Clamdiggers - Help me pick - YouLookFab Forum

Clamdiggers - Help me pick

shiny

I have three different clamdiggers and I'm debating whether to keep only ONE, or any of them. They are:

- Banana Republic - Martin cut (Angie recommended)
- Levi's 521 "slim" fit, high rise
- Ralph Lauren, high rise

All three of these are petites.

DH took these pics very hastily yesterday - and after I woke up from a long nap, no less! I wore just a cami so you could get the most accurate view of the fit; for real, I would always wear a longer top with these (and I don't normally go out of the house wearing cami's only!). I also attempted to roll them up - but looking at the photos I realized I did a really shoddy job in my haste! Don't let that distract you.

Here is the whole album:
http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....amdiggers/
pw is ylf2008

My own critique:

Overall, I'm not sure any of them are worth keeping. The BR is closest, so I may hold on to those for now, but keep looking. I fear all three of them are too loose in the thighs? I don't know if you can tell from the photos, but all three have a lot of extra room in the thighs - a good inch and even more. Yes, I have scrawny thighs compared to my hips, which are only 33 inches, but I feel like I look so wide-hipped in all of these for some reason?? But maybe if I wore a longer top I wouldn't feel that way.

Specifically:

1) BR -
I like the denim of these the best. It is lighter weight than the other too, which is good for summer, and not as stretchy, which will mean less bagging out. The denim has a premium feel to it. Very nice. I also think these are the most flattering for my butt and fit the slimmest in the thighs (but even then, they are still loose).

However, the rise is just a tad lower than I like - just a tad lower than my Martin slacks. It's fine when I'm standing, but when I sit, I have to hike them up in the front. They are actually a bit loose in the waist but if I size down I think the rise would then be much too low. Also from the back, can you see love handles? That is the curse of lower-rise jeans. I don't think they are too awful and I have love-handle disguising strategies for dealing with this. Still...

2) Levi's
I do like the comfort of the high rise. These are very very stretchy, so I fear they will bag out. And much too loose in the thighs. I do not think I could size down, because my waist would not allow it. They feel like they fit perfectly - but then I look at the photos.

3) RL
I like these least of all. The denim is too thick for summer, and the pockets make my butt look enormous.

I'm starting to think that my best bet is to buy another pair of the UO skinnies, wash and dry them several times so I get all the shrinkage out, and then crop them into clams. They are high rise and fit perfectly (like second skin) in the thighs, plus they are lighter weight.

While you are at it, I think this is the first time I ever took a photo that comes close to revealing my true shape. Of course, I would choose a time when I have slacked off on the exercise and had a bit too much easter candy.

What do you think - hourglass or apple or inverted triangle or combo? You can sure see how friggin' high my waist is! And you can also see why I think my legs look too short. (Part of that is DH's tilting the camera down since he's tall).

17 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I think your instincts are right, the BRs are the best of the bunch. The RLs look too big even on camera, and there was just something about the Levi's I didn't think flattered you. But if the BRs are causing you to hike them up or fuss with them all the time, they might not be worth it. But I love the rolled-up look on you!

I'm terrible at body type (clearly, since I just figured out my own today, LOL) but I would say you are an inverted triangle or an H like Imogen suggested. Not an hourglass or an apple, imo.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I honestly don't think any of them are hitting the right note right now. The BRs are definitely loose in the thigh, especially from the back, and they don't seem comfortable either. The other two aren't quite right either. I say go for the UO jeans.

As for body type, I have always seen you as an inverted triangle. Your shoulders aren't especially broad or strong but they do extend beyond your hips. i think as an hourglass they would need to be more aligned. It's not so easy to tell from these pictures though since your hands are on your hips, but having seen lots of pictures in the past, that's my guess.

As for your waist being high, I think your waist actually has a very long and gentle curve to it. My waist is high and small (in length, not circumference). I definitely don't look like you though. If I took a picture in leggings and a cami you would basically see: bust, a little dent, tummy flab, hips--little dent being my waist. OK, I know no one will believe me as usual, but I have had the expert herself (Angie) confirm this, so you're just going to have to believe it. The point is though, Shiny, that you don't seem to have the same build. If I wore those BR jeans and took a picture from the side, you would see some serious gut spilling over the waistband in the front. Yours stays nicely contained.

17 years ago

Anonymous

None of these look or sound like a fab choice for you. Since they need to be shortened anyway, I'd go with the UO skinnies.
These photos definitely show a strong shoulder line. I'd guess hourglass with inverted triangle tendencies.

17 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

You are for sure an inverted triangle, don't you think? Your hips are so slim!

The BRs have the nicest fit in that they are snug enough in the thigh to look like a true clamdigger.

17 years ago

Ariadne

Veteran

Shiny, I also vote for shortening the UO skinnies. None of these are worthy of lovely and adorable you. I'm thinking that unless I stumble on some already-perfect-length clams, I'm going to do the same thing (shorten a regular-length pair of jeans). The cost would be the same as hemming cropped jeans anyway (at least I assume it would be) and it seems way easier to find regular-length jeans that fit than it is to find clams.

As for body type (you have a lovely figure, BTW), I'm thinking you're a mild inverted triangle. My mom is an inverted triangle with much stronger shoulders than you (I think it comes from our Ukranian blood) and her shape is a bit more dramatic, but I still think that's probably what you are. You're pretty close to being an hourglass, though, I think. I don't know how many of the inverted triangle rules you really need to follow.

17 years ago

lwc

Active Member

Hi, Shiny!

Overall, I think that you are an inverted triangle. It's hard to see everything with your legs apart and you posing though. You may have other tendencies, like hourglass or rectangle, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm an inverted triangle, with rectangular tendencies.

I think that you look great, and dress fab. I also think that you can do better in your "clam quest." All styles shown are too baggy on you. I'm with Maya on this one. If UO jeans fit you perfectly, then grab the appropriate size and wash and tailor away!

I'm just starting my quest for clams. I plan to start with J Crew and BR. But if those don't work out, I may try tailoring regular skinnies from UO or elsewhere.

Keep us posted.

17 years ago

Active Member

I think you are right in that the BR clams are the best of the bunch. However, the rise seems to be lower than you find comfortable, and since you'd have to hem them anyway, I think your idea of buying the UO jeans and shortening them is a good one.

As for body type, I would also say you're an inverted triangle - like me! It's so unusual, especially in a petite (I'm 5'2") that I happy to see another one of us. But you are much more slender in the hips than I am.

17 years ago

Becky

Veteran

I agree with the others that the BR pair is the best of the bunch, but not a "10." If UO will do it for you, I say go that route.

17 years ago

medusa

Veteran

I agree with the others. The Banana Republic pair are better than the others, but they show some folds right under your butt in the shot from the back. I think you can do better.

17 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Nothing new to add, go for the UO skinnies, all othersl seem too loose in the thighs. You have a great body!!!
I would say inverted triangle because of your slim hips. Was your original picture considered hourglass, it would be interesting to see that in comparison. You know how body types can be a combination. You always dress for your body type no matter what you call it.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I guess this is an example of a pic being worth a thousand words, and measurements not meaning everything. Because when I did the measurements for inverted triangle, I didn't quite qualify. Sorry, don't remember at the moment what those measurements where or how I did them - my chest and hips are both 33; and I don't really have too much trouble finding jackets and tops that fit across the shoulder either.

And yet, I have to agree that I *look* like an inverted triangle. This is why I steer clear of epaulets, why I love A-line skirts more than pencils, and why when I wear skinny jeans I need a blouse that has some width across the hips to balance things out. With skinnies I can't just wear the same type of tops I wear with bootcuts (like Tassajara can.... sigh... ).

Also it's why I can't stand wearing strapless or spaghetti straps either. And while I will wear any cut of jeans, I do happen to like trouser, bootcuts, wider widths because of the balancing act. And why I like jackets that cinch in at the waist and then have a peplum to give the illusion of poofiness at the hips.

And it's why I generally steer clear of puff sleeves ... Yes, I have some... I do break the rules from time to time! It can be done if you balance it all out on the bottom half.

I read somewhere that most models are inverted triangles... something about the clothes hanging best on that shape... so if only I was a foot taller - and all in the legs - I could be a model! Hee hee.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Measurements are useless. According to my measurements, my shoulders are an inch wider than my hips. I think we can all agree that "strong" or "broad" are the last two words in the world that could be applied to my shoulders.

Before I posted pictures on YLF, I thought i was a pear. Why? Because of measurements. At the time I was a 32D-26-37. Angie has since drilled into my head that I am anything but a pear. Now my measurements are completely different (32DDD-27-36). And if ever there were proof of body types being able to change, it would be me. After seeing me in person, Angie changed her initial assessment of me from an hourglass to an apple (or hourglass with apple tendencies or something).

Shiny, as I explained before, I don't think your inverted triangle-ness comes from having a particularly strong shoulder line. You just have very small hips. I think there are too many variations of each body type which is why I'm always hesitant to say what mine is. When I compare you and Nicole (who I miss dearly), who are both inverted triangles from my POV, she is an inverted triangle because of her shoulders and chest, but you're an inverted triangle because of your hips. Just like how some people are pears because of their hips while others are pears because of their thighs or rear. I was a bit hesitant to say all of this because I know it conflicts with your ideal image of the pear, but I think you do a fantastic job of dressing yourself and you don't need to worry about being your ideal shape. You always look perfectly balanced, where no single part of your body seems to be carrying too much weight or not enough weight, and I think that's the ultimate goal for everyone.

I think I'm resolved to give up labels here and now. At this point I am pretty familiar with what works for me and what doesn't so focusing on my body type seems to hold me back more than help me. I suspect it's the same for you Shiny. You looked smashing no matter what body type you thought you were, because your instincts were always right.

17 years ago

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