I don't always know the "why" behind things, but hands down my favorite looks for you have been:
1. Outfit for the video shoot
2. Sweet pea (?) top with brown leather jacket and jeans

I definitely prefer you in a darker bottom, and believe it or not, I like a straighter leg. At least bootcut or slimmer. I also liked wide leg pants on myself, but when I look at photos, they don't lie. The straight leg jeans on you are so incredibly slimming and sleek.

Button downs are okay, but if you're shooting for your best look, I'd say stick with the wrap, deep V, or scoop necks. Button downs are nice for layering under sweaters and such, though.

I'd like to see you in a pencil skirt to compare. I'm quite curvy too, and pencils are definitely the most flattering, especially if they hit right at me knee or a hairline below.

So perhaps you could find a pencil skirt and maybe some straight leg trousers.

As far as shoes, do you prefer heels or no?

We actually have a very similar body shape and similar concerns, even though the size is not the same.

This is really helpful, Sarah. Thank you, smaller body type twin (I want to reach your size some day). :)

As for heels, I like wearing them if they're not too high. The issue is I'm 5-8 and ppl can be problematic.
When it comes to boots, which heights/silhouettes do you find most flattering on your own legs?

Michelle, I'm still stumped on boots, personally. I like a taller shaft boot that falls just below my knee. I want to find a black pair this year like that. I may try to find a tan slouchy pair like Angie blogged about today if I can get the look to work for me. I know that a boot that hits at the thickest part of my calf is NOT good.
I also want to find short booties (perhaps with ruffles) to be paired with black tights and my dresses and skirts. I think I might like that look on me.
By the way, my middle name is Michelle. :)

Fun re. your middle name! :)
Yeah, I know to avoid boots that hit at the widest part of the calf. I have a few pairs of ankle-ish length boots. They're all black, but not much I can do about that now. As for knee-high boots, I want one pair of flattish burgundy ones and a black pair with heels, where the shaft hits at the point you describe. Hopefully others can chime in and let us know if we're both going in the right direction here.

I think you're definitely on the right track. I'm loving your newest looks.
I always feel the most confident in a heel. I think it elongates my leg line, even if I'm wearing trousers or jeans. Even a tiny wedge makes a difference. Have you tried the Me Too wedge shoes, like these?
http://www.zappos.com/me-too-s.....r-metallic
They're in several colors, and have a 2" wedge, a round toe, and pretty twist/bow detailing on the toe.
For boots, I'm eyeing Clarks. Specifically the Camden and Sara boot.
http://www.zappos.com/product/7552928/color/72
http://www.zappos.com/indigo-b.....-synthetic
The heels might be a bit taller than you are after, though.

OOH, those me too shoes sound really interesting, Sarah! What would be more versatile, one of the black pairs or the pewter
Unfortunately the boots are too narrow (i'm not kidding when I say monster calves). :)

Do you currently have any black or pewter fall-appropriate shoes? If you don't have black, I'd get them in patent. That would be very versatile. If you have black closed toe shoes, try the pewter.
There's also a lucious red or "bordeaux", but I wont' tempt you. Too much. *wink*
http://www.zappos.com/me-too-s.....aux-patent
If you don't find your burgundy boots, maybe you could find a pair of shoes near that shade to be worn with your straight leg denim.

Michelle! Don't say that your size falls out of the norm! That makes me feel super duper extra abnormal. We're normal, just the minority on YLF! I'm the biggest person on YLF if that's any consolation to you!

Anyway... I love you in modern looks, like your moto jacket ensemble and cobalt dress. I think you can wear both boot cut and straight leg pants... both are quite flattering on you! But interestingly enough, when I compare the white jeans with the straight leg ones, the straight leg ones are more slimming! It may be the color. Dark bottoms are more slimming.

I agree that wrap tops are great! I'm usually not a huge fan of button downs... I think they can look more conservative and less up to date. They are not my preference on you. I really like your patterned tops, like the Sweet Pea and the video one. Pattens look great on you! I'm personally convinced that patterns help conceal lumps and bumps as well.

I think you need to give pencil skirts a try. Since they don't have much volume, they may be more slimming!

Michelle, do you really have "monster" legs? Every time I've looked at one of your pictures I've thought that you have quite slim legs! Interesting. I have no idea about shoes so I'll leave that up to the experts. :)

I wish we could go shopping together...

AAAACK! Marianna, I absolutely don't mean to imply that you or anyone else is enormous, and I'm really sorry if I did that inadvertently! It's just that at a current size 18 in bottoms, I'm feeling especially large at the moment. And to answer your question about my legs, they are definitely large (calf circumference is in 18 territory as well).

Interesting point about patterns, and it certainly makes sense. I just want to strike a balance between patterns and solids in my wardrobe. What size of pattern should I go for? I'm thinking of getting a plaid top as Angie suggested...should I go for smaller checks?

Thanks for the feedback on bottoms, too. It does make sense about slimmer legs. And I definitely will try a pencil skirt. I've wanted to for awhile anyway.

And amen to wishing we could be shopping buddies!

That would be great if you girls could manage a shopping trip.
My favorite tops on you are the two patterned tops I mentioned in my first comment. Almost a medium size.
But you can certainly wear solids as well. I like the print with a solid over it, but try textures too.
Like this top:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....92&P=2
With jeans and your leather jacket, or a pencil skirt and a cardigan.

I love this look
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....41&P=1
This top with this skirt
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....03&P=1

What about this top?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....41&P=2
It's a print, but not a floral.

Here's a lovely solid that would look smashing with your straight jeans:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....41&P=5

Add a few pearls and some patent shoes and voila!

I could shop all day long. :)

What Sarah said in her first comment. I echo her 100%. Michelle, you looked KILLER to the power of KILLER in your video outfit. I squealed when I opened that link. Have you had your hair cut shorter too? I love that shorter length.

Marianna, don’t you dare sell yourself short!!! You’ll have a bone to pick with me if you do :0). You ooze with style and I want you to start believing it. I am ALWAYS impressed with how put together and stylish you look. And I LOVE your attitude. On top of that you have graceful height which is a huge plus. Style is not a size, age, lifestyle or budget. You know that I believe that from the bottom of my heart. YLF would not be what it is if I did not believe that fact with every fiber of my being.

Ooh Sarah, I've tried on the first ECI top you linked to. I love it, so pretty. Michelle, if I remember correctly, it runs small. It also has a cami attached to it which I find really annoying and hard to put on. I hate sewed-in camis... I get tangled in them.

Actually, I've tried on all three of those items except the last Sweet Pea top. The tweed skirt is great -- I tried on the entire suit (pant and jacket). It's a gorgeous color, but I didn't buy the suit because I felt I could only wear it in winter. It's a lovely pattern though. Get! :)

Also, that ECI plaid ruffle top (link number three) is beautiful, my mom actually picked it out for me to try on. I wanted it so badly but you would have to wear a strapless bra with it (or a cardi/jacket over it). I hate strapless bras so I passed on the blouse. BEAUTIFUL though.

Haha Angie... you're sweet. :) Thank you. This job search and rejection after rejection has made my self esteem plummet. But I'm wearing my moto jacket today so that should help a little bit. :P

Hi! I'm an hourglass and I know everything about rules for dressing for my body type, but before you must understand that there is nothing like trying that's why rules say that pants should be medium rise and bootcut and you look lovely in your straight black pants.
Now.. the theory: how to dress an houglass:
First, the cut is very important, think vertical (vertical seems), fitted but not too tight, accentuate the waist.
Solid colors are better, but you can use small patterns (as your lovely top on that photo with your dog.. let me say that it is a great photo! Lovely face!);
To look slimmer and taller one color head to toe is perfect (it creates a vertical line); the darker the better but you can also use different shades of the same color or two darker colors (as black and dark purple, Black and ink blue).
A fitted jacket or cardigan does wonders and if you leave open is flattering as it creates also a vertical line (I learned that one with Angie).
Pencil skirts are great (once more, fitted but not too tight), but the skirt you have in the photo is also so flattering on you!

Hehe, Marianna, aren't we moto jacket twins? I wore mine today too with my booties, a blue knit top with lace around the v-neck and longer flared jeans and felt
Ok girls, sonds like you're all on the same look here. So now I'm going ot put together a tentative list that can be revised with your input:

pants: one slim boot cut or straight-leg pair of dark-wash jeans, one slim boot cut or straight leg pair of dressier pants (charcoal, maybe)? And another one. I want microchecks desperately, but fear they don't make them in my size. Suggestions? Also should I even think of pont-knit pants, or are those better suited for slender body types?

Tops: A few pullovers in pretty colours,, patterns and pretty solids both allowed. I'm thinking probably knitted. I also want a plaid top in a pant-appropriate length, not sure what colours or styles would be best here.

Pencil skirt: in a dream world, one denim and one black. Will settle for one or the other in the meantime.

Dress: one more day dress in a pretty colour or pattern... Not sure of specifics.

Will devote a whole other thread to footwear later. :)

Yay Michelle, we were twins today! :)

I can't believe microchecks are so hard to find in our size. I just did a search and came up empty handed. I found ONE pair, but they had an elastic waistband and I decided that we're too stylish for that. :)

My take:

1) Yes, you look amazing in patterns.

2) Button-downs are just as lovely, but I suspect they are a bit trickier. You need to take care that they are tapered in at the waist and not boxy, and have a wider spread to the collar, to elongate your neck. The yellow top in the skirt photo has both these features so it works and it is flattering.

3) Pants: it's not bootcut vs straight. To my eye, it's that the bootcut examples are wider all over, and not as form-fitting as the jeans in the photo shoot. (It's hard to see in the bootcut jean example because your legs are together.) But my hunch is that you would rock a pair of bootcut jeans or trousers - just as you rock the straight ones - if you found a pair that was more form-fitting in the thighs. (Not tight - form-fitting). The straight ones are slimming because they... well, they fit you better!!! You don't have monster legs at all.

4) Skirt - would love to see you in a pencil skirt. It's hard to know until we see something to compare. :-)

5) Shoes: you do not have monster legs!