https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:11:17 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055601 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:21:40 +0000 kkards 1055601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i'm tagging this thread for a more through read tomorrow when i can click thru all the links.<br />i never really thought about most of these issue- i kind of just thought about over all height and weight.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055589 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:11:17 +0000 JayS 1055589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another light bulb just popped on here. Elliptical all the way. I love the oversize slouchy sweater look...think Vince...however I'm always putting on a long pendant necklace with it. My shoulders and ribcage are so broad that I need something to break up all that real estate.<br />Thank you Claire and all posters on this thread. This has been one of the most enlightening threads that I have read here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055580 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:59:27 +0000 shemarie 1055580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aha! Visual weight! This thread is one light-bulb moment after another for me!&nbsp;Thank you, Suz, for putting into words and so succinctly explaining something I just couldn't quite put my finger on.&nbsp;&nbsp;With my fair skin/fair hair/low contrast&nbsp;somehow I have always known something is *off* when I try dark bottoms or dark outfits, and I have begun to understand bookending, but this just makes SO much sense.&nbsp; This, coupled with Angie's blog post on white jeans today and ClearlyClaire's explanation of "elliptical" body shapes, is so eye-opening and revolutionary to me.&nbsp; Now, if only I could figure out how to take this newfound knowledge and apply it to my real-life wardrobe!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055555 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:36:51 +0000 Suz 1055555@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I followed your links, Claire, and Una's. So interesting. I know about visual weight from art as well. But I never really applied it to myself and clothes. Had no idea how to, actually. It was bookending that helped me make sense of it. Bookending is a way of balancing visual weight. Now, I still have a long way to go to do this successfully in practice. Lots of my outfits fail because of visual weight issues. This is especially true in winter because I end up relying on dark bottoms. In my climate they are more practical, plus, it is next to impossible to find light coloured boots! So I'm left in a bit of a quandary. If I have dark bottoms, I need dark on top too (because of having light hair). But too much dark is too heavy feeling for my face and features and colouring.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Pops" of light can help....and using a lot of midtones.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055467 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:17:45 +0000 fieldmouse 1055467@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A-ha, now I have a name for why I always look so much thinner from the side view. Interesting thread, thanks Claire and everyone who's replied </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055409 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:26:10 +0000 Day Vies 1055409@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I saw this thread yesterday and was intrigued by the topic. I realized that the perspective discussed would be looking down on the body from above while standing. Then it became easy to understand round or elliptical. (Eureka!)&nbsp; <br />So I realized that I am round not elliptical. This answers the question why some trousers ands jeans sadly bag and slouch where if I were elliptical my hips would be. This is why you'll never see a side profile of me there is way too much rollercoaster action going on and why I look better from the front (3/4 views are best for me.) Now I'll read everyone else's responses. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055334 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:19:19 +0000 Anonymous 1055334@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd like to know more about visual weight. I do believe you can't just look at someone's measurements and know their body type. Height, bone structure and vertical proportions also come into play.</p> <p>I wear a 34B bra, which on a taller woman doesn't look like much at all. People look at me and say I'm busty. Also, I'm short waisted, so there's not as much room between my bust and my waist. That makes the bust-waist-hip ratio (on me it's 36-27-36) more pronounced. I'm definitely an hourglass, and the style tips in the article below really work for me:</p> <p><a href="http://www.joyofclothes.com/style-advice/shape-guides/the-full-hourglass.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.joyofclothes.com/st.....rglass.php</a></p> <p>This website provides help for other body types as well, so it's worth taking a look. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055219 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 06:21:58 +0000 shemarie 1055219@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, ClearlyClaire, thank you, you are&nbsp;brilliant!!&nbsp;&nbsp;That is absolutely mindboggling and it never, ever would have occurred to me.&nbsp; It&nbsp;really explains&nbsp;SO much.&nbsp; (And Ceit, yes! I could have written the exact same thing!) As a tall,&nbsp;fairly athletic&nbsp;IT, I've never been overly preoccupied with my weight,&nbsp;EXCEPT when I see myself in photos straight on from the front.&nbsp; I absolutely cringe.&nbsp; I can be standing with others who may be shorter, heavier, etc. but I always look flat-out (pun intended!)&nbsp;gigantic by comparison, even if I know I probably in actuality weigh less.&nbsp; With a wide ribcage, broad back, no defined waist, angular body, and broad shoulders, 2-D front-view photos are not my friend! (Yikes, this&nbsp;may not help me get over my fear of posting pics...or if you only see the side of my outfits, now you'll know why!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055214 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 06:11:55 +0000 Caro in Oz 1055214@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>CC I first heard of it from the art world - it's to do with which parts of the composition advance or recede. So it's like treating your body, the&nbsp;colours you wear &amp; the&nbsp;clothing shapes as a composition. Carla Mathis wrote "The Triumph of Individual Style" where she explores these concepts.&nbsp;I think Lisa Pippus must have trained with&nbsp;her. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055207 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 05:39:32 +0000 Beth Ann 1055207@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So interesting!&nbsp; Thanks, Claire for the post.&nbsp; I'm swamped at the moment, so I'll must upon this for awhile..... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055144 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 03:52:04 +0000 Anonymous 1055144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is getting really good.</p> <p>Una, your link sent me off on a very interesting rabbit trail! I need to make sure Peri sees&nbsp;that link since she was talking about crotch fit a while back. The pattern drafting (and how out-sourcing and cheap pattern making try to cut corners to get more garments from the fabric) is the culprit. No wonder premium jeans fit me so much better. Down in the comments I followed a link to fashion incubator and learned all this. Cool.&nbsp;</p> <p>Suz, thanks for bringing up the point about the skirts. How brilliant you were to find a solution with lengthening the petite skirts. You are really into the fine tuning now. A bunch of this stuff has been rattling around in my head and I haven't had time or energy to type it out until now. More to come!</p> <p>Shevia and dianthus, thanks for weighing in. Dianthus, it sounds like you were a wee slip of a girl (pun intended)! Amazing all the different body types, and types of types there are. We really are all as different as snowflakes, aren't we?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055117 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 03:18:56 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1055117@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, as I was reading the post I was thinking about slipping between a house and a fence post as a kid when we played hide and seek.&nbsp; I could easily squeeze through a 4" opening.</p> <p>I have referred to two types of hourglass - the ones with rounder bottoms and larger breasts but narrow rounded shoulders and the longer flatter version like I am.&nbsp; The round vs elliptical is exactly what I was trying to describe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055093 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 03:05:09 +0000 Jaime 1055093@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fascinating! Now that I think about it it makes perfect sense. I have not measured or read all the references but I have no doubt I am round, with narrow hips in front and protruding stomach from the side.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055091 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 02:57:55 +0000 Suz 1055091@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Claire, you hit on it exactly when you wondered why people were telling you your skirts looked too big. Same thing has happened to me here with pencil skirts! I ended up sending a couple back and ordering petite and then letting the hem down on those! Strange solution, but it worked, because the <b>SEAMS</b> are in a different place on me!!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>This has been a great discussion -- I can't wait to follow up on some of the links. Thanks for starting it.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1055073 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 02:43:44 +0000 catgirl 1055073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey, so as I was reading the link love post about, er, crotch fit, I found a post by one of the readers describing how different designers create clothing for different body types in 3-D:</p> <p><i>Yep. Some manufacturers design for a woman who has weight distributed evenly around the column of her body. Some design for women who are deep from front-to-back but shallow from side-to-side. Some design for women who are shallow from front-to-back but wide from side-to-side. You’ll just have to try on lots and lots of garments, from lots and lots of brands, to find what fits you best.</p> <p></i>Per LinB, halfway down the blog post here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.alreadypretty.com/2013/10/reader-request-rise-and-crotch-fit-for-pants.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+alreadypretty+%28Already+Pretty%29" rel="nofollow">http://www.alreadypretty.com/2....._source=fe</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054931 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 23:53:02 +0000 Anonymous 1054931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Donna, I don't know, but Ceit was saying that &nbsp;some of these factors are determined by&nbsp;race and ethnicity, as well as gender and other things. Fascinating! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054862 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 22:52:30 +0000 DonnaF 1054862@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So you know traditional Japanese kimono, done up with an obi sash, right?&nbsp; Totally made for tubes, i.e. round types vs. elliptical ones.&nbsp; I am ethnically Japanese and consider my body to be more round than elliptical.&nbsp; I wonder if ethnic Japanese are more likely to be round statistically speaking?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054860 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 22:50:59 +0000 Anonymous 1054860@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Caro, that last bit was absolutely mind blowing! Really good clothes may not be straight or symmetrical, but they make us look as if we are! What do you know about visual weight? This is the first time I've heard about it:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://colourmuse.blogspot.com/2013/09/style-crushwork-it-to-your-advantage.html">http://colourmuse.blogspot.com.....ntage.html</a></p> <p>BTW, is Lisa Pippus the one that talks about the three different body types: skeletal, muscular and molded --and the types of clothing that look best on each? Very interesting stuff.&nbsp;</p> <p>Deb, this old body is definitely aging, but I don't have anything "before" to compare it with, just my measurements, the scale (so misleading) and the way my clothes fit. I don't have the large paper, so no, I haven't measured myself yet. Even if I did, I don't think it would be that helpful unless I did it with a group of people. Hey that could be a fun project for the meet up next weekend!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054842 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 22:33:28 +0000 deb 1054842@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>After reading this complete thread I came to the conclusion that I used to be elliptical but now I am round. Weight changes, osteoporosis shrinkage, and age has done it. Has anyone else found this to true for them?&nbsp;Claire, did you draw your silhouette?</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054837 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 22:30:37 +0000 Caro in Oz 1054837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is very interesting - I used to make a lot of my clothes so got to know my body well too. That is why I don't like "rules" as such. A three-dimensional body is not just measurements; it's also&nbsp;visual weight, bone structure, colouring etc.</p> <p>I just finished reading a book about Balenciaga &amp; one of the things that I found really interesting was, that when they undid some of his&nbsp;dresses to mend them, they found that what looked to be straight seams were really curved, which was apparently really flattering.&nbsp;I'm still trying to work that one out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054831 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 22:26:14 +0000 Anonymous 1054831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo, that is helpful, thanks. I'm off to read.<br />Re: that is hilarious about "not measuring your back because that's not going into the cups lol'! I could just use egg sizes for myself, medium, large, extra large or jumbo. All relative terms of course! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054796 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 22:00:48 +0000 Mo 1054796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't for the life of me find it. &nbsp;It could be gone by now, I've had that happen with saved links. &nbsp;Here are some closely related measuring techniques&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.implantinfo.com/media/news/Improved-Technique-for-Determining-Bra-Size.aspx">http://www.implantinfo.com/med.....-Size.aspx</a>&nbsp; This one still adds the 4" to underbust though.<br />And this one looks like you have to buy the 'system' itself harumph.&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.getsizedup.com/how.html">http://www.getsizedup.com/how.html</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />They both measure the breast with soft tape measure, not a ruler straight across like the thing I read. &nbsp;But same idea of not measuring your back since it's not going into the cups lol! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment/page/2#post-1054791 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:57:56 +0000 Anonymous 1054791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sarah, yes, I'm afraid to trace myself for the same reason. I like thinking I am better proportioned than I really am. But I guess the upside is, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know!</p> <p>Astrid, we must be related. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054747 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:19:14 +0000 Astrid 1054747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No, I didn't measure. Just had a quick look in the mirror. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054745 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:18:45 +0000 Sarah A 1054745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have totally gotten the duct tape supplies for the DIY... havent made the dress form yet! (Wondering now if when I do I'll think it looks like "me" or not?) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054741 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:16:56 +0000 Anonymous 1054741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, you are probably elliptical too. I didn't mean to leave you out! Did you actually measure? *sheepishly* I actually haven't measured yet either. I like to jump to my own, sometimes rash, conclusions. &nbsp;Hmmmm, maybe that's what got me into trouble in the first place!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054740 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:13:33 +0000 Anonymous 1054740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo, well have to call an all points bulletin search for that article you read. Maybe someone can dig it up. It sounds really interesting. Where do you hold the ruler? And can we talk about bust shape sometime? I was reading in a fashion book about how every decade has a specific shape, ie. the '50s was conical, the 60's was high and childlike, the flappers were loose and free, etc. We have been in these molded T-shirt bras for some time now, but recently&nbsp;I've seen pics of a silhouette where the bust is pressed more flat against the chest, creating a larger, but flatter circle. Do you think we're going to have a shift in bust shape? I need bras so I'd like to know before I buy any.</p> <p>Ruth, so interesting! Do you know a rule for determining bone size?</p> <p>Suz, no wonder you look so smashing in the knit tube skirts (and why I can sometimes veer into frumpy/dowdy territory with a plain old&nbsp;straight skirt)! I am loathe to give up bodycon silhouettes on the bottom especially, because they seem to help solve this wideness issue. I recall posting many skirts which fit perfectly, but kept drawing comments to the effect of, "Your skirt looks too big. Can you take it in?" It's nice to finally be able to put my finger on&nbsp;<i>why.</i>&nbsp;</p> <p>Kristin, I've read about making your own dress form. The cheapskate in me tried to talk DD into being happy with a homemade version, but she wanted the "real deal". Now that I know a custom form is so much more accurate.....nah.....I still don't think I'll wrap my body in duct tape. But wouldn't you guys get a good laugh at the pictures if I did!</p> <p>Kelly and Sarah, welcome to Team Elliptical.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054725 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:54:10 +0000 Astrid 1054725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, the right bra definitely makes a big difference, I agree. It's a science all on its own. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054721 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:51:44 +0000 ramya 1054721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Omg!!@ now I get why most tops are too wide for me!!<br /> I am roundish. That also explains why my friend needed bigger cloth sizem even though she was tiner. She is elliptical.<br /> This also explains why my mimo suggested sewing in tucks between the bra cups because something was always off with our bra. She has same built as me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/round-or-elliptical-lightbulb-moment#post-1054712 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:33:54 +0000 Sarah A 1054712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lovely post Claire! Yes, I will join many of you at the elliptical table as well. I have always thought I looked thinner from the side than the front with exception of my rear end which is round for sure. Great food for thought here on proportion and figure flattery! </p>