Hourglass Figures are Back in Style
A model thin body may still be the ideal for many women, but for some women, and many men a curvaceous, hourglass figure is the shape of choice. The hourglass figure reached the height of popularity during the 40s and 50s when famous actresses flaunted their curves.
In today’s age a super-slim, less curvaceous physique still dominates the fashion magazines, a new generation of television and movie stars are defying the trend.
What Exactly Is An Hourglass Figure?
To get an hourglass shape you need a fairly large bust, wide hips, and a tiny waist. The narrow waist emphasizes the breasts and hips. This shape is all about the breast to waist, and hip to waist ratios. For a true hourglass figure, the breasts and hips should be almost equal in circumference. The perfect measurements are often cited as 36-24-36.
Petite women can have this curvaceous shape as well but on a smaller scale. The look can be achieved as long as the waist size is approximately 10 to 12 inches smaller than the circumferences of the bust and hips.
Though women wore restrictive undergarments in the fifties to help pull in the waist, they actually had tinier waists to begin with than women of today. According to statistics our waists are thicker than past generations.
Banana, Apple, and Pear-Shaped
A true hourglass figure is fairly rare. Less than 10% of women come by the shape naturally. Much more common are the banana, apple, or pear shapes with the banana shape being the most common. With the banana shape the torso is fairly straight up and down. The waist circumference does not vary much from that of the breasts or the hips.
With the apple shape the hips are slim. Full breasts, broad shoulders, and excess weight in the waist region typify the apple shape. With the pear shape the upper torso is narrow. The weight is carried in the hips and thighs.
How to Achieve an Hourglass Shape?
A person’s shape can be somewhat altered by fitness and nutrition. For instance, an apple-shaped person could lose some of the unhealthy belly fat through lifestyle changes. But if you are apple, pear, or banana-shaped, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve an hourglass figure through diet and exercise alone, no matter how disciplined you are.
SmartLipo
Breast and buttock implants can give you the rounded proportions. And laser liposuction can permanently cinch in your waist.
Unlike standard liposuction, SmartLipo™, which uses a laser to melt away the fat before vacuuming it away, is a precise tool. It is the best choice for tapering, and contouring specific areas of the body. The Vein and Skin Center of Honolulu Hawaii offers this cutting-edge technology. Schedule a consultation and we can discuss whether SmartLipo™ is the best choice for you.