Advice Needed - on Everything LOL - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Advice Needed - on Everything LOL

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Hi,

Brand new here, but in desperate need of some styling help!

I'm a pear shape. I'm 163cm tall (apprx 5'4" i think). I struggle with finding outfits that are cool enough to cope with a very long hot australian summer, but don't emphasize my lower half... Since having my girls, I dont have my defined waist anymore - I'm just straight from armpit to waist. And I have a sway back/big butt which seems to mean nothing fits my lower half very well...

Here's a link to some photos. (Photo's include shots to determine body shape, face shape, and a few outfits I've been experimenting with - not really happy with them though).

http://s294.photobucket.com/al.....%20photos/

I'd also really appreciate it if you have any advice on nice new spec's, and also hair styles for me. The hair in the photo's is freshly washed and air dried - its very fluffy like this LOL Its generally a bit darker than it is in the photos though - I'm overdue for a colour - its more of a very dark golden blonde/light golden brown rather than the reddish tinge in the pics.

My currents specs are due for replacement so I may as well get good ones!

I can't do short hair - this is as short as I could possibly go, but I'm thinking perhaps an angled bob (shorter at back), but with some layers through it to lessen the fluffiness it gets?

I'd really appreciate any suggestions anyone could make - I need all the help I can get!

thanks so very much
theresa

ETA - the pic of my glammed up was with a spray tan, and all dressed up for a new years eve event - I think I've looked that "done up" about three times in the last 6 years!

Body Type

21 replies

Latest reply was from anne

rute

Veteran

you have a lovely face and fab body! You have two girls? you are in great shape.

Concentrate on the good aspects and you have lots of them! you are pear shape that no doubt. Dresses with A line skirt are perfect for you and for hot australian summer!
Angie has posted some time ago on how to dress pretty pears!
As to face shape you seems oval, which means you can wear almost any kind of hair do. I love the first photo! Please spend a couple more minutes with you each morning and you will feel much better!

anne

Veteran

Hi,
Welcome to YLF. I am an Aussie the same height as you! YLF and Angie have helped me a lot with many things, including new glasses.
I liked your tunic looks best.

Louise

Veteran

Hello and welcome from a fellow pretty pear. Have posted the links to some helpful blog post of Angie's
http://youlookfab.com/2009/05/.....-the-heat/

http://youlookfab.com/2007/08/.....r-in-2007/

http://youlookfab.com/2007/04/.....tty-pears/

With regards bottoms not fitting properly it's time to find a good tailor nearly all of my skirts and trousers need making smaller on the waist to fit properly. I'm MAJOR into dresses since finding YLF they need no altering at all and my dresses now seriously outweigh skirts and trousers in my wardrobe x

Queen Mum

Veteran

Hi Teresa, welcome to the party! We have so much fun here
You are adorable and have a great figure!

I agree, you look like a pretty pear, and you're fairly small busted which means you get to wear all of those darling embellished tops that would make me look like amazon woman! I'm thinking you need bottoms that are more fitted and longer .. I know that doesn't seem to make sense but here's some for instances...

those short shorts would be much more flattering if they were maybe 2 inches longer and "hugged" your legs just a touch- I'm not talking tight, jsut body skimming. You don't need to "hide" your hips, just not add to them. and then if you balance it out with a top with more oomph you'll find your figure much more balanced

The black skirt/short thing adds bulk to your hips as well. A longer a-line or straigher skirt should be much more flattering and balancing. The blouse you have with that is perfect for you-- the sleeves add balance.

Your capri pants need to be right above your knee-- that longer lenght again adds weight to your lower half and shortens you. Ditto for the maxi skirt.

That white skirt is perfect on you-- again, a blouse with more embellishment (to add to your top half) would make that outfit perfect! I know it's miserably hot, but a cute short cropped jacket would be fabulous with this. Or maybe a vest... ooh, now that's an idea- find a cute little vest- I had one last summer and wore it to death. It added instant style without adding to the overheated factor.

A line dresses and skirts would be fab for you! Start looking for cute cool dresses- they will instantly up your style quotient.

You look really nice in that tunic outfit, but I can understand why you dont want the belt.

As far as hair (I'm no expert, just have lots of opinions I'd definitly get it thinned out alot. Look at Mamapicklejuice's pics and RoseandJoan's- they both have naturally curly hair and have really cute cuts for their curls. (I'll go see if I canfind some links for you)

I hope you don't feel that I picked you apart I get a little carried away sometimes. You are beautiful and have a beautiful figure. A few tweakings and you're on your way to being deliciously killer stylish!!!

Queen Mum

Veteran

here's a pic of MPJ's cute haircut
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/

Kristine

Veteran

You're really pretty! You have great skin, pretty eyes and a nice figure.

Maybe try more structured sleeveless tops with some detailing or frill, especially on the shoulders and neckline/bust. If you already have tanks, you could layer them under short sleeve cardigans or blouses. I think something more than basic spaghetti strap tanks will give you polish and balance out your shape .

For bottoms, I agree with the idea of a-line skirts. Streamlined pants with some drape might look nice also. To create more shape, look for bottoms with defined waists or wear a skinny belt over the tops. You could also create this visually, look for dresses or tops with a darker color block in the middle.

For colors, I think a little more would really flatter you. Some ideas are soft teal, cranberry, goldish-brown.

Your hair is pretty. I like the basic shape, but I bet some long layers around your face would break up the bottom edge of your bob and give you more movement and shape. Queenie has some great ideas. Wearing it angled towards the front works really well on wavy hair and it doesn't look extreme like you might fear. I wore mine that way when it was shorter and I really liked the style.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Welcome to the forum, Theresa!
For heat, there is noting like a loose cotton sleeveless dress. I live in the desert, and I wear those almost every day when it's really hot.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another welcome from me and you look great! So pretty.

It's all about cotton rich A-line dresses and sandals in the heat. Do you get cold in AC?

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Wow thank you all SOOOOO much! (And no, I don't feel picked apart - I know I need help!!)

Thank you for those links - I've been slowly getting through all the archives but I'll go read those ones first now!

I think I will gravitate towards more dresses - I really like them, and like that they are simple and don't need to be paired with anything specific to work (I'm not so good at that yet). Something I'm keen to try (after reading about it here!) is the dresses with tights/leggings & cardi's for winter - I think it would be a good idea for me as it would mean minor little additions to my Summer wardrobe would then make it a year-round wardrobe. Especially seeing as I really only need really warm clothes for about a month of the whole year.

Angie I do get cold in the AC - I freeze actually LOL I always set my home a/c to a nice temp that suits me!

I actually bought this dress the other day and just received word that it has been shipped - it should be good shouldn't it? Fitted at the top and with my fave padded bra to give me cleavage, then flared... and a colour I really like and want to experiment with.

http://www.freez.com.au/shop/p.....038;page=2

Oh and just to top off the start of my transformation, I dropped my big girl to school, then took my baby to her first day of kindy this morning then went and spent 2hrs at the hairdresser - have a new colour and have had a bit of a trim, but have now decided I'm going to go back and get more cut out. I really like the look of the more angled bob and think it would be good.

I think ebay might be getting an influx of my less-flattering clothes to fund some new purchases LOL

Thanks so much!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Oh and I meant to say - I'm going to chop that silly maxi dress off and re-hem it! I really don't know what I was thinking when I bought (or wore!) it LOL

Queen Mum

Veteran

that dress should be great for you-- fits all the criteria- embelleshed bodice, a-line skirt, gorgeous color! be sure to post a pic of yourself modeling it and your new hair!

Queen Mum

Veteran

good idea on the maxi- I had thought about suggesting that.

AJ

Veteran

Hi Theresad!
I just wanted to say welcome. I'm not so good with figuring out what others should wear. I did want to say that you have a lovely figure and a beautiful face. I look forward to seeing pics of your new hairstyle!

Carole

Veteran

You are beautiful, I'm not an expert with body shape and such, but you will learn tons by researching and listening to the gals here and Angie is genius! You are in good hands...have fun!

MNsara

Veteran

Welcome, Theresa - There are quite of a few of us around here new to YLF and learning/experimenting a lot. You have a beautiful face, great shape, and great skin - that gives you a wonderful basis to grow from.

Have fun poking through the archives -- they contain a wealth of great ideas and advice! Looking forward to pics of your new hair and dress too.

(I'm too new to offer too many ideas - most have been mentioned here - so I'm just saying 'hi')

anne

Veteran

Your day was similar to mine Theresa (I didn't got to the hairdresser though) just the school/kindy thing.
I like that dress you ordered !

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the welcome everyone - I feel so at home!

This is my first year as a "school mum" Anne and I must admit to loving it so far (ok so, E's only been for 4 days, but she's happy to go every day LOL) - I'm looking forward to having 2 whole days a week by myself!

Here's some pics of the new hair colour. Will start a new thread on some other photos I have to work out which specs I should be wearing until I get some new ones.

http://i294.photobucket.com/al.....010021.jpg

Its a bit darker than last time, but I quite like it.

Louise

Veteran

Haircut looks great and the colour too x

stringy

Veteran

Hello fellow Aussie! Your new hairdo is great, I love the dress too. Look forward to seeing more posts from you

Tricia

Veteran

Love the hair - it's so shiny! Welcome to ylf. It's helped me a ton!

anne

Veteran

Lovely haircut!!