Quick thoughts:
#1: Looks nice. Shape is great. Not too short.

#2: Your instincts are right: the side view is not the best when it's untucked. Tucked? Belted? A different story.

#3: Nice proportions! Works! Short cardi is cute too.

#4: Not bad, but not the best of the bunch. Great pose, though!

#5: Jacket really works to define a waist. I see why you like it. But I like #3 (Theory) best and #1 (BR banded) second best on you.

Hope that helps!

I like #1 and #3. Is is possible to get the#1 blouse slightly altered at the waist to improve the side-view? It does not look short at all.

Some more quick thoughts.
You are so cute!
#1. While the length wouldn't work with pants on most people, it works from the front but would probably be better longer when seen from the side. I agree that the sleeves look nice but think it would be even better sleeveless.

#2. So modern classic (at least the way I understand it) and polished. You could wear outfit this anywhere. The new bag is beautiful.

#3. A different look for you, but I think you pull it off. I like the nod to the plaid fad but it's not the same type of top you see everywhere on teens and envy your ability to wear shiny fabrics. I'd have liked the puffy sleeves better if they ended at the elbow or just below, but you have great arms.

Shiny, thanks for posting this! I love seeing your experiments.

I like all the looks on you. I think that the sleeves are OK on all the tops. I agree that if #1 could be taken in to make it look better from the side, that would be good.

This is so interesting, to read everyone's take... keeping my comments to myself until I get more input!

Only comment I will make, which I should've added into my lengthy post, is that to me #1-side view, is what I call the "boob ledge" effect....

I like all the three on you, #2 especially, but the others work very well too. I think you can pull mof this look very nicely and that it is a great way to mix it up. I also embraced voluminous tops recently after sticking to waist-defining styles for ages.

Btw, I also got #3 this past weekend so we are twins!

The sky is falling down! I never thought I’d see the day. That’s great, Shiny! Looks like these outfits are being prepped for your HK trip. Am I right?

A change up *is* fab. This is a fun and forgiving look to sport from time to time.

#1 – I love the way it looks from the front. But I can’t understand why it’s doing that from the side? Is it the cut? My voluminous tops don’t do that from the side, and neither do the voluminous tops I pop onto my clients. Fishy.

#2 – love it.

#3 – my favourite actually.

Shiny, I need to take a picture of my green BR voluminous top from the side so you can see how it *should* fit. It should not tent out like that. I suspect it's one of two things: you need to try going up a size (odd, I know, but bear with me), or the drape is just not right. I say you might need to go up a size because it looks like it is just continuing on the trajectory set by your chest, when it should go straight down. A little more fabric over the bust might help with that.

I like a drapier knit or a flowy woven. That's one of the reasons I didn't care for the Zina painters shirt. It's too stiff. That might be what's going on here too.

Shiny loses her waist - Rena loses her waist also,those tops look good on you,I'm on a look out for tops like that,actually I bought one today and I'm going to wear it to work tomorrow.Will post the picture in the evening,let me know what you think.

See! It's fun to surrender your waistline!

Shiny and Rena you both wear the volume well.

Shiny! I'm with you! I have controlled my weight all of my life, now at 40 it's so much more difficult! It's a battle to loose a pound!

But let me say that you have found the perfect outfits to show your figure. Skinnies are perfect because you have nice slim legs and all of the outfits (except the first one.. I don't like the side view either) are perfect!!! The last one is a dream.. so flattering! You are a master!

You look amazing in those skinnies!! What an inspiration, I can't wait to lose enough weight to pull it off like you. But probably by the time I'm done losing weight skinnies will be out of style : (

Yes, Angie, part of my strategy here is planning for the HK trip (although, watching the forecast, I'm finding it hard to believe the temp is going to drop enough to be comfy in long jeans!). But it's not just that. It's two things:

1) This weight gain has gone mostly to my upper body. I am finding many of my favorite silk blouses are a bit too tight. The theory blouse in #2 is not a petite blouse, and last year, it actually could not be worn without a layer, because the armholes would hang down too low. But with just a few added pounds, it's fitting perfectly now. Go figure! So part of the method to my madness is simply I need shirts in the next size up.

2) Looking over my top collection, I'm realizing you are exactly right about knits. They don't age as well. They get pilly and stretch out. But silky blouses do not! I think they are a better long-term investment, particularly considering I'm always fussing in woven tops... they aren't my thing. And right now is the PERFECT time to add blouses - they are everywhere. So I'm replenishing.

As for everyone's comments, what amuses me is that probably half, if not more than that, of my blouses are voluminous. I like that style because it hides my trouble zones. However I have always popped a layer over top to define a waist and bring down the volume. I didn't consider those tops "voluminous" because I thought they needed to be longer - like tunic length - which I do not care for. But if you are all saying this length works with skinnies, then I have tons of options in my closet already.

My favorite is probably #2, with the plaid blouse in second place. #1 - I still like this blouse for some weird reason. I have already worn it about 5 or 6 times (with clams). Maya, you are probably right that it needs to be longer to add more weight to get it to hang better.

Angie - I'm tickled that the plaid blouse is your favorite!! I am always nervous about puffy sleeves, but for some reason, I thought this one worked. I will be judicious about that style. I now have two, this one and the purple BR top from last season.

Tanya, yes we can be twins!

Finally, about the last photo. What I mean is not just that the jacket defines the waist, but the top is actually shorter than the rest. I don't know if it is easy to see in that photo, but it hits more at high hip, which I tend to think lengthens my legs. ALSO - more than the top - what about the bootcuts! I wonder if that is a better silhouette for me than skinnies? (Realizing there's probably "good, better, best" - bootcuts would be best, skinnies just good?) I do have a preference for wearing the skinnies with boots because I think this somehow changes the silhouette and makes them more "bootcut" like. If that makes sense?

My late two cents:
1. Like the top but not the side view
2. Cute look!
3. My favorite, puffy sleeves in all. Somehow, it just works on you.

Skinny vs bootcuts -- I see what you mean by the bootcuts, shiny. I think they balance you out better with your top half. You look great in skinnies too, though!

Also, interesting you mention the leg length thing -- I remember looking at your last photo and thinking, "Wow, her legs look long(er) in this picture!" Wasn't sure whether it was the photo angle, but now that you mention the length of the top, I totally see it.

Thanks for the validation, Cciele! I've always noticed that high-hip-length tops elongate my legs. Of course you don't want them too short either. It's a balancing act. Right now, it's impossible to find tops that hit in that sweet spot - everything is a little longer. Wearing high heels would add back in the inch or two to my legs. But, as I said on another thread, I don't like the way these particular skinnies look with heels on me. I look like I'm walking on tooth picks!!!

Totally works with my 3-inch wedge boots though - because they have some heft.

For the record, my legs are "average" length - not too short. But not long either. Proportional to my height. I think we're all used to seeing models with super-long legs. Once I realized my legs are NOT proportionately too short, I slowly got used to seeing myself wearing flats, such as here. Weird, huh?

I love your overall look for #2 and think that the cardigan helps give illusion of a waist without being fitted, if that makes sense. And I love the plaid top, but have to say I'm biased because I have the same one! I like the "nod" to the plaid fad but that it's work and age appropriate for me (I'm 36). On me it doesn't have the same volume though as someone as petite as yourself. I like #1 but next to the other looks it pales. I agree it would be great under a jacket or cardigan.

Allycat, we need to have a BR "nod to plaid" blouse day, where we all three wear the top differently. :-)

Funny, I didn't even consider it was a spin on the plaid trend... I just love patterns and can never resist them.... but you are right!

I would love to see how it fits you.

Shiny - its me again,the top you like you can see at Espritshop.com under woven shirts.I have a size M (my bust size is 38 inches) .I bought the top I have in person at their store but on line the selection is much better.In their regular T-shirts I take L or XL,but with this one I had to buy smaller.I hope this helps you!

You can surrender your waist or not, both looks are fantastic on you. I agree with the ladies that the 1st top may be too short. The green clutch in the last photo is gorgeous!

Jennifer! A silky blouse *is* woven. So glad you have seen the woven light. Wovens are hands down better fashion investments in all respects, even though I have a hard time convincing people of this.

As Danja says, both waisted and un-waisted you are great looks! Nice to mix it up. And remember that the AC in HK is freezing. Do not pack Summer clothes.

Ohhhhh....I always think "wovens" are crisp cotton shirts. Guess I'm wrong!

My packing plan is to fill my suitcase with flat, comfy shoes, jeans, and sleeveless silky blouses. Throw in a few cardigans for AC, a pair of heels for dressing up at night, a dress or two, and maybe a blazer. Cami for layering. I do plan to take ONE pair of clams, just in case I find the heat unbearable. Yesterday I wore long jeans and about died in the heat - yes it's fall here but it was hot to me.

DH told me last night to stop shopping and wait until we get to HK... so I guess he's open to going shopping on this trip!

Hi, Shinny! I always loved your topics, I think you have a great sense of style, you are so accurate on everythink! I think you sport so well these tunics with skinny jeans -except that side view, of course(?)and please do not worry about cap sleeves-nothing wrong with it! It seems that we all lose our waist around/ pre-menopausal(?!):-(( ... but in fact, my opinion is that nothings else makes a slimmer overall siloutte than the good old bootcuts, paired with a short tailored jacket...I think it's odd, but this is the rough truth! despite this, we cannot wear all the time jackets... this is a new fresh look maybe a bit more casual, but again...you sport it so well. Bon voyage to HK!:-)

Shiny, you are rocking this look! My favorite is also the plaid one - I really like the pattern and colors on you! I agree with Maya on the first one - I think you need to size up but at that point, it might not fit so well in the shoulders . Maybe this is one of those tops that needs another layer - cardi or jacket - on top. I also see what you mean about leg length with the bootcuts vs the skinnies. I have noticed the same thing on myself. I feel a little stumpy in skinnies without the boots.

Totally wait and do some shopping in HK! Asia is the best place for us shorties to do shopping - your height will be much closer to average there so I think you will be able to find so much.