How is it possible to get an hourglass figure?

From our video partners

Bladder Problems
Find out the different types, and ways to overcome this common problem.

To get an hourglass figure you ideally should already be starting with a hip to ratio where your waist is at least ten inches smaller than your hips (eg: waist 28-hips 39 or waist 24 and hips 34 or 31 waist and 46 hips) Obviously to create a true hourglass you do need a bust measurements that is also at least ten inches bigger than you waist measurement but if you have a small waist and big hips you can balance out a smaller bust with clever clothing choices and give the impression of an hourglass figure much more so than someone with a big bust and boyish hips. Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez and pin up legend Bettie Page are three examples of small busted women who have given the impression of a symmetrical hourglass figure by accentuating their impressive hip to waist ratios.
Sophia Loren, Nigella Lawson, Raquel Welch, Lynda Carter, Brigitte Bardot, Kim Kardashian, Jayne Mansfield, Salma Hayek, a young Anita Ekberg, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Scarlett Johansson are a few examples of truly symmetrical hourglass figures.

For exercise, hourglass figures, should avoid pilates if you want a tiny waist and a great waist to hip ratio. Many pilates instructors are literally square-torso in appearance because there abs are so built up. Women's waist were smaller until the low rise jeans/Core strengthening revolution and then women's waists gave way to a six pack abs look. The majority of pilates is also taught incorrectly by teachers who have partaken in quicky courses to teach in gyms so proceed with caution if you study pilates and request that your trainer give you flexion work to keep your waist sculpted. If you have had a cesarean though pilates is one of the best regimens to encourage your muscles to heal because it's so powerful.

Avoid Astanga vinyasa flow Yoga, Kick boxing, swimming and all heavy abdominal training as they all build the obliques which you need to be small to create a waist. These regimens also square off the entire torso and you should never do these fitness programs more that twice a week each if you want an hourglass shape. Gyrotonic expansion, Bikram and Kundalini yoga, ballet, cycling, walking, tennis, skating and calisthenics which emphasis twisting at the waist over sit ups will sculpt an hourglass figure.

Finding vintage clothes from the waist conscious 1950's and 1980's can be very complimentary to an hourglass figure as are all skirts, pants and dress that belt or hit at the real waist not at the hip.

All hourglass figure should avoid the low rise jeans with long baby doll top or trapeze dresses with cap sleeves that look gives a long shapeless waist less silhouette and was created for very small, thin women. Always nip in at the waist with skirts and dresses. Few high waisted jeans look good unless they are boot cut, flared or sailor style, in a darker wash and have very long inseams NEVER tapered. Hourglass figures should avoid capris or anything cut mid calf unless you are really trim and tiny framed. High waisted skinny jeans on an hourglass figure will usually not flatter the backside. A higher heel shoe (3 inches or higher) invariably compliments an hourglass figure because it tilts the backsides, compliments the hips and behind and gives one an 'hourglass walk."

What is an hourglass walk?:

A recent study at Cambridge looked at how an hourglass figure moves, the academics found that it is the ratio between hips and waist that puts the sway into a woman's walk - and the nearer that ratio is to 0.7, the better.

This ratio provides the body with the right torso strength to produce a more angular swing and bounce to the hips during the walking motion.

Therefore, a woman with a 25in waist and 36in hips would have just the right proportions to carry off a sexy swagger as she walks.

Jessica Alba falsely claims a 24 inch waist and 36 inch hips so she won the study over Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe who are infinitely more hour- glassed figured than she is. Though many celebrities like Gisele Bundchen, Madonna and Jessica Alba claim an hourglass figure it is 100% hype and fake as all three women along with many other celebrities and centerfold types who claim hourglass stars are built closer to rectangles. So don't fooled or intimidated by the media when you read the hourglass stats of many famous woman as it's usually fiction!

Corset training has been very helpful for women who are naturally rectangle who want an hourglass figure. Dita Von Teese is a great example but corset training is very extreme and not recommended unless you want to give a serious commitment to not only wearing a corset but to eating very small meals and being uncomfortable!

First answer by SuperAmanda. Last edit by SuperAmanda. Contributor trust: 32 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 5 [recommend question]