Dress for your Shape - A Vintage Guide

The Female Body Shape - Which are you ?

A vintage tutorial on how to dress correctly for your
body shape.Everything you need to know about
what kind of figure you have, and what kind of figure you
might like to have !
The irreverant Trinny and Susannah have identified 12
different body types - to help women choose the right
fitting clothes - namely apple, hourglass, skittle, vase,
cornet, lollipop, column, bell, goblet, cello, pear and
finally brick !
Whew !
In the 1930's,1940's, and 1950's, things were a little
less complicated.

Just three questions to ask yourself -
Are you Normal, Scant or Full ?
Found this is an old Spencer Corsetry catalogue.
It applies still today for dress and lingerie fitting.






The Abdomen [above image]
View figure from the side. For purpose of figure description, the abdomen is considered as starting at the waistline . The "Normal" abdomen will have a slight curve, but no pronounced fullness. The "Scant" abdomen may be flat or concave. The "Full" abdomen has a decided curve.


Front Thighs [above image]
View figure from the side. Consider the curve from the groin down to the knee . If there is only a slight curve, giving a smooth, unbroken line, the thigh is "Normal." If the line is straight, the description is "Scant." If there is a bulging curve, the description is "Full."


Back-Up [above image]
View figure from the side. Consider the curve from the waist up as high as the support is to be ordered
If it is only a slight curve, giving a smooth, unbroken line, it is "Normal." If the line is straight, the description is "Scant." If there is a bulging curve, the description is "Full."


Back-Down [above image]
View figure from the side. Consider the curve from the waist down to the crease where the buttock joins the leg . When the figure has a rounded curve the description is "Normal." The figure with a straight, flat backline is "Scant." When the backline shows a bulging curve, the description is "Full."


Under-Arm [above image]
View figure from the front, but so that side of breast does not obscure the underarm line. Consider the curve from the waist up as high as support will extend.



Side Hip [above image]
View figure from the front. Consider the curve at the side of figure from the waistline down to a point which is opposite and slightly below the crotch


Side Thighs [above image]
View figure from the front. Consider the curve in that portion of the side leg which is opposite and slightly above the crotch, down to the knee . If there is only a slight curve, giving a smooth, unbroken line, the thigh is "Normal." If the curve is less than normal, the description is "Scant." If there is a bulging curve, the description is "Full."


PERFECT FEMALE POSTURE [above image]

Posture is called " erect " when a perpendicular line from the ear passes through the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle joints (see dotted line on left-hand figure). The curves at back above and below waist are normal. The pelvis is balanced perfectly, in a completely natural position . The line drawn through the figure at right indicates the normal tilt of the pelvis. The organs are properly placed, breathing is natural, and the body is gracefully poised. Few people have erect posture.



NORMAL FEMALE POSTURE [ or Lardotic ] [above image]
The sign of lordotic posture is a deep curve in the back near the waistline . There is more than normal fullness below waist at back and usually fullness above waist at back. The shoulders are thrown backward to balance the body. The pelvis is tilted too far downward at front and the contents of the abdominal cavity are thrown forward and downward, out of their normal position. The dotted line indicates normal tilt ; the solid line shows extra downward tilt which has occurred in the pelvis. Many women have lordotic posture.