Hip and buttock padding is used to increase the apparent size of the

hips In vertebrate anatomy, the hip, or coxaLatin ''coxa'' was used by Celsus in the sense "hip", but by Pliny the Elder in the sense "hip bone" (Diab, p 77) (: ''coxae'') in medical terminology, refers to either an anatomical region or a joint ...

and

buttocks The buttocks (: buttock) are two rounded portions of the exterior anatomy of most mammals, located on the posterior of the pelvic region. In humans, the buttocks are located between the lower back and the perineum. They are composed of a lay ...

in order to increase apparent waist-hip ratio which implies more feminine body shape. It is used by people of various genders: cis and

trans Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". Used alone, trans may refer to: Sociology * Trans, a sociological term which may refer to: ** Transgender, people who identify themselves with a gender that di ...

women wishing to emphasize feminine curves and increase their physical attractiveness, and cross-dressers either to pass or create an exaggerated figure, as in drag performance. This technique is often used by

drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses Drag (entertainment), drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate Femininity, female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have ...

s to create the illusion of a feminine figure, often taking it to the extreme for comedic value.

Garment types

These garments can be broadly classed as pre-made, made to measure, and homemade.

Pre-made

Padded underwear with pockets into which sections of padding can be inserted are marketed by companies catering to crossdressers. Many of these premade garments are often criticised for looking lumpy or false.

Made to measure

At least one company specialises in manufacturing custom made garments specifically designed from the purchaser's measurements. These garments are more expensive than pre-made or homemade garments but are generally well made.

Homemade

The cheapest form of hip and buttock padding is homemade. Information on making padding is available on web sites and in at least one book.Kalina Isato. ''Lower Torso Enhancement'', TransVamp Publications Ltd, 2000. ISBN none Using the person's own measurements and a table of comparative measurements,Barbara Lynn's ''Body numerics''
/ref> it is possible to determine how thick the padding needs to be at various places, such as the widest point on the hips and the fullest point on the buttocks. Homemade padding is usually made by cutting a block of high-density polyurethane foam rubber to shape. This is the same type of foam as used for

upholstery Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word also refers to the materials used to upholster something. ''Upholstery'' comes from the Middle English wor ...

. The most common tool used for shaping the foam for this application is an

electric knife An electric carving knife or electric knife is an electrical kitchen device used for slicing foods. The device consists of two serrated blades that are clipped together. When the appliance is switched on, the blades continuously move lengthways ...

. The block is usually cut as a flat piece which is wrapped around the hips and buttocks, rather than being carved as a curved piece. The foam is carved only on the ''inside'', so that the outside surface remains smooth. The padding is usually worn inside a compression garment such as one intended to be worn by females to lift and shape the buttocks.

References

{{Transgender footer Gender transition Cross-dressing Fashion Transgender women-related topics

Padding Padding is thin cushioned material sometimes added to clothes. Padding may also be referred to as batting or wadding when used as a layer in lining quilts or as a packaging or stuffing material. When padding is used in clothes, it is often done in ...

Garment types

Pre-made

Made to measure

Homemade

See also

References