https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:43:49 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775919 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:24:01 +0000 Lisa 775919@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, my body shape definitely influences my style. I adore the look of dresses and skirts but very few work on my pear shape without making me feel shy (too much cling). So I stick with mostly jeans and trousers. I don't own any skirts at the moment. And I rarely wear my dresses. </p> <p>I like blazers and none of my blazers work with the dress styles that look best on my body shape (wrap dresses work well for me but I need a very cropped blazer or cardigan to layer with them). So I just stay away from skirts and dresses.</p> <p>My shoes also dictate my style a bit. Some outfits just don't work to my eye without a heel, even a little one. And I stick with flat shoes. Most flat shoes have a slight rugged vibe to them, and my style reflects that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775904 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:12:55 +0000 fern 775904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ahh, Jenava, you already know I am frustrated by being forced into "soft" clothes because that is what fits.<br /> Wearing sportswear was my answer for a long time, because yoga pants &amp; capilene fit me, and I certainly didn't mind portraying that I was athletic, or on my way to a hike.<br /> I feel like it is harder to convey my professionalism using clothing, given my round shape. I think you do it beautifully. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775790 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:24:34 +0000 Jenava 775790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, this really is what I'm getting at, exactly...gaining weight and seeing the some of my old things look bad now (squishy mid-section, for example) is making me re-evaluate my style. That was the thing that made me realized (well, I think instinctively I already knew) that my body shape probably has a bigger influence on what I like, style-wise, than I give it credit for! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775789 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:24:22 +0000 Aida 775789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh wow Jenava, that color combo is pretty brilliant. I must keep it in mind! I adore the skirt, anything houndstooth makes my heart flutter ^^ I quite like this outfit on you, it does feel a bit less romantic than what I'm used to but the muted colors tie that side back in really well.</p> <p>I think that to a degree we probably all temper some of our style preferences based on our bodies since that's the canvas after all. I hear you on some of the sharp lines (and how hard the 50s challenge day was, bleh); from the front and back I'm sharper around the edges but curvy on the insides, and to throw a wrench in the whole thing I'm all curves from the side. I find some things worth the effort of fighting my shape, and others not so much. It takes energy to fight though, so it's usually best for me to pick my battles There are also things that are "appropriate" for my body that I just don't feel good in. I tend to gravitate AWAY from bombshell (except for evening, apparently) because I don't enjoy the attention it garners even though I have the shape for it. Because of my half-straight-half-curvy shape, I do find that I gravitate towards that same type of balance in my clothing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775787 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:21:36 +0000 Gaylene 775787@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another "everything that JR said"!</p> <p>Even as a teenager, I realized I looked ridiculous whenever I tried to emulate what my petite, blonde girlfriends wore. I was a tall, angular, athletic brunette with an IT's broad shoulders, well-developed calves, and a size 10 shoe. Girly looks like ruffles and dainty accessories were so at odds with my personality and body shape that even tactful sales associates would burst out laughing. A cross-body bag looks so right on me but hand me a designer handbag and I look like I don't know what to do with it. And I'm a total clutz with a clutch. It took a long time until I realized, when I wore things that made me happy because they felt good on my body and suited my personality, that I was expressing my own personal sense of style. I didn't "find" my style, as much as recognize that it had been there all along. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775723 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:11:49 +0000 Jenava 775723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, yes, Kibbe must be taken with a LARGE grain of salt. Sveta was the one that turned me on to him.</p> <p>Trying to get too specific with that kind of thing is the wrong direction, I think. But I do think the idea that you need to work with you personality AND your body shape is a solid one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775635 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:25:59 +0000 L'Abeille 775635@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Everything JR said.</p> <p>Also, I saw the nod to David Kibbe as well, that was what I originally came to say. I've only read snippets I could find on line and the premise seemed frankly ridiculous--that by evaluating the breadth of my shoulders, the curve of my cheeks, the straightness of my brows or fleshiness of my lips I could get any kind of input to my style persona, as in elements of my personality! And the illustrations of course are really weird being from the 80s. But when I added it up I was surprised how closely the outcome (and its predicted flattering elements) fits my style--for example I love bold slightly-off geometrics like zebra and painted-looking stripes or plaids...</p> <p>Also the text part made more sense than the rest did. I am tall, angular, but not athletic looking. I look best--in fact look most feminine--in looser-fitting menswear inspired styles (or items stolen from hubby's closet). And like Kibbe's text said, I went through my 20's trying to wear feminizing influences like ruffles or gathers because I thought I had to offset my angularity, but instead I just felt silly in them.</p> <p>Now I have a boho streak that would love to wear ethereal styles, but I can't get away with it any more than I can get away with pale lipstick, or hold a curl in my hair for over 15 minutes. So has my shape influenced my style? For sure. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-775352 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:05:38 +0000 dizzys 775352@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been relearning how to dress my body after losing 5 sizes and it is hard if you are working against your body type at any size...I say go with cuts/styles that look best on your body and bring in color themes and excessories that are a closer match to your personal style.</p> <p>Great thread! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-774951 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:41:06 +0000 Jules 774951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! I know exactly the straight menswear pants you mean and I also have given up on that look. I reluctantly gravitated towards bombshell because that is the figure I have. I'm learning to love it as one element of my style. I spent years wanting to be tall and narrow and clothed drapily. It doesn't work for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-774944 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:33:27 +0000 Thistle 774944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look wonderful! I love the skirt, the color blocking on it is perfect. And the jacket plays really well with your coloring. Lovely outfit on you!</p> <p>I am learning to dress my shape. Most of my life, I have wanted to be a tall slim rectangle. I am a short rounded hourglass. I love the classical elegance that goes with the former, I am still learning how to dress the latter.</p> <p>The blogesphere has really helped as you can finally see women of all shapes and sizes looking fab. It has helped me to see how other women with my shape dress and look fab </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-774923 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:14:42 +0000 CocoLion 774923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes I dress around my shape. Right now I feel I cannot partake in the cropped pants trend due to my height. I mean I can do it but it never looks that good on me. Also, with all of the oversized tops (which I love) I have to select them carefully with the right neckline because I am not small-busted. Finally, I have never been able to pull of skinny jeans with flats due to my curvy legs. I have thighs, they are the widest part of me.</p> <p>... And you look fantastic. The unexpected touch of the slightly colored tights is brilliant! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style/page/2#post-774752 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:53:57 +0000 unfrumped 774752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look super in that outfit, so if that is what you call working around your body type, I say go for it!</p> <p>I guess I would just say, clothes are just clothes and so it's fine to try anything one wishes--no real rules or laws in the sense of REAL ones. But if I can tell that a certain style or cut looks much better, I'm vain enough to stick with that rather than follow a trend.</p> <p>I have really enjoyed Angie's posts that talk about how to interpret certain looks to still fit with body type--that may be the fringe or envelope or borderline aspect that's been referenced--something that nods to a different style but remains "appropriate" for body type, age, occasion.</p> <p>It all reminds me of the straight-hair/curly hair thing--women with straight hair often get perms, and those with curly hair use flatirons or blowouts. There are so many curvylicious garments and styles I can't wear, won't ever look bombshell, can't wear 95% of the dresses in America, apparently. Then there are things I can wear that some people "can't". It just is what it is.</p> <p>I went through my What Not To Wear phase and enjoyed a lot of the shows that were available on youtube. What I really noticed was dressing to body type in the main basic garments really did make the person look more fab--not trying to fight it. Then there was more leeway in accessories, color, texture--sure, there might be a best proportion, best colors or something for those items but there was a lot of room for variety and creativity. </p> <p>So I am on team body-type-formula with some room to grow and play--acceptance without total resignation, is how I see it. "Try things on" is what helps--that way I've found things that fit my body type that I didn't think would at first glance, or that didn't used to (hello maturing process!) , so has opened up some more variety and room for trends. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774726 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:54:45 +0000 sarabcook 774726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First off you look great and I think this is such a good topic to talk about. I'm not sure if I dress style wise for my shape but I totally avoid ones. I have a hard time doing gamine, menswear, or 60's because of my short hourglass shape, but I also avoid 50's and bombshell even though my body is suited for it. I think that is part of the issue though. Since my hourglass shape is suited for bombshell looks I sometimes go there unintentionally so if I'm trying to achieve that I'm afraid it would be over the top. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774725 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:54:18 +0000 shiny 774725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First, you look *gorgeous.*</p> <p>But I relate to everything said in this thread. Oh, boy. Do I!</p> <p>I often think that I'd dress totally differently if I was taller. I may be wrong about that, but I suspect I'm not. I have a penchant for high-quality fabrics. I cruise the designer section of Nordie's and even if I could *afford* such luxury.... it just Does. Not. Fit. Yeah yeah... get it altered.. Nope. We are talking complete reconstruction of the garment. I am that short. I have been told by several tailors: "not worth it." </p> <p>So that narrows my shopping options down dramatically. And no, it's not as simple as shopping in the teen stores, because I'm short --- but not slim like a teenager. </p> <p>Plus then there's the whole reality of facial features, not just body shape. I may love teen fashions on other women of my age; on me? I think I look ridiculous. Maybe that's my own mental block, but I've spent decades trying to not get carded, or mistaken for the babysitter, or (only recently) mistaken for my kids' younger sister. </p> <p>So it is what it is. Work with what you have. Make the most of it.</p> <p>And in my next life I'm coming back as .. someone 6 feet tall. I would like to be at least 5'9, and I could deal with my same exact shape, and all its frustrations.</p> <p>Incidentally I'm an ENFP: we're uber-expressive and extroverted. So my frustration is even greater *sob*... (just kidding) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774721 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:44:59 +0000 JR 774721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Body shape is one of the givens that form our personal style, at least for me. I would have loved to be tall and willowy, as I very much like classical elegance. But I'm not. And never will be, no matter what my weight or physical condition. I still like a certain aesthetic, but there are elements of it I do not try to play with, because they would look absurd on me, just as I avoid certain colours for the same reason, no matter how much I like them.</p> <p>And my style has evolved in part because of the limitations imposed on me by my body. As I've mentioned before, my very difficult feet had me in lace-up hiking-style boots, and nothing else, for many winters. So I embraced the slightly RATE, quirky look and extended it to the rest of the outfit. I would add a men's wool driving cap, a dark wool overcoat, and dangly earrings. If I had to play with androgynous elements, I figured I might as well play whole-heartedly.</p> <p>It goes further though, I think. The configuration of our personalities also determines what styles we can wear successfully. There are plenty of styles out there, and represented on this forum, that I very much like to look at on someone else, but that I would never attempt myself. There just isn't an urban warrior princess in my soul, or a rodeo star, or a fashionista, or a rocker queen. What might be wonderful on someone else would be a costume on me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774701 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:10:46 +0000 cciele 774701@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First off, I had no inkling of the weight gain, Jenava--you always look so well put together, and this outfit is no exception. But I do sympathize with you, as I try to keep up with my changing body shape (due to muscle and weight gain).</p> <p>I've never thought of my style in relation to my body. I suppose if I did, I'd be dressing bombshell or retro, given my curves. But I've been gravitating toward an avant garde minimalism with rocker sensibilities, if that makes sense -- something I think that is more associated with tall thin bodies. I don't really have problems finding items that fit in my style paradigm and working with those </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774298 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:17:41 +0000 Anonymous 774298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My body shape and stature, my personal coloring, my hairstyle and hair texture, and my lifestyle all influence the way I dress. In addition, foot and ankle issues influence my shoe choices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774256 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:38:48 +0000 Transcona Shannon 774256@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love this outfit on you Jenava! The colours and fit are beautiful.</p> <p>As for body shape and style - I'm an apple that is on the heavier side and I think that's why I gravitate towards a more retro style. Women were more curvy and not as waif-like in previous years and I find that sort of style plays up my body type in a more flattering way. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774252 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:33:31 +0000 Suz 774252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>High five, fellow INFJ!! </p> <p>We are way in the minority. Sensitive souls that we are. ;-)</p> <p>You look absolutely beautiful in your WIW. The colour and fit of that jacket are just lovely on you. </p> <p>But I hear you on the body dysmorphia and the disconnect between what you would like to look good in and wear and what actually works. This is always more acute when our bodies are undergoing some change (weight loss or gain, surgery, injury, pregnancy). I think most of us start out already a bit confused because the clothes are always shown on towering, skinny models. Add in body changes and no wonder we flounder a bit to find what works. And there's often sadness in the recognition that some of the looks we love most will never be figure flattering to us. </p> <p>I do think my style is influenced by my body shape and size. I'm not really attracted to sexy, bombshell looks (quite the reverse) which is a good thing, since I could never carry them off. At the same time, I would love to wear some of the more voluminous and unstructured avant guard shapes....and I just can't. They swamp me. In the past, I was more of a pear, so like you I could not wear pleated trousers easily (imagine the struggle this presented in the 80s!). Jeans were such a nightmare to fit back in the days of no stretch that in my early 20s I just Gave. Up. I wore skirts almost exclusively for an entire decade, and ended up looking matronly and far more ladylike that I felt inside; it was a serious disconnect and very frustrating. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774251 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:32:05 +0000 Jenava 774251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet, I know what you mean! Preppy Pear, I often break the rules of what would look strictly the most flattering on me. I guess, like Janet, there are just some items that *fit* particularly terrible, and of course don't look goo either. So for me, it's about fit. An a-line dress with a high neckline for example - the high neckline I can get away with (wear a necklace, for example) but the fact that it's most likely going to require me to size up 2-3 sizes to get it to fit over my hips (and then basically need to be re-cut on top) makes it completely not worth the effort. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774233 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:08:41 +0000 Janet 774233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Skitt makes a good point, and it applies to many fashion bloggers as well as models. I get sucked in to certain appealing looks, and some part of me thinks they'll look awesome on me, even though I'm probably 20 years older and 20 lbs heavier than the girl wearing it. I get excited when I'm in a store and find a pair of fab pants or a slouchy sweater that looks amazing on a size 2 girl, only to be confronted with the sad reality of that same garment on a (heavy sigh) middle-aged woman 2-3 sizes larger. It's not hard to see why we are drawn to "uniforms" once we find something that looks good on our bodies, even though it's not fashion-forward, and risk falling into a rut. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774230 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:07:10 +0000 Preppy Pear 774230@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look so chic! I think your outfit here is a great marriage between embracing your personal style as you described it and dressing for figure flattery. </p> <p>I'm a pear shape, and when I'm on the slimmer side, I'm more of an hourglass because I have broad shoulders. Like Anna, I should be playing up my waist, but I've completely flipped my silhouette over this fall. Until recently, I used to wear mainly a-line skirts and dresses, and bootcut jeans with fitted tops. Now I almost am exclusively wearing boxier tops and jackets, surrendering the waist, wearing skinny jeans. I feel more like me in this silhouette, even though it might not be my most figure flattering. I'm also really attracted to menswear looks, and my tall height and broad shoulders help there, but men generally don't have my hips and thighs! I make some figure flattering concessions - dark bottoms, not breaking up the leg line, etc., but I'm breaking lots of the classic rules for pears (not necessarily Angie's guidelines, which are less strict).</p> <p>I guess I feel most confident when I can play with my proportions. I'm also finding that dressing subtly for figure flattery is more effective for my look and my confidence than just wearing all of the things I'm supposed to wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774165 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:41:32 +0000 Anonymous 774165@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I found myself nodding to everything Janet said. I'm all curves, no matter what size or weight I am. It is frustrating at times, because the more tailored looks are not as "fashion forward" but figure flattery is most important to me.</p> <p>I think the outfit you posted is brilliant! Those tights are so much fun.. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774149 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:09:02 +0000 Jenava 774149@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, it's sort of the chicken/egg circular reference question. No time for bed here in western north America! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774126 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:20:03 +0000 catgirl 774126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This outfit is beyond amazing on you! The color, the fit, the style - just speechless.</p> <p>Elizabeth's post is what I would have said if my brain were working better right now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774113 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:00:15 +0000 annagybe 774113@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm an hourglass and should be emphasizing my waist. Yet my belts are collecting dust literally. I don't have anything in the fit and flare category. But my secondary body type is an apple. I don't have a flat stomach. So I dress to de-emphasize my stomach. So yes I guess I dress a bit to my body type. But lately I've been drawn to stuff that is NOT figure flattering. My harem jeans, oversized cream cabled sweater.<br /> I'm going to have to stew on this some more. My thoughts are a bit incoherant at the moment.<br /> The outfit is stellar by the way. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774099 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:36:34 +0000 Jenava 774099@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't help but think about this blogger, who often pulls off edgy looks with panache, but I noted her waistline is typically in the same spot - her natural waist - since she is an hourglass. So I think DonnaF that what you say about working the margins is very true.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gabifresh.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.gabifresh.com/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774094 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:31:03 +0000 DonnaF 774094@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenava; I hear you. (And I'm an INTJ.) Today, I came back from my hair stylist's not feeling like *me.* For several decades (!) I've been sporting very short spikey hair. This summer, I decided it's time for a change and the only way to go was longer. Today, I feel like all the edginess is gone. Tomorrow, I will go at it with gel and see what I can do. My face is round without angles, same with my body -- no edginess there!</p> <p>Just as my coloring is not cool and only slightly warm, I think my style is not Yin but not overly Yang either, but more Yang as I get older -- maybe due to less in the way of female hormones. Does that make sense? In the hippie days, I wanted to dress hippie, but flowy stuff just kinda makes me look dumpy. The sharp corners of a highly masculine cuts are better, but don't feel right, but a boyish cut is better, maybe due to less testosterone?</p> <p>As usual, I'm rambling. I do think body shape, bone structure, and facial shape/features INFLUENCE style to the extent a person pays attention to them and fit and flattery; not everyone does. However, I don't think they should necessary dictate style as there's room around the margins to make almost anything work to a degree. Working with instead of working against type IMHO results in greater harmony, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774084 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:18:16 +0000 Anonymous 774084@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been thinking a lot about this too. Some things that I really adore just don't look good on me, styles as well as colors. I guess I'll just have to enjoy them on other people. I'm getting to the point where I just accept that I'll never look good in a wrap dress or wide-legged trousers so why chase after them? I'm wondering what decade I should try to embrace for my shape, but I'm terrified it will include androgynous looks, which make me as uncomfortable as dressing like a bombshell does you and Diana! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-thoughts-on-body-shape-and-personal-style#post-774080 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:03:56 +0000 Jenava 774080@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, and that is a good point, skitt, about pictures we see of models. SO not helpful when ones body type is so different than the typical model - little better than seeing it on a hanger in some cases. </p>