https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:25:54 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1037311 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 03:53:06 +0000 Liz A. 1037311@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There are some really good tips here.</p> <p>Unfrumped, I'd agree with you about some of the fits in the photos I see here. It must be an issue of preference. My fluid look would be only slightly more than tailored while others like even looser. Probably also has to do with where you started on the fit spectrum and how far you've progressed.</p> <p>Beth Ann, i think you are right about fabrication being key. If anyone has any tips on what fabrics tend to drape the best in pants, I'd love your expert advice! If only I had a free tailor of my own! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1037287 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 03:03:31 +0000 Beth Ann 1037287@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz is right that I've been look for a fluid fit recently.&nbsp; As a size 14 hourglass, this can be tricky, and a little hard on the ego (to size up).</p> <p>For me, fabrication is key.&nbsp; I want the item to drape, but not cling, sag, or bag.&nbsp; I also find that a fluid fitting garment paired with a tailored one can be easier to style and I'd encourage you to begin here -- perhaps a soft, georgette blouse with a pencil skirt, or a slightly slouchy v-neck or turtleneck sweater over classic trousers? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1037182 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:22:47 +0000 Caro in Oz 1037182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nothing to add to the great advice here other than taking in a waistband is one of the easiest alterations of all. So if that is the only issue with a pair of pants I would buy them &amp; have them altered to fit </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1037086 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 23:23:23 +0000 Suz 1037086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Liz, I'd also read Angie's "finds" and blog post recommendations (including Nordstrom's roundups) very closely. She usually indicates the body type that an item will work for.&nbsp;</p> <p>Another strategy is to follow those YLF-ers whose body types are similar to your own, and see what <b>THEIR</b> "fluid fit" looks like and the brands they use to achieve it. &nbsp;Beth Ann is an example of a curvy woman (maybe not your body type, but a person with curves) who is aiming for a fluid fit quite often now -- and achieving it beautifully. She is still seeking her perfect pant, I believe, but she has found a number of tops that work, and boyfriend jeans.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sveta is curvy on the bottom and she is finding fluid fits in pants. Admittedly, Sveta has the good fortune to have a free tailor in her mother. She can buy the "not quite but almost perfect" pant and get it to work perfectly with tailoring.&nbsp;</p> <p>Transcona Shannon has done the same. She also has managed to buy items off the rack in a fluid fit -- and she has curves.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1037057 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 22:46:33 +0000 froggiebecky 1037057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd fit your body type (though I'm a 10-12 rather than 6)---ample of bust, butt, and thighs as well. My legs were made to work.&nbsp;</p> <p>I've been experimenting with--and loving--the fluid fit. What's working for me is finding tops with structure (seams: defined shoulders, a yoke, something) rendered in a fluid or drapey fabric. I'm generally not sizing up.&nbsp;the mixed-media tops are OK, too.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the fluid knit tops, I'm finding, make me feel more like a circus tent.&nbsp;</p> <p>As far as the pants go, I looked for a while and finally found some that have a proper fitted waistband and yoke, so there isn't much excess fabric around my hips. The volume is given by some pleats below the yoke. Again, I'm not swimming in the fabric: I've got about 2" of ease in the thigh area (most people would have a bit more). It's not form fitting, it's not oversized, but when I walk, you can see the fabric move a bit.&nbsp;</p> <p>Don't give up on it quite yet!&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036978 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:42:32 +0000 unfrumped 1036978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think there are several different ways to get there.<br />But part of fit problems in general is that certain brands and styles don't<br />"get you" (or me) at any size. I have only been able to get decent fit in a few brands or makers of pants and even then have to have the waist taken up.&nbsp; Sizing down&nbsp;would&nbsp; be too tight in the rear ( and still might not fit in the waist). This is with or without fluid fit. </p> <p>But just having ease in the seat isn't all there is, either, as some types of "ease" look like baggy bottom,&nbsp;&nbsp;while with &nbsp;others, it is in the right places. For example, I'll see some photos of pants on the forum where the poster has sized up for "fluid fit," and to me they just may not....fit. Both sizes are wrong. Though some of the sizing up might be tailor-able, depending. The rear view on pants&nbsp;is especially&nbsp;difficult this way, and I can certainly relate to either a) abandoning the&nbsp;quest for&nbsp;perfect rear view or b) the skirt and dress advantages.</p> <p>For being a size up or not, that just so depends on the item and style. If I try on what I think is the right size and it seems too tight, I'll try&nbsp;a size up, but it might or might not fit the way I want it to. If it's too tight in one size and funny fit in the next size, then that top doesn't "get me" . This is typical of even t-shirt type tops where I always feel I'm between sizes, so when I find one that seems to fit "easy" but doesn't look sloppy, then I know it's cut the way I need it.</p> <p>I'm looking even harder at these types of fit because i don't want my whole wardrobe to swing back and forth --too much time, effort, $$. Plus&nbsp;the fit of one item&nbsp; affects the proportions of all other items worn with it.&nbsp; I need a base of what might be "normal" and flattering fits for me, and then add a few fun different-fitting items from time to time, or keep the basic fit but change something else that makes the type of item look updated. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036952 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:11:02 +0000 Anonymous 1036952@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think fluid fit, the way Angie uses the term, can sometimes mean just choosing the larger size if you are between sizes in clothing. Other times the fluidity is part of the fabric itself, and the way it drapes, or the cut which is more boxy and less tailored (for blouses, no princess seaming or darts).&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm still fumbling around with it, finding how fluid I can go and not look swamped. I still like to flatter my figure most of the time, so I'm trying to find a happy medium. If your waist is something you'd like to highlight, you could wear something like a flowing dress and then belt it with an obi belt, thereby getting the best of both worlds! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036942 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 19:56:14 +0000 Liz A. 1036942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Von, good point.&nbsp; I guess I'd be looking for designers who are designing a roomier cut, while still fitting in the waist (I suppose I technically mean the high hip).</p> <p>Gaylene, I agree about the fabric content.&nbsp; Actually, this question was prompted as I've been wearing some of my pants that used to fit but are now too large as a result of weight loss.&nbsp; I thought they would be a fluid fit, but they just aren't working, because the waistband is too large, and I'm getting weird bunching at the crotch.&nbsp; I do think it could be a material issue as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036910 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 19:12:23 +0000 Gaylene 1036910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As someone who is loving the look of this fluid fit, I don't think it means that it means we just start buying our clothing a size or two larger. Suz is right is saying that, unless the garment is specifically designed with dropped shoulder, the shoulder line should still be in the right place at the shoulder. The same goes for pants fitting in the waist and upper hip area. The "fluid" part&nbsp; comes from the garment having enough fabric to flow over our bodies as opposed to wearing garments that fit tightly against our bodies to show off our curves.</p> <p>I guess one of the reasons I find this look so refreshing is from seeing a decade of young women in my classes wearing skin tight clothing that leaves little to the imagination. If it wasn't for the almost universal use of stretch in the fabrics, most of them wouldn't be able to move normally without tearing their clothing at the seams. For me, it means deliberately choosing not to cram myself into the smallest size pant that technically "fits" because I can still do up the zipper and buttons--and then walking around for an hour or so until the pant loosens up enough to feel comfortable. Wearing a more fluid fit opens the door to a wider variety of fabrics and shapes for my pants because I'm not having to rely on stretch to make a pant wearable. I'm also enjoying wearing clothes that fall nicely on my body and hint at the shape below instead of letting everyone see every ripple and curve on my torso. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036906 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 19:06:11 +0000 Von 1036906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think sometimes it depends on your shape as well - I have given up the search for boyfriend jeans, because I've yet to find a pair that fit like what I see everyone else in.&nbsp; In order for me to get the cute, carefree slouchy jean look, I'd be wearing some <i>man's pants</i>...not some <i>boyfriend's jeans</i>. The look isn't quite the same!&nbsp; </p> <p>It also depends on the designer.&nbsp; Are they making roomier designed clothes, or are some of the models we see in regular sizes just very thin and sizing up. Roomier cuts are often easier to achieve certain looks than with sizing up. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036901 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 19:02:26 +0000 Suz 1036901@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My pants are from a designer called "noir". I have never seen this company's stuff anywhere; I found these at the runway section at Winners! Which doesn't help you much. But the style is filtering down and you can find slouchy and baggy cuts at places like Loft and Nordstroms and Urban Outfitters and others. Angie's new Theory pants offer another example. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036897 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:52:10 +0000 Liz A. 1036897@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Suz!&nbsp; I think that's the kind of fit I'm after.&nbsp; What brand are your trousers? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036884 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:31:51 +0000 Suz 1036884@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Liz, I think it depends. In some cases people are just "sizing up" to achieve a looser fit. But in other cases the cut is quite different to begin with. For example, my slouchy baggy black trousers. They fit snug at the high hip or "waist" but they are very loose on the leg and rear with some slouch in the crotch. This is not a function of body type. They would fit loose on any body except a body they did not fit at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-discussion-regarding-fluid-fit-especially-for-curvy-women#post-1036849 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:28:44 +0000 Liz A. 1036849@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, so I have been thinking about the new fluid fit that is popular here on YLF.&nbsp; Is this a real "fit" that is being embraced by designers? Or is it more a way of wearing your clothes slightly larger?</p> <p>The reason I ask is because I am not sure that this fit could ever work on someone of my body type.&nbsp; When I think of clothing that "fits" me, I envision an item that fits in either the shoulders (a shirt), or the waist/high hip (pants).</p> <p>Now shirts, I don't have much trouble with.&nbsp; I can find some that fit in the shoulders while still leaving ease in the body.&nbsp; But pants is a different story!&nbsp; </p> <p>I am slim and wear a size 6, but I am wide of hip and round of butt.&nbsp; In order to get a fluid fit, would I have to sacrifice the fit in the waist (dealbreaker)?&nbsp; Or are designers actually designing a pant that fits in the waist while leaving more ease in the leg and seat?&nbsp; Or am I just confused? </p>