Hmm . . . I am a curvy hourglass with some masculine sharp edges (broad, square shoulders, a strong jaw, sometimes muscle-y arms).

I like to have clean-lined, menswear or masculine elements to my clothing and style. NOT because it tempers my curviness-- actually, the juxtaposition suits my personality and really plays up my feminine body through the CONTRAST.

I can wear most styles-- although sometimes I have to search longer to find pieces that fit and look the same/similarly-- for example, straight leg jeans need to be wider on me so they don't end up looking like skinnies because of curvy thighs.

The one thing I've never really been able to pull off with my figure is the androgynous/gamine/schoolboy/girl look. I can pull off a menswear/masculine inspired look, I can go bombshell, but no matter what I have a very "adult" body (and face) and it doesn't suit. Instead of Angie's preppy schoolboy look, I have to change the vibe and the volume of pieces around and go more Sinatra. Instead of the skinnies/striped top/ballet flats gamine french look (which I can wear, it just doesn't look as gamine on me)-- I may wear a pair of slightly more masculine straight/wider legged jeans, with converse, and a looser/drapey striped T that shows off the curves without trying too hard or having stripes bend around them-- the end result tends to be the same "naturally gorgeous" and "effortless" look.

What Angie said!!

I have always laughed when I read some designers "must have" list and it includes a wrap dress...Not on me

I try to wear clothes that fit as well as can be, otherwise I look lost in them or sloppy. I would love to be a bit more curvey, but I don't think one can "spot" gain in the preferred spots only:(

I'm late to this thread, but OH MAN did I struggle with this topic for so long! I've long been a tomboy. I wanted to dress like Kurt Cobain and Axl Rose and like a skater/surfer dude. I wore dickies and board shorts and crewneck tee shirts... Thank goodness Axl was kind of androgynous and wore the occasional fitted shirt. This was okay while I was doing gymnastics and was very much an IT - the baggy pants kind of balanced me out.

But after I stopped doing that, I became way more hourglassy, both because of my lifestyle and because of nature. Dressing like a man made me look like... a fat man. o_0 So then I started to try to be girlier to flatter my bod, but I didn't feel like me. I FINALLY feel like I have a handle on it, but geez, I still sometimes wish I looked like Kate Moss.

A very good topic indeed, and Rae, I feel you!

I too have dealt with some major issues concerning the shape of my body and style (and truthfully, still am). In my teens I had more of a boy's figure with my strong shoulders and slim rear and hips, a true IT. After 8 years of dressing like a boy I was devastated when I noticed that I still looked like a guy regardless of puberty's miracle work. It felt like a sick joke from nature, because I wanted to enter the wonderful world of girly stuff but my body didn't fit in.

I still need petticoats if I want my skirts and dresses to look nice. However, in time I figured out style is a choice, not some destiny that falls upon you. People can have control over these things. It doesn't necessarily even require a total overhaul of one's wardrobe, although it is a liberating experience.
It's all between our ears. If I feel awful, I can't expect the view from my mirror to seem any better. Just like style, also happiness is a choice. It's difficult to acquire, but definitely worth it.

I try to remember this, when I look at my bank account and see just how much money I have spent on clothing and then recall how much I spent back in the days when I wore combat trousers and t-shirts. "It's for self liberation!"

One of my victories on my quest to embrace my body type is that recently I stopped worrying about weight gain. I'm naturally slim, but for years and years I deliberately kept myself skinny, and can't even remember why. I just did. 123 lbs. is not alarming, but a tad too little for 5'8 ft person.
We'll see, if I develop some curves from a healthy diet. If I don't, well,
I suppose that's how it goes.

I'm a bit late to this thread too. I'd be a liar if I said that I can wear everything my little heart desires...but no, on the whole, my physical shape is not at odds with my preferred style.

I've occasionally wondered if this is a chicken-or-the-egg sort of thing, though. Has the figure I've got (it hasn't changed much 20 years) literally shaped my preferences?

I definitely have the same conflict--I'm drawn to romantic and feminine silhouettes like full skirts and high waists, but my body type is resolutely apple/rectangle. I need to wear a push-up bra just to fill out a A-cup silhouette.

As of yet, I haven't reconciled myself to the masculine or streamlined styles that look great on others. However, I do take heart in my ability to pull off almost any A-line or full skirt without worrying about how it makes my hips look.

Also, I agree with goldenpig--no one ever says, "I wish I were an apple shape." I am lucky to have strong rectangle tendencies, being petite with small bone structure, but I still wish for "normal" sized bust and feet (both are -proportionally- very small for my size).

I used to struggle with this a lot! There were tons of styles i saw so many girls pull off with ease -- I would go into the fitting room and struggle, struggle, struggle. Like when those really long straight fitted tunics where everywhere. @_@

But now that i know more about dressing my body i tend to gravitate...what i know it will look good in. Which...i guess makes sense. Plus tricks i've learned on how to pull off the same sort of styles i wanted to wear before, just adjusted to my body.