What does a curvy body type mean? From the 5 different types of curvy body shapes to hip shapes and how to dress for them, here’s your complete guide to curves!
Have you ever felt that whatever fashion you see on runway models, celebs and your stylish friends somehow never seems to work on you? Well, you’re not alone. A curvy body type is considered very attractive, and yet sometimes tricky to dress for.
You probably already know that there 4 different body types – pear, rectangle, strawberry, hourglass. However,there are also other female body shapes that are slight variations of these. A curvy body has its own set of body types with unique measurements and different ways to style them. The first step to curvy fashion is to understand what does a curvy body type mean. So let’s discover everything about the curvy body shape here.
What Does a Curvy Body Type Mean?
A curvy body type is the one in which the woman’s hips and breasts are well-defined. It’s also called a full-figure. Lots of celebrities like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Ashley Graham, Kim Kardashian, etc. have a curvy body type. Even Marilyn Monroe was curvylicious. Still, curvy women are not as commonly represented in media as the skinny ones these days.
However, a woman with curves is the epitome of femininity and fertility, which makes the curvy body type coveted and attractive. In fact, skinny women (like myself) love to do body-training and workouts especially designed to make our hips fuller.
Curvy vs. Skinny
If you’re asking, “What does a curvy body type mean?” you can understand it best here:
Skinny and curvy both are naturalfemale body types, and that’s why both are equally good. In a skinny body type, the ratio between the measurements of waist and hips/breasts is less. Whereas, it is more in a curvy body type. Skinny body type is more straight, with a less defined hip-line. Whereas, the curvy body type has more curves, as the name suggests.
What are Considered Curvy Body Type Measurements?
Still asking, ‘What does a curvy body type mean’? You’ll understand it best when you compare it to skinny body shape.
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. However, some examples include 42-38-46, 36-34-42 or 34-24-38, where the numbers represent “breast-waist-hip” measurements.
Generally, hip measurements of 36 inches or less are considered skinny body types, whereas curvy ones have usually 37 or more (inches). Similarly, skinny women have bust measurements of 34 or less, but that may also be true some curvy body shapes (see below).
You can find out how to check your own body type and how to take measurements here:How to Find Your Body Type and How to Dress for it.
Different Types of CurvyFemale Body Shapes
Curvy body type isn’t limited to just one shape. In fact, depending on which of your body parts is more prominent, you can fall into one of 5 curvy body shapes – ‘mango’, ‘spoon’, ‘pear’, ‘curvy hourglass’ figure or ‘strawberry’.
1. Mango Body Type
If you have full hips as well as thighs, you have a mango body type. Just like the tip of the mango, the mango body shape has a curved-V at the bottom, created by thighs. For the mango shaped women, hips and thighs are their most prominent parts.
2. Spoon Body Shape
This one is similar to the pear shape. A spoon body type is the one in which the waist is well defined, whereas the body is curvy with full hips, somewhat resembling figure 8.
Compared to pear shaped body type, spoon body shape has a prominent waist as well has hips. Whereas the pear shaped body has more prominent hips only.
Here is the general rule of thumb for spoon body shape – your hip measurement is the largest one among waist, hip and bust measurements. Also, your hip size is at least 5 inches more than your bust size, and if your waist size is at least 5 inches less than your hip and bust size, then you are spoon shaped.
Also read: How to Dress for Spoon Body Type: Clothing and Fashion Tips
3. Pear Body Shape
Pear is one of the most common female body shapes. Pear shaped women’s bust and waist dimensions are nearly equal, however their hip measurements are much larger. Also, if you have very full hips and a less defined waist and breasts, your body type is pear.
Pear body shape is tricky to dress for, since a lot of dress silhouettes make the hips look too prominent, making your figure look unbalanced. However, you can find a full guide to dressing for your body type here:How to Dress for Pear Shaped Body Type.
4. Curvy Hourglass Body Type
This figure type has nearly equal measurements for the hips and chest, whereas the waist-dimension is much lesser (at least 5 inches lesser), resulting in an hourglass shape. These are totalcurvy body goals and if you have this shape naturally, you’re very lucky! If not, you can still try waist-defining outfits to mimic this body type.
5. Strawberry Body Type
If you have a bigger chest measurement compared to hips and waist, you have a strawberry body type. This body shape is comparatively rare, and very few celebs have it. However, you’ll find it easier to dress, since your hips or tummy won’t be too prominent in most dress types.
“Am I Curvy or Fat?”
That really depends on your percentage of body fat. All body types have some body fat, and fat is not an entirely bad thing. However, too much of everything is bad, including fat. Women tend to get fat accumulated in the hips, waist/ love handles and tummy. So if you have love handles, tummy tires or bulging hips outside of your panty-lines, you may have more fat in your body.
However, just because you have more fat than you’d like, doesn’t mean that you’re not naturally curvy. In fact, curvy women do have a tendency to put on fat easily. If your diet contains more saturated or trans fats compared to your daily workout, you probably need to work on that fat. Try toning exercises with dumbbells, leg raises, crunches and planks, and you’ll know your true body shape once the flab goes away! Yay!
Also read:Six Pack Exercise | My Simple Guide to 6 Pack Abs in 6 Weeks
How to Dress for Curvy Body
Now that you know what does a curvy body type mean, the next thing to master is how to dress for your body shape. Curvy is definitely a little ‘extra’ body type, made more complex by so many curvy body shapes! So it requires lots of practice to understand what suits you. Lots of brands have curvy body fit clothes, so do experiment with that next time you’re out shopping. Here are some basic fashion style tips for each curvy body type with pictures:
I’ve written much in detail about how to dress each curvy body type in my other article, so check it out here: How to Dress a Curvy Body According to Your Body Type
Types of Hips
Just like body types, there are also different types of hips. For curvaceous women, hip shape is one of the things that help them define their body type, too. The 3 hip-shapes include round, triangular and straight – simple enough. They say hip shapes, but honestly, these are more like shape of where your hip meets your thigh – on the side. Anyway, knowing your hip shape can also help you identify why something may look different on you than on a celeb/model. Here are the types of hips and how you can find out yours:
So I hope you found my guide to different types of curvy body shapes helpful. Have you, too, been asking, “What does a curvy body type mean?” If so, I hope you now know everything about this beautiful body shape. What’s your body type? Lemme know below or tweet @shilpa1ahuja.
I’ll be writing more about these body shapes in detail and how to dress for them, so stay tuned! In the meanwhile, if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask away on our Ask Shilpa page.
Muaah!
Shilpa Ahuja the editor-in-chief of ShilpaAhuja.com, which she founded with the goal of inspiring confidence in the modern working woman through fashion. Other than defining the direction of the magazine, she also writes about fashion & beauty trend forecasts, industry analysis, and opinions.
Shilpa’s work has been published in the University of Fashion blog and Jet Airways magazine. She is also an artist, illustrator and cartoonist. She is also the creator of Audrey O., a comic series that represents the lifestyle of millennial women. She enjoys creative writing and world travel. Her art has been exhibited at Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Aroma Hotel, Chandigarh and been published in Chandigarh Times.
Originally from Chandigarh, Shilpa also has a degree in architecture and has worked in interior project management. She is also the author of the book “Designing a Chinese Cultural Center in India”. Shilpa has a Masters in Design Studies degree from Harvard University.
For feedback and questions, please email [emailprotected]
FAQs
A curvy body type is the one in which the woman's hips and breasts are well-defined. It's also called a full-figure. Lots of celebrities like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Ashley Graham, Kim Kardashian, etc. have a curvy body type. Even Marilyn Monroe was curvylicious.
What are the curves of the body? ›
There are four natural curves in the spinal column. The cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral curvature. The curves, along with the intervertebral disks, help to absorb and distribute stresses that occur from everyday activities such as walking or from more intense activities such as running and jumping.
What is an ideal curvy figure? ›
If your shoulder and hips are of the same measurement and your waist is at least 25 percent smaller than your shoulder, hip and bust measurements, then you have a perfect hourglass body shape.
Is it good to have a curvy body? ›
Fit, curvy women are stronger than their skinny counterparts in many ways. A 2005 Danish study showed that women with a fuller, more voluptuous body type tend to live longer. Other studies also show the correlation between plump hourglass figures and better maternal health.
What's the difference between curvy and full figured? ›
The full figure refers more to the cup size, while plus size means the band size. Bras for curvy women, however, vary both in band and cup size according to the size of their hourglass body shape.
What does being curved by a girl mean? ›
What does curve mean? To curve someone is “to reject” them, that is, veer away from their romantic interests and advances in an indirect, non-confrontational way.
How do you get curves body? ›
To get curves, do strength training exercises that will tone your glutes, hips, and thighs, like squats and step ups. You should also do upper body exercises, like planks and pushups. Try to alternate between upper and lower body workouts so you develop a balanced hourglass figure.
How do you love your curves? ›
- Wear clothes that fit. One of the biggest mistakes that many curvy women make is to try to hide their curves under oversized, baggy pieces or squishing themselves into way-too-tight jeans. ...
- Try out a tailor. ...
- Learn your shape. ...
- Have some balance. ...
- Flaunt your favorite parts. ...
- Bank on basics.
Top hourglass body shape
Considered to be the most attractive body shape, this is very similar to hourglass body shape, except that in this case the curves are more defined.
What does a curvy person look like? ›
What is a Curvy Body Type? Using the term "curvy" twenty years ago, conjured up images of hourglass bombshells with tiny waists and generous busts and hips. It was all about the extreme hip to waist ratio, regardless of size. Today the term "curvy" is used to describe fuller, rounder figures of all proportions.
What is the rarest body type? The hourglass body shape is the rarest body shape as it requires equal bust/shoulder and hip proportions with a dramatically smaller waist size.
Why do men love curves? ›
Without knowing it, it appears that men are attracted to a woman's curvy figure because it signals an abundance of DHA supply. In addition, a smaller waist signals that she is less likely to be a mother so her potential to bear children is completely untapped.
Is curvy considered plus size? ›
Contrary to popular belief you can be plus-size 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.
How do I dress to look less curvy? ›
- Buy new underwear. ...
- Choose a V-neck. ...
- Wear one color head to toe. ...
- Use bodysuits and swing tanks as smoothers. ...
- Stick to no-waist dresses for belly camouflage. ...
- Add some height. ...
- Only put volume where you need it most. ...
- Pair your plain black pants with a statement top.
10 Tips To Accentuate Your Curves
- 1) Colour Blocking. ...
- 2) Focus on Clothes Tailor-Made for Your Body. ...
- 3) Wear A Belt. ...
- 4) Try High Heels. ...
- 5) Wear Clothes with A Lower Neckline. ...
- 6) Consider Wrap-Style Dresses and Tops. ...
- 7) Stick to Fitted Clothes. ...
- 8) Consider Off-The-Shoulder Tops.
In lingerie sizing, full-figured bras are anything larger than a D cup, irrespective of your band. In clothing, you may wear a size 0 or a size 22! It's not really correlated to any other part of your body, just the size of your breasts.
What is the perfect woman body size? ›
The specific proportions of 36–24–36 inches (90-60-90 centimeters) have frequently been given as the "ideal", or "hourglass" proportions for women since at least the 1960s (these measurements are, for example, the title of a hit instrumental by The Shadows).
What is the difference between regular and curvy? ›
Q: What are the measurement differences for curvy jeans? A: Most women's jeans use a 10” hip vs. waist measurement, but curvy is designed with a 13” difference for more room at the thigh and hips. For example, if your hips measure 41” and your waist measures 28”, you have a 13” hip vs.
How can you tell if you're being curved? ›
Basically, it's when you start being low-key distant and detached to show someone you're not interested. So instead of coming out and saying, "I don't think we're a good match," curvers will take hours, or even days, to answer a text message with a biting "k"—that's it.
What does getting curves mean? ›
In short, "getting curved" means getting rejected, and it's usually applied in a romantic context. These days, everyone's trying to get their swerve on in group settings, and for many, it's the first time they've dipping their toes into the dating pool since forever.
Not every guy is the same, but, typically, when he says he wants to take it slow, it “indicates a desire for the pace in which intimacy, connection, feelings, and commitments grow in a relationship to be one that feels comfortable," according to Thomas Edwards Jr., founder of The Professional Wingman.
How do I get rid of my flat bum? ›
Here are some exercises to get you started.
- Squats. To do this: Stand with your feet hip distance apart with your toes slightly turned out to the side. ...
- Lunge presses. To do this: ...
- Fire hydrant lifts. To do this: ...
- Leg lifts. To do this: ...
- Bridge presses. To do this: ...
- Single-leg deadlifts.
- Reclining side leg exercises. To do this:
The stereotypically attractive female body shape is an hourglass figure, which includes wide hips, a narrow waist, and broad shoulders.
How do you become confident with curves? ›
Boost your body confidence by engaging in body positive self-talk and by surrounding yourself with body positive friends. Wear clothes confidently by dressing for your body type, accentuating the body parts you love and by accessorizing. Remember that being healthy and having curves are not mutually exclusive.
How do you feel confident with curves? ›
5 Ways to Feel Confident with Your Curves
- Eat and Sweat. ...
- Find your look. ...
- Forget About the Scale. ...
- Find Someone to Love Your Curves With You. ...
- Get Up and Get Out.
It's All About The Midriff In 2022
With low rise jeans and crop tops back in fashion, it is no surprise that the focus for body type trends is on the midriff. Low cut trousers work to elongate the top half of the body, and this is the look that everyone is going for this year.
What is the most attractive weight for a girl? ›
These studies have found that a low waist to hip ratio (WHR) of approximately 0.7 [9] and a low Body Mass Index (BMI; weight scaled for height) of approximately 18–19 kg/m2 [10] are perceived as most attractive in female bodies, while a low waist to chest ratio (WCR) of approximately 0.7, and relatively high BMI ( ...
What body shape is the least healthy? ›
Apple Shape
Abdominal obesity is probably the most dangerous of all, and apple body shape is considered at the highest risk for health issues compared to the other body types. Larger waists can mean higher risk of heart disease.
Who has the best curvy body? ›
Kim Kardashian
American celebrity socialite, model, actress and television personality beat the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Kate Winslet to the number one slot for the most curvaceous celebrity figure.
What is the most popular body shape? ›
The most common body shape is a rectangle, which makes up 46% of women. A rectangle is a woman whose waist is less than nine inches smaller than their hips or bust. Next are the bottom-heavy 'spoons', whose hips are two or more inches larger than their busts.
Contrary to the body shapes of most supermodels, the hourglass figure is more round and curvy, with a well-defined waistline, fuller hips and bust/chest and generous thighs.
Are you born with a body type? ›
People are born with an inherited body type based on skeletal frame and body composition. Most people are unique combinations of the three body types: ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph.
Do guys care if you're curvy? ›
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.
Why do guys look at my hips? ›
Men also tended to look at a woman's chest and hip regions if they were showing romantic interest, which Bahns noted aligns with previous research that says this is due to men's evolutionary focus on women's ability to reproduce. There was a caveat, though.
Why are guys attracted to hips? ›
Men find wider hips more attractive because once again, they signal fertility and good genes for mating. Psychologist Devendra Singh conducted a study of people's waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and found that men were most attracted to women with a WHR of 0.7.
Is it good to have curvy hips? ›
The advantages of wide hips
The truth is, it's healthy for women to have curves, especially since hips have a biological purpose. “Women are built completely different than men, and it's for a biological purpose,” explains Dr. Heather Bartos, a board-certified OB-GYN.
Why are my hips getting bigger? ›
We all do tend to fatten up with age, although there are interesting differences based on age and gender. Hormones drive the deposition of fat around the pelvis, buttocks, and thighs of women and the bellies of men.
What causes hip fat? ›
When you eat a diet filled with processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and sugary drinks, it results in stubborn fat on your abdomen, hips, and buttocks. These types of foods lead to insulin resistance, which leads to increased fat storage, ending in fat that's hard to lose.
Is 36 inch hips small? ›
A. Usually, we consider hip sizes above 36 or 37 inches curvy and hip sizes below 34 to be a slim silhouette. Also, the waist-to-hip ratios of curvy individuals are often in the range of 0.7 to 0.8.
Does curvy mean plus-size? ›
Contrary to popular belief you can be plus-size 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.
Q: What are the measurement differences for curvy jeans? A: Most women's jeans use a 10” hip vs. waist measurement, but curvy is designed with a 13” difference for more room at the thigh and hips. For example, if your hips measure 41” and your waist measures 28”, you have a 13” hip vs.
What type of body shape is most attractive? ›
Top hourglass body shape
Considered to be the most attractive body shape, this is very similar to hourglass body shape, except that in this case the curves are more defined.
What are curves on a woman? ›
Curves are breasts, hips, butts thighs, etc. and their ratio in comparison to waistlines and other parts of the body. With this in mind, one can be petite and still be considered curvy. In the same way, one could be plus size and also be considered curvy.
How do I know if I'm plus size? ›
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.
Is Curvy a hourglass figure? ›
The hourglass body shape is beautiful and curvy and has some distinct characteristics. You may have curvier thighs and more rounded edges to your full-frame than some of the other body types. What is this? Your clothes will need to be fitted in the chest, hips, and waist for the most flattering and balanced outfits.
Do guys like wide hips? ›
Slim Waist, Wide Hips, Instant Attraction
In a landmark research conducted by the late Devendra Singh, she found that men rate women as most attractive when they have a waist size that's 60 to 70 percent of their hip size. And guess who is the archetype of the ideal female body type that's most attractive to men?
What is the ideal female body in 2022? ›
However, they largely shared the same viewpoint on the "ideal" female body type. According to their responses, the "ideal" woman would be 5'5", weigh between 121-130 pounds, and have a 25 or 26-inch waist.
