How do you define "Curvy?"

ssurvivor

I wasn't exactly sure where to put this, but I figured there would be plenty of differing opinions so here we are.

I recently discovered (within the last year or so) that I'm not on the same page as a lot of people when I describe myself as "curvy." To me, a woman s curvy if there is a significant bust:waist and/or waist:hip ratio.

I have the hardest time finding athletic wear because, if it fits in the bust or hips, it's too loose everywhere else. Nothing is more disruptive to my workouts than having to stop and pull my pants up every 15 minutes - especially when I'm doing a lot of bending and twisting. When I ask people for clothing suggestions, most people say, "you're not curvy" instead of answering my question.😢😢😢

s131951

That is a good question. I agree with your bust;waist and waist:hip ratio. Curves come in all different radii though; starting at different heights. I don't envy your shopping dilemma and you have my sympathy.
Workout in less or something ultra baggy, maybe.

seltzermint555

Yeah, bust/hip and waist/hip ratio. I think a lot of people use it as a nice way to say that someone's heavy or even plus-sized so that's where things get confused. As mentioned above, curvy comes in all sizes and heights.

I'm kind of surprised this is a big issue with athletic wear though, since most of it has a lot of stretch to it. I assume you have tried this already, but as a curvy woman who usually wears a size 10 and M/L, I actually have some size S shorts & leggings for this reason and they do fit well and stay in place - even with much bigger than average hips. I could never wear something non-stretchy in size small. Your mileage may vary of course.

s131951

When does it become plus-size? I think women of different sizes can be curvy. Technically everyone has curves, but I understand the idea. I think there are women that have oodles of muscle definition that could fit into curvy, but maybe that would classify as fit?

tcunbeliever

To me curvy is big bust and hips relative to waist size

I'm kind of curvy, but also tall and long in the torso, so if it fits in the bust/hips it's probably baggy at the waist and too short in the arms or legs or the waist is too high for my actual body

for athletic stuff I have had good luck with the legging and tanks on Amazon...I'm a geek and usually go for super hero stuff...Mad Ink, Coco and Conceited have one-size legging that seem to stay in place as I move around and there's a lot of stretch in the waistband, so they go over my hips without a struggle...plus, it's Amazon, so if it doesn't fit returns are a piece of cake, though I haven't had any issues with the one-size leggings not fitting...they are still a bit short, but they go mostly to my ankles, and they don't ride up when I move, which is good enough for me...they do only last about 2-3 years before all the stretch starts to not be so stretchy and they start shifting around, but by then it's time for new super heroes anyway.

s131951

Also, apologies for wedging my way in. I just thought I'd venture my opinion.

seltzermint555

s131951 wrote: »

When does it become plus-size? I think women of different sizes can be curvy. Technically everyone has curves, but I understand the idea. I think there are women that have oodles of muscle definition that could fit into curvy, but maybe that would classify as fit?

I think if you wear size 14-16 and up, you're a plus-sized woman. But when I mentioned that above, I meant that a lot of people in society in general just say "curvy" to mean plus sized, even though a person can be larger and not curvy at all, they could have a straight build, be small-chested or apple shape without having wide hips and smaller waist.

I think super muscular and fit women who have big bust and/or hips relative to their waists are definitely curvy.

ssurvivor

Thanks for your suggestion! I don't feel entirely comfortable in ultra baggy or barely there clothing (a baggy top once fell completely off during a Pilates class and one of the yoga classes I teach has a lot of men), but it's definitely worth a shot if it will keep the wardrobe malfunctions at bay.


I completely agree with your comment about curves coming in different radii. Even in my own body, I noticed a marked difference between my before weight gain, after weight gain, and after weight loss dimensions.

InspectorRed

seltzermint555 wrote: »

s131951 wrote: »

When does it become plus-size? I think women of different sizes can be curvy. Technically everyone has curves, but I understand the idea. I think there are women that have oodles of muscle definition that could fit into curvy, but maybe that would classify as fit?

I think if you wear size 14-16 and up, you're a plus-sized woman. But when I mentioned that above, I meant that a lot of people in society in general just say "curvy" to mean plus sized, even though a person can be larger and not curvy at all, they could have a straight build, be small-chested or apple shape without having wide hips and smaller waist.

I think super muscular and fit women who have big bust and/or hips relative to their waists are definitely curvy.

I think you are quite right about society using "curvy" as a "polite" way to say overweight. I have always thought of curvy figures as being that classic hourglass shape, small waist in relation to the bust and hips.

rheddmobile

Most of my running tights have an interior drawstring inside the waistband - they fit like normal leggings but you can pull it up and tie it - hidden on the inside - if the waist is in danger of slipping. Look for tights with this feature.

LyndaBSS

Curvy is in the eye of the beholder.

penfrydd

I guess I need to check my glasses. I thought the question was about curry!

ssurvivor

penfrydd wrote: »

I guess I need to check my glasses. I thought the question was about curry!

Haha! That would certainly make an interesting question too!

lynn_glenmont

I read it as curry. I was expecting a discussion as heated as barbecue or chili debate.

Theoldguy1

InspectorRed wrote: »

seltzermint555 wrote: »

s131951 wrote: »

When does it become plus-size? I think women of different sizes can be curvy. Technically everyone has curves, but I understand the idea. I think there are women that have oodles of muscle definition that could fit into curvy, but maybe that would classify as fit?

I think if you wear size 14-16 and up, you're a plus-sized woman. But when I mentioned that above, I meant that a lot of people in society in general just say "curvy" to mean plus sized, even though a person can be larger and not curvy at all, they could have a straight build, be small-chested or apple shape without having wide hips and smaller waist.

I think super muscular and fit women who have big bust and/or hips relative to their waists are definitely curvy.

I think you are quite right about society using "curvy" as a "polite" way to say overweight. I have always thought of curvy figures as being that classic hourglass shape, small waist in relation to the bust and hips.

Yep, politically correct term. Google curvy woman and most of the images are those of people in the high end of overweight or obese.

Sort of like "dad bod" pc term for fat and out of shape.

psychod787

My definition
https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rubenesque

Safari_Gal_

To me - curvy has always been an hourglass shape or shape as in photo— but I think the term has been co-opted as a more P.C. word for chunky +

CSARdiver

The Golden Ratio - 1.618.

Ideally bodybuilders strive for a complimentary measurement 1.618x greater or lesser than another - thinking hips to waist, bicep head to brachii (median), etc.

hesn92

To me curvy just means a bigger hip to waist ratio. I know a lot of people call overweight in general "curvy" which I think is just them trying to use a more positive sounding word than "fat" or "overweight." But they are not the same thing to me. "curvy" style jeans come in all sizes including the smaller ones. They're just made for women with wider hips and/or bigger butts in comparison to the rest of their body...

nooshi713

Safari_Gal_ wrote: »

To me - curvy has always been an hourglass shape or shape as in photo— but I think the term has been co-opted as a more P.C. word for chunky +

Agree with this.

MikePfirrman

Whatever weight my wife has weighed over the years of marriage. 30 years this year.

s131951

I was going say that visual aids are helpful

whmscll

I have a 10 inch difference between my waist and hips but a small bust and a long torso. Nobody has ever described me as curvy.

Orphia

ssurvivor wrote: »

I recently discovered (within the last year or so) that I'm not on the same page as a lot of people when I describe myself as "curvy." To me, a woman s curvy if there is a significant bust:waist and/or waist:hip ratio.

I think that's how many men like "curvy" to be.

Whereas now, I see many women saying they're curvy meaning "having curves" as opposed to being visibly muscly or bony.

When I ask people for clothing suggestions, most people say, "you're not curvy" instead of answering my question.😢😢😢

I strongly suggest to everyone to learn how to sew, repair, alter, and upcycle clothes, not only to solve problems like this.

Far, far too much fabric goes into landfill.

"Fast fashion" and the fashion industry is the world's 6th biggest contributor to ocean, water, air, and land degradation & pollution, and causes terrible inequality to women and low-income countries.

vanityy99

Safari_Gal_ wrote: »

To me - curvy has always been an hourglass shape or shape as in photo— but I think the term has been co-opted as a more P.C. word for chunky +

I guess there’s levels to curvy. This girl is killin em.

NadNight

Initially I thought curvy was almost synonymous to an hourglass shape with a waist measurement over 10 inches smaller than bust and hips. However I technically have an hourglass figure in measurements but I wouldn’t be described as ‘curvy’ as I’m more pancake like from the side 😂 so I think ‘curvy’ is an hourglass in 3D- fairly prominent boobs and bum rather than a shape purely from bone structure

lorrpb

Women seem to say “curvy” when they dislike their hip or bust size. Some clothing brands identify the actual measurement differences between styles like regular cut, slim cut, and curvy cut.
Re: a comment van I’ve, I don’t consider 14-16 as “plus” size. They’re regular sizes. Plus sizes are 1x, 2x etc. which usually starts at size 18-20.

gradchica27

InspectorRed wrote: »

seltzermint555 wrote: »

s131951 wrote: »

When does it become plus-size? I think women of different sizes can be curvy. Technically everyone has curves, but I understand the idea. I think there are women that have oodles of muscle definition that could fit into curvy, but maybe that would classify as fit?

I think if you wear size 14-16 and up, you're a plus-sized woman. But when I mentioned that above, I meant that a lot of people in society in general just say "curvy" to mean plus sized, even though a person can be larger and not curvy at all, they could have a straight build, be small-chested or apple shape without having wide hips and smaller waist.

I think super muscular and fit women who have big bust and/or hips relative to their waists are definitely curvy.

I think you are quite right about society using "curvy" as a "polite" way to say overweight. I have always thought of curvy figures as being that classic hourglass shape, small waist in relation to the bust and hips.

Agree. I prefer “curvy fit” jeans to accommodate larger thighs and hips and a smaller waist, even though I’m slim overall. Alas, the legs are getting proportionally bigger and waist smaller, so now even this fit is a tad too big in the waist and tends to slip down. Still thankful they offer this fit in smaller sizes—the straight through the waist/hip/thigh just does not work for me.

I dislike co-opting “curvy” as a synonym for plus size. It goes hand in hand with the “real women have curves” dig at slim women (so I’m not a “real woman”? I thought “all bodies are beautiful”?)

Adorable shop assistant told me I had to “fit my curves” first—referring to my shoulders. So not having a big chest or butt doesn’t discount you as curvy—I’ll rock my big thighs and shoulders to be “curvy”.

seltzermint555

lorrpb wrote: »

Women seem to say “curvy” when they dislike their hip or bust size. Some clothing brands identify the actual measurement differences between styles like regular cut, slim cut, and curvy cut.
Re: a comment van I’ve, I don’t consider 14-16 as “plus” size. They’re regular sizes. Plus sizes are 1x, 2x etc. which usually starts at size 18-20.

I didn't "disagree" with your post - but I don't necessarily think the same way on this either.
Most stores seem to consider regular misses sizes as ending with 12, and 14 begins the plus category.
But I also think it's interesting a 12 or 14 at Lane Bryant (for example) is much larger than a 12 or 14 at other retailers like Eddie Bauer and Gap (in my past experience). I dunno the "answer" to this really.

I have also seen clothes labeled as 1X (14-16) or 1X (18-20). Confusing for sure!

Back on this topic, I had someone telling me recently that I'm too skinny to be considered curvy. This made me laugh as I am definitely NOT skinny. I currently wear 34DD bra and can only fit my size 10 pants if they have stretch or are cut to fit my WIDE hips. Some people really have it in their minds these days that curvy now means very large ladies.

corinasue1143

seltzermint555 wrote: »

lorrpb wrote: »

Women seem to say “curvy” when they dislike their hip or bust size. Some clothing brands identify the actual measurement differences between styles like regular cut, slim cut, and curvy cut.
Re: a comment van I’ve, I don’t consider 14-16 as “plus” size. They’re regular sizes. Plus sizes are 1x, 2x etc. which usually starts at size 18-20.

I didn't "disagree" with your post - but I don't necessarily think the same way on this either.
Most stores seem to consider regular misses sizes as ending with 12, and 14 begins the plus category.
But I also think it's interesting a 12 or 14 at Lane Bryant (for example) is much larger than a 12 or 14 at other retailers like Eddie Bauer and Gap (in my past experience). I dunno the "answer" to this really.

I have also seen clothes labeled as 1X (14-16) or 1X (18-20). Confusing for sure!

Back on this topic, I had someone telling me recently that I'm too skinny to be considered curvy. This made me laugh as I am definitely NOT skinny. I currently wear 34DD bra and can only fit my size 10 pants if they have stretch or are cut to fit my WIDE hips. Some people really have it in their minds these days that curvy now means very large ladies.

Haven’t checked lately, but several years ago, a 16w was the same bust and hip size as an 18 misses. This would explain why a Lane Bryant 12(woman’s) is bigger than a Gap12 (miss).

sarabear500

Curvy is pear shaped or hourglass shape in my opinion. I'm pear shaped and even at my fittest (like 6 pack abs fit) I was a curvy girl. Pants never fit right. Too small in the booty but right hem length. Just right in the booty but too long in the hem length. I learned to sew pretty fast. When I think curvy I also think like brazillian girls. Most are curvy and thick and super fit. Break that one down!