myshape update - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

myshape update

mayapple

I said i would write about my experience with MyShape so here goes:

The cardigan wasn't flattering at all. I knew it said it was lightweight, but I still expect lightweight garments to be substantial and this was just flimsy. The buttons weren't sturdy at all and felt like they would come right off. It was also just too long and looked sloppy. If it had been cropped, it would have been cute, even if it wasn't the greatest quality, but for the kind of trapeze silhouette it had, it needed to be much shorter.

When I went to return it, I filled out a form asking me about how it fit and for any additional comments I had. I basically just said I had a short torso and was petite and that I don't think the clothes I was seeing always took that into consideration. By no means is this a comment on the service or on the overall quality of MS, but at least this time around, it didn't work out. One thing to note is that I don't have all my measurements filled out in detail. There is a section where they ask for vertical measurements (from shoulder to waist, from waist to hip, etc). That probably would have helped. I will still give it another try if I find something else I like.

Dressing

35 replies

Latest reply was from Sarah

AnaElizabeth

Thanks for the update, Maya! There was a cardigan on myshape that was recommended for my body type. I was thinking of purchasing, but with the styling, I really think it would make me look top heavy:

http://www.myshape.com/product.....l+Cardigan

I decided to get this one instead in the navy color, I think it will be more flattering:

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat301172

Myshape seems like maybe a good starting point, to give you an idea of some general shapes that might work for your body type, but we probably have to take our own individual quirks into consideration as well. Wouldn't it be nice though to have a place where you could order anything and know it would look fabulous? Sigh....

mayapple

I loved that jacket when Angie posted it. Did you get it in navy or yellow?

The grommet one is also recommended for me, but I can't figure out why. I don't find it all that flattering. I was hoping Myshape could help me find something different from what I usually try on. Maybe next time it will be more successful.

AnaElizabeth

Hmm....what's your body type Maya? I tend to have pretty broad shoulders, so I was worried about emphasizing them with the puff sleeves, primarily. The sweater seems cropped to me, which might make it a more "normal" length for you. It could be cute with some skinny jeans (again, depending on your body type).

I've had my eye on the J. Crew sweater jacket for a few weeks--I decided just to bite the bullet and get it. I got it in navy, since navy is a year round/go with everything sort of color. I did try on the yellow one at a J. Crew store here in Austin though--let me tell you, it is really cute. I think that bright shade of yellow would work on almost all skin types, because it didn't wash me out at all. I'm trying to be more practical though. The navy one I can wear almost all year here (probably not the hottest part of summer, or the very coldest part of winter--January and February here).

I'm really excited, I ordered it yesterday, so hopefully it will come this week, along with my ivory Boden jacket and BR jeans. I'm feeling more fabulous already! Now just to find some great (and comfortable) summer sandals....

mayapple

You could always wear a yellow cami under the navy one. I love that color combo. I think they are both adorable and I don't know if I could decide.

I think the cardi would be cute on someone, I just don't know about me. What shape are you? S? I have been declared both an S and an M on myshape depending on how much I ate the week before :p. Right now I'm an M. I have mixed feelings about how I look in skinny jeans. I feel fine in them when they're tucked into boots, but I am pretty self conscious about my thighs and they don't seem to help. On the other hand, I love the leg opening and being able to scrunch them. I want so badly to look good in them because they look amazing on the right person, but I think I'm better off just sticking to straight legs.

AnaElizabeth

I actually bought a yellow cami yesterday in anticipation of the arrival of the sweater jacket! I also bought a bright coral colored one, and a light lime green one, because I love all those in combination with dark inky blue. I also ordered this cardigan in the bright blue the model's wearing. I think the yellow will look good with it as well:

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat301170

I want to be able to wear the above cardigan in the fall as well. Actually, I just checked and the dang thing is backordered until June. So, now I'll HAVE to wear it in the fall. What colors do you think will work with it for fall?

I'm an M shape, which I generally agree with (from the description they gave). I don't look so great in skinny jeans either. I feel the same way as you--like they make my thighs look gigantic. I am looking for a pair with a higher rise to wear with boots under a tunic length shirt or something (as long as it covers my thighs). We'll see.

Nicole

Veteran

Ana, I think that jcrew blue cardi would look nice with cream and black. It's a great bright color that will cheer everyone up!

AnaElizabeth

Oh, I have a cream cami and black "skinny" jeans (more like slim straight leg). I might give that a try when it arrives. Thanks for the suggestion!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the interesting myshape update Maya. I am still a little startled at what they recommend is best for different body shapes, but then opinions do vary.

Judging from the picture that you posted of yourself a while ago, I'm pretty sure that the sweater jacket looks great on you Ana and I’m thrilled that you are adding citron as a layer. I too LOVE cobalt with black and cream and that’s how I usually wear it (and occasionally add citron).

Maya, in my professional opinion, you look fab in skinny jeans. Scrunched bottoms will take the empathis away from your thighs if that makes you feel better.

mayapple

I'm wondering who decides what is and isn't flattering on MyShape and what their background and expertise is. It's hard to tell, but I noticed they recommend a lot of high necklines and flare/wide leg pants for me, both of which are totally wrong for my body type according to just about every legitimate fashion expert I can think of.

Ana, I think all the colors that have been mentioned are great. I don't think you can go wrong with that bright blue color. I wonder if the right shade of orange might be pretty for fall, though I have to admit I don't coordinate colors and seasons. I think the only color I can think of which is a flat-out no is brown.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Angie. I am wearing my skinnies right now, but with a mini dress that keeps my thighs safely concealed. The shirt length makes a huge difference.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It does indeed. Go for it!

AnaElizabeth

Orange is an interesting suggestion. I'll keep an eye out for a nice shade that might go with the cardigan. I'm trying to broaden my horizons on color combinations and time of year. I've been pretty traditional up to this point, but there are some colors I love (like coral) that I would always be sad to put away until Spring/Summer. I'm excited that people have suggested nice ways to wear these year round. Thanks everyone.

Jennell

I thought the yellow sweater jacket is just perfect for Spring and Summer. My question is can you leave the short jackets and or cardi's open or are they supposed to be buttoned up all the time? Quite warm in Fl and with a cami or tank underneath it can get hot. But I certainly don't want to ruin the look.
Thanks,
jennell

Nicole

Veteran

I rarely button jackets and cardigans. Very slimming to keep them open.

Jennell

Thanks Nicole-I was not sure because usually in the "pictures" they are buttoned all the way.
Jennell

Sarah

Myshape has you as a shape M, Maya? That's interesting, because it told me I was an M too. Our shapes are completely different. I have broad shoulders and you don't. You have a chest and I don't... Maybe I didn't measure correctly.

mayapple

Somehow I'm beginning to suspect that an M is the shape you get when they don't know quite where else to put you. You, me, and Ana are all M's but we don't seem to have much of anything in common.

But as I said, I am literally within half an inch of being an S, so who knows.

HannahMichelle

This has been an interesting discussion to follow. I was wondering if there was anything to that site or not. I didn't put in my measurements, but a Y describes me right on.

Julia

I agree that M is the shape you get when they don't know where to put you.

I'm an H or rectangle by standards I see everywhere else, but according to myshape's calculation, if the difference between your hip and waist is more than 6' then you are not an H. Mine is 7' but I'm not qualify for an S yet so I guess that's why I'm an M.

I'm not sure if you have noticed that the shapes they have are the letters in their name: M, Y, S, H, A, P and E. My speculation is that to match that up, the created shape M and E but that throws my off completely, I'm more confused...

By the way, Angie, I think that I'm a busty rectangle, my measurement is 37(shoulder), 28, 36 and I wear 34C bra. I found that I can't follow the rectangle rules 100% because of my chest. You have addressed this body shape in how to wear a dress a while back. Could you add more suggestions for this body type?

I love this blog so much and I check it many times everyday now. Thanks for providing us such a great place to communicate!

Becky

Veteran

Add me as another who was classified as an M. I have broad shoulders, no bust, a defined waist, and a curvy bum.

mayapple

I just cant figure out what an M corresponds to. S is an hourglass, A is a pear, Y is an inverted triangle, H is a rectangle, P is large chested (top-heavy but not an apple), and E is an apple. Is M another kind of pear? I don't think I'm all that pearesque.

I don't think they made up E because they needed to have a shape that corresponded with a larger midsection, but I can't figure out what M is supposed to be. If you also notice, the letterforms also mimic the different shapes..with the exceptions of M and E.

I am a rectangle purely based on measurements, but most of my 35" hips are contained in my bum and I have boobs. No wonder myshape got confused.

Dancingstar

I beleive it's supposed to be a variation of the hourglass.
I've read somewhere that the definition of the hourglass is not consistent, so some places will say it's ( traditional) an equal bust and hip measurement, with much smaller waist ( 12" smaller then hips) and smaller roundish shoulders ( my shape S). Other places will define hourglass as equal shoulder and hip width, which is usually acompanied with the waist that is defined, but with smaller waist/hip difference than S shape, chest smaller than hips, and shoulders straighter (and wider) than those of the S shape, so this is what myshape calls M shape.
I'm 33-25-37 , with wide straight shoulders that are equal width as my hips and they've put me in the S category even tough I beleive I'm more of an M.

Nicole

Veteran

Considering the letters they assign individuals spell out MYSHAPE, I don't think they really care if the letter actually looks like the woman's body shape. After entering in all the information, and looking at their merchandise, I think it's just a gimmick and a potential problem for women who are already struggling with accepting their figures.

AnaElizabeth

I was reading what Maya said earlier, and I agree with you all that M is sort of a "leftover" category. I think if you compared the different types of clothing that are flattering on Maya and I, there would probably be very little overlap. Plus, Myshape recommended several items to me that had a puff and/or cap sleeves, which is definitely not flattering, as I have broad shoulders.

Nicole

Veteran

Not specific to MYSHAPE, but generally speaking...why are there so many shirts with cap and flutter sleeves when that style is not flattering on most women? Same thing with the excess pleats and gathers? Shouldn't the percentage of a certain style be relative to the percentage of women who would look good in that style? Honestly, who here looks good in cap sleves? Yet who here has found summer tops that don't have cap sleeves? Every summer top I see has gathers, empire seams, puffy sleeves, or a band that is supposed to sit under the bust. I can't wear any of those things. I have not bought one summer top yet because I have yet to find one that does not have any of those features.

AnaElizabeth

Nicole, I have been lamenting the same thing! Add to that shapeless balloon camis:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....6&P=2

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....in=related

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....0&P=3

Hey Nicole, how about this?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....0&P=3

What? You mean you don't want to be swathed in 1000s of extra yards of magenta charmeuse? I can't imagine!

I'm going shopping in a couple weeks to get some summer tops, I'm really hoping I can find some. If I find some good stuff I'll let everyone know.

mayapple

Nicole, the liberal use and abuse of pleats and gathers are beyond my comprehension. At least cap sleeves can look good on a woman with toned arms, but gathers don't look good on ANYONE. A woman who still manages to look good in a gathered top will still look good (even better, I should say) in one without gathers. I had to return this top because the bunching were just too much: http://www.espritshop.com/Shop.....61_352.jpg. I am not a big girl and I looked enormous in that thing.

The model looks fine in it, but I bet she would look even better without all that puckering. I just don't understand what the purpose of that is. All they do is turn an ordinary top into maternity wear. I love empire waists, but I can understand how they would be frustrating for someone who is on the bustier side. I think Boden has a lot of nice summer tops. Perhaps it's worth checking there.

mayapple

Regarding Myshape, I think I've given up hope. It looks like they just needed an "M" so they made one up. My graphic designer's eye makes me believe they did choose the letterforms based on the shapes. It can't be sheer coincidence that the curviest body type is also the curviest letter, P is for large-chested women, A is for pears, H is for rectangles, etc. It was definitely deliberate, perhaps on the part of the designers they hired if not the company itself.

I'm 33-26-35 (with boobs I'm closer to 35-26-35). My shoulders are 37". I feel like I could really be any shape with the exception of the apple. I'm too straight to be an hourglass but too curvy to be a rectangle...but my hips aren't narrow enough to be an inverted triangle...

Blah blah blah.

Body types just confuse me. I think I"ll just try things on and see if I like them and leave it at that.

AnaElizabeth

Maya, check out this shirt I just found on bluefly.com:

http://www.bluefly.com/pages/p.....Popularity|0||Product%2bCode|1&Nu=Product+ID

I think this color would look awesome on you!

AntjeH

I don't get Myshape, and it seems totally over-hyped to me. As many pointed out on this forum before, their shape typing seems pretty random and odd at times. There are tons of clothes on their site that fit most of the shapes - which just doesn't seem helpful. The clothes themselves aren't nicer or better priced than elsewhere.
I think a far more useful site would be one where women type themselves as shapes and then recommend styles of clothes from a variety of brands/sites to each other. E.g., if I as a short and small-chested hour glass with a slight belly bulge (now you know it all ;-)) find a great A-line dress that is super flattering, then I wanna recommend that to others with similiar body shapes/issues. I don't, however, trust a site that recommends an over-priced and rather boring A-line dress to two thirds of the body shapes out there.
Myshape seems like such a great lure, but I just don't find much behind the promise. Sorry, just had to rant a bit...

12