Thanks, Suz. I've looked for a refined bootie, but have not found a stylish one that also fits my comfort criteria. I vow to keep searching, sigh, but it may take me a while
The issue with this brown skirt is that it's so grayed it doesn't go with any browns in my closet. It really goes better with gray or black. I really want to make it work somehow some way.
You may be right about being between an hourglass and a rectangle, though based on the way clothing fits (and doesn't fit) I'm more hourglass than rectangle. I look better in tailored garments. Wrap and sarong styles are great. I look horrible in shift dresses. My shoulders are more in the rectangle category, though. I have never been able to wear shoulder pads, and I can't always wear petite tops because many petite garments are made with narrower shoulders.
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Why, oh why, do garment manufacturers assume that short women are short or small everywhere?!?! If I just had 2 more inches of height and 1 more inch of arm length, I'd be able to wear regular sized misses clothes. I've lost count of the number of times I've bought a regular sized top, coat or dress (if the dress runs on the short side, which many do these days) and simply had the sleeves hemmed up an inch. Because of my long rise, I've also bought regular sized pants and had them hemmed up. It all depends on the brand.