress your body, it makes getting dressed so much easier! This will save you time, effort and anxiety over trying to figure out what to wear. Even planning an outfit for a dinner or special occasion will be simple –  even fun!

To make some serious changes, feel like yourself again, and get back into a healthy fitness routine, be sure to check out these posts. But first, dress for the body you have!

Have You Joined Our VIP Community?

Join our VIP list for the tips you need to help make mom life even better! I love sharing ways to help you look fashionable and feel good about yourself and your home, while saving both time and money.

You’ll get ideas, inspiration and tips for housekeeping & home decor, entertaining, fashion, beauty, and general wellness. Also, you’ll be the first to know about new products, discounts, and freebies!

Privacy Policy

Join our VIP List for this FREE checklist - just follow these tips to help you decide what to wear the next time you entertain at home.  

 
 

HOSTESS OUTFIT CHECKLIST

Related Posts

How to Select the Best Swimsuits for Your Body Type

How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans? The Truth:

How to Be a Stylish Mom – Fashion Ideas + Easy Style Tips (About Belle Inspired)

Find Your Body Type
Find Your Body Type Find Your Body Type

Post Contents

  • Do you know how to find your body type?
    • Finding your body type is essential to your wardrobe
  • The Reason You Must Find Your Body Type
    • Why Body Type Matters
    • The coveted hourglass
    • Do you Really Know Your Body Type?
  • How to Find Your Body Type
    • There Are 5 Basic Body Shapes:
  • Now Go Shopping
    • Get an Idea of the Best Styles for You
    • It’s Not Just about the Clothing
    • Dress for the Body You Have
  • Have You Joined Our VIP Community?
  • Related Posts

1
Previous How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans? The Truth:
Next A Make Up Organiser is the Best Way to Arrange Makeup

Related Posts

Housewarming Party Outfit

Easy Housewarming Party Outfit That Will Make...

Pretty Eye Makeup

Did You Know That Your Eye Makeup Can Make Yo...

Makeup Product Essentials

How to Create a Minimalist Makeup Look that w...

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Meet Mimi

Entrepreneur, Wife, Homemaker, and Mom... " On my blog, I provide simple style, beauty and everyday wellness tips for modern moms over 40. Follow along for inspiration from my home, lifestyle, kitchen, and closet!"
READ MORE...

Enter to Win

This month's prize:

a new top or sweater!

Prize delivered in the form of one $50 Angelina Belle gift card.  By entering this giveaway you agree to receive marketing emails from Flawless After 40. This contest is not affiliated with Instagram or Facebook. Privacy Policy

Categories

  • Beauty + Self-Care
  • Body Type
  • Cleaning & Organization
  • Comfort Food
  • Date Night
  • DIY
  • Entertaining
  • Fashion
  • Fitness & Weight Loss
  • Holidays & Gift Ideas
  • Home
  • Home Decor
  • Inspiration
  • Recipes
  • Style
  • Uncategorized

Archives

About

Entrepreneur, Wife, Homemaker, and Mom... "On my blog, I provide simple style, beauty and everyday wellness tips for modern moms over 40. Follow along for inspiration from my home, lifestyle, kitchen, and closet!"

I run an online boutique for the modern mom over 40 who wants to wear trendy styles without looking like she raided her daughter’s closet! In my boutique, I curate fashion and beauty items that I personally wear/use or would recommend. Visit angelinabelle.com to learn more!


Read more

Flawless After 40

______________________

SWIMSUIT SHOPPING DOESN'T HAVE TO SUCK!

This FREE Cheat Sheet will help.  Join our VIP Newsletter to get yours now!

👗 Solid or dark colors can be your best friend 👗 Solid or dark colors can be your best friend when trying to balance your proportions.  Go for a monochromatic look or strategically wear darker colors on your heaviest areas to visually balance your proportions.

Follow for more tips!

#dressslimmer #flatteringfashion
Use MDAY30 for 30% off on my lifestyle brand all w Use MDAY30 for 30% off on my lifestyle brand all weekend!  Shop link in bio.
This is such a cute dress for the Summer. Maxi dre This is such a cute dress for the Summer. Maxi dresses are ideal to create "visual length" so if you're petite you can still get away with wearing flat sandals if you don't like wearing heels. Pack this for your Summer vacation… I know I will!🏖️

#maxidress #offshouldermaxidress #vacationdress
Follow these tips to keep your wardrobe current af Follow these tips to keep your wardrobe current after 40 by incorporating the latest trends without looking like you raided your daughter's closet! Head on over to the blog to learn more - link in bio.
.
.
.
.
.
#fashionover40 #styletips
Are you ready for the weekend? We are! Don't mis Are you ready for the weekend?  We are!  Don't miss our fresh new drops every Friday at 12:20 CST.  Shop via link in bio.
.
.
.
.
.
#bodypositive #bodypositiveattitude #bodypositiveweightloss #boutiquefashions #boutiqueshop #boutiqueshoppingonline #boutiquestyleonline #boutiquestyles#easyoutfits #fashion101 #fashionhelp #fashionmakeover #fashionmom #fashionover30 #fashionover40 #fashiontipsandtricks #lookbetterfeelbetter #momfashion #momstylelife #onlineboutiques #onlineboutiqueshop #onlineboutiqueshopping #plussizeboutiques #plussizeclothing #stopcomparing #styletipsforwomen #athleisurewear
Thought for today... Follow for style tips and ins Thought for today... Follow for style tips and inspiration for modern moms over 40 who want to look put-together without the effort, and stop stressing out about what to wear!.
.
.
.
.
#bodypositive #bodypositiveattitude #bodypositiveweightloss #boutiquefashions #boutiqueshop #boutiqueshoppingonline #boutiquestyleonline #boutiquestyles#easyoutfits #fashion101 #fashionhelp #fashionmakeover #fashionmom #fashionover30 #fashionover40 #fashiontipsandtricks #lookbetterfeelbetter #momfashion #momstylelife #onlineboutiques #onlineboutiqueshop #onlineboutiqueshopping #plussizeboutiques #plussizeclothing #stopcomparing #styletipsforwomen #athleisurewear
Do you often have problems with clothes fitting pr Do you often have problems with clothes fitting properly, even when you're wearing the correct size? Learn how to look slimmer and more proportional when getting dressed in this blog post, link in bio. 
.
.
.
.
.
#styletips #fashionover40
Copyright © 2023 Mimi G. – Flawless After 40
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Theme by SheShoppes

This website uses cookies to improve your experience.
Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary
Always Enabled