My work outfits - Need opinions

serena

Angies blog got me thinking today... Do I wear pants that are too tight for work? My waist is probably a 4 and my butt is an 8, so I compromise with a size 6. It is still loose on my waist just a little but definetly fitting on the butt / thighs. I am a pear shape, no doubt... So tell me what you think of my outfits. What about the skirts also, do they make me look too wide? I just got that blue skirt today, but now that I took a picture I am thinking of taking it back. It seems like it makes my lower half to wide. Also what do you think of the shirts? Are any of them too low cut? I work as an architect, so I am always trying to be aware of my chest. I am leaning over drawings at a conference table quiet a bit, so I never want to give a peep show. And lastly, I am 28 years old, do my clothes fit my age???

Oh yeah, the picture of the dress, I just got that... Is it work material or occasion materail?

Heres my pear shape is jeans and cami:

http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0525.jpg
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0526.jpg

This would be an outfit I would wear to work. this is the skirt I just got today. maybe it needs a white top, it seems so gloomy:

http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0534.jpg

Heres a black button up with wide leg jeans:

http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0538.jpg
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0539.jpg

Black pants (wide leg) and blouse - it doesn't do anything for my small waist:

http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0543.jpg
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0544.jpg

White shirt and brown pants (they look black in the pic):
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0545.jpg
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0546.jpg

Brown shirt and skirt - I feel like this makes me look to wide at the bottom???
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0547.jpg
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0548.jpg

Brown pants and brown /white blouse:
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0549.jpg

dress (work or evening?)
http://i394.photobucket.com/al.....MG0551.jpg

Thanks,
Serena

15 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Maya

Veteran

hi Serena,

I don't find most of your clothes too tight and I think the tops are all fine. I like the first skirt and I agree, a white top is probably better. It doesn't make you look too wide, and actually smooths over your hips quite nicely. The dress looks amazing. I think it's a great day to evening piece. I like you in skirts and dresses the best, but I also think the caramel pants you're wearing with the black shirt look great. They're a good length and seem to fit you well. Same iwth the black wide legs.

The others don't seem like they're perfect pants length.

http://youlookfab.com/2006/05/.....hs-please/

I think the white blouse you're wearing with the brown pants (the first set) is too short for pants. A longer top will de-emphasize your hips a bit more. I wouldn't toss it though. It's very cute and fits you well, and it might work with skirts. I don't know if pencil skirts are good for pear shapes since they tend to cling to the hips, but that shirt would be amazing with a pencil skirt. However, the pants look short and a bit clingy around the hips and thighs. The other pants I'm not a fan of are the last ones. They seem like they have a lot of whiskering at the thigh and they are not PPL.

By the way, all pear shapes should really make good friends with a good tailor. Instead of compromising, you can just get a size 8 and have the waist taken in, and your clothes will fit perfectly instead of just okay.

15 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Grrrr this is my third attempt at posting to this thread....

First off, hello and welcome. I have a very good friend who is an architect in Boston. She jokes taht she could have been a doctor with all schooling. She designs labs and does some residential on the side.

I like your new skirt (and agree w/Maya that you look best in skirts and dresses). The problem is the shirt--it's too long to wear with a skirt.

The black wide leg pants (the one you have on with the zig zaggy blouse) are pulling on the inside of your thigh.

I love your dress. I think you are dressing appropriately for your field.

15 years ago

serena

Member

I agree the white shirt is too short, but I really like it because it is fitted at the waist but loose up top. I could never do a pencil skirt, I have tried it too many times to count. I talk myself into buying them because I love the look, but it just never works. Once again it is the waist / hip ratio.

thanks for the comments. Does anyone know how much tailoring costs? I live in North Carolina if that makes a difference. I have never tailored my clothes. I have a great pair of pants size 8, they would look fabulous if the wist was cinched in.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I think it could still look cute with a denim skirt. Give it a shot. Taking the waistband in is a pretty common alteration, maybe $15-$20. I think it makes more sense to just alter everything to fit you perfectly, than to continue buying a size 6 that's a little too big in the waist and a little too small in the hips.

15 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Hi and welcome! Let me start off by saying I love all the paint colors in your house.

Second, I'm always jealous of pretty pears and when you pear gals talk about hips all I ever see is teeny tiny waists and beautiful curves. I never understand why you pears want to shrink or hide your hips and thighs!

Okay on to my analysis:

Outfit #1: I do like this skirt, but I think it would be better with heels rather than flats, and/or a slightly shorter top. The black doesn't bug me so much (but I'm from Boston where everyone wears a lot of black). You could try punching it up with a bright accessory (necklace, purse, shoes or cardi).

Outfit #2: you're kinda far away from the camera, but the pants seem to fit well and this combo looks perfectly professional for work. I'm jealous you can wear button, collared shirts like this! Grr - I think this is another advantage pears have. I think this outfit just needs some fun accessorizing, and you're good to go. (For example.... try a leapord or giraffe print shoe with this or a pop of red... )

Outfit #3: Again, you're kinda far from the camera. Something about the pants is fitting wrong in the thigh - but I could be wrong. However, I think the top is really cute! I think the Angie rule is if you were a volumey top you need less volume on bottom.... so maybe try this top with a bootcut instead? Or, throw on a cropped cardi and button it at the waist, then you'll have a waist again while cutting down the volume on top.

Outfit #4: Agree about PPL. But I disagree about the top - I think it looks absolutely smashing on you! I really like it with these pants, if they were only a tad longer. What I like is that it is creating an hourglass shape - balancing out your top and bottom halves while showing off that teeny tiny waist. And you look great in white.

Outfit #5: I love the shoes. Try them on with skirt #1. Otherwise, nice look but maybe a shorter top, or try belting it (which may make it shorter in the process).

Outfit #6: Another lovely blouse! Love this look. PPL and pants fit may have room for improvement, but I love the idea.

Outfit #7: There's something slightly off to me about this dress, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It may simply be the photo angle.... or... hmm... maybe it's the sleeves? I feel like the sleeves should be shorter, or longer. They're kind of an awkward in-between to me.

15 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Welcome, Serena. What a lot of work you put into documenting your work outfits for critique! I think you look very professional and you're definitely on the right track.

1st outfit -- Agree that it would look better with a white or bright top and the black button-down is too long for a skirt top; it would be just right for pants.

2nd outfit -- I don't think these pants are too tight. I think someone mentioned the whiskering; were these photos taken after a day of wearing the pants? If so, the whiskering would be a natural result of sitting during the day, rather than tightness.

3rd outfit -- Agree this top doesn't do your shape justice. Like the idea of a cardi buttoned over it to give you shape, or perhaps try a bright belt?

4th outfit -- LOVE this top on you; it accentuates your tiny waist and balances your lower half. I think it looks great with the pants, even if it's a bit shorter than the usual "pants top" guideline.

5th outfit -- I wonder if it's the length of the skirt that is less flattering. This would be hard to alter, though, because of the asymmetrical hemline.

6th outfit -- Looks great on you.

7th outfit -- I like this dress on you, but agree with Shiny that the sleeve length is off. Could you have them shortened and the decorative cuff reattached?

15 years ago

Dani

Veteran

Hi Serena...thanks for posting all these outfits. Here are my thoughts:

First outfit, like the skirt and agree with the others about the length. You could try belting the top to give it a little different look and maybe add some color that way.

Second outfit looks great to me.

Third outfit, the top is okay, but I like Shiny's idea of a cardi and Becky's suggestion of a belt.

Fourth outfit, I think the top is fine with the pants. You can definitely wear it with skirts as well. It flatters your waist very well.

Fifth outfit, I'm not a fan of this skirt. I think it hits you at a bad spot and then the asymmetrical hemline adds width to the skirt.

Sixth outfit is nice but the pants appear a little tight through the thighs. I like the top a lot. Cute little arms in the doorway of the photo as well

Last outfit is great! I really like you in a dress. I never would have noticed the sleeve length if it hadn't been pointed out, but since it has, I agree with Becky about looking into getting the sleeves shortened but maintaining the decorative cuff.

15 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

hi Serena,

Welcome to the forum - you are so pretty! I think your clothes seem to fit well and are work and age appropriate. For your new skirt, I agree in getting a shorter and brighter colored top, what if you wore it with your white shirt. I LOVE your white shirt. And I really like your dress. However, if cleavage is an issue, seems like you'd want a cami under your dress if you wear it to work. Some of your trousers seem to be whiskering. If that's the case, then they might be too tight - see how it feels when you sit and walk in them - or it might be the material.

15 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Hi Serena and welcome! Everything has pretty much been said already, so I just wanted to wish you welcome. You are so pretty!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome pretty Serena! Thanks for the pics. You look beautiful in the skirt and dress. This is a great look for you.

If you were my client, we’d go up a size in the pants and have the waistbands altered to fit. I strongly believe that dress pants should not whisker. Jeans can handle a bit of whiskering, but dress pants attract crotch point attention. I hope that makes sense.

15 years ago

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