BODY SHAPES 
 

These exaggerated caricatures show that people fall into 4 basic body shapes. This valuable new concept makes it easy to choose clothing according to the form of your body. You will find out if you are an oval, circle, square or triangle body type, and which silhouette lines of clothing are most flattering and compatible with your frame — regardless of weight or size. 

The position of a line conveys a definite meaning:

There are many analogies to support this correlation, beginning with the obvious male and female  balanced "perfect 10". Notice that the male always projects outward and the female receives inward. Besides the sexual obvious, there are all sorts of male and female fittings and adapters; bolts and nuts or electrical plugs and sockets. In sports, the active ball always goes into the stationary hole. In music, round feminine notes sit on masculine straight lined staffs. You can count on consistency on this point — there are masculine and feminine feelings about lines, shapes and colors. 

It is a mistake to assume that there is an ideal body type, and that if you lose weight or exercise you can attain the ideal. People judge themselves, not understanding this. Each body type is beautiful and has advantages that can be emphasized. This is why we make a study of body types;  to enhance what we have. Looking at the fascinating characteristics of each type, again, we see they correlate to the four templates exhibited in Nature which are expressed through the universal language of color and line. Purple (oval), blue (circle), brown (square) and orange (triangle) best represent these color categories. 

OVAL STATURE LINES

This shape expresses through balance, even-set lines and equal proportions. It is centered, stately and symmetric with simple, smooth flowing lines which communicate good balance. The smaller oval figure will appear taller. All tall people automatically express this energy if the woman is at least 5" 7", and the man is 6' tall or over. This category is defined as overall well-proportioned and is more classic and sophisticated than the other body types.

CIRCLE STATURE LINES

This shape is expressed through any curved, round lines on the figure. A small-boned, short, slight or petite figure expresses this energy, but round lines can also be robust. If the proportions are nicely balanced, the figure will look taller than it actually is. If a person has extra weight, the figure tends to look roundish and sometimes even more childlike. On the figure, femininity is associated with voluptuous curves.

SQUARE STATURE LINES

This shape is expressed through any square, straight, or sturdy lines on the figure. Well-set proportions that are solid, express this strong energy. The body, neck, arms  or legs, are not as curved, and the body parts seem more square. These lines also have an athletic feeling with their straight, strong muscular lines which convey power and authority. The thinner types are more rectangular in shape.

TRIANGLE STATURE LINES

This shape is expressed through angled straight lines, points and asymmetry. This angled figure is large through the shoulder area in proportion to the rest of the figure; or the reverse, very small through the shoulder area and large at the hip area. Includes giant or midget proportions, or parts of the body which communicate unusual, exaggerated, dramatic or unique proportions, especially triangle shapes.

Everyone can put on weight, the question here is where do you first notice weight gain. It
is the place where it is the first to come and the last to go. It is a big clue to your body type.
                        

Every type can be any size. They can be large or small, but they will still be proportional to their specific body shape or combination of body shapes.

The Oval template is the tallest of the figures, based on the geometric form of the oval (examples of this type are Jimmy Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Goldie Hawn and Debra Winger).

Triangle types come next in height and there are 3 template types:
Type 1 is the typical in-and-out triangle form, and is the body shape of most professional models;
Type 2 is an inverted triangle which gives a Lion or Lioness look (Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Broderick Crawford).

Square types come in two types also: the taller type is rectangular (James Gardner, Cybil Sheperd, Claudia Schiffer); the shorter square type is more box-like and stocky (Robin Williams).

The Circle template is shorter geometrically (Sally Field,  Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Ethan Lane), but there are large and small circles (Pavarotti is a large circle type). As a person puts on weight, their waists and necks disappear as rounder curves hide them, but for identifying your body type, we are going by the actual bone structure underneath.

CLASSIC BODY TYPES ON TV Check out the Jerry Seinfeld Show — Jerry is an oval, George is a circle, Elaine is a square and Kramer is a triangle.

You identify your body type by looking at the shapes that form your body, this is the way you learn to recognize proportions and space areas quickly. Complicated body measuring methods fade away when you see what shapes communicate in terms of your own appearance.

                       
 QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE 4 BASIC BODY SHAPES

OVAL BODY SHAPE	All body parts slightly curved, not edges or angles Good proportions Graceful, smooth curves
CIRCLE BODY SHAPE	All body parts fairly full and curved Voluptuous body, roundish Body is thick from side view
SQUARE BODY SHAPE	All body parts fairly straight, very little shape, few curves Can be more rectangular and tall Can be more square and stocky
TRIANGLE BODY SHAPE	All body parts appear to look like triangles Triangle shapes going in and out at waist Triangle narrow at top with large base Inverted triangle broad at top and narrow at base

Just as a person can use a combination of colors from several seasons, a person may be a combination of several body types. However, all shapes are derived from the basic 4 archetype forms.