BWH
Encyclopedia
BWH is an abbreviation of bust
, waist
, and hip measurement. Also informally called vital statistics, these measurements are a common method of specifying body proportions
for the purpose of fitting clothes. It is also often used in women's personal ads or Internet profiles to indicate their appearance. In human body measurement
, the three sizes are the circumference
s of bust, waist and hips
; usually rendered as three sizes: xx-yy-zz in inch
es (though centimeters can be used). The three sizes are used mostly in fashion
, and almost exclusively in reference to women.
Height will also affect the presentation of the figure. A woman who is 36-24-36 at 5'2" tall looks different from a woman who is 36-24-36 at 5'8" tall. Since the latter woman's figure has greater distance between measuring points, she will likely appear thinner than her former counterpart, again, even though they share the same "measurements."
Many store mannequins which were traditionally tall and thin in proportion, are being replaced with more shapely models, with biologically appealing BWH ratios.
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
, waist
Waist
The waist is the part of the abdomen between the rib cage and hips. On proportionate people, the waist is the narrowest part of the torso....
, and hip measurement. Also informally called vital statistics, these measurements are a common method of specifying body proportions
Body proportions
While there is significant variation in anatomical proportions between people, there are many references to body proportions that are intended to be canonical, either in art, measurement, or medicine....
for the purpose of fitting clothes. It is also often used in women's personal ads or Internet profiles to indicate their appearance. In human body measurement
Measurement
Measurement is the process or the result of determining the ratio of a physical quantity, such as a length, time, temperature etc., to a unit of measurement, such as the metre, second or degree Celsius...
, the three sizes are the circumference
Circumference
The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....
s of bust, waist and hips
Hip (anatomy)
In vertebrate anatomy, hip refer to either an anatomical region or a joint.The hip region is located lateral to the gluteal region , inferior to the iliac crest, and overlying the greater trochanter of the femur, or "thigh bone"...
; usually rendered as three sizes: xx-yy-zz in inch
Inch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
es (though centimeters can be used). The three sizes are used mostly in fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
, and almost exclusively in reference to women.
BWH measurements and perception
Breast volume will have an effect on the perception of a woman's figure even when BWH measurements are nominally the same. Brassiere band size is measured below the breasts, not at the bust. A woman with measurements of 36A-25-38 will have a different presentation than a woman with measurements of 34C-25-38. These women have ribcage circumferences differing by 2 inches, but when breast tissue is included the measurements are the same. The result is that the latter woman will appear "bustier" than the former due to the apparent difference in bust to hip ratios (narrower shoulders, more prominent breasts) even though they are both technically 37-25-38.Height will also affect the presentation of the figure. A woman who is 36-24-36 at 5'2" tall looks different from a woman who is 36-24-36 at 5'8" tall. Since the latter woman's figure has greater distance between measuring points, she will likely appear thinner than her former counterpart, again, even though they share the same "measurements."
Many store mannequins which were traditionally tall and thin in proportion, are being replaced with more shapely models, with biologically appealing BWH ratios.