Do you ever get tired of dressing your body type? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Do you ever get tired of dressing your body type?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My K/R jacket thread, combined with Angie's blog post about trendy bottoms, made me realize that sometimes I'm just sick of the limitations of what looks good on my body type. I stick with mostly relatively neutral/dark/muted bottoms and have way more fun dressing my top half. Sometimes it's frustrating, and I feel like I get in a rut because of it.

Anyone else? Or am I just in a mood?

Dressing

47 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

christy

Veteran

Yes, I can totally sympathize. I get very tired of dressing around my apple shape! Add being short (er, petite that is) to the mix and I feel like I can look dumpy very quickly. I see people wearing such flattering fitted tops and just sigh...

Adelfa

Veteran

I do feel regret for the shape I am not, on a regular basis.

catgirl

Veteran

Yes! I would love to wear more fitted tops, or have a waist to show off, or be on Team Riveting Rearsider for a day... Or have your looooong legs.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Me too!

I just love some of the "Urban Prince" styles I see here at YLF, and yet - they don't always work for my particular body shape. I'd love to wear low-rise pants, sharp shirts and so on, but I have a round-ish, hour-glass-ish shape and while I love certain styles/looks - my body shape seems to get in the way of being able to wear them with panache.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Yeah; I wish I could wear cigarette pants and look good. I've kinda given up on that.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I wouldn't mind being taller, or having a longer neck. So yes, there are a number of styles that I wish I could wear, but I can't. I look awkward and feel foolish when I try. (But I still occasionally try, stupidly).

Really, I just want to have it all. Too bad that's unrealistic.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

This may sound funny, but I thought I was a pear for 35 years. Dressed accordingly. Came here and was declared an hourglass. Apparently I never was a pear, and may now, over 40 be verging toward more rectangle. Jokes on me!
I am enjoying my ikat jeans immensely now and am embracing the drapey silhouette on top, where I was sure I was supposed to define the waist to offset the hips. Hmm. Either my shape is changing or the way I approach it is? I still have almost 21" thighs for my somewhat shorter height.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Well, yes. I just wore a very leg-shortening outfit the other day, and I felt joyfully rebellious doing it. Sometimes breaking rules is just plain fun, I guess.

jayne

Veteran

Oh heck yes! There are sooo many things my body type won't tolerate and I push the edges as it is wearing skinnies on my rather large bottom!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I get so sick of dressing round my curves all in front - girls & tummy. Let's swap for a day:)

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I feel most limited by my (lack of) height. I can accept my curves / hourglass/ pear equipment.

I have to remember to be grateful for my working body.

DonnaF

Veteran

Hah! I'm 5'1" with short fat legs, and I'll be 60 in a few months. I just bought a coral orange (!) skirt and wanted to buy tights to match/tone. So yesterday, at the Rack online, I bought what appear to be orange and fuchsia herringbone tights: $4 @ 70% off. Not sure I'll even have the guts to try them on when they arrive, but at least Nordstroms makes returns easy.

I also have electric blue booties with tights to match ($28 at TJ Maxx) that get a lot of mileage and comments.

I have so many dark bottoms that I fear I'll be mistaken for an escaped waitperson. I've been thinking that maybe it's time to mix it up a bit.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

I am so with you on this. I too wear dark bottoms and anything lighter makes me "look" heavy in my eyes. I"m trying to ween myself away from it by wearing light colored a-lined skirts to give me a small waist. Anyway, I know how you feel and thats my 2 cents.

Anonymous

Yep, I sometimes wish I did not look so prim and proper but I can't help it. I also love booties but I know I look a thousand percent better in knee high boots. No ice cream effect and the list goes on....

Sona

Veteran

This is a very interesting conversation to me. Because my answer goes against the grain: no I never get tired of dressing my body type. For the simple reason that figure flattery is all important to me and I don't mind that it is. it makes me confident. It makes me feel "wow" when I look in the mirror ( the wow is more about how I've learned to dress mt body not that hey I look hot!). To me that satisfaction, that happiness beats it all.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure I get tired of it so much as confused....it's what Mo said. I seem to be aiming for a moving target! I used to be a pear (or think I was) and then I realized I was an hourglass...but really, I'm closer to a rectangle. Hmmm. And am I petite, or am I not? Only the change room mirror knows for sure...and it's different in every store, for every garment! So I feel it is an ongoing mystery. And I just have to keep trying things that I believe I "can't" wear. And continue to reconsider with a critical eye those I imagine I "can" wear. For instance, I've noticed that a particular type of fitted sweater, while it "should" look good in theory, just plain does not appeal to me anymore! It's not unflattering, per se. But I don't like it, either.

Claudia

Veteran

Yeah, my large bustline. But mainly I am REALLY tired of the limitations of dressing in my nearly non-existent budget, truth be told. Those that post so many K/Rs on a regular basis here need to count that big blessing and be grateful when feeling in a negative mood.

Anonymous

YES. I get so sick of working around my hips and thighs. As a pear, I know I'd have an easier time wearing skirts and dresses. But I just can't force myself to wear them all the time, flattering as they might be, because they feel sooo restricting to me. (And, I'm really a casual girl at heart.) Yet finding cute pants is a struggle, especially with current trends favoring skinny jeans, cigarette pants, etc. I feel like I have trouble pulling off trendy clothing in general. There is something about my overall look, or maybe personality, that comes across as restrained and not quite cool enough.

You know how Angie wants us to have fun with fashion? I really struggle with that concept.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Again, not so much tired of it as some days, plain could not care less about conventional figure flattery.

If I think hard about it, my rounded rectangle body that's also wide and, uh, low-slung(?) is precisely the wrong shape to wear some of the most iconic ethnic garments in my culture --- including the most typical/popular drape of the saree. But I'll be hanged before I quit wearing one! I started when I was a very different shape at oh, 6 months or so, and will NOT stop now.

Do I sometimes give it enough thought to modify the drape or the patterns and colours I choose? Heck, yes. But there are times when I just choose what makes me happiest, and it may well not be the most flattering idea --- and I'm fine with that, as I'll still be smiling at some of these in the mirror.

Which is not to say figure flattery notions don't have important things to teach me for days when I'm not feeling so happy-go-lucky. Those are for the days when external impressions matter a bit more, internal resonance a little less --- the 'dress to impress' days if you will; and for experimental days when trying something new...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm glad I'm not alone. Don't get me wrong, I count my blessings every single day, and I don't want to seem ungrateful for the assets I do have.

Stacey, you said something that resonated with me. I feel like my body type hinders the style I would like to have. A lot of my aspirational style looks good on thin bodies with fewer curves. Some things I love on others look absolutely awful on me and it can be discouraging. Sometimes i just feel like my options are so limited when it comes to what is flattering. Ah well, I suppose it's all a balancing act. We *all* have fit and flattery challenges when it comes to seeking our aspirational style!

Thistle

Veteran

All the time! I wish I didn't have to work around my hips. I wish I didn't have to work so hard to find things that fit.

I feel like my shape distates my style rather than my preferences. I love the look I see on a lot of slim rectangles. I will never be a slim rectangle again in my life. So, I try to dress the body I am in.

shedev

Veteran

I dont get tired of dressing for my shape. Figure flattery is an important component of my style. My challenge is dressing my height. I'm 4'11. The petite depts in Cleveland are geared toward office wear. I dont think the slouchy stuff that is in style right now looks good on me at all.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I guess I feel like I don't dress my body type, but my individual body. Categories can be helpful, but I think each body is unique. I also remind myself that clothing manufacturers want my money. It's their job to make me look good -- not MY job to make their clothing look good!

Raisin

Veteran

Honestly, no. I would say I don't really get tired of dressing it, I actually wish I had more opportunity to dress up! I wear lounge wear most of the time at home with the kids, and a uniform to work. So I don't get to show off much in those few minutes where I drop off and pick up kids before and after work. And occasional mall trip is a chance to get dressed, or a meal out. As for dressing my body shape, I really try to be happy with what I have. I'm not always even sure what I have, but I try not to feel like my body needs to change. What I do get frustrated by is not being able to find clothes that fit, but I like to think that's more about the clothes, than me (haha)

AJ

Veteran

Yes, especially in the summer when all I want to wear is white tops, but my IT shape suits darker colors on top.

For the most part though, I find it more of a blessing that I'm understanding how to dress my shape. It's such a relief to know that dressing nicely is not a roll-of-the-dice type of luck.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Janet, I saw your comment yesterday - on the trendy bottoms post - and noticed your sullen mood. I wanted to fly out to Baltimore to set you straight!

In my mind, you are wrong about not being able to wear the new look roomier bottoms with your body type. In fact - you might find them more flattering than body-con skinnies! TRY THEM!!! Have fun with the process of singling out the silhouettes that look killer. They are there and it's my promise to you. Keep the waistband fairly high and showcase that flat tummy and small waist. Don't let the crotch point drop too much. PLUS you wear heels which will make you feel more grounded in the style.

And as far as your leather jacket question goes on the other thread, lets do it properly by assessing your leather jacket capsule. Photograph all your leather jackets and lets take it from there.

Chin up!!

abc

Veteran

I agree with Sona and Beth Ann. It's not that I love my body shape, it has its challenges and all, but I have learned what flatters me the most and that makes me feel good, so why lament over what I will never have? It can be frustrating sometimes (see the recent thread on trying things repeatedly that just don't work for you) but overall I am pretty content when I put on my clothes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I just read the rest of the comments too.

Stacey, your feelings here made me sad and I would love to explore that further with you.

Sona, Raisin, ABC, and Beth Anne, your comments made my day. That's the spirit and MANY hugs from me to you. THANK YOU!!

Someone will always have something that you don't, but that you want. It is what it is. Working with what you have, finding the best possible solutions in all aspects of your life, is the only way to go.

MNsara

Veteran

Ummm, YES!!!!!

This is right in the same vein as the thread a few days ago about continually trying styles that don't work. I LOVE the styles that look good on long-legged triangles, but I'm a short-legged pear. (It's probably just another form of 'the grass is always greener', right?)

Some days I'm up to the challenge, some days I sacrifice figure flattery to wear what I love (or own, because I bought the darn unflattering item anyway!), and other days I just grumble and then scold myself with how my body IS fine, etc., etc., etc.

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