Body Shape

[SkullChick]

I'm really confused about what is my body shape (apple, pear, hourglass, ruler, or cone) I get 3 different answers I'm 5'2, 115 pounds, 34 bust-29 waist-36 hips I need to know because the sewing patterns for dress is difficult for me I tried making size 10 dress but it was too tight so I'm size 12 and it doesnt sound right it sound like I'm plus sized or something and I'm at healthy weight and also to shop for corsets, girdles, waist cincher, or shapewear I have some rolls around hips and stomach pooch I'd like to smooth out and shrink my waist to fit in dress better? Help! lol

 

[Louise Anne]

Try here http://www.calculator.net/body-type-calculator.html
TBH I would not be too worried what shape you are, if you look in the web any one who is a 12 is plus size , but in the UK the average dress size is 14, the two do not logically match.
Shape wear these days does not always do it often it's more a sort of feel good item ,you most likely have to think of real girdles if you want it to hold you in and give a smooth figure, those are not always as seen as the most fashionable items to wear these days, ( outside the Vintage gang).

 

[Flicka]

First, you are definitely a very good size and not plus-sized at all. Second, if you use vintage patterns, sizes do not correspond to modern sizes at all - they are much smaller. Similarly, British sizes are different from American ones; another trap to watch out for. Don't go by sizes at all when you sew, go by measurements (and make a toile first if you are unsure, that way you can fit it perfectly and don't risk wasting precious fabric). And thirdly, we're all different. I'm 5'3", with 28" waist, 38" hips and 40" bust. Which is why I sew, because off the rack never fits...

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Pattern size are not the same as todays vanity sizes. plus size in pattern sizes would be a 20 or more.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Ignore "plus size." It's a meaningless marketing term. And as Paul points out, most vintage patterns assume you're going to be wearing some kind of shapewear underneath -- you won't get the "1939 hourglass silhouette" without a girdle no matter what your natural body shape is. Just don't expect shapewear to make dramatic changes -- if you have a 29 waist, which is a perfectly healthy waist size to have, no girdle will give you a 24 inch waist. A true corset might, but that's a whole different deal. At most an ordinary girdle might take off an inch or two and smooth out the lines, which is all it was ever intended to do.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I went to the body shape calculator and got this:

lol lol lol lol

I guess I'm too fat to have a "normal" body shape!!!

Just out of curiosity I put in my height and weight for the "Ideal Weight" calculator and I got this: "Based on the healthy BMI recommendation, your recommended weight is 118.1 lbs - 159.6 lbs"

Uh, I am within that weight range....yet my measurements broke the thing??? lol lol lol I'M DYING.

 

[Katinka von K.]

I went to the body shape calculator and got this:

lol lol lol lol

I guess I'm too fat to have a "normal" body shape!!!

How dare you, not fitting into at least one of the four normal body schemes! Trying to be an individual, huh?

@SkullChick I´m sure you didn´t mean it like that but "plus size" (you know, for "strong women" or "Rubens women", as they are also paraphrased in Germany) doesn´t mean unhealthy, just like "normal weight" doesn´t equal healthy. Clothing sizes are just numbers made up by fashion companies, based on statistics and (most of all) their image of the ideal customer. Please don´t measure yourself by it As said by others, it´s much easier (and probably better for ones self-confidence) to take a measuring tape and choose a pattern by the numbers on that tape and then alter it to your personal body shape´s needs.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I describe my own body shape as "lumpenprole," but I guess the fashion industry doesn't recognize that. But that's OK, because I don't recognize them either.

 

[sheeplady]

I'm really confused about what is my body shape (apple, pear, hourglass, ruler, or cone) I get 3 different answers I'm 5'2, 115 pounds, 34 bust-29 waist-36 hips I need to know because the sewing patterns for dress is difficult for me I tried making size 10 dress but it was too tight so I'm size 12 and it doesnt sound right it sound like I'm plus sized or something and I'm at healthy weight and also to shop for corsets, girdles, waist cincher, or shapewear I have some rolls around hips and stomach pooch I'd like to smooth out and shrink my waist to fit in dress better? Help! lol

I live in the U.S. and I am normally a size 4 (sometimes a size 2 or a size 0). In sewing patterns, the sizing is different- I wear a size 12 in modern patterns, but in older patterns I am a size 14 or 16 (they reduced the numbers). You need to look at the measurements for a dress pattern. Most older patterns are sized by the bust, so look for ones that say 34 and ignore the size number.

If you're in your late 20s or older, you probably know that vanity sizing has really gone into high gear the last 15 years or so. I can remember in the mid-90s I wore a size 8 jeans and now size 8 swims on me, I have to buy a size 4. In the 1940s I would have worn a size 16.

Thank god they haven't changed the sewing patterns as much as the "off-the-rack" clothing, smaller ladies wouldn't have anything to wear.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I typed in a ridiculous set of measurements into that thing -- 53-22-34 -- and it calculated. Apparently THAT is a real body type lol Any hip measurement over 40, though, is not a real body type. FYI.

 

[SkullChick]

haha I loved that it didnt register, thank everybody I feel much better now I thought something may be wrong with that picture, wow sizes is all different now vs vintage and countries, wish its much simpler but I will go by measurement from now on, again thank you! I'm researching on girdle as for now, I got so much to learn

 

[Louise Anne]

I'm researching on girdle as for now, I got so much to learn

http://www.youtube.com/user/RagoShapewear

 

[sheeplady]

I typed in a ridiculous set of measurements into that thing -- 53-22-34 -- and it calculated. Apparently THAT is a real body type lol Any hip measurement over 40, though, is not a real body type. FYI.

I typed in my measurements, with a 34 inch bust and hip, and it didn't like that either. How can a body measurement calculator not fit a body shape that has the same size bust and hip measurement? lol

Apparently I am some sort of freak. Or I need bigger boobs. Yes, I need a 53" bust with my size 34" hips- because that is *so natural.* What kind of shape is that? Top heavy?

 

[Flicka]

I had to try that and apparently I'm "the hourglass".

One way of putting it, certainly. Another would be what the family doctor told my mother when he gave me and my sister a check up at ages 5 and 3. "It's a pity they're not boys" he said, and my mother, slightly piqued asked why. "Well, they have the perfect build to become really good wrestlers!"

So I'm either shaped like an hourglass.or a shorter, female version of Karelin? :lol:

 

[LizzieMaine]

Apparently I am some sort of freak. Or I need bigger boobs. Yes, I need a 53" bust with my size 34" hips- because that is *so natural.* What kind of shape is that? Top heavy?

Clearly there's the apple, the pear, the hourglass, and the Chesty Morgan.

 

[sheeplady]

I almost want to write a program to try every single combination of measurements and get a chart back of the ones that compute. Almost. But I'm pretty sure they'd be so messed up they'd even defy hilarity.

Clearly there's the apple, the pear, the hourglass, and the Chesty Morgan.

lol

 

[Miss Stella]

Paul hit the nail on the head because every manufacturer of clothing sizes things differently! I have in my closet right now clothing that rangers from 6-10, undergarments from M-Lg and bras in cup from B to D! It's really a botch to see for myself! I am currently taking pattern fitting lessons from a seamstress who can figure these things out in a few minutes....she told me to take an item from my closet that fits how I like it to, take it apart, make a Muslim from it and use it for my 'sloper'...so far it's worked great !

 

[SkullChick]

ooh thats great idea! I'll do that then

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I typed in my measurements, with a 34 inch bust and hip, and it didn't like that either. How can a body measurement calculator not fit a body shape that has the same size bust and hip measurement? lol

Apparently I am some sort of freak. Or I need bigger boobs. Yes, I need a 53" bust with my size 34" hips- because that is *so natural.* What kind of shape is that? Top heavy?

lol
Just to be a smarty pants I put in these measurements: 136-12-22. And it calculated. lol This would be an "apple." If you are built like Jane Russell, though, you just aren't a real woman lol lol lol My conclusion: a man designed this.

Anything over 40 hips does not compute. But a 136 inch bust DOES!!!

 

[St. Louis]

Miss Stella, I agree with your dressmaker friend about taking a pattern from a garment that fits well. But you definitely don't have to take the garment apart. You can do what's called a "rub-off" pattern, which is fun and easy. Essentially you're copying your well-fitting garment by laying it flat on the table, place a piece of muslin on top, and then rub the seams & darts with a pencil in the same way you'd do a coin or gravestone rubbing.

I'm making it sound a little simpler than it is -- you have to accommodate for darts, gathers, etc. -- but it really isn't difficult. Just randomly I googled "rub-off pattern" and came up with lots of links. Here's one: http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/review/readreview.pl?ID=83

Granted, I think it helps to be able to sew if you're undertaking a rub-off pattern, because you need to understand the purpose of darts & gathers, and you have to understand fabric grain lines. It might be worth while to have your seamstress friend make a rub-off pattern of your favorite well-fitting garments. At least that way you'd still get to wear them!