WIW this week - Battle of the Bulge draws blood

Spotlighting two things: The side-apple on my Inverted Triangle frame, and my red boots, which the project manager here calls "a touch of blood." (I always want to ask, *whose?*)

Anyway I managed to dress all week in a manner which spotlighted my least favorite feature, the baby pouch. I know I should love my apple (and I do love the baby who inspired it) but it's hard when it ruins the line of my clothes! So, be brutal: Do you see it too, or am I just too hard on myself? Do I have to surrender the waist to get rid of it? Do I need to start tightlacing or buy a girdle?! I really can't size up in pants because they fall off and the pants crotch ends up on my thighs, a feeling I loathe.

Pic 1 and 2:
- Inhabit sheer alpaca sweater
- Black linen-blend drape-neck JCrew t
- Red Linea Pelle stars and spangles belt
- CoH jeans
- Costume National red boots
These pics don't look near as blurry on my iphone. Dang.

Pic 3:
- Vertigo-inspiring shot of my belt, taken from up near my face.

Pic 4 and 5:
- American Vintage sheerish royal blue tunic
- White linen-blend drape-neck JCrew t
- Joe's Jeans trouser jeans
- Happy socks! But actually what I wore to work over them were my Lucchese black chunky-spike-heeled motorcycle boots.

Pic 6:
I was wearing a sweater over this, but it was actually now *so hot(!!!!)* in my office I had to shed it to survive. On the one hand, the pants give me a shape. On the other hand... do I *want* this shape?!
- dark pink Jcrew perfect T
- Rag and Bone trousercut slim jeans

And just for fun, 7 and 8 are my right-chuffed ebay score: A Paul Smith trenchcoat! Love everything about it! $70 on ebay and something I will treasure. Love! Love! Love!

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12 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh honey, don't be so hard on yourself. These don't look bad, but you deserve to feel fabulous in all of your outfits! You don't have to surrender your waist or wear a girdle to camouflage your tummy- try some woven tops. Woven tops were my turning point. I never thought I could look sleek or wear anything that didn't draw attention that area until I tried them (and your problem area is nowhere near as bad as mine- trust me!). They can still be fitted, but that woven fabric won't cling and draw attention the way that knits do.

Kirti

(website)

I'm being very honest, I cannot see a bulge! But if you see it and it makes you feel less confident, then maybe some flowy or ruched tops will help?

HelenInCanada

Yes, your apple is enormous and very offensive! Hahaha - I can't see a thing.

These are all very cool outfits - the pink belt and red shoes add an awesome unexpected touch. And I LOVE royal blue on you. Divine colour. The trench looks fabulous!

Transcona Shannon

Oh good grief IK - if you want apple belly, I'll show you an apple belly!!! Seriously, you look tall and slim in every single one of these outfits.

ironkurtin

I guess we're all our own worst critic. I look at myself and all I see is a block of less-than-toned torso. You're sweet to reassure me!

K. Period.

You and I could be body-type twins sweetie! I have the same shape and the same baby belly issues. Yours isn't bad, but I know how I feel about mine, so I'm there with ya'. I've given up on wearing belts in belt loops for now. They don't cut me at the most flattering point. Any pants I am willing to wear have a waist that is lower than my actual waist is, and they all seem to sit directly below the baby belly. I'd like the look without the belt or with the belt across the top of a sweater. The second look is more flattering. And LOVE your Paul Smith trench and love your red boots!

rachylou

In the words of Stacey London: Shut up! You were lookin' super cute this week!

ManidipaM

You ARE being hard on yourself! I mean just look at #4 and #7 --- all I see is LONG and LEAN, such as I'd run a mile to look.

And this #6, which is giving you such grief? So excuse me, but from where I sit, what that top emphasizes is your bust, not your belly --- I didn't even notice the pants (yeah, what about them bothers them, again?)... :-/

Now I'm not the best adjusted or most practised eye on board here, certainly (!) --- but hey, I'm betting most people you encounter on a daily basis aren't YLFers either. They're very likely seeing the same as me, which is this beautiful, enviably stylish and fit young lady.

While you mull over that, then, congratulations on Paul Smith! And l love that blue top on you, colour and shape equally.

rae

IMO, yes, you are being hard on yourself. You have a slim frame and I think the tummy is actually small.

However, I do the same thing to myself, so I'm not going to be one to say ignore your discomfort. Even if it's all in your head... you live in your head, and it's important to like what you see.

To me, #4 is very successful at disguising the area that bothers you. The long top hits at a slim spot, and the low contrast between top and bottom creates a nice, lean line.

#1 is sort of the opposite, drawing most attention. You have 5 colors (black, brown, red, silver, and denim) converging to draw the eye to exactly the spot that worries you. Again, not saying this because I feel there are great problems afoot, but because you don't seem thrilled with the look.

Khris's idea for wovens is a great one. Other favorites of mine as an increasing rectangle are jackets/cardigans to break up the area and strangely little boys' t-shirts, which don't insist on a very concave waistline the way many women's shirts do.

As a note, the belt in #1 and 2 is mostly covered by the sweater, there's just a little pop visible on one side. I don't tuck... pretty much ever!

Meredith1953

You have a great athletic build. Nice broad shoulders and narrow hips! Most of us don't love our waistlines all the time. I am very self conscious about mine which is getting shall we say "a little soft". Your tummy is pretty small but I know we all notice these things in ourselves more than other people. Love the dark blue top on you and I really like it not tucked in (I'm not much of a tucker myself)!

catgirl

Okay, I honestly don't see any problem here either. And I would kill for that trenchcoat! I do agree with Rae that #1 spotlights the area you're concerned about, although there's no reason for the concern.

Since I share this belly phobia, though, I will tell you that my biggest worry is "overhang" - like if my waistband is too low, I get the female version of beer belly somehow. I wear mid-rise bottoms that girdle, and yes, I surrender my waist. I also don't do wide belts with low-rise pants, or anything that gives me the deaded seat-belt effect.

I had no idea this was even occurring until about three years ago, I saw a picture of myself hula-hooping at my sister's house that made me want to crawl in a corner and die. I was wearing a fitted t-shirt and low rise jeans and it was just awful. I've never had a flat belly, but this really was a wake-up call that there was no need to shout it out. The lack of booty makes it harder to disguise as curviness.

There was a time when a woman without a belly was totally undesirable... of course, yiu also wore dozens of petticoats, but still.

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