Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm curious about it.  Does wearing a corset make your waist smaller and your hips wider?  I want to have a good hip-to-waist ratio.  I see so many transgender women who have just a straight line from their shoulders down to their waist.  That doesn't pass at all.  It makes them get read right away.  Does estrogen have anything to do with hips and waists?  Or do you have to train for it and work out to get that slim waist? 

Waist training doesn't make your hips wider. With a lot of discipline and patience though, yes, it can make a waist smaller so it does affect the hip:waist ratio. The changes are mostly temporary, but some of it supposedly lasts after diligent and long time wear. Estrogen can increase hip size due to the redistribution of body fat to a female pattern.

Best thing to do is lose weight from the old male pattern, work your obliques (called the natural corset for a reason), lower body muscles like squats, and gain some weight when(if) the new body pattern kicks in. It takes years.

estrogen and diet and exercise can give you a waist in a couple of months...I got one like that...couch potatoing puts fat on the waist and fast hard walking burns it off so choose your lifestyle.
corsets may not work depending on what you rib cage is like.

I've used a waist training corset for about 6 months now. I haven't used it as much as I should according to the guidelines but I've definitely seen some reshaping in my waist area, and it's not from weight loss or hormones. Normal corset results may be temporary but at least I have not regretted buying a waist training corset and I plan on using it more.  :) (+it straightens your back nicely when you sit so it helps with slouching there!)

Quote from: sysm29 on March 01, 2012, 12:53:02 PM
I see so many transgender women who have just a straight line from their shoulders down to their waist.

The simplest solution for that is to wear fitted clothes and make use of belts.  I never fail to be amazed by how badly many articles of female clothing are cut, as many won't emphasise the waist at all.  My pet theory is that it's due to the average person being fatter these days :)  But anyway, there's only a few brands in the UK that reliably cut their clothes correctly in my opinion. 

As for corsets, I've waist trained myself.  I did similar research a while ago and it was disappointing to see that it does look like you need to wear them an 'extreme' amount to see long term results.  But I've always loved corsets so it didn't put me off in the slightest.

In my experience, it's best to avoid the cheap ebay corsets.  They're fun for a few hours wear, but they won't do the trick for actual waist training.  I spent a bit more to get them custom made for my exact measurements.  The fit was much better so I could easily wear them for extended periods with tight lacing.

Meal time then becomes interesting!  You phyiscally can't fit a medium sized meal in to your stomach.  It must be what having a gastric band feels like :)  Also sparkling wine became difficult as the bubbles do strange things to me when I'm corsetted.

Another fun thing to do is to order dresses for a corsetted waist size.  The results are dramatic :) 

So yes, I'd say have fun with it if you feel like it, but don't invest too much expectation in it giving you a better hip-to-waist ratio long term.

Quote from: sysm29 on March 01, 2012, 12:53:02 PM
I see so many transgender women who have just a straight line from their shoulders down to their waist.  That doesn't pass at all.

So are you saying because I do have that curve and I'm ftm, I don't pass at all?

Quote from: sysm29 on March 01, 2012, 12:53:02 PM
I'm curious about it.  Does wearing a corset make your waist smaller and your hips wider?  I want to have a good hip-to-waist ratio.  I see so many transgender women who have just a straight line from their shoulders down to their waist.  That doesn't pass at all.  It makes them get read right away.  Does estrogen have anything to do with hips and waists?  Or do you have to train for it and work out to get that slim waist?

Some people have acceptable results with a corset, some don't..

And I don't know where you live, but here in Australia, there's a whole bunch of women who either have no waist or no hips, so it's not something that I see as a passing issue.. Oh, and guess what? The only people who actively go around in daily life looking to spot trans people are other trans people.. HRT is giving me hips, but even with a fairly straight line, I'm not seen as anything but a woman.. Even the woman who fitted me for a bra today didn't look twice or give me a funny look.

You could end up with a thin waist average 'male' hips and very few clothes that will fit. There seems to be a none too subtle policy to keep designing clothes for people who are getting 'larger' and pretending that they are still smaller. Two years ago I was pretty safe with a size 12 waist (Australian) I'm now a ten and sometimes an eight. I have not lost weight but clothes have got bigger. So if you alter your waist/hip  far from average you may have to find more expensive and maybe custom fitted clothes.

Quote from: Jayr on March 01, 2012, 11:29:38 PM
So are you saying because I do have that curve and I'm ftm, I don't pass at all?

The 3:2:3 (breast-waist-hips) ratio is supposed to be the "ideal" for female sexual attractiveness. It is a visible genetic clue to the potential male mate that the female is mature and healthy enough for child-bearing.

damn! I'm 3-2.2-2.8  fail.

I have no idea if it works, but I just like wearing a corset.
I need a better one though, maybe if I had a job my first few paychecks would buy an antique whale bone corset.

Quote from: Zylphia on March 02, 2012, 02:23:39 PM
I have no idea if it works, but I just like wearing a corset.
I need a better one though, maybe if I had a job my first few paychecks would buy an antique whale bone corset.

And my Measurements are 34-32-34
with my corset I am 34 27 34

Is it considered less healthy to wear a corset if you are already smaller in the waist? I'm 33-27-35 and I kinda want to get to a 24-25" waist, even if just temporarily  :)

Victorian ladies found their livers or kidneys got steps in them from being pressed by the upper edge of corsets...this won''t be a poblem until the medical college that gets your donated body opens you up for research.

Quote from: lilacwoman on March 02, 2012, 01:41:15 PM
damn! I'm 3-2.2-2.8  fail.

Being close, as in horseshoes, can earn you points!

Quote from: Renee D on March 02, 2012, 11:30:27 PM
I almost used Jaime D as my username, but then I didn't want any confusion to ensue when I saw yours.

Unknown to me, there was already a jamied.  I like "Renee."  Is it pronounced wren-nay  As in the song "Don't walk away Renee"?

Beautiful name.
Beautiful song.

 YES I am all about it, gotta get one!. I am former downhill ski racer super-g and the downhill were my specialty. You can change your body! I am thin on top an big on the bottom! It takes the right diet and exercise. Have you ever seen a fat mans wrist where he wear a tight watch for a long time The fat will not stay there due to the restriction. Same with his belt line. Bones will shape even after 50 it just takes longer like braces on your teeth, it's bone and it moves very slowly, exercise speeds it up a lil burns fat with diet. So i am getting one ASAP, you will get a lasting result in the long run and look good meanwhile. I am totally quit in my body when I am in girl mode. So the restriction is not a prob. I normally play it both ways "Androgyne" But I have my super fem moments too. Just short of a dress and heavy make up, Sad as I have terrific legs. Yeah a Skier and no surgery scars? "arthroscopic's" I lucked out there Too. I will keep you all posted as of 11/1, wish me luck!

If you OWN IT it will happen. Mx Clear Raines :-*

I just bought two corsets online and I had never worn one before and when I put it on I took a picture and I realized that I put it on upside down and was wondering why it wasn't fitting better but I tried again and I just fell in love with them and I just love wearing them both, they feel so good. They button up in the front and I had to do some tweaking to the laces in back to get the best fit and now I love wearing them to bed and they make me feel so femme. I might just have to buy some more and have every color of the rainbow in corsets lol

I waist train quiet abit! I do think I have seen slight changes in my waist!
Wait to I check my measurements, it may also be HRT mind,
Started at , 70kg, waist 30", top of hips 33", bottom of hips was 37"
Now Im at,  65kg, waist 28", top of hips 33", bottom of hips is still 37"

I have lost so much weight, though it was hard to gain much hip or butt growth
My neck was 14.5" now its 14"
My shoulders have gone from 24" across to 18.5"
Even my arms dropped from 12" to 10.5"

No excercise either, must start squating when my hormones are in perfect female range!
Waist training I do enjoy so it really doesn't bother me either to wear em half a day

I would love to hear of anyones changes if they followed them well

Corsets would be difficult buying online; almost like shoes; I would want to try them on before buying.
Know what you mean by guys with no hips, kelly - aus.  I always wanted to try one of those stretchable pencil skirts, but that's beyond present day reality.