"Cool" looks for the, er, curvier figures? - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

"Cool" looks for the, er, curvier figures?

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Caro's inspiration post featuring 81 year old Daphne Selfe has got me thinking about one of the reasons why I am perpetually dissatisfied with my wardrobe. I am drawn to those cool, edgy, androgynous looks, but I have a decidedly non-androgynous body. Well, I suppose if you put me in a suit and tie I'd look like an overweight car salesman, but that's not really the androgyny we're going for here.

I have experimented with some of the voluminous and waist-surrendering shapes, for example, but they end up just looking baggy and shapeless rather than floaty and funky. Similarly, slim-cut and tapered leg trousers seem to just emphasize the triangular shape of my legs, while slouchy or pleated trousers just look baggy around the belly/hip area and make me look bigger than I am. So, I stick to boot cuts or flares, which are not as fashion-forward. It seems paradoxical somehow but I feel that I look slimmer in more form-fitting clothes.

Has anyone seen examples of "cool" looks being successfully pulled off by larger, curvier women?

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from Irene

Sharon

Veteran

I will be watching this thread with interest! I have to say that the (few) times I have been told I look cool I have been wearing a dress and an "unexpected" element- eg. leggings, a skirt worn as a petticoat, a harness, a furry vest. Then again, it may be just that I'm 45 and am looking MDAL. Who can say?

Traci

Veteran

Can you give me an idea of what looks cool to your eye in general? I think then we could show you some interpretations on women of varying sizes. One girl's cool is another girl's frump.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

You read my mind - I want to hear more about this, too! I'm really attracted to masculine/androgynous looks as well, which often seem to run counter to my womanly pear shape. I do have broad shoulders (I'm starting to think I'm more of an hourglass) - and my waist to hip ratio is not as drastic as it used to be, but I think I definitely still have a lot of leg, thigh and butt for boyish styles.

I'm not sure if I am really all that cool, but for androgyny, I love Angie's jeans and button down shirt looks. For me, I have to wear dark denim and chunkier shoes. I've been experimenting with book ending but my pear legs really love dark shoes and bottoms and I'm a blonde. I definitely agree that I feel slimmer in fitted pants.

I do think curves can definitely look cool and tough though. For whatever reason, I'm thinking of the Pink Ladies from Grease.

Anonymous

Androgyny might be harder to pull off with curves, but cool is not, IMO. I have seen lots of curvy gals look cool. Footwear and accessories have a lot to do with it and they are not body-type specific.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Preppy Pear....yeah...I hear you on the footwear. I am not a pear any more but am short-legged, and I like the IDEA of bookending my hair and like what it does to an outfit...but struggle with it, too, because I need that long line that toned-in footwear provides. So I have a closet full of dark shoes!

Mander, pics would be helpful, for sure. Show us some inspirational looks.

Here's a line of clothing that might interest some of you. I just bought a couple of their pieces myself. I don't know if it is "cool" and "androgynous" so much as "arty" and "funky" but it's also SUPER comfortable, and evidence that form-fitting is sometimes best for fuller figures but draping can also work well.

Actually, what I like about their clothes is they work equally well for tiny, slim women as they work for fuller figured women. Not each piece will work for each person, of course.

Here's the link - click through the site to find various options. http://www.symplithebest.com/index.cfm

lyn67

Veteran

Chuncky shoes, esp wedges of all kind.
Opaques or substantial leggings worn with substantial A line or pencil knee length skirts, jersey dresses/tunics(to show a bit of leg), hip length blazers, waist length or BF or cascade cardis, hip length longer tops, generaly layering.
IMO colour blocking, chuncky jewelery, a piece of denim, some stripes and animals are always cool.

shiny

Veteran

I am reading that you have two ideas going on here:

1) Your desire for an androgynous, menswear look.

2) Your desire to translate the volume trend to your figure.

To solve this, how about you think Katherine Hepburn?

http://www.reversethread.com/b.....pants.html

Katherine Hepburn pants are flowy and wide. In other words, put the volume on your bottom half, rather than your top half. And keep the top half slim and form fitting. I am sure as a pear you can rock a crisp collared shirt like no other, and I envy that, because I can't.

shiny

Veteran

... one more idea for you: instead of slim pants, go with a pencil skirt? One that is form fitting and tapered just so... and midi length. You get the idea of tapered trousers, but with a skirt that hugs your curves instead, and ends before tapering all the way to the ankles.

And then perhaps add the volume on the top, and see how that works. If it still looks frumpy to your eye, tuck the voluminous shirt in to the skirt. You are still doing the volume trend, just with tweaks to interpret it to flatter your figure.

For androgynous, add that in with the skirt fabric (pinstripe?) and your shoes and accessories. A chunky men's watch. Flat oxfords instead of pumps.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

The version of "cool" that I am thinking of is sort of like Luxirare's designs, for example. Or maybe Joan Jett or Siouxsie Sioux, but curiously I think Beth Ditto, who has a similar style, looks clownish rather than cool. There's probably a whole lot of psychological baggage there, but I digress.

I think the element I like about the Luxirare stuff, and many somewhat androgynous menswear-inspired looks, is the way that slightly too-big or oversized items hang on a slim frame -- in trying to analyze it, for example, there is a gap between the bottom of a men's shirt hanging down and the legs which you just don't get on a apple-y hourglass like me. Or maybe it's just my lack of a more-or-less flat belly?

I do like Katherine Hepburn's look but somehow I always feel frumpy in similar outfits.

JulieJohn

Veteran

I will be following this with interest. I am a curvy petite with ample bottom, so I share your challenges.

Here is a blog I really enjoy. The writer, Alison Gary, is definitely curvy, yet she rocks many different looks with flair and is never boring. Her style might be more girly than you are looking for, but you can learn fit and proportion tricks from her in any case.
http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/

Let us know how it goes, you have many sympathetic sisters here who can learn along with you.

missvee

Veteran

As a curvy size 10 hourglass, the only way I'm going to achieve an androgynous look is to stop tweezing my mustache, so that particular style option is off the menu. I agree with the others that footwear and accessories will transform an outfit. If you love the oversized look, how about translating that into accessories, eg, a large watch, a scarf in an over scale houndstooth, a handbag with lots of chains or studs, etc. I see nothing wrong with a bootcut trouser if it flatters your figure. Ditto with a simple pencil or Aline skirt. Add a great black leather jacket to the mix. I'm also wondering about hairstyles and how they contribute to a look, but I'm no expert there!

catgirl

Veteran

This is so close to a topic I wanted to post as a spin-off to Suz's leather jacket thread! Will follow with interest...

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Another curvy hourglass here. Hair can make all the difference in how a person comes across. Personally, long hair made me feel frumpy most of the time. Shorter hair is more me and makes me feel cooler (both literally and figuratively).

Also, waist surrendering only works on my figure if the top drapes well, and I'm wearing slim bottoms. Otherwise I feel like a blob.

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

First outfit I thought of was a straight shift with a short short short hemline worn with liquid leggings and some booties (wedges or otherwise). I see what you're saying about this sort of thing looking easier to pull off on a slim figure. I think it would look smashing on someone with curves though! The straight up and down lines of the shift would contrast beautifully with shapely legs. I think an issue might be finding a good fitting shift. IMO, find something that fits well through the shoulders but otherwise basically just hangs straight through the torso. Substantial leggings are a good sub for pants here because I think they'll be easier to fit with their stretchiness (at least that's why I do it xD).

For more ideas, I think you can pull some of the essence of the looks you love. I imagine a cool, edgy androgyny with enough feminine contrast to really make the look pop. Go with simple, monochrome colours (greys and blacks to make it really easy) and bold dramatic cuts. Texture, such as fur, leather and lace works awesome here. As mentioned above, wedges are fantastic for being edgy, especially big chunky ones. Ankles boots are good too. Try wearing your hair pulled back from your face. I'm not sure how long it is, but either slicked back or pulled into a sleek bun or pony. Dramatic eyes or bold lips (red!) for make-up when you want to dress up a bit more. I see you wear glasses, so if you're really, really interested in this look, you could try a bolder plastic frame as well.

In my head, it's very important to really commit to the drama of the look. I don't think it's going to work with one element being part of the look, and the rest of the things you're wearing being something else. I think it needs to be cohesive!

Does that make sense? I feel like its rather rambly. xD

rae

(website)

Veteran

I struggle with this a lot, too. I definitely have a protruding backside and need to sort of work around my chest in most outfits. I never aim for androgyny myself, but I used to be soooo upset I didn't have a boyish figure to go with my tomboy style.

Sometimes I just throw my figure to the wind and wear baggy BF jeans. But most of the time I do try to get form-fitting clothes with manly design elements - snug-fitting utility or moto jackets, bootcut jeans topped with a wide and manly-looking belt, tops with necklines used in both men's & women's clothes (collars, v-necks, crew necks). Sometimes even one masculine piece can be enough to inject the right "feeling" into the outfit, too, even if the rest is feminine.

Here are a few bootcut outfits I enjoyed for myself. Plus #1 is wide-leg jeans but with a girly top.

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Irene

Veteran

I'm curvy but slim, and I've done the cool & baggy thing (though always compensating with tighter clothes, like a big shirt with skinnies). It's not my best look because it doesn't flatter my shape, but somehow I get complimented on the combo anyways because it looks 'cool' and 'sexy', somehow. I don't know. I got the compliment from women though lol