Have I stumpified myself? - YouLookFab Forum

A few weeks ago, I saw some cropped black patterned trousers on sale from Monsoon. I'd really wanted to try patterned trousers after Angie's post on them a little while ago. I'm a classic pear shape so I was looking for something subtle. The black on black dots seemed perfect and I didn't own a pair of cropped pants. Just now, after reading Angie's body shape guide, I saw that she says that cropped trousers are the least flattering for a pear shape.

I quite like these trousers and I'd be disappointed if I've accidentally made a fashion faux pas. It's too late to return them, but what do you think? Are they unflattering? And if so, what's the best way for me to still enjoy them? (Other than accepting my hips will won't look their slimmest haha).

Below are some of the outfits I've made with them since I bought them.

1&2: semitucked top to help lengthen the leg line
3: with a trench coat which ends mid thigh
4: with a belt and tucked top

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9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Oh man, this is me too. I have flailed about cropped pants on the forum more than you would want to imagine. They look best in the far away shot, which leads me to think that the mirror shots are not doing them justice. I think you need more skin/space between your hem and your shoes, which you could achieve (once it gets warm enough) by wearing ballet flats or sandals, something that shows the top of your foot. Alternatively, what about a nude-colored or similar shoe?

carter

I don't think you've made a mistake at all! I love cropped pants and live in them about 8 months out of the year. It took awhile to get it right, but with Angie's nudging, I started playing with the length. I found that they could go from frumpy and stumpifying to leg lengthening and slimming in a matter of inches. I suggest you play around with the hems. Turn them under (too distracting to cuff them outward) at varying lengths and take pictures. One of them will be magic.

Another thing that will help you better evaluate them is to take your selfies with the camera closer to hip level. In these, you're looking down at the pants and the proportions are quite wonky. I think that's what Laura was referring to above.

Anonymous

The photo with the trench coat is cute! You could try them with longer tops too, not necessarily baggy or waist-less, just longer.
I like wide hips and I like that they show your shape. Fitted black cropped pants are kind of in their own category anyway, they look good on everyone, it's just about creating the right balance with the shoes and tops.

Janet

I have a problematic relationship with cropped pants for the same reason, so I understand. I have long legs, so it's not necessarily easy to stumpify me, but cropped pants to tend to shorten (and thus widen) my legs.

It is hard to get a true idea of what these do on your body because of the angle, as Laura pointed out, but they don't look unflattering as far as I can see. The subtle tone-on-tone pattern helps.

They look great in pic 3. I agree with others that it's hard to tell from the other pics. I have a mirror in a small space that I can't stand back from and always feel stumpy when I use it.

Sal

I think these will be great, there will be magic combinations of leg length, shoes and top that will make them the most flattering.

But actually, I think that showing a lovely pear shape can look great in itself, so I wouldn't beat yourself up about how to wear them.

Krissy

Active Member

Hi everyone, thanks for your comments and suggestions! I definitely take your point about taking the photos from an odd angle. I wish I had someone to take photos of me so I didn't have to take selfies all the time. haha.

Laura, I like your suggestion of wearing sandals or low contrast footwear with them. Both of those are on my wish list at the moment and it's just getting warm enough to wear that sort of footwear here in the UK.

I'm glad to hear I'm on the only one who struggles to wear cropped pants. I really love them as I think they bring an element of fun and casualness to an otherwise quite formal trouser.

I'll experiment with the length and my footwear. Hopefully I'll have some good results worth sharing.

Thanks again!

Staysfit

I think you look tall and have long looking legs. You can get away with wearing crop pants. I agree that these should be a bit shorter. I'm not great with hems though.

I am tall but have proprtionally short legs. IMO crops stumpify my legs, even when the camera angle is correct!

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