I get so many requests about how to dress 8 shape bodies, probably because they are so ignored by most image and style books. So I asked Aileen Lane of Nutri-Style in Singapore, who is an 8 shape if she’d share her experiences with you on how she dresses her shape. Here is her post:
I am an image consultant and I have struggled with identifying my own figure for a long time. I just didn’t quite fit into any of the main stream figure types of hourglass, pear, rectangle, inverted triangle or round. After much research and deliberation, the penny finally dropped about 3 years ago when I attended a talk by Carlas Mathis, one of the top image consultants in the world and a Certified Image Master. Her book ‘ The Triumph of Individual Styl![]()
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‘ is the bible for many image consultants around the world. She talked about a variation of the stereotypical hourglass called the Figure of Eight. The characteristic of the 8 figure are:
- Shoulders are curved and are relatively as wide as your hips/thighs
- Waist is distinctly narrower then shoulders and hips/thighs (8 -10 inches smaller)
- Weight tends to accumulate on the high hip and tummy just below the waist (Not so much on thighs/ low hip as happens with an hourglass)
- Small waist and sudden jut out to high hip give a shelf like appearance to the waist
- Waist tends to be short due to high hip – Gets shorter with weight gain as shelf gets higher
- Legs can be long and slim (Not always the case)
I have seen this figure type called a Vase in some books. I used to think my figure type was rare but once I made the distinction, I realised it was much more common. The high hip and shelf can be found on other figures types as well as the 8.
Dressing a figure of eight:
Follow the rules for an hourglass except for the lower part of the body where the 8 does better with tapered designs in skirts and dresses.
- Soft drapable fabrics such as knit and jersey are key to working with your cuves. Wrap dresses are great especially those with a straight or tapered skirt.
- Sharp tailoring such as the little jacket in the 2nd outfit are great for giving definition to curve. Peplum on jacket is especially great for a figure of 8 as it accommodates the high hip.
- Jeans/ Pants with straight to mild bootcut are best.
- V necks and scoop necks look best on big busted 8′s.
- Make the most of your small waist with belts (Medium scale belts that tone with your outfit will minimise shortening your waist further).
- You can also try belting at the low hip forming a V at the front with the belt to lengthen and slim your body. This will only work with fitted tops though. Baggy does not work on an 8.
- You can wear a longer skirt but make sure that it does not flare until the knee or lower (See outfit 4).
- Wear shapewear such as control vests and corsets to control tummy and midriff area’s as these tend to be the area’s of concern.
- For accessories, try bangles and earrings and avoid too much detail at the neck especially if you have a shorter neck or bigger bust.
- Avoid tucking in tops as this will shorten your waist further; instead opt for untucked and finish the look with a belt.
- Try light fitted layers as these will cover a multitude of sins at the midriff and create a more interesting look – See outfits 2 & 3.
- Opt for a look that’s clean and uncluttered as fuss and frill will add bulk/ weight to this curvy frame.
Thank you! I read that the key is to create two triangles visually, the top one is inverted, of course. That summarizes your approach. An image consultant helped me enormously-I got rid of bags of boxy tops. Fitted v-necks are my secret weapon!
I always thought I was an hourglass and it wasn't until I found your site that I realized I was an 8. Being busty as well, I pretty quickly picked up on the kinds of tops I should be wearing (i.e. V-neck), but I could never figure out why A-line skirts made me feel and look big and frumpy, even though it was one of those things that was always recommended. I always had a big of a pooch in the tummy area and now after two kids it has become much more of a problem area for me. Thank so much for this! I am now better informed about what I should be wearing on the bottom!
This is fantastic!!! I always thought I was a funky hourglass, now I see I am an 8
I'm so excited to have seen this post on the daily brainstorm which me lead me here, to your site.
I definitely have the shelf hip and carry my weight around the high hip. But I sure wish I had her perky bottom instead of my flat one! Very helpful! Thanks!
I always enjoy your shape posts (and the real-life ones are extra-helpful); many thanks to Aileen!
Thank you for this! I really enjoy the posts on how to make outfits. I can choose a piece here and there, but I have a really hard time making outfits.
(And I'm also an figure 8!)
Thanks so much for this article and all the other body shape articles. I have thought I'm an X as well, but this morning as I came out of the shower and had a mirror in front of me, I clearly saw that shelf you are talking about in your 8 shape descriptions. So I read everything 8 shape related on your site and I'm quite convinced I am an 8. I do have one question though. I carry my weight at the high hip/tummy area and have a rounded bottom, like 8's have. However from the front the widest part of my hip is the lower hip, at the pubic bone. It's not much wider that my high hip and I still don't have that smooth curve from high hip to lower hip that X's have. My upper thighs are slim too. Am I still an 8?
Thank you!
Brooke – can you email me and tell me what you find hard about creating an outfit so I can do a post?
Maya – you can be slightly wider at the low hip, but have the 'shelf' to be an 8, usually the thighs are not larger though.
Huh, I thought 10"+ difference was the usual criterion for an hourglass figure.
OMG. This article (plus the "Real Life Body Shapes: Figure 8" post) hit me like the pump water hitting Helen Keller. THAT's my body shape! I've been trying to figure that out for years. And suddenly… it's all here. The hip shelf. Why peplum jackets and V necks look so good on me and pleated pants and A-line skirts look so bad. How I can have so much fat around my belly & still look slim & curvy from behind. Why I thought I was an hourglass in my slim youth, and just became an undefineable blob after childbrearing. But no! There's hope! My style life is changed forever. Thank you so much.
I do have one question: There's a lot of discussion here about the "size" of the shoulders as compared to the hips. Where does one count the shoulders, exactly? I always assumed that dimension was measured from the outside of your arm at the shoulder bone, but the video & the postings imply that that measurement is somewhere straight up from one's armpit…? Can you add some clarification, please?
The video was extremely helpful, as it allowed me to see the Figure 8 body type from the side as well as from the front.
I'd appreciate more articles about this overlooked figure type, particularly for those of us Figure 8s who are short (under 5 ft. 3 in. tall). Thanks.
I’m so glad to know that I’m a figure 8. for so long, I was confused because my measurements didn’t meet the 10 by 10, or the 70 %. But I appear curvy. People think I’m an hourglass. I get compliments all the time, because I’m slim and curvy.
I do have the weight in the belly issue though, lol. It’s not so bad though. I know whhen to stop eating because it get uncomfortable quick, especially if I’m wearing close fitting jeans. This is great because it makes me watch what I eat.
So true about the short upper body. I have that too, and my legs are indeed long. They make me look taller than 5 ft 8. Having small boobs, it’s nice to have curves to make up for it, lol!
Great article!! Thank you! Yeah the figure 8 clubs. We’ll have it easier than the hourglasses, especially when it comes to clothes and weight management. My one friend could never get a great pair of jeans without a tailor.
Oh and I have 8 inches difference between my waist and thighs, but 7 between waist and bust. My shoulders are the exact same with as my wide thigh part, but with a sharp defined shelf.
36 28 37 and shoulders at 37, 145lbs and 5 ft 8.
It is interesting that the figure 8 counts shoulders because I think that’s what really makes the figure 8 stand out, and confuse people into think it’s the hourglass. I don’t always go tapered, though wide leg pants don’t look good at all. I tend to look alright with flared skirts, but I definitely look better in pencils, lol.
This is super helpful! I thought I was a pear, and that didn’t feel quite right. And the hourglass suggestions about the flared skirts always looked horrible on me. I have always felt better in a pencil skirt.
And there you have it, I am busty figure 8. Can’t wait to check out the tips! (And I saw the celeb shape, and I always thought I was a bit like a chubbier, bustier Beyonce….this totally makes sense now.)