The End of the Hourglass Figure

I'm the only hourglass left!!

Kristin, I think it depends on the definition of "small-chested". Technically speaking, I'm an hourglass - 38-27-38. But visually, my hips are bigger than my chest, since I have a wide ribcage and the wide shoulders you described (38 as well), so the back size affects my bust measurement. When you say "hourglass", I immediately think of someone with a huge chest, like Sophia Loren, so I feel more like a spoon even though my measurements say otherwise.

I am a true hourglass - 38-28-39. I am 35 yrs old, have 3 children, am 5'5" tall and my weight usually fluctuates between 155-165 lbs. I wear a size 10 or 12 pants, depending on the brand. I have always had difficulty finding pants that fit properly, especially jeans. It's actually easier now, since my waist size increased after having kids. As a teenager I weighed about 130 lbs and my measurements were 36-25-36. Everything was always huge in the waist. It is still hard, but I just keep trying on different styles/sizes/brands until I find one that fits. I actually have a pair of Old Navy jeans, size 12, slight low-rise, boot cut jeans that fit like they were tailor made. I had to try on about 30 different pairs to find them, but it was worth it.

Just remember, we are all beautiful, no matter what our "shape".

Hello,
I thought I'd dish about my body type, which is unusual. This one should make you do a doubletake:

I'm 20 and short, about 4'10" and measurements of 36-31-36 and currently 130 lb. I've always collected fat around the waist, even when I was very young and in a healthy weight range.

I currently need to lose about 10 lb to get inside of a healthy weight range for health reasons, seeing as abdominal fat carries increased risks for heart disease later on down the road. I've lost 28 lb as of last year and most has come off all over, as well as 4" in the waist.

Body type is genetic. I've always had a rectangle figure, even when I've weighed much less (105-115). When I was 12 or so, I had perfect legs, but always a very round stomach, regardless of eating or activity.

Even if I lost the extra fat, my bodytype is stocky and my torso is naturally compact and I'd probably only drop a couple more inches in the waist (to a 29" or 28"). This, coupled with a bit of loss at the hips, would still leave me as a rectangle.

So sometimes body type is determined by genetics, especially height in my case. The good news is that my body type also seems to be strong and muscular without looking unfeminine. I can lift heavy weights when I work out (35 lb. freeweights) for squats and lunges and leg press 175 lb on the machines, despite not having worked out for long time. I often see tall, thin women struggling to use 10 pound weights to the same effect. Cardio is another story- I tend to be awful at that. But I guess there are some benefits.

But to all the beautiful hourglass women out there: if you think you have problems, try fitting into regular jeans that are way too big in the legs, tight in the waist, and long on the inseam! :-)

Kristin, by your definition (measurements), it looks as though I am an hourglass yet my bust is real small.

I'm 5'3", 115 lbs and I do have a defined waist. Hips 36", waist 25", bust 34", shoulders 37". Sooo, what's the verdict? lol

I have a problem with most jeans/pants that if I'm able to get them over my rear/hips and zip and snap/button them, I can also pull them off without unzipping and snapping them. So, I wear a belt usually because even with low riding pants, there's always 2-4 inches of loose material in the back.

Also, because I'm pretty small, I get lost in most clothes. I guess I really need to pull out that sewing machine!

--Jessica

I hear you! My ass is on the large side but my waist is small. I actually started just having my clothes tailored I know it sounds expensive and it can be but they actually fit! I have found a brand of jeans by Wrangler called Aura they have differant rises and lengths and with a petite rise and a tall length they fit me great! As a perk they are horribly vanity sized, I usually wear a 12 but in these I can wear a 6!

Darcy, that's so funny! Wranglers are the ONLY jeans I wear because they're the only ones that even come close to fitting! I usually wear the 20x but I'll have to try Aura.

Jessica

HEY IM NOT SURE WHAT I AM, IM 34 BUST 27 WAIST ANS 32 HIP, I WEAR (BRITISH) SIZE 6/8 BUT VERY RECENTLY I SEEM TO HAVE COLLECTED WEIGHT AROUND THEMIDDLE WHICH JUST WONT SHIFT! IM 5 2

I often hear "we are all beautiful no matter what size" well when you can't find any clothing you feel pretty in HOWDO YOU DO THAT!

Currently, I am 135 and foot 2, I wear a 9, 10, 12 in pants but my waist is so big I have to pull my pants up over my belly button (on a low waisted pant) to "hide" the gap, which is not comfortable, and doesn't allow me to "just tuck in my pants". My waist is litterally a size 6 so you tell me how that works a 6 in the waist and 12 in the hips!

But even as a smaller girl @ 110 I wore size 2 skirts (if A-lined) but a 6/8 in pants STILL! Now, if this doesn't prove that the fashion industry is off what does? 5 foot 2 110 is not fat or unhealthy so their rationale doesn't fly.

Ryan: I am very serious about achieving that "perfect" hour glass figure. You mentioned that I would need to reduce my waist and build glutes and hips. How do I do this and not lose weight?

Baby: Basically, you're going to have to become a bit of a bodybuilder. Because you don't have the natural hourglass bone structure, you're going to have to fake it by putting on more muscle in certain areas and reducing others. You're going to have to make your hips and butt bigger, your waist smaller, and your upper torso bigger.

For increasing the size of the hips and glutes, nothing does a better job than the barbell back squat. Leg presses will work too. For the waist, avoid work that targets the obliques, do a limited number of non-weighted crunches, and do the vacuum exercise. For your upper torso, you should focus on your middle deltoids and lats. There are various exercises for those.

As far as diet goes, focus on beef, eggs, sausage, and cheese. You want higher amounts of saturated fat for hormone production. Since you lose weight easily, this shouldn't be too worrying for you.

There's so much more to be said, pages and pages. If you want the whole picture, I would recommend Unleashing the Wild Physique by Vince Gironda. Ron Kosloff has the exclusive rights to sell his courses, so you'll have to call him at (313) 372-1807.

I'm 35-25.5-36.
Technically I suppose thatmakes me an hourglass but I feel like a pear leaning towards rectangular. I'm hoping if I can lose a little more weight and tone my abs and sides some it'll bring out more of an hourglass figure.

In the grand scheme of things, one must remember, 6318 is not a lot of women, and their ethnic backgrounds ought to be taken into consideration as well.

Ryan: Thank you for your advice and tips for the "perfect" body. do you think "Glutes to the Maximus" by Nick Nilsson would help me in my quest?

Everyone thinks because your skinny that you could wear anything. I have such a difficult time shopping for skirts and pants. I look like a 12 year old from the waist down. You hour glass figures really shouldn't complain.

I have completely read all the posts here and I am so sad - for a couple of reasons.

Please allow a man a humble comment. I mean, I have to be honest and ask myself if I even have the right to comment? I invite responses on that.

First of all - to all the ladies out there who have posted - you may not believe it (unfortunatly that has come through in so many notes) - but you are all beautiful!

Body image seems so important to women - I suppose that was why the blog was started. I think this relates to a historical need for women to attract a man where historically the man has been the provider (hunter gatherer) and the woman has been the nurturer. This is c**p now, but still women have an idea that there is a desired body image - for what? For yourself - sure, but for anybody else?

I have come in contact with many women who are absolutely dazzling, of all body shapes, and I would have been fortunate indeed to have had any one of them as a girfriend, wife, etc. Whether it was an hourglass figure, a spoon, rectangle or triangle when you looked at them, their face, their warmth - body shape did not matter. I must note that size could matter - though not definitively so.

The point is I have have been fortunate in coming across women who have taken my breath away who have been of all body types.

I work with mostly women and I am astounded at some of the comments that they have made at times. Again, in my opinion, gorgeous women of different shapes who I thought were absolutely wonderful the way they were. One who thought she was to small up top wanted to be bigger. One who thought she was to large up top wanted to be smaller.

One recently said she thought she was to fat because her husband thought she should loose weight. I asked her if I shined a light at his ear I would see the gleam in his eye? I told her he should see an optometrist (she is a size 4).

I understand that clothing can be so difficult for women. As a guy all you have to do is find a pair of pants with the right waist size and leg length - that is it! A shirt, well that could be s-m-l-xl-xxl-xxxl and that is it! Uhh, I wonder now if that is why I have never been married - no fashion sense!

I do not for one second believe that the hourglass figure is gone. It is still there just like every other body type. Essentially human form has not changed in thousands of years - eons will pass before a body type as we know it today may be gone.

Body shape is pure genetics, body size, I believe is, both genetics and environment.

I think it is easier for men in so many ways - I mean as I guy do I have to think about my body image? No, not if I don't want to. Whom am I doing it for and why?

I mean over time my own body has changed, and not for the better (age 25 - 5'7" and 125 lbs, age ? 5'7" and 170 lbs) - and I know what I have to do about that (lose weight, more exercise, etc.

To all the women out there, and particularly the teenagers - God you all sound gorgeous - Lord can I please be 18 again?

Sorry for rambling on - just my thoughts for whatever it is worth.

God bless

Dale, the world needs more people like you, and more people need to know there are lots of people like you, men *and* women. Fortunately, shallow people who think of others just in terms of measurements and a number on a scale or whatever are the minority, and most of us think of others as individuals, where the physical aspect is just a part of it, and even so, it is not measured in pounds or inches, but seen as a whole.

Dale, I think that for a lot of us, it's not that we're suffering from a poor body image. Rather, we just can't find clothes that fit. That's how I found this place -- trying to find clothes that might actually fit. Ya gotta admit, if you can fit a cantaloupe in the waistband of any jeans that fit over your rear, you've kinda got a problem. Not that it's that bad, but you get my drift... It's not that our bodies are too anything. It's just that the majority of clothes off the rack out there aren't made to fit us and thus, they don't fit.

That's all. ;)

--Jessica

Well, I will give my measurements because everyone else has, 34C (around my ribcage, NOT the largest part of my bust, that part is 38) 29 waist ( 28 at my thinnest...as in anorexic), 40 hips. Around the largest part of my shoulders I am a 40. I would appear by these measurements I am an extreme "pear", I am not, I actually appear to be more of a rectangle but I do have an obvious "waist". I carry most of my weight in the front of my stomach, but dont appear particularly "bottom heavy" or wide. I also do not appear overweight, I wear a size 8 in womens jeans, and Im 5'4".
I think its important for people to understand that clothing, for the most part, is designed for the "average" person, designers cannot design for specific body types, they wouldnt sell clothing! If designers designed clothing for a body that less than 10% of the population is then that clothing would cost MUCH more...because a much smaller amount of people would buy them. Personally, it would SUCK for me if designers did design for hourglasses, Id never be able to get anything to fit my waist and they would leave no room for tailoring. We all have to deal with difficulties in clothing, I myself have short legs, an inseam of about 28. Ive had to learn that I will HAVE to hem just about every pair of pants I buy because if I buy petite they are too short, if I buy average they are too long, even in heels. Its just the way it is for me. I have a larger waist, so it things do fit in the waist they are too large in the legs ( if they fit the legs, too small in the waist ).Ive had to learn how to dress for my body type, I cant wear flare leg or low rise, they look bad on me and why would I want to wear soemthing that didnt look good. I have to shop more than my friends with smaller lower halves which is ok because at least Ill look good in what Im wearing.
Another thing to rememer is this whole "women starving to fit into clothing, designers designing to fit starving women" is a cycle and more than likely will not change. If we think that Sophia Loren, Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and any hollywood starlet from the 40-60s didnt have to worry about what they ate so they could fit what designers were designing then we're wrong. To be a famous actress, you HAD to have a fabulous figure, it was a prerequisite so the reason that we think everyone from this era has that figure is because you didnt see pictures off average people off the street, and these ladies DID struggle to keep their figures just like most of us nowadays. These ladies benefited from corests and girdles yes....they also benefited from clothing and dresses that were designed specifically for them. Trust me, Sophia Loren DID NOT walk into a Sears and pick a dress or jeans off the rack. Women of her shape have never been able to, and you never will be able to, it just isnt feasible and it never will be. She had dresses nip & tucked ... and she worried about gaining 10 lbs because then none of it would fit. "Gibson Girls" are from a century of corsetry and tailors, when people owned a few well made dresses fitted to THEIR bodies. There wasnt an H&M for them to walk into, mass produced clothing was a silly thought. When you think about it it makes more sense, because you will never be able to change the natural shape of your body to fit clothing. You will have to get things tailored, thats just the way it is, and if you do find things that fit well, buy several pair! You will have to buy more expensive clothing, but at leat it will be well made. Spend money on tailoring, not having 10 pair of jeans. Buy things that fit the largest part of you and have them tailored smaller. Our grandmothers did this ladies, its not so ancient! Clothing is CHEAPER now than ever before, because it is made more cheaply AND more genericly. Get wider leg pants instead of flared or bootcut, they will fit your hips and thighs better. If you refuse to do this you will always have a hard time finding clothing, and you will be frustrated to boot. You arent average ladies, but you are lucky. You have womanly figures, you have feminity written ALL OVER you. You dont have to worry about looking "boyish", your pants wont sag in the behind so it looks like you are carrying something ( very undesireable ) in them. You always want what you cant have, there are pros to every con. Just like with most things in life, you have to make it work for you ... or it wont.
Anyhow, Ive written enough. The point is appreciate your body for its benefits, celebrate them, accentuate them, and find ways to minimize the qualities you find less desireable. Your body is yours, like it or not, so love it and make the most of it.

I'm a slender hourglass figure like Winona Ryder, it is ridiculous to say that all hourglass figures are extremely curvy and voluptuous. It merely means that your hips and shoulders are in line with eachother and you actually have a small defined waist. It's not THAT rare.

Man i got wide shoulders and no hips and i really stinks not to have an hour glass figure. I really feel that the fashion industry shouldn't put to much emphesis on hourly glass figueres because they just leave out the rest of us different shape women and make us feel bad. You feel me on this ladies?! i think they should make everything for ladies of different shapes.

You know what we are all beautiful in Gods eyes and i dont think we need to compare ourselves to anyone because we are made to be different. Different is good and its not boring but interesting. You guys just accept who you are and be satisfied.... Jesus Loves you and so do I !!! www.thewayofthemaster.com

In my experience (I sell women's clothes and shoes) with fitting pants on hourglass figures, there are certain brands that work well. So, my advise about fitting in general is to go to a store with good service like a boutique or Nordstrom and have a salesperson help you find things to try on that would fit your figure. And pick your salesperson. Don't say yes to the first person who asks if you need help. Find someone who you like the way they are dressed. It may take some time and you may get fewer clothes for your money, but what you buy will fit and you will wear it. Every figure has it's assets and can fit well and look good in the right clothes.

I WISH I HAVE THE HOURGLASS FIGURE!!!!!!!!!! ='[ corsets are too expensive...any suggestions?

i just want to make this comment,i think that rectangular shaped women CAN become hourglass figured if they just lost fat around their waist and abs

Joe's not anti-rectangle-shaped...he's just anti-American. He's the sort that will take any and every opportunity to bash on America because either

A.) he's an American and has a case of 'Country Guilt',
or
B.) he isn't American and takes it upon himself to inform everyone how bad America is because he's jealous.

Also, I read through the comments and I think that most of you KNOW that there isn't any problem with what you weigh; you're just looking for compliments. "Omigod, I weigh like under 100 pounds, but I still look SO FAT!!!11!!"

You don't. And you know you don't.

Wow! You sound Awesome to be Theresa! Don't get down about what makes you unique. I'm sure it's tough finding cloths that fit your fantastic body.. But remember there are alot of guys (like me) that think your body is very hot!!

take care,

Daniel

I've been an hour glass figure all my life and I find it really hard to fit anything but vintage clothes. Half my wardrobe is pre-80's. Everything is too tight for my hips, but baggy at the waist. Small shirts fit well at the waist but not at the bust. Clothing now days, well the kind that is affordable anyway, is made for the big waisted rulers that dominate this world of fast food. Curb your grease consumption and that tire sagging around your tummy will shrink away.

I'm so glad to see some other short people on here! I'm 4'11 and I think I'm an hourglass or pear... right now I'm 36-27-37 and a junior size 7. I have to wear low-rise jeans to but in addition I usually have to order them online to get a short inseam. I'm pretty much all legs and no torso.

But when I gained weight from an antidepressant my shape didn't really change. I was about 30 pounds heavier last summer but I was: 38-31-41, and a size 11 so I think that is still an hourglass or pear.

a lot of people have mentioned body shape & size having to do with genetics.

strangely, this doesn't seem to work for me: my mother and the women in her family are all solid rectangles, and in my dad's family are as well, but im a very small hourglass (32-21-32; i can never find clothes that fit me), 5'4", 95 lbs, and i eat in one meal what the average person would in two.

basically, just watch what you eat, and you'll be able to stay fit in the places you need to stay fit. focus more on nutrients than fat and calories, and avoid junk food & desserts with no nutritional value (cheesecake actually might have some nutritional value, as does ice cream) & white flour if possible & sugary snacks/drinks, and exercise areas in which you want to lose fat, and you're set.

I'm hourglass shaped and, since I'm a 3-5 size and I'm 5'8", the pants always come down to my ankles.. it's like they are never long enough! Or, if by a miracle I DO find some cool jeans that fit, they will have time to worn out before I find another one...

Bottom heavy figure?

Small breasts!

Your figure is just so desirable to some men.

Small breasts..

Large hips?

Some men find that kind of figure immensely attractive.

Does anyone else think they're using a faulty definition of the hourglass figure? The idea of "basically the same size but the bust can be one inch bigger" doesn't really work, in my opinion - I'm sure a lot of the women who were pushed into the rectangle or spoon category would count as hourglasses if there was equal possibility for the hips to be an inch bigger than the bust. There's a large spectrum in between their definition of hourglass and their definition of spoon/rectangle, and I think the line has been drawn in the wrong place, counting too many people as rectangle or spoon when they DO have defined waists and hips/breasts roughly the same size.
This study could also have been greatly improved if they were looking at ratios rather than literal measurements - prescribing 9" smaller again pushes people into the wrong category, this time smaller hourglasses.

Well I am one of the 8% that is an hourglass figure.
I don't understand how designers are maiking all clothes to fit women like me as I certainly have much difficulty finding anything to fit!
I am an Australian size 14 and can never find anything that will help to reduce my hip size.
This is a huge problem for women.
I come from a family of 6 girls (all different shapes and sizes) and one boy and we all have trouble with clothes contrary to the fact that we've all worked in the fashion industry at some stage.
Why is it that when I pick up a size 14 dress or a large singlet it seems to look as though it could fit on a small child????
I think the problem is the sizing is all out of wack!!
How about making clothes that fit real people intead of outfits that fit real mannequins.

I feel the need to point out that most clothes made nowadays DONT fit that hourglass figure. I am not overweight, I have an hourglass figure, and I cannot tell you how difficult it is to buy clothing that fits. For example: my waist makes me a size 4, but my bust makes me a size 16. That is problematic. Most of the more rectangular women friends I have have a much easier time to buy clothing then I do. In reality it is hard for everyone to buys clothes, regardless of shape, just because of the different shapes out there...but from what I've seen the hourglass women actually have the hardest time.

I am 5'7'' and my measurements are 36'-27'-35'.
Am I an hourglaas or a ruler, because I seem to fall exactly between the two types, with my 9' difference?
I think it's important to know since different types of workout are reccomended for different shapes. The ivillage test says I'm a ruler, and I think so too.However the fact that I weigh more than people think and that I easily gain muscle mass makes me think I could be an hourglass.

PS: By ruler I ment rectangle

Kala, I don't believe there are different workouts for different body shapes. I know ivillage and other sources say that, but what everyone needs is a mix of cardio and strenght training for the whole body. If you want a better source of info on strenght training for women, try www.stumptuous.com/iron

I'm an houglass too. 38 1/2 shoulders, tummy 28, and hips 38. I used to be before having kids 34-24-34 with a 35 shoulders. I can't get anything to stay on my tummy, pants all fall off. Yes, I wear a belt with every thing! Shirts need to be fitted with a zipper or the shirts are to loose in the tummy. It's genetic my dad's side are mostly hourglass shaped. I found some 50's patterns that fit me! The thing is I'm pretty shy and like most hourglasses, we get checked out a lot!

For a while, I was really annoyed with my figure - I don't have a flat stomach, and it does get me down. However, if wasn't until I found this website, and measured myeslf, that I realised I have an hourglass figure. 36", 28", 28". So, from the side I have a bit of a stomach - but I look good as a silhouette!
I do find my hips annoying though...