A rectangle body shape has bust and hips that measure about the same, with a waist that is narrower than both but not sharply so. On the rule our body shape calculator uses, bust and hips sit within two inches of each other, and the waist is more than four inches under them without reaching the nine or ten an hourglass needs. Some guides call it straight.
What is a rectangle body shape, in numbers?
It is what is left when the other four shapes have been ruled out. The bust and hips are level, so it is not a pear or an inverted triangle. The waist is too defined for an apple and not defined enough for an hourglass.
| Bust | Waist | Hips | Reads as | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 28 | 36 | Rectangle | Hips 2 inches wider, still level; waist 6 and 8 under |
| 36 | 30 | 36 | Rectangle | Level; waist 6 under both |
| 34 | 29 | 35 | Rectangle | Level; waist 5 and 6 under |
| 32 | 27 | 33 | Rectangle | Level; waist 5 and 6 under |
| 36 | 27 | 36 | Hourglass | The waist is 9 under the bust |
| 34 | 30 | 34 | Apple | The waist is within 4 inches of both |
How close is a rectangle to the other shapes?
Close. Take 34-28-36, which people often search for. The hips are two inches wider than the bust, which is the outer edge of level, so one more inch at the hip would make it a pear. The waist is eight inches under the hips, and two more would make it an hourglass. It is a rectangle by a small margin on both sides.
That is normal. Most bodies sit near a line, and other calculators draw the lines in slightly different places, so do not be surprised if another site gives your numbers a different word. The measurements are yours and the word is only a label for them.
What should you wear on a rectangle body shape?
Clothes cut straight hang straight on you, which is a real advantage. Shift dresses, straight kurtas, column gowns, shirt dresses and straight-leg trousers tend to fit bust, waist and hip at once, with no gaping and no pulling.
If you want more of a waist, the clothes can supply it:
- A belt over a kurta or a dress, at the narrowest point.
- Wrap dresses and wrap tops, which pull in where they tie.
- Fit-and-flare dresses, anarkalis with a fitted bodice, and peplum tops, which add width below the waist so the waist reads smaller.
- A lehenga or a high-waisted skirt with a cropped blouse.
- A saree with a well-fitted blouse that ends at the natural waist, and the pleats pressed flat.
You can also ignore all of that and wear the straight cuts.
What should you wear underneath?
If the clothes are doing the work, very little. Under a straight dress, a smooth layer that stops lines is enough.
If you want the outline to curve, shaping that takes the waist in and lifts the seat gives it a curve the measurements do not. A bodysuit does both in one piece, which is why it works better here than anything that only cinches the middle. A waist cincher alone narrows one band of the torso and leaves an edge above and below it. The all-in-one sculpt bodysuit compresses the waist and lifts at the back, and its straps come off for a strapless neckline. Under a straight-cut dress the same bodysuit mostly disappears, so it is the piece to own first.
Under skirts and dresses in warm weather, a short is the lighter choice. The thigh shaper shorts smooth from waist to upper thigh and leave your bra arrangement alone. Shorts or a bodysuit compares the two formats.
Size by measurement, not by the shape. With bust and hips level, your waist and hip will usually land in the same row of a chart, which makes a rectangle the easiest shape to size. The shapewear size finder confirms it in a few seconds.
Is a rectangle the same as having no curves?
No. The name describes the relationship between three circumferences. It says nothing about the bust, the seat or how the body looks from the side. A 38-32-38 and a 32-27-33 are both rectangles and look nothing alike.
The short version
A rectangle is bust and hips within two inches of each other, with a waist more than four inches under them and short of the nine or ten an hourglass needs. Straight cuts fit it off the rack. A belt, a wrap or a flared hem adds a waist if you want one, and a bodysuit that takes in the waist and lifts the seat does the same from underneath. Check which side of each line you fall on with the body shape calculator.
