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What Are Hip Dips?
Hip dips are an inward curve on each side, just below the hip bone. On some people they are more prominent/noticeable than on others.
Also known as..
- Hip dents
- Violin Hips
- Trochanteric Depression
- High hips
- Shelf hips
- Figure 8/spoon body shape
What Causes Hip Dips?
The indentation which we call hip dents actually is known as the ‘trochanteric depression’ in anatomical terminology.
Hip dips come about because of the shape of your pelvis. If you have very visible violin hips, you’re not a freak, and it’s not a deformity.
This shape usually is caused by having ‘high hips’, for example if your pelvis sits up high and is quite wide, it can mean there is a bit of a dip between your hip bones and where your thigh bone (femur) starts.
As I dug deeper through the bowels of the internet, more research uncovered more names – violin hips is a common way to describe hip dips. It’s a common feature that plastic surgeons sometimes deal with (the solution is to graft fat into the area of the dent to try and round out the shape).
One thing that I did find funny was that a few people mentioned that they always thought this affliction could have been from wearing their underwear in the ‘dip’ location.
I actually thought this might have been a contributing factor as well and to this day, I often adjust my underwear waistband to sit on the offending muffintop that seems to insist on highlighting my hip dips. Just in case the position of the waistband can wear down that annoying bit of fat!!!
How Love Handles Can Contribute
“Love handles”, also known as “muffin top”, refers to those pesky rolls of fat that love to develop on our hip bones.
They are not specifically hip dips, but unfortunately can make the whole hip-dip shape look more noticeable, because you can tend to get this lumpy bit right at the top of the hip dents, which makes them look stand out more.
We’ll look at some tips for how to dress to downplay this feature a little later on.
Does Everyone Have Hip Dips?
It’s hard to say if EVERYONE has hip dips. That’s a pretty big generalization! I’ve read some posts that claim that you will basically have a hip dip if you have a skeleton, which, yeah, is pretty much every human on the planet.
I’m not sure if I agree fully though. I know for a fact that some people don’t have this feature – I’ve got lots of friends who have a nice rounded shape around their hips without any hint of an indent. Plus, I’ve spent years secretly scoping out other females to try and see if their hips looked the same weird way mine did, and found that very few (if any) had the same amount of hip dip that I do.
Don’t forget though, that clothing can hide a lot, so in reality these people probably do have a small hip dip that is not very noticeable.
Realistically though, most people do have some degree of hip dip, so I guess it’s fair to say that having hip dips is very ‘normal’!
I think it’s fully dependent on the individual. I think it’s fair to assume that this trait follows a normal distribution graph (couldn’t help myself, I used to tutor math!) meaning that the majority of people have a slight hip dip, somewhere in between these two extremes.
The number of people having no hip dip, or very prominent hip dip, is probably going to be the minority.
Why Hip Dips Get Such A Bad Rap
A lot of people hate on hip dips, but why?
As a personal sufferer of deep hip dips myself, I feel that I’m pretty qualified to answer this question! For me, the reason why I don’t like my own hip dips is the way they look.
We’ve all grown up with the perception of feminine beauty, and it’s the traditional curvy, hourglass figure. A narrow waist that curves out to a nice butt and hips looks awesome, in my opinion.
My violin hips are one of my most disliked body features. That’s not to say that I constantly am hating on myself or anyone else that has hip dips, but it definitely is one of the features I would rather not have. Not many people I know has them as prominently as I do, which always made me feel a bit like a freak and very unattractive. I know (and fully advocate) that we shouldn’t fuss about such small and ultimately insignificant things, but I also know how much these little things can sometimes chip away at your self esteem and make you unhappy if you focus on them.
Here’s what violin hips/hip dips look like:
Compare this to someone with not much hip dip and more of an hourglass shape:
That being said, I need to point out that some people actually like hip dips, and the majority of people don’t even care about them! This article is for all the others out there (and trust me, there are plenty of us) who have prominent hip dips, and always felt like there was something wrong with them. I’m here to tell you emphatically – there’s not.
I still feel insecure about mine occasionally though. In the past I have let it dictate what I wear because some outfits tend to accentuate it more than others. I can remember many a time where I’ve tried on a tight fitting dress, and looked great from the sides, but if I turn front-on directly it looks like I’m missing two massive chunks out of the sides where my hip dips are.
I also can’t wear any high waisted bottoms without looking a bit weird (only my personal opinion), so I really just avoid them altogether *sad face*.
How To Reduce The Look Of Hip Dips or Hip Dents
Unfortunately for those who have violin hips and don’t like them, there’s not a lot you can do about them.
Depending on what causes your hip dips (for most people, it’s a combination of their bone structure and fat distribution on the hips) it can be either impossible or very difficult to make changes in this area. If your hip dips stem from your skeleton/pelvis, then just start learning to love yourself. If you find that you have a bit of extra fat in the love handles area, you may be able to make some slight improvements by focusing on diet and exercise, but some people can be of a healthy weight (or even underweight) and still store fat in this area!
One thing you can do that’s immediate is to select clothing that will help you down-play your hip dips. Here are some practical tips you can take:
Tips on how to play down deep hip dips and smooth out your shape
- Don’t wear tight fitting low waistbands that ‘cut you off’
- Wear longer or more flowing tops
- You might want to try peplum tops like those pictured below (these have a hanging frill at the waist which can hide hip dips)
- Try looser fitting clothes, A-line skirts/dresses, ruffled dresses etc.
- Avoid high-waisted/tight bottoms, unless you have a comparatively skinny waist to help show off your curves
- Try compression underwear (which can sometimes help smooth out love handles to reduce the size of the ‘dent’)
- Try padded underwear (hip padding can fill in the dips!)
This video below shows some great examples of how the wrong choice of clothing can emphasize your love handles. Avoid tight waisted jeans (ill fitting) and underwear which has a tight waistband that can ‘cut you off’!
Padded Underwear For Hip Dents
Another clothing choice that is immediate is hip padding in butt enhancing underwear. You can already get butt padded underwear which is excellent for giving a nice little boost to your assets, but did you know that you can get specific hip padding that can literally help fill out those dents?
Check out these hip pads I found from Bubbles® Bodywear:
I like these because they are so simple, they have a reusable adhesive backing and simply stick to the inside of your underwear (alternatively Bubbles® Bodywear also sell purpose made hip padded panties with pockets to hold hip padding).
Check them out in the video below and you’ll see that they can make a significant difference to your front-on profile. As soon as I saw these, I was like yes – that’s exactly what I need to fill in those gaping hip dents on my sides, lol!!
Exercises to Reduce the Look of Hip Dents
If you’re not completely sold on the padded panties idea, and want to work on getting rid of those hip dents in a more permanent manner, I do think that there may be certain exercises which could potentially help round out your shape.
This may not work for everyone, as everyone’s hip dip can be due to slightly different features. I always wondered to myself if you could work out the muscles which are located at the main part of the hip dent and if they were to bulk up, they could fill out the dent.
The only catch with this logic is that (a) there may not be a muscle located directly where your hip dents are; and (b) it may not be possible to bulk up this muscle to the point where it would fill out the dent. That being said, it can’t hurt to try, right?
Firstly I went to check out the actual anatomy of the butt to see if there are any muscles under the hip dent area. It seems to me like the Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus muscles are in the vicinity of my hip dents, so I figured that exercises which target these muscles may help to fill out the dents. I am not sure if these muscles can definitely be ‘bulked up’ in the way that bigger muscles like the Gluteus Maximus can, but I feel like there’s nothing lost in trying.
Recommended Exercises for Hip Dents
I’m not saying that these exercises will be able to definitely fill out hip dents, but I feel like there’s no harm in trying them.
My personal approach has two angles:
- Aim to work the Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus to help bulk them up and fill out the hip dent area
- Aim to work the Gluteus Maximus to add extra volume to the butt as a whole – this should draw the eye more to the fuller areas of your butt and hopefully help to give an overall rounder and more lifted shape as well!
Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus Butt Exercises:
Here is a short list of glute exercises that might be able to help reduce hip dips, but for more details on this (including pictures), check out my post on which butt exercises are the best to help reduce hip dips.
Butt Exercises to Bulk up Your Gluteus Maximus:
Seriously, you can almost pick any of the butt exercises on this list, but my favorite all-rounders and staple butt exercises are (take your pick):
Fill Up Your Fat (Naturally)?
Another option which I have come across recently seems a bit like wishful thinking but there is some science that seems to support it! I have not tried this myself yet but I did a bit of research into it and it seems like it could be something.
It’s called “Volufiline” and it’s basically a topical (cream) agent that is derived from a Chinese herb. But here comes the cool part… studies have shown that if you apply this active ingredient, it can encourage the growth of fat cells naturally in the spots you apply it. So lather that on to your hip dents to try and fill them out by growing your own fat!
You can check out my full post on Volufiline here.
You’re Not Alone
Okay, so now you have a name for this ‘condition’ that you’ve been afflicted with all your life. So what? You don’t like it? (Hey, me neither).
Chances are not many of your friends will understand your pain. You may feel like a bit of a freak. I know it may not help much, but knowing that you are not alone kind of can boost your morale, as silly as it sounds.
I found the above thread on reddit, and also a hip dip appreciation blog! So if you’re feeling down about your hip dents, travel over to these few sites to hopefully feel a little bit more love towards you body shape.
Summary
Okay, so I must admit that when I started this blog post, I didn’t think I’d be able to write so much on the topic of hip dips, but the topic is certainly close to me!
As a woman with prominent hip dip, I am still working on accepting my body shape, but learning how to dress to flatter your curves can really help. Surprisingly, so can knowing that you are not the only one with this condition.
I hope this has been helpful to anyone who has hip dents and is wondering if they are normal or not. As always, drop me a comment! I’d love to hear (again) that I’m not the only one out there with hip dip…
This was the first time I’ve stumbled across a post on this subject -I just never thought to look up what those dents are. I have them quite prominently myself and have always been a tiny bit insecure about it when I look at myself in the mirror (or go to work on cam!). But over the years of working as a camgirl I’ve learned that no one actually seems to notice or care about this feature. Not once has it come up and they are often displayed prominently in my line of work. So nice to see that there’s not only a name for it, but a totally reasonable explanation and I don’t feel so weird about my shape after reading this! Thanks Jolie!
Glad to hear Cat! It is kind of strange how just learning that I’m not the only one with these makes me feel less insecure about mine as well, and that’s funny that no one cares or really notices them, especially in your line of work – all the more reason to not let this little feature bother one too much (that’s what I can keep telling myself til I believe it!).
I stumbled on this blog while trying (in vain) to find athletic pants that don’t emphasize what I now know is ‘hip dip’. I have scoliosis so this is much more pronounced on one side than the other and I don’t worry about it unless spandex is involved. But I work out regularly – and spandex seems unavoidable. If anyone has ideas for work out pants that ‘work’ for hip dip I would love to hear them!
Hi Linda!
It’s always hard whenever you bring figure-hugging clothing into the equation, this is definitely a tough one! You could maybe consider longer/ looser fitting tops to hide your hip dip.
Alternatively if hiding it is not an option, try experimenting with a few different styles to see what might down-play the dips for you.. I’m thinking that things like where the waistband sits may help (i.e. low-rise vs mid-rise, vs high-rise).
Some workout pants also have stitching in such a way that emphasizes the curves of your butt, that could maybe help draw attention away from your hip dip area? It’s so hard to say because every style of pant is different (not to mention every body!), so I honestly think your best move would be to get to your local mall and try on a whole heap to get a better idea of the most flattering style.. Good luck, I know it can be difficult!
Hello, I don’t know where you are from but Sainsbury’s do fantastic work out leggings and they have a thick band around the top. When I wear them you can not tell I have a hip dip at all and mine is very prominent. X
Hey all, everyone’s is different. And that’s a great thing. I find hip dips really attractive.
True that Sb! Thanks for your input!
I have a spoon shape or what people call shelf hips and I cant wear fitted shirts at all so upset about that because my waist is the smallest part of my body and I have to wear high waisted pants whether I want to or not what is a girl to do guess I will be wearing skirts and wrap dress from now on
Knowing what styles flatter your body shape can make a huge difference in boosting confidence. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes you just gotta step away and acknowledge that ‘I love that style/piece of clothing, but unfortunately it just doesn’t look great on me’. But I totally feel your pain!!
Wow! As a man, I cannot believe that women try to eliminate “hip dip.” I think it is one of the most beautiful features that a woman’s hips can have. It is all the more special for its rarity. Just my opinion but I’m sure there are plenty of men who feel the same. As an amateur sculptor and painter, I appreciate the complexity and variety of women’s figures. In fact, I was doing research on just what this feature was called when I stumbled on this blog.
Hey Admirer,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this! I am amazed and also a little confused that there are people out there who think this way. I must admit I’ve never actually stopped to think that anyone would actually prefer hip dips. I’m sure if you’re of this opinion though, that there are many others who would also share your preferences. Makes me think of my own hip dips in a totally different light, and I’m sure plenty of other women reading this will feel the same way. Thank you for this!
I’ve HATED this aspect of my body my entire life. Family when you ask, doesn’t this look weird (in a new dress or something) and of course no one is honest. Noo you look great!! It is my biggest insecurity. I’d love those hip pads, but I’m a really blunt real girl, and I’d feel like a fake a little. Just personally. I envy those who can rock em. I’d get the surgery for sure If and or when I can afford it. I definitely feel like the majority of us who have this issue, if that one thing wasn’t different, our bodies are usually those tiny ribbed, then curved hips bodies. So close to an almost perfect body. But that’s reality and I am trying to overcome it and accept it. Funny this is the first time I’ve ever looked up what it could be. You were the second page I read, and I loved every word. Thank you for putting this out there. I seriously thought I was the only one. I feel a bit less self conscious because of your article. If I’m not the only one, then it’s not that bad or weird. And we do notice more about ourselves than others do. Most people probably couldn’t care less about our dips. But its major to us. Thanks again for making me feel less alone. Much love
. ? ? ? Lala
Hey Lala, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, it means a lot! I identified with nearly every word you wrote (I also think the hip pads are a great invention, but have yet to bring myself to bust out a pair in public). Even though intellectually I know heaps of people have these, it really does make me feel better to know that I’m not the only one that feels insecure about mine, and that there are real people out there (like you for instance!) who feel just the same as I do. I have found that wearing the right kind of clothing really helps as well, sometimes with the right outfit the dips are nearly unnoticeable!
xoxo Jolie
I also have very prominent hip dips: http://i.imgur.com/nrcUyB4.jpg
I have been very self conscious about it for my whole life! The low-waisted trend of the early 2000s really made me feel even worse about myself. I now wear a lot of A-line dresses and flowy high waisted skirts which makes me feel a lot more confident.
It’s still frustrating to have to explain to people sometimes that my ‘muffin top’ is actually my hip bones…
Hey Shan, your pic here is a classic example of high hip bones creating a hip dip! Mine (and from all the comments here, a lot of other ladies too) are similar. Oh yeah, I remember the low-waist trend and it really didn’t do any favors for us hip-dippers. I find in my case that there is a sweet spot for the waist line of jeans/pants/skirts that can help down-play the look of my higher hip bones. Definitely agree with the A-line cut and flowy fabrics, thanks for sharing what’s worked for you!
i know what you mean so mad that I cant wear the latest styles because of my hips bummer
I have never seen anyone with a hip dip as prominent as mine is. Not even when searching online, all these people talking about their big hip dips and I’m like in awe of how tiny their dips actually are. I so badly want to wear a body con dress for once I’ve my life and feel confident.
Not sure if maybe my 5’0 frame makes it more obvious? I have never seen those hip pads before, but i am intrigued, and i am definitely going to look into getting some so thanks for the tip!
Hi Sara, I know what that feels like! It’s said often but just remember that we can be our own worst critics, so perhaps even if yours are more prominent than other people’s, it is still possible that no one notices them as much as you do. If you do try out the hip pads, let us know how you go!
I think I kinda have something like this. I actually noticed something weird looking in the mirror around my hips when I was shadow boxing in the mirror that gave this affect (I think from over developed muscle in that area from punching all these years.) I never knew there was a name for this, though I have noticed it in women.
Ladies, it’s definitely not a turn off or anything to be concerned about.
(Hi Jolie, it’s been a while!)
Hey again Vince, glad to see you around again! Actually most guys do tend to have a bit of a hip indent, but I think it’s less noticeable because you guys don’t have to necessarily live up to the social expectation of ‘having curves’. Could be muscular in some people though. Thanks for sharing your perspective on hip dips, it’s great to hear a guy’s take on the issue! Definitely reassuring that it’s not a turn off, as sometimes we can feel like it might be.
This has been very helpful, and I always thought that it was just a muffin top, or that it was an effect of too tight underwear, even though I seem to be an average weight. I have done more research of my own, and I noticed that many of my female relatives also have this trait, so it is possibly hereditary. This article in particular has made me less insecure about my prominent hip dip.
For years I seriously thought my hip dips were mostly from wearing tight-waisted underwear too low down during the crucial development years Stella! I think after puberty when you do start to get some curves can make it worse if your body tends to store fat above the hip bones (I know that’s the case for me – I don’t remember having these kind of dents as a kid). I’d say there’s most likely some genetic part to it, probably more to do with bone structure and fat storage areas which is why you might have noticed the hereditary nature of it. I’m glad that you are feeling less insecure about your dips though, that’s the main reason I decided to write this post 🙂
I have always had this condition. Mine is very pronounced. When taking my “measurements”, the third measurement, hips, is RIGHT under my navel!.. just one inch. I have always looked 10 pounds heavier than I actually am. For me, the only solution that worked was liposuction! This removed the horrible bump and made me appear balanced in clothes.
That’s awesome to hear that liposuction has given you great results! I’m not gonna lie, I’ve often thought about getting lipo just to get rid of that annoying bump right on the hip bone that seems to make the hip dips worse… but I’m a bit of a chicken when it comes to getting some of those invasive procedures! So glad to hear you are happier with your shape now 🙂
Jolie xo
Hey Jolie I love all ur helpful articles and I’d like to ask u a question. All my life I thought I had a H shaped butt but now that I know I have hip dips I do if it’s just the hip dip that makes my butt look like that . I do have pictures but idk where it’s safe to send or if you even want to see. I just really need some advice because I hate my back side so much ?
Don’t know*
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for the feedback! It could very well be the hip dip which gives the H kind of shape. You can always email me at jolie@betterbuttchallenge.com !
Hi, thanks for your post. Was just wondering how your body has adjusted to the liposuction so far since it’s been a year now. I’m contemplating getting one myself, so any info on side effects and thoughts on it would be of immense value to me!!! Thanks☺
Another natural and all round benefitting thing to do is thigh and glute exercises, as your booty gets higher and rounder, it will show from the front as a decrease in size of hip indents, I have noticed this on myself and on insta famous Tammy Hembrow (although she had very small hip indents to begin with, but now they are non-existent on her). I wish I could post her before and after photos here. 🙂
That’s awesome news, I will definitely go check out her instagram!
If you’ve browsed around my site at all, I’m all about making positive changes with exercise, so it’s excellent to hear that here is some real-life evidence. Thanks so much for sharing!!
I thought I was the only one with this and so I’ve never looked it up! WOW! I’m not alone! I’ve always thought, If I just lost weight/exercised more/wore looser underwear (seriously), it would go away but whatever my weight, the dips remain.
This probably sounds silly but knowing I’m not alone, that this is just a normal part of my anatomy because of how I’m specially made, makes me feel better about it. So thanks so much for sharing your story.
Thanks Wendy, your thoughts sound exactly like mine. It is really comforting to know that we’re not the only ones!!
I have this too. It’s terrible from behind but okay from the front. I can’t wear swimmers without feeling down and out. Any suggestions for swimmers to flatter this shape?
Hi Amanda, I can totally relate and I’m sure a whole heap of others can as well so try not to be too hard on yourself! You’d also be surprised that when you are moving around etc it’s not like it will be that common for anyone to be staring at you when you are standing from the behind at a perfectly straight angle. For me, my dips are noticeable from both front and behind when standing, but if I sit down they are usually well disguised 🙂
That being said – yes I do have some tips for swimmers!
In my opinion, you should stay away from anything too skimpy on the hips such as string bikinis (exception – if they have bows at each side this may help distract the eye away from the dips a little, but I haven’t tried this in practice). I think that because of the minimal cover in the hip area, it makes your hip dip look much more obvious.
Anything high-cut is a definite no-no! This cut generally will sit above the hip bones, which makes hip dip look MUCH much worse!
I personally find that for bikini bottoms, something with a bit of a thicker waistband seems to be optimal, and the position of it in relation to the hip dip is a factor as well. For me, the type of bikini bottoms which seem to down-play my hip dents most are ones with a side band about the same height/thickness or a little wider than the worst parts of the ‘dent’, and they kind of sit just in/around the dent. It’s best if they are not tight or cause any kind of compression (as this will make the dent appear worse or deeper). I find that by sitting in this position it kind of makes it look like the swimmers are causing the dent (even thought they’re not), which gives a bit of an excuse for the dent being there. I know that explanation sounds kind of weird and may not apply to everyone’s hip dips, but that’s the most flattering cut I can find for myself personally.
Prints or ruffles or anything that draws more attention to the center of your butt can also help pull the eye away from hip dip.
Alternatively a boy short kind of bikini bottom can also work. I find that the bottoms should sit just below my hip bones (if they sit higher on the hip, they seem to accentuate the hip dip for me) to look the best.
For one-piece swimwear, I don’t have as much experience, but I think they would probably work best if they ‘end’ just below the bottom of the hip dent (as it starts to go out again).
A lot of this is just what I have found through experimenting with different styles over the years – some may or may not work for you depending on how your hip dips are! Hope this helps though, and if you need more this post I wrote on bikini bottom styles may be helpful as well!
Thank u so much for sharing this. I always thought I have those muffin tops but I’m actually not fat. So I always was wondering why I have to do so much sport just for getting this away. Now I know what’s going on with my body and I can work on it and I work on my own view of it – I just have to accept how I am!
I still try to train hard to have it not to prominent but I still will work on my mind to love it how it is.
Thank you so much to show that we are not alone!
Totally Selena! Thank you for taking the time to comment, it does truly show that there are heaps of us out there – and we are not freaks lol!
Acceptance is definitely something I’ve been working on too. It does really help to know we are not alone 🙂
I think you’ve got the perfect mindset – wishing you heaps of luck!
Idontknowwhyifeeleverycomentisfake
Hahaha, interesting Noneya. I don’t know, I just reply to and publish what comes through 🙂
It’s so nice to read that other people have this issue too! It really frustrates me. I like wearing tight tops because (imo) I have nice boobs and a small waist, but it makes my hip dip look really obvious. It sucks.. I do yoga every day and yoga pants will never look as pretty on me as they do on so many other women. If I use my hands to lift my butt up to the extreme, the fat of the butt kind of fills up the dips on the sides a bit. However, I don’t think there are any pants out there that can lift it this high. Plastic surgery is not an option. It’s not THAT bad. It just sucks..
I feel your pain Jade, you know butt lift panties could be an option, I know you said you need to lift it up to the extreme, but I’m sure every little bit will help! Also, it is possible to get a ‘lifting’ effect with exercise, as well as try and fill out those dents a little. For an example, check out this butt transformation – just goes to prove that it is possible!
Back in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, there was no such thing as hip dip. It didn’t exist.
It is caused by those ugly low-cut skirts/shorts/jeans that women began wearing in about 2002. Because you are trying to hang clothing off the widest part of your body, you have to pull it ludicrously tight to stop gravity pulling it down. This reshapes the body, permanently, into a bizarre shape that wouldn’t otherwise have formed. It has nothing to do with anatomy, it is all about that repulsive fashion trend.
Hahah Kevin, this is not a bad theory! I did actually think that clothing could have caused my hip dip, but I’m 99.999% sure this isn’t the case… There are definitely examples of hip dip in the 80s – there was no hiding it with some of those high-cut swimsuits for example!!
YES YES YES YES!!!! I’m so glad I finally googled this. I thought I was the only one.
My hips are way higher than normal but I just figured it was because I was tall and had long legs. Waist goes in, Hip bones (anterior superior iliac spine) go out and are very prominent just a thin layer of skin over the hip bone, then it goes in again at the trochanteric depression, then out again near the top of the thigh at the greater trochanter of the femur. Seriously a permanent muffin top/roller coaster of curves down there, thanks genetics!! No matter how loose my pants or bottoms are, if I’m wearing a thin shirt or tight shirt boom love handles on display. So nice to hear that this is more of a bone structure variance than me constantly telling myself oh if only I did a couple more love handle exercises it could go away!
How tight of underwear did you wear when you were younger thinking that you might have caused the indentation unknowingly?? haha
Bodycon dresses or bandage skirts: not sure why I keep trying them on thinking something will change, but hell to the no, bumpsville galore! What can a girl wear to Vegas?? I think I’ll try those padded panties.
Bikinis are the worst since it looks like you’re just wearing too tight of bottoms. In photos I usually try to position my hands or arms over the indent to try to hide it as much as I can. High waisted jeans and flowy A-line skirts/dresses all the way.
I’m glad I now have a name for my problem spot, exaggerated trochanteric depression/hip indentation/hip dip/violin hips! Though I guess it might not really be a problem now that I know I can never change it.
I can totally relate girl! Damn those hip dips and yes the associated genetics too, hahaha.
If you’ve got your heart set on a figure hugging Vegas dress minus the bumps, I think your only option is padded panties unfortunately!
It’s funny because after researching online I found out that I wasn’t the only one who thought that tighter underwear might have caused these dips. They actually weren’t that tight at all, but I guess I just associated the location of the waistband with the hip dips and worried that I’d caused this problem myself! Anyway, definitely learn how to down-play them with the correct clothing choices, it can get rid of a lot of the self-consciousness that I know we all feel at some point. I know since learning a few of these tips I have been less concerned about my hip dips since they aren’t as noticeable courtesy of visual illusions, lol.
Thanks for your comment 🙂
You wear that body con dress and wear it proudly! Hip dips shouldn’t be considered a flaw, if you wish to hide them wear something else…. but if you want to wear body con wear it who cares besides you! And I can tell your right now you will slay!
Saddlebags are not love handles or muffin top. Saddlebags appear on the outer thighs as fat, which has often “spilled over” from the butt. If you have an ‘A’ shaped butt (like I do) this is more likely to occur.
https://www.google.ie/search?q=saddlebags+fat&rlz=1C1CHBF_enIE693IE693&espv=2&biw=1022&bih=470&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwh9Pv64fQAhUGqxoKHUEIADgQsAQINw&dpr=1.88
Oh, thanks Romula! I actually had no idea, I always thought saddlebags referred to love handles! I will update my post for correctness!
I was sitting with my friend in leggings and she said your love handles are HUGE! You need to diet!
I was so confused. What are love handles?? I searched on the Internet and found articles on muffin tops and fat. I knew mine were not fat as there is a thin layer of skin and very prominent bone.
I found this article and I’m very happy at how positive you are about it ? But now I’m kind of upset, what if everyone thinks I’ve got love handles and don’t eat healthily when actually it’s just my bones???
Hey Alex, unfortunately it’s just one of those things.. if you can’t do much about it, you just have to learn how to accept it!! I think what matters most is what you think of yourself. I know it can be hard but try not to focus on other’s opinions of you. If you are healthy and happy then who cares what anyone else thinks?!
Love, Jolie 🙂
Oh my goodness, I gasped at LEAST 10 times while reading this article- you took words right out of what I’ve been thinking for years (though I’m only fifteen ?). I have an hourglass shape and all my life I’ve thought “I’d only be perfect if my hips were smooth.” I would look at myself in the mirror and flatten those little pieces of fat on my hipbones with my hands and then I’d finally look like the other girls at school. When I read about the “too tight underwear” thing I almost screamed! I VERY SERIOUSLY thought my hip dips were caused by wearing the low rise jeans that were in fashion in middle school with a really tight belt! AND I’ve always wondered if I could fashion myself some little pads that could fill out my hip dips and never knew people actually made real ones! My hip dips are filling out a bit as I go through puberty so that gives me hope! This article really brightened my day hahaha!
Heheh, hi Madeline! You might be lucky yet, a lot can change during puberty ESPECIALLY fat distribution, so here’s hoping you end up with a lesser dip! Based on a lot of the comments people are posting on this article we are all definitely not alone – it’s so funny that this seems to ring true even right down to having the same thoughts about this affliction! Thanks for your comment, I’m so glad to hear you are feeling a bit more positive now!!
Love Jolie xo
Wooow. You’re information are really helpful. My friends never understand me haha so true. I have been feeling insecure about my hip dips since i was in middle school . Even now i am college student i still feel it. Whenever i wear tight dress or jeans it makes them look more . So glad that i’am not the only one thx!! 🙂
No problem Helen, thanks for stopping by to comment!
I’m 13 years old and have a very prominent hip dip. I always used to think it was a muffin top, and i would do all these oblique exercises. Then i thought that my low rise leans had cut into my body and left a dent. Imagine how scared I was! I always used to be very embarrassed about them. Now, I’m laughing at all the crazy things I thought about them. Thankfully, I know that it’s not fat and just my bone structure. This post boosted my self esteem knowing that almost everyone has a hip dip. Thank you very much!
Hi Sophia, thanks for taking the time to comment, it means a lot to everyone who seems to stumble across this page!
Oh my, oh my. Now I know I’m not alone. Thank so so much for this post. I’m definitely getting the pads. God bless you real good…
Nice Helen! Let us know how you go with the hip pads!
I have a very prominent “hip dip” that has always made me look a lot bigger than I actually am. My family, especially my extended family, has mocked me about being bigger since I was in elementary school even though I’ve never been overweight. My hip dips prevented me from wearing prom dresses and bathing suits and just fitting into the normal crowd because I’m so self conscious about it now. I was anorexic in high school and still suffer from an eating disorder and even when I was at my lowest weight my lumpy hips were there. It’s sad because I know now that there’s nothing I can do to make them go away and therefore I do not believe that I will ever feel beautiful. I only came across this article because I’m about to go shopping for professional clothes and I know that it’s going to be difficult. I’ve always wanted to wear a skirt that shows off my figure but I do not have a figure worth showing off. This article really did bring positivity to my day since know I know I’m not alone in this, but I know I’ve got a long way to go
Hi Dori, Thanks for sharing your story with all of us here. It makes me sad to hear that you feel so self conscious about your shape, but it’s definitely not fair on you that your family has made fun of you in the past.
I think you are wrong when you say you don’t think you will ever feel beautiful though. It sounds stupid, but I’ve really come to realize that a big portion of the way you feel ultimately comes down to how you think and what you allow yourself to feel. Please don’t keep putting yourself down! It’s really hard, but making a conscious choice to try and think differently about the situation (if you can’t do anything else about it) can and will definitely help.
Try to focus on the things you can control (like being healthy and treating your body well) and what you are grateful for about your body, instead of what you don’t like about it – I promise you this is the way to turn it around! I hope the clothes shopping goes well – much love xx Jolie
As a man, I can say that I think “hip dips” are quite attractive and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say a bad thing about it.
Wow, you have no idea how much this kind of feedback both shocks and assures us Jeff! Huge thank you for taking the time to drop this comment.
If I’m honest, I still have a huge amount of disbelief when I hear this kind of comment from a guy, but with enough reinforcement, I hope it sinks in (both to me and everyone else reading this page!).
Hello Jolie,
Thanks for writing this article. I have been suffering from dip hip syndrome since I was 26 years old and I have been calling it with names like hour glass, ugly butt or what not and tried to do some exercises as well but it’s a very slow process, at times I just give up and stay as I am but other times I feel disgusted with my lower body because no matter what I wear I look horrible :(. Now I am turning 40 in few months and still struggling with this problem (lol). I guess can’t run away and keep doing exercise.
Thank you. 🙂
Hi Faiza, I feel your pain, but please please please – don’t put yourself down by telling yourself you have an ugly butt! While we may not be able to change everything about ourselves, turning your thoughts to things you are grateful for can definitely help counter the negative feelings we all have from time to time. Keep up the exercising though, any improvement is always a bonus!
I’m a guy that is big boned. My ribs and my hips are wide and in between them it makes an hour glass. Even if I didn’t have love handles it would still appear that I do cuz my shape. It brings my self esteem down so much. “I can’t have a regular guy body” “she’s gonna be grossed out when I take my shirt off” I’m obsessed about it. It’s really sad.
Hi Cole, sorry that you feel that way, we all here know what it’s like to have a body feature you don’t like and can’t easily change. Don’t forget that the points in this article can apply to you too. It sucks, but we can’t let ourselves get down on things that we can’t change! Honestly though, I think you wouldn’t be the only guy with this issue and I’m willing to bet that most girls won’t care. Try and work on something you can change that you can wow her with instead – arms, shoulders, abs? Or even better, glutes?? 😛
Thank you for this.
I can’t count the number of times I have cried and agonized about my “deformity.” A problem that no one else in the world had, I thought! I’m now 28, but between ages 13-23, my hip dents (though I never knew what to call them until reading this article) obliterated my self esteem and made me feel like a total outcast. My friends couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t wear a bikini or tight-fitting skirts. They told me I “wasn’t even fat” and was being silly. I didn’t know how to describe what was wrong with me, and just dodged their questions.
It stopped me from dating, as I was terrified of a boy seeing me naked. Eventually I did fall in love, and I’ll never forget when he told me he loved my hips. I thought he was messing with me. But it has been almost 10 years and he keeps saying it, so it must be true. 🙂 Still… I wasn’t happy with myself, and would occasionally fall down the well of self-pity and cry about my hips.
BUT, thanks to the beauty of the internet, and thanks to you for being so open and honest with your writing, I can put all of that behind me! I would say my hip dent is especially noticeable. Probably on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a full-blown 10. I am as far from the ideal rounded hip as can be. Luckily I have learned how to dress to feel comfortable and confident. I know what works on me and what doesn’t.
But still, I felt totally alone. Until now! Your article (which was fun to read by the way!) shed light on something I never thought anyone would talk about! I might have to buy a pair of those hip pads too so I can expand my wardrobe (Embarrassing story: I used to use socks to fill out my shape when I was a teenager – until my friend saw one poking out of my pants one day and I about died lol she never did ask what a sock was doing there.)
Anyways, thank you to my fellow hip dip sister! I wish you happiness and love! Mwah!