Thread: Hourglass figure

I was hoping someone might be able to settle an arguement that came up between some friends last night. After a few cocktails the conversation turned to wiggle skirts, the hourglass figure and Marilyn Monroe.
What is a true hourglass figure, for example would it be 36C 26 36 or 32D 26 36, is the meassurement the over or under bust? Marilyn is said to have been a size 16, yet her bio says she was 35C 22 35 which seems more like a 6-8.

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Its not about specific measurements because someone could gain and loose weight but still adhere to the hourglass figure. (Like Marylin Monroe who yo-yo dieted her whole life)
In a woman with a true hourglass figure, the measurements of hips and bust are essentially the same, and the waist measurement is equal to less than 75% of either the hip or bust measurement.

You measure across the top of the bust (the widest part).

Originally Posted by Rose De Vine

I was hoping someone might be able to settle an arguement that came up between some friends last night. After a few cocktails the conversation turned to wiggle skirts, the hourglass figure and Marilyn Monroe.
What is a true hourglass figure, for example would it be 36C 26 36 or 32D 26 36, is the meassurement the over or under bust? Marilyn is said to have been a size 16, yet her bio says she was 35C 22 35 which seems more like a 6-8.

There are multiple versions of Marilyn Monroe's "official" measurements but those measurements you've provided would make her a vintage size 12, which in modern sizing would be a UK 8-10, or a US 4-6.

It's the ratio of fat distribution between bust, waist and hips. It has also been proposed that ideally, this ratio will be as close to or match the 'golden ratio' - which represents the ideal in nature. [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio]Golden ratio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

It is reasoned in Evolutionary Psychology that the 'hourglass' figure is determined by healthy hormone levels, i.e. oestrogen in particular, which suggests to the male of the species that this proportionally curvy female is fertile, hence it being a major factor in sexual attractiveness.

Other factors are symmetry, strong hair/nails, clear complexion - these are signifiers of a 'freedom from pathogens' in infancy and general adult health indicating that the fertile woman will be likely to successfully carry the child to full term.