Changing bodies, changing silhouettes

Carol

Changing silhouettes, or other aspects of style: waistlines, accessories, etc.

Up through my mid-20s, I was thin and tall, and looked good in clothes for that body type--tank dresses, skinny jeans, etc. But since then, I have been more on the curvy side, flirting even into overweight territory. Sometimes more fit, sometimes more soft, but always larger.

The point is--the clothes I would wear for my thin body, do not necessarily work for my new body, even at an appropriate size. Yet I am still tempted to get clothes for that body, because I guess that is what I grew up with.

An example would be a beautiful eggplant waterfall cardigan I got a few years ago. When I was younger, it would have looked lithe and Bohemian. Today, it has more of a Kathy Bates in Water Boy look ("Foosball is the devil!") It just never quite worked.

I can see from today's blog post that adding on a few try-on sessions to my life can't hurt. It would probably help with this "but-it-worked-20-years-ago" tendency I have.

Does anyone else struggle stubbornly with finding new silhouettes, etc. for your new body? Have try-on sessions helped you?

1 day ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Carol, I remember when my mum lost quite a bit of weight (and a few inches of height). I was buying most of her clothes by then. Oh. My. Goodness. She simply could not get used to the number on the tag, kept telling me to send back stuff that fit, because it "couldn't possiblyl fit." The woman thought she was a size 14 or 16 and she was a 2 petite! It was partly the change in sizing conventions from the days when she most remembered shopping for herself, and partly the big weight loss, but regardless...it took a long time for her to recognize what actually fit her.

In her case, there wasn't much difference in what styles worked for her; she had always been a kind of Kibbe natural, I'd say, and she continued to look good in the clothes that would have suited her before, except in a vastly different size.

In my own case, a change in hairstyle and weight loss did affect what styles looked good on me to an extent. For example, with short hair, higher collars are better for my proportions and for flattery than they were when my hair was longer and my weight higher.

1 day ago

Sal

Veteran

Yes I have fallen for that too Carol. A good try on session when you are in the right frame of mind is a good idea. And if you are still unsure bring it to the forum.

1 day ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, interesting question. I really don't know! I think my ideas about flattery and what looks good to me might have changed right along with my body. But a try on session, and perhaps some forum posts, sounds like the right idea.

1 day ago

Irina

Veteran

Not only try-one are important but taking pictures of new outfit combinations are very useful to me. Helps to go back and remind myself or reevaluate some things.

On changing bodies and changing styles, I don’t have anything helpful to say. I like diversity and new things. In my 20,30,40s I used to wear more fitted clothes and more colors. I enjoy now exploring new to me shapes and proportions. Androgynous feels fresh after more feminine style I wore for years. But my style journey is more influenced by trends and exposure to different ideas rather by changes in my body shape, if it makes sense. Maybe, you will enjoy dressing your new shape, too.

1 day ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I had to look up Kathy Bates in The Waterboy, had never seen it. Oh dear! That green cardigan! Reminds me a bit too much of the long olive one I just donated today, scarily. I’m sure you don’t look like that Carol.
But still, yes we do change. I had most trouble ditching the “cuteness” I was able to dress with in my 20s but becoming a mother of 3 did help me with that. I also think I may be a Kibbe “soft gamine” and no sites show any pics of soft gamines in their 60s. They’re all young and cute!
I agree that some try-ons may help with this. Remember you’re a gorgeous woman not a “girl” any more I guess. We can pass as a girl in our 20s still I think.

1 day ago

Sisi

Veteran

Oh, how I understand you! I have been super slim, almost skinny, until my mid 40s. I used to wear bodycon, fitting, tailored clothing and I always tucked my tops into pants and skirts. Then I started to put on weight and I turned from a skinny rectangle to an apple. For years I continued, instinctively, to buy clothes for my former body type, wasting money and accumulating frustration. Finally I got used to more fluid fits and said goodbye to tucking. Now I am more or less ok with that ... although I miss the good old times when whatever I put on looked good!

23 hours ago

Dee

Veteran

Try-on sessions are vital for me in figuring out if certain trends or silhouettes really work for me as I am today.

Like you, I've often been tempted by clothing styles that I used to love wearing and that suited me when I was in my 20s, 30s and even sometimes into my 40s but I understand realistically that both my body, the times, trends and who I am now are not quite the same as they once were. If you're into fashion and style then it truly is an ever evolving style journey as we age and it does takes some time and effort to adapt to where you are at currently and how you now think you might want to present yourself.

21 hours ago

Lisa

Veteran

Try on sessions are key for me. As I've gotten older my shape has definitely changed. So have my preferences. For example, I still enjoy wearing bootcut and straight leg jeans, but now I prefer a looser fit with my denim and I deliberately buy them one size larger to the get the fit I want. 20+ years ago I wore my denim with a body con fit, but right now I prefer my jeans (and trousers) with a much looser, slouchy vibe and some scrunch around the ankles.

I always used to always avoid tucking my shirts and tees, but now I find I do so more often to show off my belts. Since I like a matchy matchy look and I have shoe/belt compliments, I like to show them off with my outfits. I will occasionally still wear a shirt untucked though, it depends on my mood.

17 hours ago

Ket

Veteran

I commiserate with you, Carol ♥ I gained significant weight when going through health issues. I had to shift my style to some extent. For instance, I could no longer wear unstructured, loose boho tops untucked with random bottoms and look and feel my best. However, I am still quite bohemian and vintage at my heart. Finding new ways to express that while still flattering my body was key.

Try-ons helped as long as I could try-on at home and make outfits with the items, as well as post the outfits here on YLF. (I kept the tags on the items, but definitely did a proper try-on.) Items that didn't fit or work style-wise got returned immediately.

Photos of my outfits (posted here or not) let me objectively see how my present body shape responded. I also tried new brands until I found ones that fit my body shape well most of the time.

Also, what Suz said. My weight and hairstyle did affect what looked good on me to some extent. During the worst of things, I needed to cut my hair. My hair had thinned a great deal due to health. My stylist and I found shorter hair styles that flattered me for the season I needed it. Not sure you’ll need to do this. I do feel one’s cut/style should be revisited very 10-15 years or so, to be sure it’s not getting stale and is still flattering.

And nodding with Jaime too. My idea of what is flattering now is various degrees different than 10-15 years ago. I am pairing blouses with straight leg jeans with low profile sneakers--something I would have shuddered at in previous years. Yet, it feels trendy, fresh, and me now. On the slip side, I know a cropped, boxy sweater with drop sleeves is just plain icky on me no matter that it's the current trend.

16 hours ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I much enjoyed reading your responses! Thank you.

Carol, to answer your question, my body shape hasn't changed much. What has changed - remarkably - is my physical tolerance for uncomfortable wardrobe items. I have none!

These are the biggies:

Shoes - my feet are fussy. Last week, I passed on hi-tops and cage sandals that no longer delight my feet (after re-trying them on). No heels. Must have soft cushioning footbeds, good support and a good fit. (That said, yoga and pilates have helped my feet).

Fabric- can't stand anthing that remotely aggravates my eczema.

Crotch Points: can't wear bottoms that irritate my crotch point in any way. No leggings, or rises and knickers that ride up.

Insulation - I can't stand feeling cold. I wrap up.

Sun Protection - I cover for the sun. I'm prone to heat rash.

Like Irina, my own silhouette and proportional outfit mix adjustments are due to trend and mood changes rather than body type changes.

I echo Sal's advice to bring things to the forum if you're unsure.

And hope you enjoy dressing your fab curvier body

10 hours ago

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

I so understand what you are going through. I'm slightly stuck in the past and don't want to throw anything away, and yet none of those items look the same on me after my stage of life: menopause, going gray, and weight gain.

Anyway, I need to go through my closet and try on some clothese, although I've gotten rid of so many items.

We have to hang in there and find our new "us."

9 hours ago

Joy

Veteran

I have lost a lot of weight lately to where I'm a different size. I look better with more weight but I've been this size before. It means that l out of most stores like Lands End. Xxs is hard to find or try on for fit. I notice that a lot of older women go through a loss of fat and keep it off. I just did not think I would be one of them so soon. Even my feet have changed size. I need a whole new wardrobe going season by season. No heels or open shoes. I am thankful for mail order and consignment. Tops are likely to fit better than pants. I buy mostly dresses and skirts.

9 hours ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Boy do I hear you. I always loved tucking in tops when can against the grain. Belts and belt loops. Plus whenever wearing heels and pumps, I could wear interesting shoes , loafers & such that now my feet won’t tolerate. One issue is, a 5 # wt gain puts me in a whome’nother size and even style category.

I mostly recommend “ Retail Research “. It’s harder now because my city has lost so many B&M stores, and branching out can mean paying shipping& return costs. You can try “ former style- adjacent” items and/ or just pull things & tryon because you just fine know what looks good. If you do have access to good testing stores, just take time yo go look & try on stuff- not necessarily focusing on price or color to start , but shapes, silhouettes. Then tgat helps you look for similar styles, insofar as there are SOME descriptors and photos, in your colors, fabrics, price range. To start you only need a few outfits that work, and feel like “ you”.
I had this issue this spring when I had to set aside several pairs of pants that I couldn’t wear for now,&maybe never again, but I needed to have some that worked right now.

8 hours ago

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