A Guest Blog By M&S

M&S Lingerie Helps Women Fake the Hourglass - No Matter What Body Shape!

The hourglass figure was well and truly on display at last month’s Emmy Awards, with the likes of Christina Hendricks and Kate Winslet pouring their curves into stunning dresses on the red carpet.

However, not all women can be blessed with a big bust, a tiny waist and silky smooth hips, and so M&S is offering quick lingerie fixes to help ladies transform their figure and give the illusion of a much sought-after hourglass silhouette.

Apple to hourglass

Apple shaped ladies are likely to have a good bust and legs, but with weight stored around the tummy - so all that’s needed is some crafty waist synching.

Essential lingerie piece: M&S Body Solutions Firm Control Waist Sculpt™ Cincher

This cincher creates a fashionable hourglass silhouette with its panel design, shaping the tummy and waist whilst still allowing women to wear their own lingerie.

Pear to hourglass

Pear-shaped ladies tend to have fairly bighips or thighs with a slimmer top half and a pretty flat tummy. So, it’s important to draw as much attention as possible to the waist and boost the cleavage.

Essential lingerie piece: M&S 2 Sizes Bigger Push-Up Bra

This lightweight push-up bra is designed for maximum impact and will doubtlessly draw the eye to the upper body. The clever padding gives the appearance of a cleavage 2 cup sizes larger and the bra can been worn with the straps at the back for an extra cleavage boost.

Strawberry to Hourglass

Those with an inverted triangle, or strawberry, body shape will probably have big boobs and/or broad shoulders with a narrow waist and hips. When trying to achieve the perfect hourglass illusion there’s not too much work to do; it’s all about adding shape to those slim hips.

Essential lingerie piece: M&S Body Solutions Waist Sculpt™ Slip Firm Control

This waist slip is a practical essential that strawberries shouldn’t be without. It's perfect for enhancing the look of dresses and skirts and adding volume to the lower body.

Banana to Hourglass

Rectangle-shaped ladieswill be fairly straight up and down, and the stark opposite to an hourglass, making this the trickiest transformation of all! That’s not to say that it’s impossible though.

Essential lingerie piece: M&S Body Solutions Bonded Waist Sculpt™ Body Firm Control

This firm control body gently shapes a rectangle figure all over for a smoother, sleeker silhouette. Its padded cups will add curves to the top half, so that all that’s needed is a full-skirted to dress to bulk out the bottom half.

And for the Natural Hourglasses

Real hourglasses will have a similarly sized bust and hips, with a much smaller, defined waist. This figure needs making the most of with vintage-style lingerie from the original hourglass era.

Essential lingerie piece: Autograph Rose Lace Padded Longline Bra

Elegant and feminine, this longline bra has a rose lace design which shows off an hourglass to its full potential.

Gentle padding and underwiring give a flattering uplifted shape resulting in sophisticated, modern glamour.