Spoon Body Shape
High-hip shelf · defined waist
The hip is larger than the bust and, unlike a bottom hourglass, the width starts high — the measurement across the upper hip bone is already well beyond the waist. There is a shelf rather than a gradual curve.
How this class is defined → The hip exceeds the bust by 3.6 in and the waist by at least 7 in, and critically the high hip is 1.193 times the waist or more.
Check it against your own measurements
The calculator opens with a measurement set that drafts to spoon. Replace the figures with your own to see whether you land in the same class.
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How to dress the proportion
- Rise
High-rise bottoms are close to mandatory. Anything that lands on the shelf itself creates a horizontal break at the widest point.
- Bottom
Flat-front, smooth-fall bottoms with no side pockets or hip detail. Pocket bags are what cause the pulling you see in ready-to-wear.
- Shoulder
Widen the top: padded shoulders, horizontal necklines, collar interest.
- Length
Tops that end above the shelf or well below it. A hem that stops on it draws the eye straight there.
Tailor's noteThis is the class ready-to-wear fits worst, because standard blocks assume a gradual waist-to-hip curve. Expect to have side seams let out at the high hip and the waistband taken in — and look for brands that draft a curved rather than straight waistband.
Common questions
How do I measure my high hip?
Take the tape around the upper hip bone, roughly 3 in below the natural waist — above the fullest part of the hip. It is the only measurement that distinguishes a spoon from a bottom hourglass.
Why do jeans always gap at my waist but pull at the hip?
Standard waistbands are drafted straight, assuming a gradual curve from waist to hip. A spoon curves sharply and high, so the band gaps at the top while the hip strains. A curved waistband solves both at once.
Is a spoon shape the same as a pear?
No. A pear widens gradually toward the full hip; a spoon is already wide at the high hip. The two need different rises and different waistband construction.