Body Shape CalculatorInverted triangle body shape is a figure where the bust and shoulders are clearly wider than the hips and the waist is only moderately smaller than the bust. The inverted triangle rule is a bust at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the hips and a waist less than 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the bust.
Inverted triangle body shape, also called V shape, is one of the types of body shapes. Inverted triangle body shape places width at the shoulders and bust, while the hips stay narrower. You can find your shape with four measurements to confirm an inverted triangle body shape.
What Are the Inverted Triangle Body Shape Measurements?
The inverted triangle body shape measurements are a bust at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the hips and a waist less than 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the bust.
| Measurement comparison | Rule (in) | Rule (cm) | Example (in) | Example (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust − hips | ≥ 3.6 | ≥ 9.1 | 40 − 35 = 5 | 101.6 − 88.9 = 12.7 |
| Bust − waist | < 9 | < 22.9 | 40 − 33 = 7 | 101.6 − 83.8 = 17.8 |
The inverted triangle rule is based on the FFIT classification by Lee, Istook, Nam and Park (2007).
How Do You Know If You Have an Inverted Triangle Body Shape?
An inverted triangle body shape shows four signs.
- Broad shoulders: the shoulders are wider than the hips from the front.
- Fuller bust: the bust is the widest circumference.
- Narrow hips: the hips look slim compared with the upper body.
- Upper-body weight gain: weight gain goes first to the shoulders, arms and bust.
Measuring confirms the signs, following step-by-step measuring guide.
What Are the Types of Inverted Triangle Body Shape?
Inverted triangle body shape has two common variations.
- Athletic inverted triangle: an inverted triangle body shape with muscular shoulders and back.
- Inverted triangle with tummy: an inverted triangle body shape with fullness at the abdomen.
What Should You Wear With an Inverted Triangle Body Shape?
Clothes for an inverted triangle body shape balance the shoulders with the hips. V-necklines narrow the shoulder line, and wide-leg trousers and A-line skirts add width at the hips. The guide to inverted triangle outfits lists dresses, pants and tops.
How Does Inverted Triangle Compare With Other Body Shapes?
Inverted triangle body shape differs from every other body shape by a bust at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the hips with a less defined waist.
- Inverted triangle vs rectangle: a rectangle bust stays within 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) of the hips.
- Inverted triangle vs top hourglass: a top hourglass also has a bust larger than the hips, but a waist at least 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the bust.
- Inverted triangle vs pear: a pear is the reverse, with hips at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the bust.
- Inverted triangle vs apple: an apple waist is equal to or larger than the bust and hips.
- Inverted triangle vs spoon: a spoon has hips larger than the bust and a high-hip shelf.
What Is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio of an Inverted Triangle?
The waist-to-hip ratio of an inverted triangle body shape is high, because the hips are narrow compared with the waist; the example 33-inch waist and 35-inch hips give a ratio of 0.94. The waist and hip ratio checker returns your own ratio.
Can Men Have an Inverted Triangle Body Shape?
Yes, men can have an inverted triangle body shape, which the male calculator returns when the chest is at least 10 inches wider than the waist.
Can Your Body Shape Change?
Your body shape can change when weight gain, weight loss or muscle gain changes your bust, waist or hips by different amounts, because the inverted triangle rule compares these measurements with each other.
Is an Inverted Triangle Body Shape Good?
An inverted triangle body shape is neither good nor bad, because body shape describes proportion and not health or beauty.