Hello and welcome! I actually think that you are an hourglass, with some apple tendencies. I am not that good at this though, but I am sure Angie will tell for sure .

My uneducated eye would agree with Tanya.

BTW, you are not tubby! You have a very nice figure!

Hello, fellow 32Fer. I actually think you look a bit like an inverted triangle, but I'm no expert on this. It could just be the angle of the photo.

Welcome to YLF! Thank you for sharing your pictures. I think you look like an hourglass too. In the second picture, you seem to be leaning back, maybe that is why may said inverted triangle? You have a lovely curvy figure.

(psst. remember your promise, Maya - albeit this was non-intentional and I’m giving you a hard time but I couldn't resist).

And a welcome from me too. You are hourglass-y with apple tendencies. Does that make sense? You have gorgeous skin!

Well I didn't even notice that Angie. Clearly I do not have your corrupted mind! :p

Corruption comes with age, my dear Maya. Wait till you're 38!

Thanks y'all! Any dressing tips specific to hourglassy-apples/apple-y hourglasses. I would especially love recos for jeans and dresses.

Ooh, one more question, what category would I fall in the Trinny-Susannah classification scheme?

Hello and welcome!

You are my smaller twin! (although, can twins be of a different size? ... I wonder).

I have a bust size 32H, 5'3'', wear 10/12 in pants (no petite length though - they don't even cover my ankles), and won't disclose my weight :) Yep, also tummy and love handles here as well.

First of all, you have a very lovely figure. Seriously!

Now, when you are dressing, you have to address two issues: (1)bust, and (2)tummy area.
For the bust: wrap tops, faux wrap, cross-over neck, v-neck, scoop neck. No ruffles, no turtlenecks, no crewnecks, and (this might be my personal pet peeve) - no lace.
For the tummy/love handles - ruching (wrap tops are excellent here), longer and non-clingy tops (not baggy!), princess seams, no belts (not good with the bust anyway).

Basically, I am wearing wrap dresses, wrap sweaters, wrap shirts ... well, you get the idea.

Oh, and you have lovely legs and arms. Why not knee-length skirts? Either A-line or pencil will be great. Also heels! And sleeveless! (try sleeveless v-neck dress with some drape or ruching at the waist).

Big necklaces that end one inch below your collarbone are great.

Don''t know about the Trinny-Suzannah scheme - I couldn't find myself there, so I am not much of a help here.

Good luck!

Here are some past YLF blog entries on apples and hourglasses.

Apples - http://youlookfab.com/2006/05/.....ble-apple/

Hourglass - http://youlookfab.com/2006/04/.....hourglass/

Elpgal, welcome! You are built similar to me and two years ago I was about the same weight but 2 inches shorter and also in an 8/10p, but my bust was a bit smaller (B/C) and my shoulders broader (I gain weight first in my shoulders and upper back).

Hannah has given you great advice! Be sure to check out her Bravissmo dress - it's the perfect LBD. I will add:

- For pants, I found Ann Taylor Loft worked better than Ann Taylor, as they are cut slimmer in the hips.
- Also try Banana Republic Martin slacks. They always fit me no matter what my weight or size.
- Tahari dress slacks fit like a dream, and have stretch. (Not Elie Tahari - just plain Tahari. You can find them at Marshall's). These were my Holy Grail slacks before I lost weight and sized my way out of them. I loved these so much, I have them stashed away in event I regain.
- For jeans, try Ralph Lauren, DNKY Soho, and on the premium end ... Citizens of Humanity Ambers, Elsons, and Huttons.

For the tummy you want jeans with a wide-ish waistband that hit you at the widest part - to "lock and load." But you don't want them so tight you get rolls above the waistband. Look for a pair that is just tight enough to hold in the jiggliest part. If your waistband is higher than the widest part, you can end up with an unattractive poofy look.

If you have more than an 0.8 waist/hip ratio, lots of jeans will be too tight in waist, but if they fit in the waist, too loose in the hips. You will have to try on lots of jeans. Once you find a great fitting pair, buy more than one. ;-)

Learn to layer. A cami with stretch is your best friend! I really like the cami's at BR and have them in white, black and nude. They do a great job smoothing over slight love handles, lumps, and tummy bulges.

Over the cami add a blouse or knit top that is forgivingly loose in the midsection. Not too baggy, but not too tight either. Ideally you want tops that nip in at the smallest part of your waist, although empire styles can be tricky. Look instead for tops that curve in at the side seams. Wrap and ruched styles are great, as Hannah already mentioned.

If the top doesn't nip in at the waist, and you don't like belts, then layer over the top a jacket or waistcoat that has a structured waist, or a cardigan that can be buttoned at the smallest part of your waist - which on you is fairly high, below the bust.

All this layering - cami, top, cardi or jacket - will do wonders to disguise the midsection and draw the eye up to the slimmest part of your torso. Another favorite trick is to choose a top that has a pattern. The pattern fools the eye better than a solid color.

I keep telling everyone I still have quite a tummy, but nobody believes me, because I'm the master of disguise, LOL.

For skirts, try Ann Taylor Loft.

Wow Hannah and Shiny, you gals ROCK.

What great tips! I really like it that you've given me such specific and detailed ideas that I can easily adopt. Most websites give you such generic advice, I have no idea what to do.