From The Straits Times    |
How to find out your body shape with 2 easy steps THUMBNAIL

We are constantly inundated with super svelte models working the season’s hottest trends. We take a liking to certain styles and hunt the exact pieces down, only to realise that we look like a ball of frump in it. 

Not every trend is suitable for every body. What’s most important is to dress for your particular shape. When you dress in a way that makes your body look its best, you will feel comfortable and your confidence will shine. That’s the key to being an attractive woman. 

Bradley Bayou,  a couture fashion designer with an atelier in Los Angeles, came up with a mathematical way of discovering your correct body shape and wrote a book called, The Science of Sexy.

In his book, he acknowledges that most of the clothes we find in stores are made for tall and slim models and that the average woman would struggle with making them work. So he came up with a tried and tested formula (he uses the same one on his celebrity clients) that can make women of all shapes and sizes look better. 

You may have come across plenty of different body type descriptions that left you pretty confused (What fruit are you? Remember that?). Rather than comparing pictures, he gets technical with figures so that you can arrive at the a precise conclusion. 


Image: Almoond/123rf.com

1. Get your body measurements 
There are 4 main areas that you should get measurements for. If it’s possible, get a someone to help you to ensure that you get the most accurate measurements!

Shoulders: Start measuring from the tip of one shoulder and wrap it around (like how you would do with your shawl) until it meets back at the same shoulders. This will be the widest circumference of your shoulders. 

Bust: Wrap the measuring tape across the fullest part of your bust and around your back. Pull tight to make the tape taut but make sure that you don’t change the shape of your breasts. 

Waist: Pull the tape around your body at the smallest part your natural waist, just above your belly button. It should wrap comfortably without buckling. 

Hips: Place the measuring tape on one hip, right below your hip bone and wrap the entire tape around the largest part of your butt and end it off at the other hip. 

2. Match them to a body shape 
To keep things simple, we have decided to feature the 4 main body types that most people fall under. We understand that not everyone will fit into this 4 types to a T and there will definitely in-betweens. For a more in-depth assessment, check out Bayou’s book as he dishes out nifty tips and tricks for over 48 body silhouettes. 

Here are the 4 main body shapes: 


Images: sonyaillustration/123rf.com

1. Rectangle
No defined waistline; your shoulder bust and hips should be around the same size.

Confirm it: 
Your shoulder, bust and hip measurements are within 5 per cent of each other. Your waist is also less than 25 per cent smaller than your than your shoulders or bust. Example: If your shoulders measure 36 inches, your waist will be 27 inches or more. 

2. Inverted triangle
Your shoulders or bust are larger than your hips.

Confirm it:
Your shoulder or bust measurements are more than 5 per cent bigger than your hip measurement. Example: if your shoulders measure 36 inches, your hips will be 34.25 inches or smaller.

3. Triangle
Your hips are wider than your shoulders.

Confirm it: 
Your hip measurement is more than 5 percent bigger than your shoulder or bust measurements. Example: if your shoulders measure 36 inches, your hips are 37.75 inches or larger.

4. Hourglass
Very defined waistline; your shoulders and hips are around the same size. 

Confirm it: 
Your shoulder and hip measurements are within 5 percent of each other. Your waist is at least 25 per cent smaller than your shoulder, hip and bust measurements. Example: if your shoulders and hips measure 36 inches, your waist is 27 inches or smaller.

Want to look even more impeccable? Find out how to pick the best sunglasses for your face shape here!