The End of the Hourglass Figure

It's really interesting to read about knowing your figure shape. We can get hung up on plus size and not really address our shape to make the most of it.

Definitely worth reading about what clothing will flatter you and maximise your assets whilst minimising the bits you don't like.

Hey, that applies to women of all shapes & sizes.

I also have an hourglass figure at 38 27 38 (although my shoulders are a bit broad). At 5'10 I wear a size 6/8 most of the time. It seems a lot of clothing lines assume everyone is a rectangle or something. For tops Banana Republic fits me 9 out of 10 times -perfectly-, and the other 10% of the time it is just slightly too big in the waist.

For jeans, the Gap Curvy line still feels tight across my hip bones and has a bit of the gap in the back, but if you buy their lowest-rise ones they fit better than most jeans.

well joe, im pear shaped myself, always have been, whether i put on or lose 20 pounds. In case you didnt know body shape is due to genetics, you cant change it.
Actually dancers mostly are pear shaped, and they certainly keep fit, strong legs, so it is beneficial.
And im happy to be a pear shape, its pretty femenine, and ive had no complaints from men.

Joe is right about two things: That there are many hour-glass shaped women in Europe (nearly all of them). And he is right about the fact that people there don't eat so much or no (in my case) junk food.
I am european and have an extreme hour glass figure myself, but here in Southern California I have noticed many women who look very fit, but they just don't have the traditional hour glass figure. I see that very often. So saying that you can have that shape if you don't eat junkfood is not correct, in my opinion. Your body shape is determined by genetics.

Yeah, but what about in Asia? Asian women very rarely have an hourglass figure. And they are usually very healthy and don't scarf the fast food either. It's a very genetic thing. Bone structure/height/musculature all play into it. As we as a society keep mixing up the gene pool, we're going to get lots of varied body types out of it. So in order to satisfy all women, clothing companies SHOULD be making clothes in slightly different shapes.

All shapes can be flaunted properly depending on how fashionable we as women want to be. Unfortunately, many of us have to spend a frivilous amount of money on denim just to get that perfect fit. I am a size 29 in most 98 or 99% cotton denim jeans like: True Religion, Hudson, Antik, Seven, and Joe jeans; other denim jeans can even be a size 28 or 30 depending on the designer. As an hourglass I have a better fit with low rise jeans. Since I have broad shoulders and a long torso with wide hips, I look better in longer tops than shorter tops. Most designers should realize that no woman is shaped exactly the same. The good thing about us as women is that there are many ways to flaunt our figures whether we are curveless, curvy, or round. We all have something God blessed us with to eihter show off or hide! At the end of the day our shape is determined by heredity. We cannot change our shape; a spoon cannot become a square, a rectangle cannot become an hourglass. Therefore, all we can do is make the best of what we have. If you know that you have gained enough weight to put a damper on your figure; look for healthy ways to burn it off. Confidence goes a long way in the world of fashion.

i can't believe that almost everyone that has posted has an hour glass figure. that is just wierd. i live in a big city with a huge population and it's not very likely to run into hour glass figure women. In general you see more RECTANGLE shape. Y'all get over it! Look in the mirror one more time then come back and Post.ahahahahaha!

To Robert and Joe: I am African-American and I DO have an hourglass shape. A lot of men think you have to look like Marilyn Monroe to be hourglass, but that's not true.

I am definitely not a rectangle, I am an hourglass. My chest measurement and my hip measurement are the same and my waist is exactly 10 inches smaller then both. I wear a size 11 or 13 in juniors, and I wear a 38F bra (I can also wear a 36, no, I'm not exaggerating abou my chest size). If you see me in clothes, especially dresses, you can see how my body goes out, in, out in terms of shape.

I am graduating from law school next month and yet I have to wear Baby Phat jeans (an "urban" clothing line, if you've never heard of it, and not too professional) because other designers don't realize that a person can have size size 11-13 hips and thighs, but a size 9-10 waist. BP jeans were created for women with figures like mine, and yet even they are too big for my waist.

I also find it interesting that our society is so obsessed with breasts and yet I have to order my bars online because I can never find a bra in my size. Designers assume that if you wear a size F bra, you must also be plus-sized, so I can never find a size 36! In addition, I find it difficult, if not impossible, to find dresses, button-down shirts, and bras because my chest is so big!

It's hard to find clothes that fit all shapes and when you're shaped like me it's even harder.

i'm 15, and one of the 8.40% of women who have an hourglass figure. (at least, i think so...) i was just measuring myself for the school play's outfits, when i wondered whether i actually was an hourglass.

i'm 5'7" with a bust size of 39", waist size of 28.5" (i've been gaining weight due to stress, lately...) and my hips are 36". if my hips were, say, 38" or 39", i'd be an exact hourglass. i seem more like a triangle, actually.

what i get annoyed about, however, is indeed the sizing in england. i am 10stone, and my thighs are unusually HUGE due to genes... what annoys me is that my trouser sizes are massive - or they don't fit... and then, when i try to buy tops (shirts for school, in particular) i'd like one that fits almost snugly - my shirts strain at the bust and hang loose at the waist. SO annoying, and unflattering.

somebody introduce some decent shirts that don't cost a fortune to have professionally fitted?? pleeeease??

oh - nicki! i have your problem, also.

bra shopping is HOPELESS - i go into all my favourite shops, look around, and there's nothing in my size! ever! i've never been properly sized - my mum did it when i was younger, but i just kept growing, so we're guessing about now. i'm a 34DD. 36's are baggy on me, and any smaller - just... a no go. my breasts don't fit well into a smaller cup size, it cuts them in two. i'm image concious about my figure, because people take the mickey of my "huge tits"- bloody annoying, if you ask me.

I think it's so funny our fashion designers are living in the past. The hourglass shape isn't that common anymore I read only 8% of women have this shape nowadays. It is considered the ideal body shape of men but I think that is the media's fault. The shape is always in the spotlight and we always hear about Marilyn Monroe's perfect body shape but we don't hear about how pretty Audrey Hepburn body shape was. She was a spoon with a very small waist and wore a size 8 because of her hips so Kira don't feel bad about your body. Audrey Hepburn's waist was 20 inches and her hips were 35 and she is considered gorgeous and she was very thin to. I think my body shape is a ruler. I'm 5 feet tall and 94 pounds but I lost a lot of weight through excercise and I can only fit into a little girl's jean 12-14. So all over I have the body of that 12 year old girl and you know I'm proud i'm there. You gotta feel comtrable in your own skin beauty is in the eye of the beholder

It's weird because I fall into the spoon category but I look like an hourglass to the naked eye. I'm 5'5" and weigh 120 pounds. I measure 32C-24-36. The four inch difference top & bottom doesn't look bad at all because I have a C-cup bustline and my back is so tiny. Body shape is essentially one's outline: it's based on back and hips rather than breasts and buttocks.

I'm 32DDD-25-38.5 No exaggeration (though the waist fluxuates between 24-26 depending on the time of month). It's IMPOSSIBLE, because my 39-inch bustline would fit "large" or "extra-large" dresses... while my waist would qualify as "small" or sometimes "extra-small"... and my hips would be "medium". Usually I don't have a problem with size 5, 6, or 7 pants in juniors, especially the stretchy ones. I guess my flaw comes with my legs. The upper legs are fine, actually, I like my thighs, but my calves are ugly, bulky, and manly. It's sad... But other than that, I LOVE my body. I just wish I could get clothes that would fit. Jeans- no problem. Shirts (besides the completely stretchy skin-tight ones which are kind of skanky) or especially dresses- FORGET IT. I used to be a size 11/12, with 41/42" hips and a 31" waist, but then I lost 20 pounds and the weight came off everywhere except my breasts... It's so frustrating sometimes. *dreams of cute, well-fitting bras...* Though... I guess I can't complain about my figure. My boyfriend enjoys it!

And Joe/Robert- many women DO have hourglass figures. Don't you think that more women who have those sort of problems finding clothes would have commented? I found this site while google searching "hourglass figure", in an attempt to find a clothing manufacturer which would suit my needs. But you really shouldn't expect perfection from your women unless you prove to be perfect, too. Let's see those abs and pecks! And, I hate to be crude, but do you have larger-than-average endowments *down there*, too? And you'd best not have any fat anywhere on your bodies, else I'm afraid this true hourglass can't have anything to do with you!
That being said, ladies, lay off them a little- they are entitled to only date hourglass women (if they show similar physical perfection!) Romance is partially about physical attraction... so if that's what they're attracted to... and besides, they didn't say that's the only criteria. Personally, I'll only date guys I find physically attractive... though, I've dated basically every body type. the only thing that I really can't stand physically is a guy who's shorter than me. Given that I'm about 5'5", that's usually not a problem.

So yeah, I guess I'm not alone, though my measurements still seem more extreme than any of those I've read here. I would consider a career in modeling, as I seem to more closely approach Pam Anderson than anything else, but my legs are short... so that would never do for me. Ah, well.
All the best of luck!

Hey girls! I found this blog because I did a search for clothes for hourglass shape. I went to the mall yesterday and tried on 28 pair of shorts (without elastic or draw string because I am tired of those) and not one pair fit without a fist size gap in the back. I have resorted to mens jeans because they are sized by waist (Old Navy wide leg works for my hips with the 28 inch waist, still need a belt though). I am going to try this Baby Phat that Nicki mentioned. Does anyone else know a brand that sells pants with contoured waist? I just measured myself at 38-26-39 and I am 5'10". I am tired of drawstrings, pleats and elastic. I want a clean flat front. My daughter (10 years old) who is also tall and thin already has this problem with pants gapping in the back. When she is in a bathing suit you can see her waist curves in. So she will have the life time problem that I have had in finding clothes. I am not complaining about my body just that clothes aren't made for different body shapes. I would love for them to make womens clothes by waist size. Why are men's clothes allowed to have varying waist size, length and cut, but women are suppose to be shaped the same? Any ideas.

Robert, Honey

My measurements are 40-31-41.5, height 5 feet 8 inches. Any more questions???????

I look like a ruler, but am bordering on hourglass (33"-24"-33") the problem I find with clothing is that tops are not cinched at the waist so they make me look even more like a ruler that I want to. I fI wear a dress or a long shirt however, and wear a cinched belt right at my waist, it looks much better. Jeans however, are just odd. the waist is too big or too small in proportion to the thighs. I avoid the waist problem by wearing slightly low jeans.
PS: when measuring the hip cicumference, do you measure around hip bones or lower (almost at the crotch)? I'm not quite sure.

I am a teen of 5.6" tall so average i guess, and i am quite slim and small- busted with small/average hips But I am very athletic and my rear is large and i have no clue what kind of bathing suit would be right for me. Any suggestions?

I guess i would appear to be a rectangle in the front but its all spoon at the back!

Hello everyone.
First let me say the only thing you need to do to find out your body type is to measure yourself or better yet let someone else measure you for more accuracy.

And if you don't have an hourglass figure don't hate on the ones who do. Just love yourself for what you got cause when it comes down to it the one who's got the better personality that wins(trust me on that).

I am 5 ft 4" and my measurements are 32B-27-38. My shoulders are broad and usualy tops can fit but bottoms are usually loose so I guess we all have our issues.I'm sort of a triangle and I've always had issues with my shape cause I think wide hips are more sexy,which they are but it also has to do with personality so I'm learning to accept myself everyday.

All of this just proves that I will never find a healthy self-esteem in a well-fitting pair of jeans. I'm still looking for them, though.. :)

And Joe, you need to watch your mouth, mister. But I have compassion for you. People with such "high standards" as yourself often are secretly very insecure.

Hey

Im new to this site, and have read some of your comments! which are all very interesting! its amazing how concerned both men and woman are with body shape and appearance - people seem more worried about these issues then inner health and well being...however i myself am also a weak and conditioned by the media craze of wanting to look thin (which by the way most men like a woman to be feminine and natural which include our little wobbly bits), i am a 5,8" and 34", 28", 35" i have no idea if that is good or what? anyway it was interesting to read your views.....Hope you all find inner happiness, confidence and love

Hi..Try this

5ft, 128 pounds & pear shaped with a short torso. Oh, I forgot, wide shoulders. All of the fat is in my butt. Jeans? Yeah right, how about sweat pants. My butt is so huge that it looks like a deformity. The rest of my body is very small. Small bust, small arms, small stomach, HUGE HIPS, HUGE BUTT, then normal size legs. It seems to be that the only way that I will have a normal shaped body to have the fat sucked out of my butt with surgery. I say this because I have dieted and have gotten down to a size 3/4 and still my ass was the biggest part of by body. I have never even seen anyone in my life with a shape like mine. It's so wierd. Shirts dont fit. Anything that buttons is a no-no for shirts. I have benn battling this for as long as I can remember and I just want to find clothes that flatter me.

Jeez... no wonder I can't find clothes that fit. I'm in the 10.73% who doesn't fit into ANY of those categories.

its funny how only 8.4% of women have yhr hour glass figure but like over 90% OF GIRLS THat have written in claim to have this structure..

Hey, feel free to ignore this if you want, but I NEED to rant somewhere.
I hate my shape, my stats are 32-23-37, and I'm 5ft7" 130lbs, I'm assuming that i'm a pear. I'm tried everything to lose some weight from my lower half, but instead my waist keeps shrinking. Buying jeans or skirt is a nightmare because the top bit sticks out loads and looks really stupid.
I eat heathily, excersize quite a bit, but nothing comes of it.
I sympathise totally with you Theresa.

This is to Joe AKA Clueless A**hole, women are naturally made with different shapes, i happen to be a dancer and am only 118, but I'm no hourglass. Some how I still managed to be a rectangle, my mom is from a european dominated country and so is she. We are from a culture where women are traditionally curvy, however, too no fault of our own we maaged to be rectangles. So watch your mouth next time u open it, because for some reason senseless sh%* seems to just pour out. And all european women are not hourglasses, sometimes men confuse thin for shapely(nothings wron with being thin). So get your facts straight, cause beauty comes in all shapes and sizes

Thankyou

I don't think that the "end of the hourglass figure" has anything to do with bad nutrition. The majority of girls in their 20s and late teens are still hourglasses or spoons. However, postmetaposal and close to metaposal women are overwhelmingly rectangles. The lower percentage of of hourglass figures just reflects the fact that women are living longer.

Noticing how many of those fortunate few, the hourglass shaped women, are posting here, I thought I would take a second to represent the rectangles out there. I am a 5'4" 35B-27-35, a typical waistless hipless ruler, weighing in at about 118. I have an awful time finding dresses because they are always too big in the hips and butt, and my skinny calves make my torso look like a refrigerator. BUT I did not get this way by "eating fatty greasy foods" as one person alleged. I am a healthy weight, and have always eaten healthily. I never ever eat fast food, only maybe once every several years. This is just my body type - I was BORN this way. So excuse me for being born with a less than ideal shape! I think some of it has to do with heritage - a lot of (but not all!) Central and Southern European women are hourglass shaped, but as far as I can tell, a lot of Northern European women are shaped like me too. There's nothing we can do but try to stay thin and healthy and wear clothes that make us look like less of a box. And to the Pam Anderson-look a like, yeah it's true that men are attracted to who they are attracted to, but I don't have to lay off anybody for it. There's a difference between saying "I prefer sexy hourglass women" (which I don't think is even appropriate for this forum, considering most of the comments are from women unhappy with their body shape) and saying "you are a disgusting rectangle because you eat like a pig."

I think an hourglass figure is a figure your born with or not....u do not determine the size of your chest, hips, shoulder or feet in that matter. A rectangle, pear or whatever body type you have can still be sexy...your bodies your temple and u should be proud of what u have....u do not choose your genetics. I’m 5'5 & 160lbs a size 9 to11 jeans I don’t think I could ever get any lower because of my hips no matter how skinny I got...but my body holds it well...I have a hourglass figure with broad shoulders, wide hips.....the weight chart says that im overweight...but I look 140lbs. (And keep in mind women...the weight chart has not been up dated for almost 40 years!!!) So im considered over weight with health risk...but Im very health. You do not choose your natural body weight...you could fight it...but u are what u are. Its hard to find cloths for an hour glass figure...actually its hard to find cloths for any figure...so all of us women have to stop complaining and accept what we have...there millions of cloths out their...one has to fit u....but if u have confidantes in yourself...u’ll love how u look no matter what u wear...u just need to carry yourself in pride...if u find most cloths that fit u ur lucky...if u don’t...just be glade you got a sexy body. You do not need a model body to be happy.... Models are women with with no figure at all....and women with no figure is not attracting. Models wear cloths that were made from GAY guys....I have nothing against gay guys...but they are not attracted to a healthy womens curvy body...they will choose to us a women who have more of a boy shaped body than a women...and that is why they have models who are stick figures...and I believe its unhealthy and defiantly not attracting. A fit healthy look no matter what body type you have could be attracting. So don’t go by they scale, and non of the diets out there work...u just have to accept what u have...eat healthy, work-out and be patient.

TO THERESA:
GIRL I FEEL FOR YOU AND KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM!!! I am so disgusted with my body, I am 4 ft. 10 inches tall, weigh 110 pounds and I am definatly a pear shape. My measurements are 31"26"42" which is absoulutly horrifying to me. I have recently gained those last 10 pounds, but about 6 months ago I was 98 pounds and when I was that small my measurements were 30"24"38"!!! I gained just 10 pounds and my ass grew 4 inches and I went from a size 5 pant to a 10! All of my pants are too long in length, too tight in the butt, and enormous in the waist. My bra size is non-existent (my 12 year old daughter has a bra size 3 times mine!). I go from store to store trying on pair after pair of jeans, always leaving the stores in tears because I've wasted a whole day trying on clothes and still go home empty handed. Its not even about what the scale says...its about how I feel. I always feel uncomfortable in my clothes no matter what I wear, and sometimes I just want to look pretty and feel pretty...not for anyone else but for myself. I wish I had a lot of money, I would jump on that surgery table so fast and get my butt liposuctioned and get me a boob job (not big boobs mind you...just any boobs at all would be fine with me). Yea, I'm sure the surgery is painful, but it cant be as painful as having lived my entire adult life bieng teased by others and not bieng able to feel pretty cause there isn't a damned thing to wear!!!

I'm 5'5" and my measurements are 34D(38")-28"-38".Is my type considered hourglass?

Dear bloggers,

If in fact the industry is still catering to hourglass figures, where can I find those clothes? I am tall with a dainty build and an hourglass figure--but before you start thinking "that's awesome" keep in mind that I cannot find ANY clothes that fit me properly. Either there's not enough room in the bust, or there is too much room in the waist. If anybody knows a store I can shop at, I would dearly love to know.

Well, I have a couple questions? Where is everyone measuring?

bust...around fullest part? including the breasts?

waist....smallest area

hips....largest circumfrence..usually right where thighs start?

If so, which am I? And why is there never a shoulder measurement to determine shape?

I am 5'6" and weigh 150 lbs. I have a shoulder measurement of 41.5", a bust measurement of 35.5, a waist measurement of 25.5, and a lower hip measurement of 38.5.

The trouble I have with clothing is the waist of pants, but I'm not certain it's my hip measurment that is the problem. I think it's my thighs.

Joe's 100% correct. But he needs to be calmer in his approach. However, this is his way of getting his point across with full force. Perception and health go hand-in-hand in most cases when you consider and hourglass figure.

I have trouble finding clothes because I have a large bust, but a small waist and lower body. Think Dolly Parton with smaller hips. NOTHING fits!!!!!

My sister and I are both hourglasses from my dad's side where all of the women are quite large. On the other hand all the women on my mum's side are fairly small which is fortunate as we both inherited that part of her genes. I don't know why some women complain about being an hourglass. It is one of the sexiest womanly shapes, I believe, but all women not matter what shape or size are sexy. But I definitely love being an hourglass. Its the best.

im definetly not an hourglass shape. im not overweight either. is there a way for me to achieve the hourglass shape??

i am definetly not an hourglass and im not overweight. is it possible for me to achieve an hourglass shap or is there anything that would make me look curiver, rather than just eating?

I am really happy this woman called "Em" posted. There are so many hourglass/pear here complaining while I would kill to be an hourglass or a pear!

I am one of those women who is a rectangle : not because I am overweight (bmi =20.8) but because of genetics (in fact I dont know why I am this shape I just suppose it is genetics...what else?). For the moment I am 36-29-36.5. Yes, that is right, a 29 inches waist even if I am close to being underweight! I can not find a pair of pants that fit. I am a size 4 for the butt and a size 10 for the waist!

Every women will get more apple shaped in her life (with pregnancy, menopause, getting bigger, etc.) but when you are already a rectangle at 25 years old even if you eat perfectly and exercice, what can you do? The pear and hourglass shape are the "natural" women shape in my opinion and it is not surprising that women get more apple shaped since when we get bigger we all have a tendancy to be apple shape (the higher the bmi the more apple shape you get) BUT you still have many girls like me who are "natural rectangles" even at a normal weight.

I know I would be really happy to change my fat distribution and have more fat on my butt and thighs and less on my waist and chest like a "normal woman" but I dont know any way to do this...

And I too would be interested where everyone is measuring.
The thigh measurement is also important. The waist-thigh ratio is another way to know if you are pear shaped or apple shaped.

as an apple-shaped woman (and not happy to be so!) I wanted to point out that they are in fact basically 2 types of body shape for women : apple and pear.
The rectangle, spoon and hourglass are all pear shaped (they carry their wheigh mostly on their hips and thights). The so called "triangle" is the only real apple shaped and it is more common among overweight women, post menopause or for women who have hormonal problems.