Can I wear these? Stripes, shorts, light colors?

I am going to preface this post by saying this:
I used to be tiny, then gained a ton of weight after college. I lost a lot before having my 2nd baby and have done Ok getting it back offsince having her. But I think I always see myself as the heavier set version of myself.

Shorts:
I said the other day that I never wear shorts and someone suggested longer, knee length ones. I have had this pair for a year or two, but have only ever worn them at home or at the beach when I can't stand pants/croppedpants. I feel like my legs look like tree trunks!

Stripes:
And the striped top...I think I remember hearing at some point that if you are heavy, you shouldn't wear stripes as they make you look wider so I've always stayed away from them. Can I wear them?

Light Khaki:
I love these cropped pants from ATL. I got then in a darker brown and went back for another pair. I grabbed these really light khaki ones. But now I am wrestling with the color--is it too light for my complexion (making me look even paler)? And what color tops do I wear with such a light khaki color? I tried white and felt really washed out.

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13 years ago

Lori

Veteran

I think the long shorts and the striped shirt look great! I don't love the lenghth of the cropped pants, but I think you could go with almost any bright colored top (coral, turquoise, etc.) with them because IMO they become part of the "canvas" of the outfit instead of the focus - if that makes sense.

BTW, if this the "heavier" version of you, you are doing quite well, because you look FAB!

Girl X

(website)

Shorts, stripes, and light colours - all yays! There is nothing tree-trunkish about any part of your figure - you have a really nice shape! Longer shorts work, but I bet you could go way shorter and look great too. I think some rich earth tones could work well with the light khakis.

Aziraphale

OK, first of all, your legs do not look like tree trunks. Banish that thought.

Secondly, I think the stripes are just great. I'm not convinced about this so-called "rule" about stripes making you look heavier. And even if they do, you're not heavy, so it's not a problem for you!

About the shorts and pants -- it's hard to tell what they actually look like, because these pictures are angled downward, making your legs look shorter than they actually are. I'll let more experienced women give input here.

As far as the colour goes, the pants are nowhere near your face, where colour matters much more. I think you could wear any colour pants you like.

modgrl

I am not a huge fan of the khaki cropped pants. I know alot of people on YLF like white pants and jeans, but I am not a fan. I like everything else though!

It's always tricky to figure out how to place the camera so I don't look off balanced. There is an art to taking realistic pictures of yourself.Try a camera with a self timer and position it at various heights and distances away from yourself. You'll be amazed at what a difference the angle makes.

FWIW you look great! We can always tear ourselves apart about this or that part that we don't like or weight or whatever. Embrace where you are and dress your body to look your best now. Don't be so hard on yourself!

Charmian

I think the striped top looks great on you, and layering the camisole underneath it is great (contrasting color + skinny stripes pull the eye downwards, making your waist look fabulously long).

Your legs absolutely do NOT look like tree trunks; just look at how you rock the first pair of shorts! But if you're not comfortable with how you look in shorts, then you should absolutely play with length until you gain the confidence to flaunt your beautiful legs

I don't have much of a problem with the khakis "washing out" your complexion, but there's something about the length that's bugging me; hopefully one of the others on the forum can chime in here and help us both figure them out!

MsMary

Girl, you have a beautiful figure and your legs look great in those shorts! And I LOVE that striped top on you!!

The light pants look good to me (although yeah, it's a little hard to tell with the angle of the photo), and I'd try a bright or dark top with them.

The striped top looks great, especially with the longer matching cami under it. I prefer the fit and look of the long shorts better than the looser cropped pants.

Enjoy the shorts! No tree trunks that I can see.

yankeebelle

Active Member

Thanks for all the positive feedback ladies!!
Ok, so the top is a keeper, and I am actually going to venture out of the house in the shorts momentarily for a dr appt (I'm battling anemia, hence the bruises on my legs and around my ankles...another reason I've been avoiding showing my legs.)

I posted over the weekend a WIW with the same pants on, just a different color, and no one mentioned the length. Maybe the camera angle or maybe the color avoided the problem with the length in that post?
Here it is:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....pping-trip

yellowgirl

The shorts look great on you! -and the striped shirt, too!

catgirl

I don't see any tree trunks - you have a very nice figure! The shorts and stripes are a go for me. The cropped pants are not as flattering, but it could be the angle of the photo. The shape and length don't seem to work well. Could you try some heels? As for feeling washed out, I don't think colors wash you out unless they are near your face - I save those colors for bottoms.

Jonesy

I love the shorts and the top. I think when you posted the other pants, you had the bottoms' drawstrings pulled tighter, which helped. The YLF wisdom is that pants that are loose at the bottom and cropped somewhere between the ankle and mid-calf are the most unflattering pants available :). The advice is to look for pants that are slim-fitting around their bottom hem and hit right below the knee or thereabouts.

ButterflyLady

I think you look great in the shorts and the stripes - and you are my 'leg sister' as I have similar legs - and I feel *mine* are chunky, but yours are fine (go figure that one!!) - I am also anaemic and have the bruises to prove it! Some of it is about feeling comfortable about bearing a body part that we normally try to cover - only you really notice it.

Regarding the other pants - I will bow to other YLF-ers knowledge on where they should hit to be most flattering - I am thinking a little shorter, or a little tighter at the bottom but I am still learning all this stuff!

Jonesy--you are right, I had the ties tied tighter (toungue twister!) when I wore the other ones. I'll tie them tighter on the lighter pair when I wear them.

Sarah

I have the "my legs look like tree trunks" syndrome too. I think your legs look fabulous! Cute outfits!

I like the shorts and the stripes. Incidentally, someone has scientifically disproved the horizontal stripe making you visually wider theory and actually, vertical stripes can be worse! Anyway, the first 2 are keepers, but I'm not so sure on the khaki cropped pants.

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