what works for you?

[julie4321]

For someone who wants a more womanly figure, and especially someone who is just starting out on their transition, what works best to achieve this?  Corset, padding?  what works best and why?

[Bellaon7]

I never padded anything(even though I'm only an A-cup), but what I did do to get the hour glass was I started corsetting, gradually going tighter & tighter. This actually slowly adjusts fat & the internal organs. I am not of the risks involved, but for me it worked.

[Janet_Girl]

I pad some hips and butt mostly.  I also use a couple of water bras.


Janet

[K8]

I wear breast forms.  I went from flat-chested guy to B-cup woman overnight and no one batted an eye.  I've got to find something smaller, though, because as my own girls grow I'm getting a little busty.

I tried padding my hips when I was CD but found it too uncomfortably warm.  Same goes for corsets.  But then, I'm older and people expect me to be a little dumpy.

- Kate

[Naturally Blonde]

For someone who wants a more womanly figure, and especially someone who is just starting out on their transition, what works best to achieve this?  Corset, padding?  what works best and why?

I haven't got much of a shape but I would hate to wear any sort of false padding. I'm still working on various medications to try and improve my shape and of course excercise helps.

[dyssonance]

Early on, I padded my top. Took them out only to take a shower (even slept in them and a bra). Then boobs came in. They went away.

At the insistence of a person I was working for, I did pad my hips for a short while -- about three months.  I liked the way it looked in the mirror after clothed, but wasn't real happy with it overall -- too much trouble.

So I tend to only think of padding as the hip things -- what is often called "body" in street terms.

So only about three months, starting about four months after I went full time.

What I did start doing was buying clothing that fit my body shape overall in a manner to accentuate what I did have (boobs and legs and some butt), and disguise what I lacked (hips and waist).

For some dresses, I have a waist cincher. Because I get bloated, and I got tired of being asked when I was due or how far along I was.

Insofar as suggestions of what to do starting out, I say do whatever makes you most comfortable.  I *had* to have the boobs in -- they relieved some of the stress I would feel otherwise. The padding just made me itch and didn't have much to do with how others saw me or how I saw myself.

hth

[Kimberley]

Julie, the same question has crossed my mind. Basically I'm OK with my body shape apart from the tummy area that sticks out a little. I would like at least 1 if not 2 inches off it. I have a healthy diet but sitting at a desk 12 to 15 hours a day doesn't help get rid of this mid life spread. Started eating smaller food portions which has helped a little and made drastic cutback to chocolate intake.

I've read about the waist cincher and have considered getting one. At the moment I will try to reduce my tummy with some exercise and if I see no results will give the waist cincher a try. I also do lunges to keep my legs and butt looking good.

[Naturally Blonde]

For someone who wants a more womanly figure, and especially someone who is just starting out on their transition, what works best to achieve this?  Corset, padding?  what works best and why?

It would be cosmetic surgery for my choice but I don't have the money yet! I don't like the idea of padding and try and avoid it if at all possible. You can help the illusion of your shape with the clothes you wear. Don't wear jackets that are too short if you don't have a butt. Wear a longer shaped jacket or coat which makes you look like you have a better more feminine shape. 

[K8]

Yes, clothes can make a big difference. 

There are a number of books out that help you figure out your assets and liabilities and the shapes and styles to emphasize the one and downplay the other.  Shows like "What Not To Wear" also do this, but they usually are dealing with women who are carrying too much weight in their middles or hips rather than having shoulders too broad and/or no hips.  But yes, clothes can definitely help.

- Kate

[Randi]

One thing that will dictate the overall effect is your body type and condition now. If, like me, you have let yourself go for a few years, the corsets and other body shaping articles of clothing will make a big difference quickly. I was a dilligent martial artist and was in great shape (10 years ago) and it has taken several years for my body to get soft again (I'm not fat I'm fluffy). Exercise will help alot but it requires dedication and once you start you need to keep it up.

Randi

[OriSoul]

  I found this link helpful to make a difference in appearance with clothing  https://www.susans.org/reference/clothes.html

[placeholdername]

I'm not on hormones yet, but I'm starting to get the hourglass shape anyway which si weird to say the least.  First off, I've always been thin and a little hippy.  Months ago I started doing occasional side stretches: you stand up straight, and then lean you torso sideays with one arm over your head, to stretch out the side of your torso/waist area, making sure to keep the spine striaght.  I did this whenever I was standing in the kitchen waiting for the microwave.  My waist started getting thinner.  Now it's at the point where I can't even really stretch that way because I never get that sort of stretching-burn feel you're supposed to get from stretching... but my waist is getting thinner anyway?  I don't understand it, but it's happening.

[OriSoul]

That's so cool Ketsy I never thought about doing something like that I'm going to do that now when I heat stuff up hopefully it works for me as well as it did for you