Types of Male Body Shapes: The Five Common Shapes

Menswear advice usually groups bodies into five shapes based on how the chest, waist and hips compare. The names describe proportion only, not fitness or size. No shape is better than another, and many people sit between two.

• Trapezoid

  A trapezoid shape has a chest a little bigger than the hips and a waist that clearly tapers in.

  Rule: Chest and hips within 10% of each other, with a waist at 90% or less of the wider of the two.

  Also called: athletic, V-shape.

• Inverted triangle

  An inverted triangle shape has a chest and shoulders much wider than the hips and waist.

  Rule: Chest at least 10% bigger than the hips, with a waist under 98% of the wider measurement.

  Also called: V-taper, broad shouldered.

• Rectangle

  A rectangle shape has a chest, waist and hips of similar width, with little taper at the waist.

  Rule: Chest and hips within 5% of each other, with a waist between 90% and 98% of the wider of the two.

  Also called: straight, column.

• Oval

  An oval shape carries the most width around the middle, with a waist as wide as or wider than the chest.

  Rule: A waist at least 98% of the wider of chest and hips.

  Also called: round, apple.

• Triangle

  A triangle shape has hips and thighs wider than the chest and shoulders.

  Rule: Hips at least 5% bigger than the chest, with a waist under 98% of the hip measurement.

  Also called: pear, spoon.