How to find your body type? (Practical guide)

Daphnee - September 9, 2025

Reading time: 2 to 3 minutes

At IDY Paris , we believe that all female body types are beautiful . Knowing your figure isn't about conforming to standards: it's a simple tool to help you choose your clothes better, highlight your assets, and feel good about yourself. This article explains how to determine your body type quickly and effectively .

What is morphology and why is it so important?

Body shape refers to the overall shape of your body, determined by the relationship between your shoulders, waist, and hips .


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Contrary to popular belief, body shape has nothing to do with weight or height: two women of very different sizes can share the same body shape.

There are a few derivatives (like I or 8), but we will focus on the 4 main morphologies , which already allow us to identify the essentials.

Observe the 3 key points

Shoulders

Are they wide, narrow, or in line with your hips?

Size

Is it marked or not?

Hips

Wider or narrower than your shoulders?

Take a tape measure and note down:

your shoulder circumference

your waist size ,

your hip measurement .

Compare your results

Shoulder and Hip Measurements


If your shoulder measurement is more than 5 cm larger than your hip measurement, you have a V-shaped body shape .

If your hip measurement is more than 5 cm larger than your shoulder measurement, you have an A-shaped body shape .

If the difference between your shoulders and hips is less than 5 cm, we consider that your measurements are balanced: you will then need to check whether your waist is marked or not .


Marked size or not

To find out, subtract your waist measurement from the widest measurement (shoulders or hips):


Deviation greater than 20 cm → your size is marked.

If shoulders and hips are balanced: X morphology .

If your measurements already indicated A or V: you remain A or V, with marked waist .


Difference less than 20 cm → your waist is not very defined.


The 4 main female body shapes

Hourglass silhouette

Slim waist, shoulders and hips in harmony.

Straight silhouette

Shoulders, waist and hips aligned, regular proportions.

Pyramid silhouette

Wider hips, naturally slimmer shoulders.

Athletic silhouette

Defined shoulders, narrower and straighter hips.

Knowing your body shape isn't about limiting yourself, but rather learning to play with cuts, materials, and volumes that highlight your personal style. At IDY Paris , we celebrate all silhouettes, because every woman has a unique elegance within her.