If you need to catch up, the answer to yesterday’s quiz (and part two) is woman A is curviest and now I’m going to tell you why. Actually, I’ll prove it using the least likely of models -that of Courtney Love who is famously thin.
By the way, this all came about because The Sartorialist found himself in hot water over his use of the term “curvy”. It was cause for much ire and outrage on the web. Scott asks:
Is there a minimum degree of curviness to be considered “curvy”?
To which I’d say, yes there is and I’m so glad you asked. The technical definition of curvy refers to a waist-hip differential of .75 . For example, a woman with a 36″ hip is curvy if her waist is 27″ or less. This is a nine inch difference but does not hold true for all dimensions because curvy is relative. It’s math, not opinion. By way of comparison, a hip measure of 46″ is only curvy if her waist is 34.5″ or less, a difference of 11.5″.
Using my photo of Courtney Love, I drew a line to match her waist girth. Then I copied and pasted the exact same line at her bust and hip respectively. You can see there’s quite a difference between her total hip and bust girths as compared to her waist. So, bone thin as she may be, she is -from a technical, industry terminology (but not marketing) standpoint- significantly curvier than your average size 18. It’s too bad that her hat is in the way but the green bar of her waist length hasn’t even reached the midpoint of her opposing breast. I know this is no comparison but I have another one further down using the examples of woman A & B from yesterday.
The reason that plus size patterns are not curvy or are much less curvy is because as a body gains weight, the small depressions of the body fill in and commensurate padding isn’t added to the high points. A useful analogy is illustrated by observing your driveway after a rain. There are little puddles in the low points although the entire surface is wet. As more rain falls, larger sloping depressions fill in further. It isn’t until it floods (morbid obesity) that any low points are completely smoothed over.
Another reason plus size patterns are flatter as opposed to curvier is due to styling. In larger sizes, people’s bodies form rolls of flesh. So while it is possible to draft to emphasize the size and location of rolls, I don’t know anyone who would consider that a feature worth paying for. Most people don’t want that emphasized.
Now here’s the back to back comparison of a thin vs plus sized woman from yesterday’s post. On each respective body, I drew a line at the waist and then copied and pasted the same line over the bust and hips. In the image you can see there’s a significant gap between the thin woman’s waist, hip and bust size. This difference is not as pronounced in the plus sized figure. The bust of the plus sized woman is almost the same as her waist and the hip is only a bit larger than her waist.
True, without measurements we cannot say for certain that the thinner woman is curvy but we can definitely eliminate the plus sized woman from the curvy pool. A basic top pattern for the larger woman will be a trapezoid with waist and hip nearly the same and the pattern for the thinner woman would be an hourglass.
The curvy-definition disconnect between consumer culture and the apparel industry may become a greater problem over the year to come; new sizing charts are working their way through committee and a dramatic change is the addition of measurements for curvy women. I told a couple of women about it and they became very excited but unfortunately, they assumed it mean plus sized. Curvy sizes will range (within the D5585) from sizes 00-20. Very thin women can be significantly curvier than plus sized because from a technical (pattern) standpoint, patterns for thinner people are significantly curvier than those for plus sizes.
I’m not certain what if any long term trend will result in adoption of the new charts. I only know that you will have to know the difference. Already there are dress forms specific to the curvy body type (I bought one) and in a variety of sizes. Meaning that if you order a curvy form and were expecting a plus sized form, you will be disappointed and it won’t be the vendor’s fault. Likewise, if you ask a pattern maker to use the ASTM dimensions of a curvy size 18 for your patterns, you may be disappointed to learn the waist may be much smaller than you had expected. One thing is clear, the creation of a curvy fit profile means it is likely that pants sized for pear shapes may become more common and it is possible there will be a set aside for this designation at retail. Frankly, I can’t imagine how retailers are going to pitch it.
Slightly off topic: It used to be (has always been) that a simple 8-10 inches was subtracted from the hip measure to arrive at the waist measure across the board but using this .75 equation is more accurate because it is relative to the body in question -which is how we draft patterns.
It is also ironic. I don’t know how many 46″ hipped women have waists that are 11.5″ smaller than their hips but I suspect it is a much smaller market. Meaning, it is less likely that “curvy” women will be wearing patterns drafted using curvy measuring standards.
According to PLUS Model magazine, "In the fashion industry, plus size is identified as sizes 18 and over, or sizes 1X-6X and extended size as 7X and up".
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Plus-size_clothing
and not be curvy. It's all about body dimensions and how you identify. Bodies that do not have much difference between the bust, waist and hip measurements are not considered curvy whether they fit a size 2 or a size 22.
CURVY. Curviness is not the fullness of your figure but an actual mathematical ratio between the waist and hips. The waist to hip ratio must be greater than 0.75. This means that the waist measurement must be 75% or less than the hip measurement. A common problem for curvy girls are jeans.
The moral of the story: no, curvy does not equal plus size. When it comes to jeans especially, think of it as a waist to hip ratio kind of thing. If your waist to hip difference is large (10”+) with the larger number being for the hips, then consider a curvy cut for a more comfortable fit.
All three terms have specific connotations when it comes to identity construction: “Fat” is a traditionally derogative word, while “curvy” is considered flattering and positive, and “plus-size” a neutral, politically correct option.
Basically, curvy body type measurements are larger than skinny ones. They include a bigger ratio between the hips, waist or chest. There are no specific measurements that define a curvy body type, as all female bodies are unique.
Maybe about 20 years ago, the term "curvy" started being used as a safe term for plus-sized women (politically correct, if you will). And the term "curvy" was well accepted by the Plus-Sized female community because "curvy" has generally had a positive connotation when it comes to describing the female form.
If you are short and curvy, finding the flattering outfits can be a challenge. The two primary goals of styling a petite and curvy woman is to elongate your short frame and wear clothes that can make you look taller and leaner.
Curvy means you have an hourglass-shaped body. A woman's “curves" refer to the swell of her hips and breasts in comparison to her waist. So it really doesn't matter how skinny or fat you are, as long as your breast and hip measurements are a lot bigger than your waist measurement then you qualify as curvy.
The thing that a lot of people don't acknowledge is that you can be skinny and curvy. For example you can be 'skinny' and have a small frame and weight but have a curvy shape, with a low hip to waist ratio and large breasts.
Tess Munster/Holliday is lots of things. She's a mother, a style icon and the keeper of 357,000 Instagram followers. This week, she's celebrating another victory. Holliday was signed to a major modeling contract with MiLk Model Management -- as the "largest" plus-size model they have.
Being fit and healthy isn't specific to a certain size or shape and we are fully capable of being healthy and fit in our own body shapes, whatever shape we may be.
Bust: Measure across the fullest part.Waist: Place a string on the slimmest area of your torso and measure that.Hip: Measure the fullest/widest part of your thighs.
A woman's “curves" refer to the swell of her hips and breasts in comparison to her waist. So it really doesn't matter how skinny or fat you are, as long as your breast and hip measurements are a lot bigger than your waist measurement then you qualify as curvy.
Clothing stores can make it difficult to put a number on plus-size. Some departments may designate a size 12 as plus-size while others use a size 14. But according to Modeling Wisdom, plus-size models often fall into the range of sizes 8 to 12. Sometimes, even a size 6 can be considered.
Curvy is a term used to describe a body shape. It is a woman with a body that has a marked difference with her butt, hips, thighs and waist. This shape causes distinct and very visible protrusion of the butt and hips especially. A curvaceously curvy body type is not exclusive to a certain clothing size.
Many women of size prefer using “curvy” because it has fewer negative connotations than “fat” or “plus size.” Some take issue with it, though, because not all women above a size 12 are curvy or have curves.
Summary. “Fat” and “plus-size” are terms often used to refer to people who live and occupy space in a larger body. “Plus size” is a term often used in the fashion industry, typically to refer to clothing marketed primarily to women. In general, body descriptors should only be included when necessary and relevant.
For the uninitiated, curvy jeans were created for those who need some extra room in the hips yet often wear a smaller waist size; this means that both straight and plus-sizes can benefit from a curvy jean cut.
Being curvy is becoming a global trend, where people are getting butt surgeries and doing hundreds of squats. But being curvy is not always fun and games. Some curvy girls got together on the Internet and talked about the issues they face on a daily basis that no one talks about.
Fuller skirts and dresses that flare out from the waist can help create the impression of curvier hips. Details like pleating are another way to add fullness to the hips. Wear a wrap dress. Wrap dresses tend to make the waist look smaller, which makes the chest and hip areas appear larger.
Petite refers to stature not weight. Most people still think petite means skinny when in fact petite has nothing to do with weight. Petite is the term used in the fashion industry to describe a woman who is 5'3 tall or under. Petite women come in all shapes and sizes, whether they're a size 4 or 14.
That healthy, rosy-cheeked look that we associate with our twenties is really due to subcutaneous fat deposits keeping our skin looking full and smooth. Curvy women are known for being softer, smoother and looking more feminine, simply because of their extra body fat.
The adjective voluptuous is used to describe someone who is attractive and curvy. Marilyn Monroe was known for her voluptuous figure. Being voluptuous means being full-figured and curvy, but this word doesn't only apply to body types.
Curvy hips, thick thighs, and a full rear are the key characteristics of the pear-shaped individual. Many pear shapes also have a small bust/chest, narrow shoulders {compared to the hips}, and a defined waist.
Men Are Totally Hardwired by Evolution to Prefer Curvy Women, Study Finds. A new University of Texas study has found that men express a clear preference for women who have a pronounced back-to-buttock curve.
Also commonly referred to as a “rectangular” or “straight” shape, you're not particularly curvy— your shoulders and hips tend to be the same proportion.
You can drop a dress size (anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds, or about an inch or two from your bust and hips) and be special-occasion slim in only six weeks.
A plus-size model is an individual size 12 and above who is engaged primarily in modeling plus-size clothing. Plus-size clothing worn by plus-size models is typically catering for and marketed to either Big & Tall or Tall or Overweight men and women.
Plastic surgeons reveal one of the most common procedures plus-size models get. Just because plus-size models are plus-size, doesn't mean that they don't get plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures.
Plus-size models engage in, at times, severe bodily management practices, such as strict calorie restriction to drop a size and even binge eating to gain a size, as well as more routine bodily manipulations, such as applying make-up and hair products, wearing shapewear, and adding body padding to make the body frame ...
The average weight for women is around 170 pounds. With these measurements, the typical American woman wears a large to extra large pant size, or between a size 18 and 20.
How much weight do i need to lose to drop pants size? On average, every 10 lbs of weight a person loses will equate to 1 pant size smaller. So, for example, if someone lost 25 pounds, they would likely drop 2 and a half sizes in pants.
Generally, yes, most people I know around a 14 I'd consider overweight but that doesn't mean I don't also think they're beautiful. Of course it's overweight. But then most people are these days, so it's normal. Under/healthy/overweight are factual categories based on weight and height, not dress size.
What is this? Women come in all sizes. Seventy percent of women in the United States are a size 14 or above, and that's technically 'plus-size,' so you're taking your biggest category of people and telling them, 'You're not really worthy.
Plus-size is not a dirty word, but there are plenty of other options. Curvy, big-boned, fat, thick, plump, full-figured — plus-size girlies have a whole thesaurus of alternative words for describing the same thing: our bodies.
When it came to size, the men were asked which dress size they preferred in women, here the results were unanimous. The majority of the men (nearly 86% of them) preferred a woman with a dress size 14 to 16.
The technical definition of curvy refers to a waist-hip differential of .75 . For example, a woman with a 36″ hip is curvy if her waist is 27″ or less.
To determine your body shape, start by looking at your midsection and determining if it is the largest part of your body. If it is, and you have slimmer legs and hips, you have an apple shape. Alternatively, if your midsection and bust are smaller and your hips are wide, you are likely pear-shaped.
Numerical sizes are often labeled as 14W, 16W, 18W, and so on. The W is for Women's, which is another way of saying plus size. The “W” sizes are fitted for plus size specifically, whereas sizes like 14 and 16 in the same brand were likely fitted on a straight-size fit model.
The Plus is just...big. The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Plus has a 6.7-incher. These are stretched out in the 19.5:9 aspect ratio and mirror the shape and proportions of an iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
A 1X is a plus size 14/16. The difference is that plus size clothing is generally made wider and with more room in the arms, hips, thighs, butt, and stomach areas.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
If you need to catch up, the answer to yesterday’s quiz (and part two) is woman A is curviest and now I’m going to tell you why. Actually, I’ll prove it using the least likely of models -that of Courtney Love who is famously thin.
Now here’s the back to back comparison of a thin vs plus sized woman from yesterday’s post. On each respective body, I drew a line at the waist and then copied and pasted the same line over the bust and hips. In the image you can see there’s a significant gap between the thin woman’s waist, hip and bust size. This difference is not as pronounced in the plus sized figure. The bust of the plus sized woman is almost the same as her waist and the hip is only a bit larger than her waist.