Body shapes · Female
Spoon Body Shape
A spoon body shape has hips wider than the bust, a defined waist, and a distinct “shelf” where the hips begin, high up near the waist. From the front it looks like the bowl of a spoon: narrow at the top, then curving out sharply. A spoon shaped figure is often mistaken for a pear. This guide shows how to tell the spoon body type apart, the measurements behind it, and how to dress it.
What is a spoon body shape?
A spoon shaped body is a lower-body-led shape, like a pear, but with one clear difference: the hips widen high up, just below the waist, and form a ledge or “shelf” at the sides. A pear’s hips curve out gradually and are widest lower down, around the seat and thighs.
Spoon shape body characteristics:
- A defined waist that curves sharply into the hips
- A noticeable shelf at the high hip, sometimes called “shelf hips”
- Hips and seat wider than the bust
- Fuller upper thighs, often with slimmer lower legs
- Narrow or average shoulders and a small to medium bust
Most simple body shape quizzes and three-measurement calculators can’t find a spoon, because they don’t ask for the high hip. They’ll usually call you a pear or a bottom hourglass instead.
Spoon body shape measurements
You need four measurements: bust, waist, high hip (3 to 4 inches below the natural waist, on the hip bones) and hips. You’re a spoon when:
- your hips are more than 2 inches (5 cm) wider than your bust,
- your hips are at least 7 inches (18 cm) wider than your waist, and
- your high hip divided by your waist is 1.193 or more.
| Example | Bust | Waist | High hip | Hips | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spoon | 34 in | 31 in | 37 in | 39 in | 37 ÷ 31 = 1.194, a shelf |
| Pear, same bust, waist and hips | 34 in | 31 in | 35 in | 39 in | 35 ÷ 31 = 1.13, no shelf |
| Spoon (cm) | 86 cm | 79 cm | 95 cm | 99 cm | 95 ÷ 79 = 1.20 |
| Spoon, more defined waist | 35 in | 28 in | 34 in | 39 in | 34 ÷ 28 = 1.21 |
The first two rows are the clearest way to see a spoon: the same bust, waist and hips can be a pear or a spoon, and only two inches at the high hip decide which. The body type calculator uses the same rule.
Signs you have a spoon body type
- Jeans fit your thighs but dig in or gape right at the top of the hips.
- Low-rise trousers sit on top of a ledge of hip.
- Belts slide to the narrowest point and make the shelf stand out.
- From the side, your seat is high and rounded.
- Pencil skirts pull across the top of the hips more than lower down.
Spoon vs pear vs hourglass
| Spoon | Pear | Hourglass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hips vs bust | 2+ in wider | 3.6–7 in wider | About equal |
| Waist | Defined | Moderately defined | Very defined |
| Where hips widen | High, with a shelf | Gradually, widest low | Smooth curve |
| High hip ÷ waist | 1.193 or more | Under 1.193 | Usually under 1.193 |
A spoon with a bust close to the hips can look like an hourglass, but the shelf gives it away: the hourglass curve is smooth from waist to hip. For a closer look, read spoon vs pear body shape.
How to dress a spoon body shape
Keep your waist on show, make the line from waist to hip smooth rather than sharp, and add a little width at the shoulders to balance the hips.
Tops
- Boat necks, square necks and puff or cap sleeves widen the shoulders.
- Wrap and peplum tops that flare gently over the shelf.
- Tops that end at the waist or are tucked in; avoid hems that stop at the high hip.
Dresses
- Fit-and-flare and A-line dresses with a seam at the natural waist.
- Wrap dresses with a skirt that skims rather than hugs the top of the hips.
- Empire-line dresses that flow from under the bust.
Jeans and trousers
- High-rise jeans that sit at the natural waist, above the shelf.
- Curvy-fit cuts with more room at the hip than the waist.
- Bootcut, flared and wide-leg styles in dark washes.
Skirts
- A-line, circle and gored skirts that flare from the waist.
- Wide, flat waistbands rather than gathered ones.
For full looks, see the spoon section of how to dress for your body type, or the pear body shape outfits, which suit a spoon too when bottoms sit above the shelf.
What to avoid
| Avoid | Why | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| Low-rise jeans and skirts | Sit on the shelf and push it out | High-rise at the natural waist |
| Belts at the high hip | Draw a line across the shelf | Belts at the natural waist |
| Hip pockets, flap pockets, studs | Add bulk where you’re widest | Plain fronts, back-pocket detail |
| Tops ending at the high hip | Stop right at the widest point | Tucked or waist-length tops |
| Gathered or elastic waistbands | Add volume over the shelf | Flat, wide waistbands |
Spoon body shape with hip dips
Hip dips are the inward curves on the side of the body, just below the hip bone, where the skin is attached more closely to the pelvis. They’re caused by bone structure, not weight, and they’re very common in spoon shapes because the high hip sits out so far above them.
Fabrics with some structure, such as denim, ponte and crepe, smooth the line from high hip to thigh. A-line skirts and wide-leg trousers skim over the dip instead of clinging into it.
Spoon body shape celebrities
Because spoon is so often grouped with pear, stylists tend to name the same curvy, hip-led celebrities for both. Examples often cited for a spoon shape include:
- Jennifer LopezSinger, actor
- Kim KardashianMedia personality
- Nicki MinajRapper
- BeyoncéSinger
These are descriptions from fashion writing, not measured results.
Frequently asked questions
How do I dress a spoon body shape?
Wear high-rise bottoms that sit above the shelf, mark your natural waist, and add width at the shoulders with boat necks or soft sleeves. A-line and fit-and-flare shapes skim the hips.
Is a spoon body shape the same as an hourglass?
No. Both have a defined waist, but an hourglass has a bust and hips of about equal size and a smooth curve, while a spoon has wider hips and a shelf at the high hip.
What’s the difference between a spoon and a pear body shape?
Where the hips widen. A spoon’s hips jut out high, just below the waist; a pear’s widen gradually and are widest lower down. The high hip measurement settles it; see spoon vs pear body shape for a checker and examples.
What is a spoon body shape with hip dips?
A spoon shape with inward curves just below the hip bones. The dips come from the pelvis, not weight, and structured fabrics smooth the line.
Can you have a skinny spoon body shape?
Yes. The shelf comes from your pelvis, so even slim spoons have high, wide hips compared with the waist.
Is the spoon body shape attractive?
Yes. A defined waist and curvy hips are features many people want, and clothes that sit at the natural waist show them off.