IN FORM®

By Marcy Montgomery Jones
Naomi & Nicole®

Have you ever taken the time to notice the differences among women’s bodies?  Not in a “hot-or-not” sense, but in the way women are really shaped.  Thanks to current fashion trends, like fitted waists and skinny pants, people-watching affords everyone a front row seat for the display of female body silhouettes.  Consistent patterns of weight distribution across all women allows us to group these feminine figures into a few distinct categories.  I’ve previously written articles about pear-shaped and apple-shaped women, but today’s post is about those lucky ladies who have hourglass-shaped bodies.  Hourglasses have balanced bust-to-hip ratios with narrower, defined waists.  Their weight is somewhat evenly distributed throughout both their upper and lower bodies.  When weight is gained, increased fat is stored in the hips, buttocks, arms, and chest before other areas, like the upper abdomen and waist.  A majority of our society’s iconic beauties, including Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren, have had hourglass figures.  And the heads of men and women today continue to be turned by Venuses such as Scarlett Johansson and Sofia Vergara.

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By Marcy Montgomery Jones
Naomi & Nicole®

Why is the body of one woman often shaped so differently from that of another?  Though our figures are greatly affected by a variety of factors, perhaps the most important one is the way in which our body fat is stored.  Though body fat distribution varies from one person to the next, enough similarities can be found among large groups that women can be placed in one of several different body-type classifications.  In a recent post, I wrote about pears .  This post is dedicated to a second, fruit-shaped group known as “apples.”  Who are apples?  Apples are women whose fat is primarily located in their abdomens, and who are proportionally larger on top than they are on the bottom.  This top-to-bottom imbalance often makes it difficult for them to find clothing that flatters their figures.  Apples also often have excess upper and lower back fat, and usually have poorly-defined waists.  But, they also tend to have slim legs and thighs.  If you’re an apple, you can count Elizabeth Hurley, Drew Barrymore, and Rosie O’Donnell among your ranks. (more…)

By Marcy Montgomery Jones
Naomi & Nicole®

The shapes of our bodies are greatly affected by a variety of factors.  One such factor is the distribution of body fat.  Though body fat distribution is different for every person, enough similarities across large populations exist that women can be categorized as belonging to one of several groups.  This post is dedicated to the group known as “pears.”  Who are pears?  Pears are women who carry most of their excess body fat in their hips, buttocks, and thighs.  They’re proportionally smaller on top than on the bottom, which can create a visual imbalance and make it difficult to find clothing that fits.  If you’re a pear, take heart.  There are plenty of beautiful celebrities who are pears, such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alicia Keys. (more…)

By Marcy Montgomery Jones
Cupid Intimates

Congratulations on deciding to buy your first item of shapewear!  Young ladies and women buy shapewear for a variety of reasons, but the first garment purchased is always memorable.  For some, the initial experience may be prompted by a big event, like a prom or a wedding.  Often, dresses for these occasions are very form-fitting and require special lingerie pieces, including shapewear.  For others, “dipping their toes into the water” may be inspired by a renewed interest among the general public (encouraged by the media) for wearing shapewear.  Whatever your motivation may be, this post will serve as a road map for choosing the right piece.

Before walking into a store, ask yourself the following questions: (more…)