https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:06:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1090529 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 18:43:03 +0000 DonnaF 1090529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear Petites, as I am 5'1" with very short legs.&nbsp; My torso is about two sizes smaller than both my thighs and calves, so true skinnies make me look like a stuffed sausage -- if I can get my legs into them at all.&nbsp; Because my legs are fat, Jag petite jeans, incl. their bootcuts, fit me well in the legs.&nbsp; Trousers tend to look terrible on me because they have too much volume for my short legs and my narrow shoulders don't balance them out.&nbsp; Thus, anything that looks good and fits well on Una is not likely to work for me; the reverse is true as well.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1090366 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:50:31 +0000 catgirl 1090366@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would love to try flares and I like widelegs too, but finding them in petite is nearly impossible!&nbsp; Maybe they will come around in summer... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1090358 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:48:43 +0000 rae 1090358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Now that this thread popped up again, I am wondering if flares would work better for you. Hearkening back to when I first encountered flares, they seemed to cut the legs slimmer to accentuate the flare. A game of wait and see, really, but whenever these jeans do come around in petite, it would be worth it to try both! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1090330 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:33:31 +0000 catgirl 1090330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anna, I don't feel that bootcuts work work me in the same way that skinnies and stompy boots do.&nbsp; I can't explain it but I think there is a different visual effect when there is all that fabric around the ankles for a petite person.&nbsp; Rae explained it well - there's something about having a visual center.&nbsp; I love bootcuts on others, and occasionally on me - but they require more work on my part than skinnies and boots, or BFs and oxfords. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1090056 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 09:31:27 +0000 clairelouise2 1090056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Skinnies make me look heavier and accentuate all my flaws. Bootcuts however make me look curvier in a good way and hide my thick calves. So for me... I don't buy into the everyone suits skinnies thing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1081545 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:40:47 +0000 Snowqueen 1081545@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am slightly pear shaped yet I prefer skinny jeans or boyfriend jeans to bootcuts.&nbsp; I feel a little overwhelmed by the amount of fabric in the legs and don't find them to be that flattering on me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1081461 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:16:25 +0000 annagybe 1081461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una, I'm confused. You often complain about your skinny calves, but you love big stompy boots like your Gigidios. You wear big boyfriend jeans. Yet you don't want to look big on bottom? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1081443 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:56:37 +0000 Faith 1081443@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una, this post anticipated Angie's blog post today so beautifully, what prescience!&nbsp;</p> <p>I (like others) appreciate MuseumGal's succinct analysis, although Angie's added refinement is undoubtedly correct, I do suspect that it's the lower half that's often the target of this advice. I particularly like MG's point B, which I feel is often overlooked. What a great thread! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1081330 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:30:41 +0000 catgirl 1081330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae, I think you're right.&nbsp; I've looked for petite baby boots, but don't see those anywhere.&nbsp; I'd also love to try a pair of flares in summer, but length is always an issue!&nbsp; You put it perfectly when you mentioned bringing the eye back to "the center" - I already look top-heavy, I don't want to be balanced by also looking bottom-heavy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1081326 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:28:29 +0000 rae 1081326@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amy, my comment was more about petites and others wanting to appear taller... I strongly prefer a very slim knee break on petite bootcuts - the Jag did not have this, to my eye. I think they weren't cut for legs as slim as Una's. Anyway, a wide knee break adds just that tiny amount of width to the knee, combined with the width at the ankle. When your legs are shorter, all that width can be stumpifying. Just my opinion!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice/page/2#post-1081321 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:26:31 +0000 rute 1081321@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ah ah so fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081249 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:13:53 +0000 Thistle 1081249@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Personally, I am just glad that I have a place to go (aka blogs) to find advice and guidance. I stopped reading women's magazines over 10 years ago as I learned no magazine had items for me in it. In a world where a size 6 or size 8 model is plus sized, there was little of use for me&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081224 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:44:03 +0000 Angie 1081224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Actually, the "balancing" part <b>works both ways - </b>&nbsp;for<b>&nbsp;</b>pear shapes<i> and</i> inverted triangle shapes. Museum Gal and Una, I think that's what was meant by the original style tip, although unfortunately the detail was lacking.&nbsp; </p> <p>To my eye, bootcut trousers and jeans flatten curves on a pear and hourglass figure. Tight tapered styles accentuate those curves. There is no right and wrong here – it’s all about the wearer’s preference as to which curves she wants to flatten and accentuate. Bootcut trousers and jeans on an inverted triangle body type creates volume on the bottom which visually balances out a broader top. When you dress all body types, sizes and heights for a living, these visual effects&nbsp;become crystal clear.&nbsp;</p> <p><div><br /></div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081218 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:33:00 +0000 Anonymous 1081218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think there's such a thing as a "universally flattering" anything. Just look around at all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of people. How can any one&nbsp;color or style or silouette&nbsp;flatter everyone? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081210 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:10:35 +0000 Lisa 1081210@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I stayed away from skinnies and straight legs for years because I thought they were unflattering for my pear shape.&nbsp; All I purchased were bootcuts.&nbsp; And I do adore my bootcuts but now I also enjoy other styles too.&nbsp; And tall boots tucked with skinnines is one of my favorite rainy day outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081091 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:38:29 +0000 krishnidoux 1081091@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agree with Museumgirl.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hil, lol, the infamous "potato bag" dress (robe sac de patates)&nbsp;! It was very big in the eighties as well... I think it may have stemmed from Vivienne Westwood punk-rebel inspiration, or "oversize" taken to the extreme. Sling waist was low on hip (when any), which gave it a somewhat 1920 reminiscence vibe.&nbsp;</p> <p>This type of dress was rebellious because, I think, it would expose a different part of one's anatomy. Not the traditional waist or&nbsp;cleavage anymore, but the thighs, the shoulder.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;All I know is that my tall girlfriends wore it with pizzazz while I looked like a poor little potato lost in it.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081085 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:21:00 +0000 Hil 1081085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hear you! Recently I saw an advised dress for a plus size apple shape which was basically just one big shapeless sack. This was in a&nbsp;magazine printed by Edgars,&nbsp;one of our big retail stores.&nbsp;I was horrified. I wish I had taken a photo to&nbsp;show you all.&nbsp;I can't imagine anything less flattering if figure flattery is your main goal.&nbsp;It was&nbsp;as if they&nbsp;were suggesting&nbsp;you should hide in hessian if your figure is less than perfect. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081083 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:00:24 +0000 Lantana 1081083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh Yes I Hear You! (please excuse the Shouting)<br /> We have a site in Oz called Birdsnest.com which has cute clothes and interesting styled outfits but... it annoys the hell out of me because it recommends every single item in deficit terms. Like: this dress will minimize big boobs, or maximize small ones; this top will hide a big bum, or tum; these pants suit birds(sic) with thunder thighs etc etc.<br /> You get the picture - it's so negative.<br /> Grrr.<br /> Makes me wild. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081049 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 08:54:24 +0000 Mander 1081049@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ugh, these articles can be so inane. I read one the other day about dressing an apple-shaped figure and the advice was really bizarre. Never, ever wear a belt. Do not wear anything fitted. Always wear empire waists. Every top must cover your rear. And so on. It makes me wonder if the person writing it has ever seen an actual woman, or only knows women through those vague body type sketches that always seem to accompany the article.</p> <p>I suppose this is one reason why a lot of conventional "fashion" writing turns me off, especially in advertising. Their descriptions of the clothes and the way they are supposed to make you feel can be rather insulting, quite frankly. But I guess I am not really in the target demographic for most such things, so perhaps this partly explains my aversion to them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1081027 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 06:47:47 +0000 Mrs Moo 1081027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I totally agree with MuseumGal, it makes a big assumption that (1) everyone reading has a big bottom half that needs balancing out, and that they want it camouflaged, and (2) that everyone reading is looking for a 'slimming' look. This says to me that if you're larger on the bottom you will automatically want to hide yourself and that slim people don't need fashion advice. The only universal advice for ALL body types I've ever seen is here, from Angie. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080980 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 05:15:21 +0000 minimalist 1080980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Printed blouse, faux-fur cardigan? If I wore those, then I'd *need* very wide flares to balance things out. </p> <p>Rae, what's special about the knee-break on the JAG bootcuts? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080961 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 04:24:42 +0000 ironkurtin 1080961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chiming back in to say, I have also seen articles where the advice on what to wear was SO very specific it was useless in the OTHER direction.&nbsp; Like those spreads that say if you're busty, boyish, bottom-heavy, tall, short... what if I'm three or more? Or none?</p> <p>So I just look at the pictures and make up my own mind. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080959 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 04:22:58 +0000 ironkurtin 1080959@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do think bootcuts can in fact be more flattering that skinnies on certain figures.&nbsp; I mourned my 7FAM dark-rinse high-rise bootcuts when they no longer fit my new figure right, because when my body was a slightly different shape they made me look 8 feet tall and slim, yet shapely. Now they don't make that cut anymore in that perfect denim, and they wouldn't fit the same way now anyway&nbsp; my body has changed.</p> <p>I do like those short lists though, because I like to look at them and think, no, no, yes, no... I would never treat those lists as gospel.&nbsp; Do you think people really do? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080951 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:56:08 +0000 rae 1080951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I totally agree. Way too simplified.&nbsp;That's one reason I mentioned the knee-break on the Jag bootcuts... one of my most common things&nbsp;with petites is to reign the eye back into the center - and if you can't do that at the ankle, it has to be at&nbsp;the knee. Actually, for most of my petite customers, bootlegs are harder to fit than skinnies or straight legs. Same with tapered skirts being easier than flared skirts.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080907 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 02:27:46 +0000 Jaime 1080907@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It sounds like they are recycling the same old fashion advice. Next will be don't wear horizontal stripes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080811 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:10:17 +0000 Deborah 1080811@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agreed!&nbsp; Some of the things I read in magazine are so funny that I really wonder if the person has thought about what they are claiming.</p> <p>I find bootcuts do seem to look good on most people but again it has a lot to do withe maintaining the correct proportions.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080784 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 23:37:05 +0000 Marmee 1080784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel frumpy (and stumpy!)&nbsp;in boot cuts, perhaps because I don't wear dainty heels. &nbsp;I'm not sure if there is any universally flattering jean, but I'm sold on skinny jeans at the moment. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080777 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 23:31:42 +0000 Angie 1080777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Flared trousers, when worn with dainty heels,&nbsp;are elegant and&nbsp;flattering -&nbsp;but not for everyone. You'll probably enjoy tomorrow morning's post Una. I take a modern approach to fashion and style, and if flared trousers and jeans&nbsp;make you <b>feel</b> fabulous because they balance out proportions&nbsp;- wear them. If they don't, wear tapered styles.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080764 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 23:19:26 +0000 DonnaF 1080764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And don't get me started on "One Size Fits All".&nbsp; NOT. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/useless-bootcut-advice#post-1080724 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 22:32:42 +0000 gradfashionista 1080724@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think skinny jeans, unlike boot cuts,&nbsp;are 'the' universally flattering jean. Some are more flattering than others, based on thickness of material and fabric composition. Bootcut jeans on pear-shaped, short-legged women tend not to flatter because the&nbsp;beautiful curve of the hip, thigh and rear is&nbsp;transformed--in the name of "balance," the ankle opening makes women's legs look both shorter (length-width ratio change), and objectively wider.&nbsp;Every woman, regardless of size or shape, should own skinnies, even if it takes a bit of time finding the right skinny. Curses to the next person who suggests that pears who wear skinnies should better wear a tunic. </p>