The frame size thread got me thinking. More of us think we're large frame than small. If you look at something like http://www.mybodygallery.com/ most people consider themselves hourglass. Are we all right? Or are we kidding ourselves? Are there standards (cold hard numbers) to help figure it out?
I always used to think I was hourglass. I have a very well defined waist, fairly big boobs and big hips. But my hips are a quite a bit bigger than my chest, so now I'm wondering if I'm pear. At my largest (well, closest to largest that I measured) my chest/waist/hips were: 44/39.5/48.5. My thigh was 30. At my lowest weight for which I have data, 163, in 2003, I was 41.75/34.25/43.25. Thigh was 26.75. Those numbers look more hourglass-ish, but I really don't know.
When I was fitted for a dress for my sister's wedding 11 years ago, the lady who took my measurements said "it's a shame you're so heavy. You have an hourglass figure, but it's hidden underneath extra pounds." Something along those lines. I was in the 170s or so. It was a back-handed compliment. At my lowest weight in 2008 of 131 lbs, I didn't bother measuring. So I have no way of really knowing. I will measure this time at goal weight.
Definitely a pear! I have a tummy, but I didn't have much of one until I went above 200 whereas I have always had a large lower body. I have large breasts too - currently a D, sometimes a DD, but have never been lower than a C since I was 14 - but my hips far outweigh the size of my chest, no matter what weight I'm at. I would be okay with being a pear, as long as the bottom of my pear wasn't quite so big!
I have always thought I was the apple, my husband says that I am hourglass because my hip and chest are the same, and that when I was heavier, I gained weight "all over, not just in the stomach area". Thanks, honey.
I think I'm an apple.... my hip - bust measurement is roughly the same. I have a big stomach in front of me but I also have a waist. Does that make me an apple/hour glass or just an apple???
I'm an hourglass. They actually have calculators and guidelines to help you figure it out. Something like 8% of women are hourglass, so on that website I think a lot of people just put it because they aren't sure.
If you go to shopyourshape.com, you can find a calculator and it will tell you how to dress your figure as well. Of course, measurements don't always fit in the with "common" shapes! A lot of women don't fit any of the "guidelines" so you just kind of have to go with what you think works best for you.
I gain weight like an apple (all in the stomach and boobs) but I am more of a "ruler" or whatever you want to call it when I'm at a healthy weight. No hips, small boobs, poorly-defined waist.
I just added a picture to my profile... between that and my avatar you can sort of see that I don't have much of a waist, and I'm wearing an INSANE girdle thing in that picture.
I think of myself as a pearish hourglass. My hips are 2-3 inches larger than my bust but I also have broad shoulders so it does even out quite a bit. If I look at myself from the front I definitely look like an hourglass. However, if I look at myself from the side I don't as much because my lower belly sticks out quite a bit still. Basically, I don't like seeing myself from the side nearly as much...
I don't *quite* have the measurements for an hourglass, though, since I've read you need a 9 inch different between your waist and bust/hips. The hips are covered but my bust is slightly smaller than that...
I'm an hourglass. They actually have calculators and guidelines to help you figure it out. Something like 8% of women are hourglass, so on that website I think a lot of people just put it because they aren't sure.
If you go to shopyourshape.com, you can find a calculator and it will tell you how to dress your figure as well. Of course, measurements don't always fit in the with "common" shapes! A lot of women don't fit any of the "guidelines" so you just kind of have to go with what you think works best for you.
According to them I'm more spoon-ish than anything else, but pear was a pretty close fit too. I have the spoons hip shelf, but the pears tendency to gain in thighs instead of lower belly.
What shape are you?
Basically, I don't like seeing myself from the side nearly as much... 
