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The ideal or preferred female body size and shape has varied over time and continues to vary among cultures; [46] [47] but a preference for a small waist has remained fairly constant throughout history. [48] A low waist–hip ratio has often been seen as a sign of good health and reproductive potential. [49]
Brassière band size is measured below the breasts, not at the bust. A woman with measurements of 36A–27–38 will have a different presentation than a woman with measurements of 34C–27–38. These women have ribcage circumferences differing by 2 inches, but when breast tissue is included the measurements are the same at 38 inches.
The hourglass figure is one of the four traditional female body shapes described by the fashion industry; the other shapes are the rectangle, inverted triangle, and spoon (or pear). The hourglass shape is defined by a woman's body measurements – the circumference of the bust, waist and hips. Hourglass body shapes have a wide bust, a narrow ...
Skin color contrast has been identified as a feminine beauty standard observed across multiple cultures. [7] Women tend to have darker eyes and lips than men, especially relative to the rest of their facial features, and this attribute has been associated with female attractiveness and femininity, [7] yet it also decreases male attractiveness according to one study. [8]
Mammary glands do not contain muscle tissue. The shape of female breasts is affected by age, genetic factors, and body weight. Women's breasts tend to grow larger after menopause, due to increase in fatty deposits caused by decreasing levels of estrogen. The loss of elasticity from connective tissue associated with menopause also causes sagging.
Women with a relatively low waist-hip ratio (the hourglass figure) is commonly considered attractive. To enhance their perceived attractiveness, some women may artificially alter their apparent WHR. The methods include the use of a corset to reduce the waist size and hip and buttock padding to increase the apparent size of the hips and buttocks.
To help women meet the perceived ideal female body shape, corset and girdle manufacturers used a calculation called hip spring, the difference between waist and hip measurement (usually 10–12 inches (25–30 cm)). [12] The band measurement system was created by U.S. bra manufacturers just after World War II. [citation needed]
There are multiple size types, designed to fit somewhat different body shapes. Variations include the height of the person's torso (known as back length), whether the bust, waist, and hips are straighter (characteristic of teenagers) or curvier (like many adult women), and whether the bust is higher or lower (characteristic of younger and older women, respectively).