← All five shapes
Body shape guide
Rectangle body shape
A rectangle reading, also called straight, means all three widths landed close to each other. The side profile runs almost straight from shoulder to hip. It is the most common of the five readings.
- Shoulder / hip
- 0.95 – 1.05
- Waist / hip
- above 0.75
How to tell
- Shoulder, waist and hip widths all within a narrow range
- Shoulder-to-hip ratio between 0.95 and 1.05
- Waist-to-hip ratio above 0.75
- Little natural narrowing at the waist
- Often an athletic or long-limbed build
What tends to work
- Belts and peplum shapes, which put a waist where there is not a strong one
- Layers, which add depth the straight line does not have
- Gathering or ruffles at the bust or hip
- Fit-and-flare dresses that break the vertical
- High-waisted trousers with a defined waistband
What to watch for
Straight shift dresses and boxy tops repeat the line the body already makes. Almost anything that interrupts the vertical works better.
Often confused with
-
Hourglass →
A loose top can turn an hourglass reading into a rectangle one.
-
Apple →
Both show little waist definition; apple means the waist measures wider than the hips.