Skip to Content

Different Types and Shapes of Hips

There is no doubt we’re all different – from our heads to toes and everything in between. It’s part of what makes us unique individuals and adds to our own personal beauty. Some differences are obvious – such as hair or eye color – but when it comes to our bodies, things such as different types and shapes of hips can be a bit more obscure.

There are six types and shapes of hips – A-Line, square-shaped, heart shaped, triangle, narrow, or round. Any type of hips can be considered high or low in placement. The shape of your hips also plays a role in your more general body type.

In this article, we will go over the six different shapes of hips and where exactly your hips are located. We will also cover how your hip shape contributes to your body type and what styles may be the most flattering – whether you want to enunciate or minimize your curves.

Types and Shapes of Hips

The 6 Different Types and Shapes of Hips?

Different Types of Hips

Everyone has hips – we wouldn’t be able to function the same without them – but sometimes, they can get a bad rap. Your hips – technically speaking – are the joints that connect the thigh bone to the pelvis. They are often considered the widest point below the torso, though this isn’t necessarily the case.

Each body is unique – there are so many differences in all aspects of a human body that an “average” body simply doesn’t exist. Some bodies are full of curves, while others seem as straight as a pillar.

Hips can be wide, narrow, high or low – but no one type is better than another. While there’s no simple average regarding the shapes of our bodies – when it comes to the hips, most people will likely fall into one of the following categories.

A-Line Hips

A-line hips are demonstrated by a gradual curve from the waistline down to the hips. The body curve will be slight, without any sharp or protruding lines. A-line hips will be marked by a gentle, consistent slope.

Square Shaped

A waistline that moves down into the hips in an almost straight line – without curving outward – can be categorized as square-shaped. If your hip and waist measurements are the same – or nearly so – square-shaped hips are most likely your type.

Square-shaped hips can be due to a higher hip flare or wider pelvic bone. If you have a thicker waistline, this can also make it appear as if you have square-shaped hips.

Heart Shaped

Heart-shaped hips come from a combination of having an average-sized waist – not overly thin or overweight – with narrower hips and a high hip flare. The hip line appears to curve out abruptly from the waist and then come back inward toward the narrower hips – creating the appearance of a heart shape. In many cases – those with heart-shaped hips will have slim and often long legs.

Triangle Shaped

The triangle shape is characterized by hips and/or thighs generally thicker or wider. This hip shape curves outward at almost a diagonal angle from the waist to the widest point of the hips. A slightly more narrow or average waistline can accentuate a triangular hip shape.

Narrow Hips

Narrow hips are a bit more self-explanatory. If the hip area appears slight and narrow compared to the rest of your body – this is likely your hip type. Narrow hips may seem somewhat similar to a square-shaped hip, but overall will be more scant and slim.

Round Hips

Round hips are the curviest of all – and can often be characterized by a rounded lower back area that appears almost to protrude. A person of any sized waist can have rounded hips. Those with round hips often have thicker buttocks and thighs.

Where Are Your Hips?

Where Are Your Hips

The hips are the jointed area on either side of the pelvis – the broad, protruding portion of the area. The hip joint is a stable ball and socket weight-bearing joint that connects the thigh to the pelvis. The precise point on your body where your hips are located can differ depending on each individual.

High Hips

High hips – also sometimes referred to as “violin hips” – simply means that the hip joints sit higher up your body. Sometimes up closer to level with the belly button rather than slightly below it. Higher hips are also often associated with a shorter torso and can give the illusion of having longer legs and/or a broader hip face.

If you are wondering if you have high hips – it’s relatively easy to determine. It is all it takes to look into a full-length mirror and check the placement of your hip joints. If the tops of your hip bones are in line with or above the navel – your hips are likely high.

Another sign that you have high hips may be that your torso feels shorter. Certain types of clothing never seem to fall in just the right place– especially low-rise pants or swimwear – may be that you have high hips. Knowing the height of your hips and how this relates to the length of your torso can be valuable information for finding the best clothes for your shape.

Finding the best styles to flatter your body’s natural shape starts with knowing what that shape is. If you’ve discovered you’re a high-hipped gal, pants that are naturally going to look great will be skinny, straight, or bootcut styles in a regular or higher rise.

On the other hand, low–rise pants will further accentuate the look of higher hips, so they should be avoided. With hips that are already high – mid-rise pants can give the appearance of being low-rise if that’s the look you’re aiming for.

Streamline or empire waist dresses can be especially flattering for those with high hips – as will longer blouses and shirts. Tucking tops into pants or skirts can increase the appearance of extreme length – so wearing shirts that flow naturally may be more flattering. Of course – the most important thing is that you are comfortable and feel good.

Low Hips

Low hips are characterized by hips located a few to several inches below the level of the navel. Most of the time – if you have lower hips, you have a longer torso. Having your hips set lower on your body doesn’t mean much physical ability. But you may consider different fashion choices to flatter your natural shape – so it can be good information to have.

Low hips can sometimes lend a shapeless feel to a body – if you’re so inclined, you may want to consider shapewear undergarments to accentuate your curves. Tops that flare out from the waist can give the illusion of a more shapely hip area. Peplum or bubble tops can certainly bestow a desirable silhouette shape.

High-waisted jeans can look exceptionally flattering on someone with a longer torso – increasing the appearance of the leg length and bringing balance to the body. Opt for tucking tops in with high-rise jeans to further accentuate the look.

How to Measure Your Hips

How to Measure Hips

Getting an accurate hip measurement can be the difference between finding clothes that fit effortlessly and those that will leave you feeling like nothing was made for you. It is necessary if you plan on having clothes tailored to your body, but it can also help find the right fit off the rack.

Measuring your hips is best done in front of a full-length mirror. Wearing nothing or just an undergarment will give you the most accurate measurement. You definitely won’t want jeans or another thick garment on while measuring. You will need a soft measuring tape to measure your hips.

Stand in front of the mirror with your feet placed together on the floor. Standing with your feet apart can create a wider measurement than your actual hips. Locate your waist – generally, the naturally smallest part of the torso, where your sides dip inward.

Your hips will be located below this. The hips are often the widest point on the bottom half of your body, so this is where the measurement should be taken. When measuring the hips, the measuring tape will likely be wrapped around the buttocks and hips.

Once you’ve found the widest part of the hips – place the measuring tape around your body by holding one end and wrapping the other side completely around. Make sure there are no twists in the tape. The tape should be snug but not pulled tight. Once around your hips, you may need to slide the tape slightly up and down to ensure you are around the widest spot.

Check in the mirror and make sure that the measuring tape is level around your entire body. The tape should be snug but not squeezing – no more than one finger should be able to pass between the tape and your body.

The measurement should be read where the end of the tape meets the portion of the tape that has wrapped around your body. Write down the measurement for future use and determine proportions compared to your other body measurements.

Wide Hips vs. Narrow Hips

The appearance of one’s hip width may have little to do with the true width of the hips – which is measured as the distance between your internal hip joints. Still – wide and narrow hips, as related to appearance, is much more widely discussed. Genetics is the biggest factor in determining the types of hips you inherit – though environmental factors and your activity level can also play a role.

Wider hips tend to produce bodies with more curves. Historically, wide hips and curvy bodies were a sign of wealth and fertility and were desirable overall. That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with having narrow hips, either.

Narrow hips can easily be passed down from our parents – body weight can be a factor in hips appearing more narrow. These days, though– it should be clear that having narrow hips is no indicator of a person’s worth in any way.

How Hips Relate to Body Type

I’m certain we’ve all heard the references to body shapes compared to fruits. So how do our hips contribute and how can you tell what shape your body’s considered? Body type shapes are determined by the proportion of our hips relative to our waists, busts and shoulders.

While this information won’t likely reveal anything surprising about your future – it can help you choose the clothes that will look and feel the best on you. Below you will find descriptions for the three most common body shapes.

Round/Apple

Apple or round-shaped bodies are characterized by shoulders and hips that are around the same size. Chest, waist, and hips will often be similar in measurements. There can be slight variations, of course.

Chest and waist can be very close, with hips being slightly smaller. Or, hips and shoulders can measure the same, with the waist being the same width or wider. Slender lower legs and arms are often characteristics of those with an apple shape and shorter legs.

Triangle/Pear

A pear or triangle-shaped body is one in which the hips measure wider than the shoulders. The hips will measure wider than the bust as well – being the widest area of the body. To technically be considered a pear shape – the hip measurement would be at least 5% bigger than the shoulders and chest.

A slimmer, well-defined waist is often a characteristic of the pear-shaped body – making for a curvy shape overall. A slimmer midsection can enunciate the larger bottom half of the body – the buttocks and thighs often being on the thicker side.

Hourglass

The hourglass body is one where the shoulders and the hips are about the same size, while the midsection measures significantly smaller. To be considered an hourglass figure – the shoulders and hips should measure within 5% of each other.

The waist should measure 25% smaller than the shoulders, bust, and hips. Another way to determine an hourglass shape is if the waist measurement is at least 8 inches smaller than both the hips and the bust.

This is the curviest shape – both shoulders and hips accentuated by the extreme difference in the waist size. Thighs and buttocks are often full, with upper legs that are rarely more narrow than the hips.

What Clothes Will Make Hips Appear Wider?

If you find yourself pining for more curves – the easiest way to make your hips look wider is to make the waist appear smaller. The simplest way to do this is with your wardrobe. Tight-fitting dresses can make even the flattest of figures appear to have curves. Choose a snug body con that will cling to your figure.

High-waisted garments are also a great choice – whether it’s a dress or a pair of pants. Being snug at the smallest point on your waist will make everything below that point appear wider – and, therefore,, curvier. Pencil skirts will accentuate those desired curves as well. Often sitting higher on the waist and hugging tight around the hips and midsection.

Wearing clothes with texture or that are structured – such as with pleats, wraps, and ruching – can help enhance your shape as opposed to flimsy materials that tend to fall and drape. Wearing shapewear underneath clothes can create some curves for many different styles, particularly those that don’t have a lot of structure on their own.

What to Wear to Make Hips Appear Smaller?

If you want your bottom half to appear slimmer – wearing dark bottoms is one of the easiest things you can do. Dark colors are naturally slimming – so if you want your hips to appear smaller, start here. Of course – going monochrome is an option – but pairing your dark bottoms with a lighter, brighter or patterned top can be more effective. With the contrast in colors, the attention will be drawn to the top rather than the bottom, which you are trying to de-emphasize.

A-line dresses are another good choice for those who wish to shrink the appearance of the hips. The tighter waistline in this style will emphasize the mid-region while minimizing the width below.

Super tight skinny jeans should be avoided if you want to minimize the appearance of your hips. These figure-hugging pants make hips appear wider – clinging to and accentuating every curve.

Pants that are more flattering for wider hips tend to be bootcut, straight, and wide-leg cuts. These styles will fit snugly at the hips and create a straight line silhouette all the way down. Elongating and slimming the hips – instead of clinging to and enunciating them.

Which Female Body Shape Is Most Attractive?

It is impossible to classify one body type as objectively more attractive than another. For as many different body shapes and types that exist, different people will be attracted to them. Many people will argue that procreation is the ultimate purpose of life – so on a scientific level will look for attractions that aim to fulfill this goal.

The hourglass body shape has historically been seen as the epitome of beauty. It symbolizes a healthy and fertile body. The body size isn’t what matters in this scenario – rather, the proportions of the waist-to-hip ratio.

While it may seem that the high esteem for this body shape is being determined subconsciously, it holds up in some studies. Overall – though – attraction is completely subjective. No one body type can fulfill everyone’s definition of beauty.

Conclusion

Every body is unique and beautiful. Knowing your hip shape, size, and type isn’t going to change the person you are. But – it can help you find the clothes that will be the most flattering to your natural figure. Ultimately, the most important thing is how you feel in and about your body.

Aiming for confidence and comfortability should be at the forefront. Hopefully, the information in this article can help you achieve these things while feeling beautiful in the body you were given!