What is going on here...?

Mauvish

Hello fabbers,

I cannot seem to understand what works and what doesn't work for my body type.
So I am wearing this outfit right now.i was pretty happy when I my husband took my picture at home ( see pic 1)

But when I looked at myself when I took kiddo to an indoor playground, I did not like it too much. According to numbers my bust and bum have same measurement. But here I look super bottom heavy.

Please help me understand what is working and what isn't working.
When I look at this pic (2) I feel I satisfied and feel I need to change something ( propotions, pant rise, pant length, type of top etc etc) but I do lot know what to change and how to fix.

Thanks

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7 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Brooklyn

Anonymous

In pic #2, you look like an inverted triangle with a long-ish torso, although there may be some distortion going on with the camera angle.
I'm not an expert on this body type so will refrain from advice.

7 years ago

Helena

Veteran

I'm with Smittie, I am not good with body shape, etc. But for what it's worth, I see no bottom heavy at all!

7 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Well you are standing quite differently in each photo! I can't tell what if anything is off. I don't see bottom heavy in the second pic, but you look long-waisted. Have we done a body type analysis here for you?

7 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I think the cut of the pants make a big difference in how your bottom half appears. That said, I don't think think this is an unflattering outfit. the straight cut of the pants are bringing out the curves of your hips. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Maybe you could explain exactly the points that are making you feel satisfied with the outfit in #1, and not satisfied in #2?

7 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I'm not seeing bottom heavy, I'm maybe seeing a triangle shape (wider shoulders than hips), with a long waist -- if it's not camera angles. I don't have experience with dressing for a triangle, but with dressing for a long waist, I sometimes want to make my legs look longer and my waist shorter proportionally. So some things I will do are leg lengthening strategies -- wearing heels, shoes the same color or darkness/lightness as bottoms, if wearing tights, keeping those the same color as skirt and shoes.

I tend to prefer jeans with higher rises, and either tunic length tops (which disguise the top of the legs), or shorter, tucked or semi-tucked tops. Jeans with lower rises and contrasting belts often make my waist look longer, rather than shorter than my legs. Open jackets over a column of color (like your outfit) also have the advantage of somewhat hiding the top of the legs/top of the pants, and any hip flare that I'm not as into that day.

As a quick test, try changing your shoes or pants to be the same value (darkness/lightness) or color. You can also try a higher rise pant if you have one (unbelted or with a belt that matches the pant). You might want to try a contrasting top or a jacket just to see how that works as well.

ETA: one of the things I think happening in photo #1 is the scarf is disguising where the top of jeans hit, which along with you standing sideways, balances waist proportions a bit if that makes sense. So the scarf might be a difference between your happiness with #1 and #2.

7 years ago

Mauvish

Active Member

Wow ... I just realized I picked the picture (2) with " most fantastic expressions". Yay me!

Well when I looked at first picture. I said... "Not bad. A column of colour. I do not look disproportionate. And I do not look frumpy. Good enough"

For second picture, now that janeva has mentioned my eyes are going straight to my hips. And my legs are looking short and I am disliking it. May be I always thought I had long legs.
Lol... But hey I guess I don't know my body.
And I am noticing I am judging my body and curves. Also I am noticing the desire to look a certain way....
Huh ... ( I writing my thoughts here)

Una, no you guys have not done a body analysis. Soooo how should I photograph myself to get a Body analysis. ?

7 years ago

Mauvish

Active Member

Rabbit: hi I believe you posted when i was typing my message. Let me read it again and carefully this time.

Thank you for your input.

7 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You look great, Mauvish! I think it's the camera angle difference in #2 that is giving you a different perspective--I wouldn't put too much stock in this one photo. Taking a photo in the mirror is a lot different than having the photo taken without a mirror. Even in photo #1, the angle may be shortening your legs a little bit, especially if your photographer is taller than you are. I think your legs almost certainly would look longer in real life.
Another thing: in outfit 1, the scarf is adding to the long line, giving a long, lean look.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ditto to other comments. The outfit is very cute, esp with the scarf.

One thing tho, I'd use front width measurements rather than circumference for visual body shape analysis. Circumference doesn't tell you where the ins and outs of shape are...

7 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Also what Firecracker said, taking a picture in a mirror (especially an outdoor mirror as they can be wavy) isn't as accurate as a picture from a distance with the photographer holding the camera around your waist height (they need to crouch or sit to do this) in my experience.

And you look lovely in both pics, no worries there, this is just fine-tuning fashion-wonky stuff

7 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

I love the way you've married the earthy colors in the scarf to the combat style boots --- very fun! You look great!

I'd suggest that you keep taking pics. After you've assembled pics of a dozen or so of your outfits, try picking out your favorites and analyzing what makes them work. Then tackle the outfits that you feel are less successful. You end of with a few successful formulas and some do more of this, do less of that, style guidelines.

I think the camera angles are too different to give reliable feedback here (and the lighting in #2 has you in silhouette). When I take photos in the mirror, my proportions are slightly altered, making my legs look a bit smaller and shorter, and my bust looks larger.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I don't think it is you, it is the camera angle. You look beautifully proportioned.

7 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

Ditto what rabbit said. I think maybe you are long waisted. I don't see hip heavy. You look fab.

7 years ago

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