Hip Envy

[Alisa]

I was just reading through some old threads and came across one entitled "Breast Envy"... It had some interesting perspectives but it occurred to me that the thing that screams woman to me is shapely hips. I can never remember admiring the way a woman's breasts look in an outfit and saying to myself "I wish fill that out like that!"... No but when I see other women in jeans, leggings, yoga pants or a fitted skirt or dress, I often think to myself wow, I wish I could look that good in that outfit. IMO it the hips that makes the woman and yes I think I may have hip envy!

[Davita]

There are three ways to get hips: grow them/rearrange fat; pad the hips; or shrink the waist. I used to shrink the waist with a corset; this is not foreveryone, but I loved the perpetual hug and the look. Body fat sculpting is permanent and simply does your body good -- milk?? Padded hips are easy to find and easy to make look decent enough but you might have to pad your butt too to make all the proportions right.

Myself now that I out grew my corset *sigh* I pretty much go natutal. I can't afford hormones or body sculpting both of which would be my preferred methods. I hate any extra clothing having to worry about making it look right or if it all stayed in place and so on. This leave simple illusions by getting the clothes to accent what you want and de-emphasize what you don't want. For example, hips can be hidden or faked with an A-line or full circle skirt or with a fit and flare dress. Fluff up your bottom half evens out your possible broad shoulders and adds the illusion of a waist.

There are planty of fashion instructions on line for how to use your clothes to show off your body.

[Ralitsa]

ah yes, I suffer from hip envy too.
The last couple years I've been doing like Davita says and trying to shrink the waist. I find that if I could get the waist under control, then I can wear size 6 bottoms which look OK on me.
But the problem comes with dresses, I'd really love to fit into a fit and flare dress properly. I don't have any answers or advice, but I certainly do share this problem.

[Anthony Simon]

I've got both - hip envy and breast envy. Basically I think I'd just really like to have a woman's body and short of that padding will have to do.

I know, when I get dressed up, I do my hip, bum and front padding first. I actually think you need all three to give a respectable look. And I find, when I'm walking about (at home only currently), that the sense of having a woman's body in those areas kind of adds authenticity and makes me go into being a woman.

I have a corset, but I find it so constraining when I sit down that I don't wear it much. I may go for a waist-clincher because I definitely feel I lack that indentation women have just below the bodice.

[Julia]

I suffer from same envy, although hip and butt pads have made huge difference for me. I am huge exercise nut , countless hours biking and jogging which has left me with small waist 29-30 and flat stomach, so has been fairly easy to get the look I want, thought I was only one that didn't have obsession with breasts

[Eileen (SO)]

A 30" waist? I wonder what's that like? Like most men, my guy has very little butt and hips. Cute for a man, not a convincing woman, so she pads hips and butt. Padding does look more proportional with the wider shoulders, it must be hot to wear in the summer though.
Hers are on-line bought. Are homemade types just as convincing?

How a CD dresses can be a challenge to a wife's self esteem. I'm lucky in that my hubby tries to emulate his full figured wife instead of dressing as a skinny little, under fed girl.
We both prefer separates over dresses, she wears skirts more often than I. The right clothing can show off ample bust and hips, yet still minimize a beer gut.

Front padding, Anthony? While I don't have a flat tummy, I didn't think that padding there was necessary to look female.

Eileen

[Anthony Simon]

It depends. I often think people have an obsession with slimness and that stops them thinking about their shape in the round. It's just that if one extends one's shape at the back and the side (quite substantially in my case), it just feels right that you would need to balance that at the front.

I do have a kind of maternal self-image as a woman (don't ask me why, it just comes out like that), so that's part of it. I feel I need a lap. I think that's under-rated amongst CDs.

[Trudy]

I too suffer from hip envy. I do have a bit of a butt, did even before starting hormones and yes it has gotten a bit bigger but alas it is all in the caboose and none in the actual hip area. I still pad there to give me that more mature figure. I do agree with Anthony that too many girls miss the essence of a middle aged woman and her little "mommy" tummy. I know when I was in my 30's and 40's I would pad up front to give me that look, especially when wearing a tighter skirt or slacks. First off I loved the look but also I felt it gave me a more passable shape. In today's world where many women have eschewed pantyhose and heavens forbid they pull on some form of shapewear that tummy bulge is everywhere. Today there is no need to pad up there as I have a tummy but Anthony is right there is something very feminine about that little lap.

[Eileen (SO)]

Oh ouch! A mommy tummy looks natural? I suppose you're right Trudy, just difficult to admit it's true. Looser clothing is much more comfortable than shape wear any time.
I can hardly wait to tell the hubby he has to wear more padding up front to look like his slightly overweight wife!
Too many of you gals I've met look pretty good up top. But as I mentioned, wider shoulders need to be balanced out down below. Skinny hipped women tend to be small up top also.
So pad up ladies and look like you birthed a few babies, you'll blend right in. Meanwhile, I'm going to crack open a bottle of wine and balance the glass on my 'mommy tummy' while watching a stupid chick flick. Reality sucks sometimes.

Eileen

[Trudy]

I can hardly wait to tell the hubby he has to wear more padding up front to look like his slightly overweight wife!
Eileen

Glad you didn't take too much offense at my post Eileen

All kidding aside I know Eileen and most other GG's know what I was speaking of. After all why would control top pantyhose be so common and the rise in the popularity of shapewear exist? Certainly not just for us girls and definitely not for comfort! Yes Eileen you are correct in looser clothing is much more comfortable than a shaper but as I need one to give me hips as well as keep "things" situated I suffer in Lycra and spandex.

I have always been fascinated with the feminine form and shape and hips and tummy bulges are just part of that. the era of my life I referred to was my 30's and 40's and it was the era of women in power suits and heels and I felt it made me appear more feminine to have that little tummy same as I saw on many women dressed like that.

So pad up ladies and look like you birthed a few babies, you'll blend right in. Meanwhile, I'm going to crack open a bottle of wine and balance the glass on my 'mommy tummy' while watching a stupid chick flick. Reality sucks sometimes.

Eileen

As I said in my previous post I have put on a few pounds since those days so the padding up front really isn't necessary anymore. I just shifted them to the hips to give me a more mature look. I do have to admit it feels good to take the girdle off and crack open the bottle of wine. Can I join you watching the chick flick while resting my wine glass on my now natural "mommy" tummy Eileen?

[Eileen (SO)]

I would hope that a forum such as this never becomes so serious that we can't poke a little fun at each other. Of course no offense taken, Trudy!

The caveman instinct was to seek out females with wider hips, easier for childbearing don'tcha know. There still exists a desire to judge women as potential partners based on the hips, derriere, and breasts.
Presenting as a woman, padding bust and butt is not enough. But(t), you all have to do what it takes to make you comfortable.

My guy says that 'her' padded hips make the skirts swing right when walking. That makes sense.

Eileen

[Alisa]

Oh my!

This thread certainly has taken a different path than I thought it would - One might say a curvy path. Giggle

Anyway great discussion. I was just reading some scientific literature (giggle at least what passes for science on the internet) on body composition and came across this article http://www.livescience.com/9834-hourgla ... -drug.html.

And here I thought I had hip envy and really I may just be a hip addict that self medicates.

[Kelly]

Oh Yea, Alisa. if only.

Got the Hip envy. I think for me it is #2 just after waist - and a near second. The overarching theme is a nice hourglass; the full, well proportioned figure is probably my true object of envy.

From what I have observed (of course, flavored by my personal sense of esthetics) is that the hips should be as wide as the shoulders. Alas, my shoulders are broad, so I gotta do some major fat redistribution. I'll get back to you on that.....

There are a lot of how-to video's and write up on home made padding on the internet results look pretty good. Started to, work on a set a while back; but life got in the way and it has been on the back burner. Hmmm, wonder if I'm more interested in thinking about it than doing it?

All that aside, feeling the skirt swish more naturally sounds wonderful.

Kelly.

[Sarah Beth]

Hip envy is one of the big one's on my list. Even for man I have no hip and no butt. I mean even my tool belt wouldn't even stay up. My mom's hips weren't wide even for a woman so I guess I come by it natural. Hip and butt pads help when dressing but honestly I wish I had something more natural so I didn't have to fight getting pads adjusted and then it's just not that comfortable wearing them.

[Martha G]

Though I am stocky, I have very narrow hips and a small behind.

I wish that I was better endowed in that area. I have a pair of hip pads that I wear when dressed in a hoop skirt for costume parties

But they are a pain.

But since I make a very passable woman in all other respects, I guess I should be thankful for that.