https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:25:35 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654746 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:44:12 +0000 Sal 1654746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Body parts do come in and out of fashion. Early 00s when I watched Trinny and Susannah, and Gok, there was a lot of cleavage enhancing snd balancing the hips with bootlegs.Now cleavage is not fashionable and bootlegs are not as prevalent. </p> <p>It does seem to be about the butt at the moment along with the ankle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654702 Wed, 04 May 2016 04:41:15 +0000 Aziraphale 1654702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rabbit, I think pictures can be misleading. The last time I posted one, someone thought I was on the tall side, which was really funny because I'm actually super short!&nbsp;</p> <p>Btw I have a crooked face too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654639 Wed, 04 May 2016 00:39:47 +0000 rabbit 1654639@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heh, there are actually several posters who mentioned things in this thread that I've never noticed in their WIWs - I either don't notice the hips, or I think seeing hips is a good thing? &nbsp;Same with breasts. &nbsp;My general impression of them is 'tallish, narrow rectangle or hourglassy' &nbsp;even though in real life they might be tall, or tiny, more a pear or triangle, or athletically built. &nbsp;I'm thinking of Vix among others who is a master of 'appearing' tall because of her sense of design and proportion. &nbsp; I'm usually between 140-150 lbs. and moderately tall, size 10 -- so pretty average in clothing sizing, which can be an advantage shopping I think, so I agree with Torontogirl's point about balance being about the body overall rather than one feature. &nbsp; (Now my facial features on the other hand... are literally crooked--a bone structure thing regardless of weight, which I do 'disguise' various ways.)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654636 Wed, 04 May 2016 00:36:42 +0000 CocoLion 1654636@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I dress around my height mostly. &nbsp;Trying always to look taller. &nbsp;Column of color is my friend! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654632 Wed, 04 May 2016 00:15:45 +0000 Aziraphale 1654632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Torontogirl -- yes, that totally makes sense. I feel the same way about my face. No feature stands out in either a good or a bad way, so when I have concerns about my face, it's normally not about a specific thing, but more a general thing, like the signs of aging. :-)</p> <p>I'm surprised you're not 5'7" or 5'8". I've seen pics of you, and you do indeed look like Kate Middleton! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654630 Wed, 04 May 2016 00:06:17 +0000 Helena 1654630@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Az., I get what you are saying. I don't have any particularly notable features to my body, for better or worse, so there is not much to "balance" per se ... I don't think this necessarily implies more body confidence, just that it doesn't manifest in concern over one specific thing . . .if that makes sense. (To be clear, I don't think working around a body part necessarily implies a lack of body confidence, either ...). Also, to totally further miss the point, I'm only 5'5" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654621 Tue, 03 May 2016 23:54:57 +0000 Aziraphale 1654621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una, that's a good point about the way I phrased the question. Over the years I have certainly met women who talked about how they would like to enhance their cleavage. Mind you, I've met far more who'd like to be less well endowed -- especially women who are into fashion. It's easier to dress a small bust than a big one. You can always add padding or a push-up if you want 'em to look bigger.</p> <p>As to your second point, I quite agree -- I remember in the 90s, when Kate Moss was the new girl, and über-skinny was the trendy shape to have. Not so any more! Now you hear a chorus of "my butt is too flat!". ;-)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654617 Tue, 03 May 2016 23:42:14 +0000 catgirl 1654617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What's interesting is that I haven't seen any posts about trying to dress around small cleavage (or small anything?).&nbsp; Maybe if you phrased the question differently, you'd get different answers.&nbsp; Like "What body part do you try to enhance?"&nbsp; </p> <p>Plus, I think certain body parts and&nbsp;shapes&nbsp;go in and out of style.&nbsp; Cleavage isn't a big deal anymore.&nbsp; Now it seems to be all about the booty!&nbsp; Think of Cheryl Tiegs or Farrah Fawcett - who's the equivalent today?</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654603 Tue, 03 May 2016 23:09:47 +0000 Aziraphale 1654603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heya Liz. What you say may indeed be true. I was simply observing that the only women <i>who responded to this thread</i> who don't dress around either hips, breasts, tummy, thighs, or shoulders are Rabbit and Torontogirl -- both relatively tall, slender, evenly proportioned women. (Hopefully it's not offensive to call you out, ladies!). And of those women who do dress around the body parts I mentioned, it's generally because they feel like the part in question is too big in relation to the rest of their body. (OK, I guess Rabbit did say she dresses around spider veins on her upper thighs, but that's a surface feature, not a shape feature).&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm not saying we don't all have something we'd like to tweak. And I know there must be a few women who are worried about being too thin, or about a part of their bodies being too thin (I think skinny calves is a relatively common one to complain about, because it makes boot shafts harder to fit) but they're few and far between in our culture. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654592 Tue, 03 May 2016 22:32:48 +0000 Liz 1654592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think even tall, slender women likely have body issues they want to take into account. The stuff we "work" around comes from our images of ourselves<i>. </i>Some women bemoan a long neck and try to "work around" it, while the woman next to her longs for a longer neck and wishes she had one. </p> <p>I've seen women posters who are desperately trying to hide their "stick legs" and "work around" them, while I look at them with envy, wondering what it would be like to have such lovely slender legs. Same legs, two different viewpoints. In one viewpoint, they're a flaw to be "worked around," in another viewpoint, they're an asset to be celebrated. <br /><i></i></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654474 Tue, 03 May 2016 18:28:03 +0000 Aziraphale 1654474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting (but perhaps not surprising) that the only women who don't really dress around a body part are the tall, slender ones. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654461 Tue, 03 May 2016 18:10:48 +0000 Helena 1654461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmm, interesting question. I don't think I dress around anything, either to emphasize or de-emphasize. I tend to go for maximum coverage most of the time though (much to DH's chagrin, I might add!) . So perhaps I am going for overall de-emphasis! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654312 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:32:34 +0000 Neelie 1654312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting topic!<br />I have conflicting issues...a poochy tummy demands looser flowy untucked tops, but my long torso/short leg combo means tucked tops would help elongate the leg line...what's a girl to do? &nbsp;(Sometimes I do the long flowy top with a cropped sweater or jacket over it to fool the eye a bit.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654262 Tue, 03 May 2016 11:17:36 +0000 Suz 1654262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have some of the same figure "challenges" as Anne from Oz (larger thighs, smaller bust, slightly shorter calves) and I used to dress around my thighs, but I don't now, except in the sense of looking for clothing that fits them, of course. I don't try to disguise them any more. I kind of like them, actually.&nbsp;</p> <p>But I do dress around my proportionately shorter calves if I can by wearing a small heel, which balances proportions and is also more comfortable for my foot (1" to 2.5" usually). I don't actually have short legs -- just short calves! That extra inch helps.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also dress around my relatively slight frame, as Angie does. I can't wear looks that overwhelm me and go for smaller cuts as a result.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654246 Tue, 03 May 2016 10:35:37 +0000 Momo 1654246@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rabbit I too have the toe issue!</p> <p>But definitely I dress to deemphasize my bust. I have since I started getting unwanted attention in 6 th grade :-(</p> <p>In all truth I dress to deemphasize all my curves. As I get older I am letting go of that some thank goodness! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654200 Tue, 03 May 2016 05:54:46 +0000 Belladogga 1654200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have always been very conscious of my bowed legs and try to camouflage them. I'm most comfortable in jeans, fairly stiff or bootcut pants and fussy about the length of shorts and skirts. &nbsp;I've been making an effort to get over this hangup&nbsp;though and now wear narrowish straight leg jeans but, still, have never worn skinny jeans. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654150 Tue, 03 May 2016 02:41:00 +0000 Jaime 1654150@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh definitely, it is second nature. Don't like to emphasize my bust (34D not huge but can look that way) and am very conscious of blocky midsection. I also dress around how much I will be walking that day.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654128 Tue, 03 May 2016 02:02:39 +0000 Elly 1654128@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rabbit! I have the same toe issue! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654095 Tue, 03 May 2016 00:59:50 +0000 anne 1654095@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another girl in the thighs camp here! Like Laura, I think thinking about this is almost second nature now, so I just automatically filter it in to my decisions. The thighs thing is a fit issue, as I'd say they are a size larger than the rest of my body.&nbsp; My bust however, is a size smaller than the rest of my body, and while&nbsp; that is very annoying with fitting things, and I take that into account flattery wise&nbsp;I don't exactly dress around it to the same extent.</p> <p>What I should pay more attention to dressing around though, is my long torso/ short legs. I forget about it too often! (or prioritise say, not showing my thighs over&nbsp;a leg lengthening&nbsp;length for a top)</p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654063 Mon, 02 May 2016 23:09:29 +0000 Brooklyn 1654063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thighs definitely. I was slow to adopt the skinnies trend because it is so thigh unfriendly. I have a strong preference for tops that hit mid thigh or below and disguise my widest part. Also feet. I won't wear pointy shoes because they make my big feet look even bigger. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654056 Mon, 02 May 2016 22:57:40 +0000 rachylou 1654056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, of course, now I'm dressing around my injured foot! :p </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part/page/2#post-1654028 Mon, 02 May 2016 22:01:24 +0000 rabbit 1654028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I dress around my little toes, because they don't mix well with some low vamped shoes and most sandals, they have a tendency to pop out of place and that's extremely uncomfortable.</p> <p>I dress around (or cover) my upper thighs because of really noticeable spider veins, so avoid mid thigh or shorter shorts -- unless it's one of those very few occasions in my life when I actually do have a tan or it's worth dealing with leg makeup for a special occasion.&nbsp;</p> <p>Everything else I deal with case by case -- more muffin top tendencies on particular days, etc. &nbsp;and don't have hard and fast rules, JFE is fine with certain tops or pants that might not be optimal for my body shape, but I love anyways in certain outfit combos. Like <b>Laura</b> says, it can take more work to bring everything into balance, but it can be done.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1654011 Mon, 02 May 2016 21:34:38 +0000 crazyone 1654011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also dress around my hips/thighs, but these days, more in a comfort way than in a minimizing way. &nbsp;I simply don't find sheath/pencil outlines very comfortable so I avoid them for that reason. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653986 Mon, 02 May 2016 20:46:17 +0000 Style Fan 1653986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My hips.&nbsp; I keep the action on my upper half with interesting tops and jewellery.&nbsp; Like Janet I wear plain, not patterned, pants. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653980 Mon, 02 May 2016 20:36:28 +0000 deb 1653980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another stomach de-emphasizer here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653975 Mon, 02 May 2016 20:27:58 +0000 Sal 1653975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Short waisted-ness.</p> <p>I can cope with my thighs looking chunky and other figure faults, but I won't wear things that emphasize my short waist. &nbsp;I avoid tucking, light tops and dark bottoms in most instances, and most waist belts.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653892 Mon, 02 May 2016 18:53:49 +0000 Barbara Diane 1653892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I forgot that I never tuck anything in. I also don't wear fit and flair as the flare look adds many pounds. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653891 Mon, 02 May 2016 18:53:34 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1653891@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't really think about it that way any more; I guess I've been dressing my body long enough that 'what flatters my shape' and 'what I like/prefer' have fused into one big mental category when I shop. I do tend to avoid higher necklines to break up my chest and look for vertical detailing when I can, and generally don't wear bright colors or prints on my lower half, to deemphasize my hips and butt. </p> <p>Honestly, I think anyone can wear anything if the fit is right and the proportions of the outfit are correct, but some things take a lot more work than others. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653890 Mon, 02 May 2016 18:50:06 +0000 Barbara Diane 1653890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My closet is almost entirely full of patterned tops as solids emphasize all the lumps and bumps below my waist. And my pants are dark for that reason, but the tops hide the above mentioned areas. Sleeveless tops are either saved for around the house on a hot day or go under a very openwork sweater. I might wear one outside without a sweater if it is brutally hot and I've gotten to the point where I just don't care. And that's usually somewhere away from home. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-dress-around-a-body-part#post-1653889 Mon, 02 May 2016 18:49:23 +0000 rachylou 1653889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm. I have a tum that cannot be toned. Wouldn't say I dress around it, but I reject anything that makes me look lumpy. However, I DO dress around my shoulders. They are very sloping. So no shoulder bags and no spaghetti straps. They fall off like I have nothing there at all... I wear strapless bras a lot too. </p>