Emergency Shirt Shopping Help!

Shauntelle

I know I just joined and I'm already asking for help, but I need it... we're officially having spring weather here in Atlanta and I have like... well, three shirts I think... short sleeve knit cowl neck shirts that I'm not even sure I like that much really.

Because money has been really tight for the last few years what happens is that I put off buying clothing until I'm desperate, then I have to rush out and buy something to wear because they don't want to see me naked at work... and I pretty much settle for whatever fits that I can find at a thrifty price.

I want to break that cycle... BUT... I'm at that point again where I'm struggling to get dressed for work (heck, at all) because I just don't have anything to wear. I don't mean I have a closet full of stuff I don't like on me either... I have a very limited small wardrobe and I mean I literally am unable to find something to wear.

So-- I need to buy at least 3 or 4 short sleeved shirts from the thrift store in the next few days, but I would like to at least buy things that can be worked into a better wardrobe, once I have a real wardrobe plan in place... I'm just not sure what kind of shirts I should look for and that's why I'm asking for help.

Right now my measurements are:

32 - bust
28 - waist
37 - hips

Realistically, once I start running again this week, I'm probably looking at losing an inch on my waist and 1-2 inches on the hips. That's my normal, not starving myself, pretty much size 4 standard.

I think that makes me a pear in shape, but I'll try to get pictures to upload tonight.

I don't normally wear button down shirts because I think they just make me look boyish and I can never size them exactly right since my bust makes me sorta x-small, but my waist goes between small and medium (I have a big ribcage and pretty broad shoulders... even when I only weighed 110, my waist was still 26").

Okay, maybe that is way more than ya'll needed to know... help please! I'm pretty visual, so if you'd include a link to show me an example of the style of shirt you'd suggest, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks.

15 years ago

Shopping

8 replies

Latest reply was from rae

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

What do you plan to wear them with? Pencil skirts, slim or flared slacks, full skirts?

You have a tiny waist. How about something with a belt that nips in at the waist like this -

http://www.anntaylor.com/catal.....;N=1200004

Or this...

http://www.anntaylor.com/catal.....pe=Regular

15 years ago

Shauntelle

(website)

Active Member

I have three pencil skirts that I could wear them with and two pair of grey trousers right now (one has a flared leg and the other is straight leg but kinda cropped length), plus a pair of slim bootcut jeans and a pair of grey straight leg jeans.

Thanks for the input modgrl!

Oh, editing to add: I love the look of belts at the waist but I feel like I have a short waist and so don't quite know how to wear a belt. Should I look for a thin belt or a thicker one?

(I promise, I am a quick study... I won't ask 100s of questions forever! lol)

15 years ago

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Hey Shauntelle... I have been in the same boat with too few pieces, and a tendency to buy in desperation and regret later. You sound easy to fit in terms of blouses since you have very classic, womanly body proportions. I have had good luck thrifting, at Ross, and at Gap or ATLoft when they do their big promotions like 40% off sale prices. When I thrift I just look for labels I would be eager to buy full price. I paid $3 or 4 for a beautiful no-iron white cotton shirt from the TravelSmith catalogue that way. They cost about $50 full price. At Ross I do the same thing, because lots of Ross merchandise definitely looks like it hails from the Isle of Misfit Garments. Both the shirts I got there are the same Lacostes I see at Macys, and I paid a paltry $14 each for them. And I have one floral and one pussy bow dot from ATLoft and Gap -- the first was under $10 at 40% off the sale price, the other was essentially free with a $25-off-$50-purchase text message coupon I received on my phone. So get out there and get looking! With your cute figure and great, can-do attitude I am sure you will be able to look like a million bucks at 1/100th of one percent of that! L.

15 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I've been leaning toward skinny belts worn higher than my natural waist lately. They seem to emphasize my narrowest point. You really have to experiment to find your belting "sweet spot." Angie had a blog post about it not too long ago. There's another belt conversation going on now too -

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-direction

Luckily leather belts are one of the things that are easy to find at thrift stores, usually for pennies on the dollar. I got a bunch of belts like that recently just to have some styling options at home.

15 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Shauntelle, I think you have already realized your biggest wardrobe challenge - not to buy in a rush, then you inevitably end up with stuff you pretty much double-hate: they don't look good and you've wasted money.
(She says after a lifetime of wrong purchases!)

My approach was this: first, I had my body shape defined, but I'm such an obvious pear (or as the kind community here says - pretty pear! you must love it here) that it wasn't an unknown to start with.

Then, I figured out my coloring, that to me was an absolute key. To this day I stick with the palette I identified as my own and my life is simpler and dressing so much more fun.

Then, wardrobe edit - I ditched everything that made me unhappy for whatever reason.

I'd say keep stuff you really like and maybe make a list of what your priorities are in terms of getting new or replacing the old, and then slowly work through it. It will take time, but you'll get there

15 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Hi Shauntelle,

A big welcome from me too! And keep on asking, we love questions;-)

I'm not a belt expert, but Angie's blog post that modgrl linked to is great. It truly is a matter of trying all sorts of belts with all sorts of tops & dresses though...

You have a good collection of bottoms to work with and sounds like you have a beautiful figure. Lots of different tops come to mind then, it depends a bit on which styles you love.

Have you thought of trying a longer, looser button-down shirt to wear with your straight-legged pants (belted or unbelted)? Or a tunic or short dress? Those can add some variety to your everyday looks.

http://youlookfab.com/2010/02/.....ic-shirts/
http://youlookfab.com/2008/05/.....ver-pants/

I don't know if it would be too warm for this in your climate, but a fab (short-sleeved) cardigan could be great too, with your skirts and different styles of pants. (add a cami, or a T-shirt, or a blousy top in a solid colour or a print and you're good to go).
http://www.express.com/elbow-s.....038;Mppg=0

http://www.express.com/slouchy.....038;Mppg=0

Or how about adding a scarf (again, if it's not too warm), or a pin/brooch to one of the tops you already have?

A few more ideas:

- a striped T or top, Angie has this one:
http://www.talbots.com/online/.....e=cat70008

- a tie-neck or pussy bow blouse. This one has long sleeves, but you should be able to find one with short sleeves.
http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....goafcid150

- a T-shirt or top with ruched or gathered sleeves
http://shop.mango.com/ficha.fa.....she_017_IN

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....6spc%3D932

- top with batwing or looser sleeves, looks lovely with pencil skirts and straight-legged pants
http://shop.mango.com/ficha.fa.....she_017_IN

http://www.express.com/bubble-.....038;Mppg=0

- a variety of necklines: boatneck, cowl, V-neck...
http://shop.mango.com/ficha.fa.....she_017_IN

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....6spc%3D932

- tops with banded bottoms, look great with a lot of bottoms
http://www.express.com/banded-.....038;Mppg=0

Have fun shopping around and do keep us posted?

15 years ago

Shauntelle

(website)

Active Member

Wow, thanks for all the input ladies!

I had my husband take front and side pictures of me to post to verify my body type. I think at this weight I'm definitely pear, but when I'm a little lighter in weight, I'm an hourglass (just because my shoulders are broad so they balance off my hips).

I think I am going to follow Ornela's advice and keep making due with what I have until I can create a real wardrobe plan. Because I joined YLF so that I could break that cycle and the only way to do it, I guess, is to start off right, even if it's a struggle for right now.

I've seen several cute longer shirts/tunics around but I'm always hesitant to try them on because I feel like they won't fit right because of my bottom. Did you ever see that Nike ad a few years ago, where the woman's bottom was a "C" in side silhouette? That's me! I always feel self conscious about it, I guess from back when pleated skirts were the thing (when I was a kid) and on me, they hung funny because my butt made them stick out in the back...

Anywho, I'm trying to get over things like that, so I think what I will do is take a window-shopping expedition with my camera... that way I can try on stuff and get ya'lls feedback before I make any purchasing commitments.

Thanks again for the help... it's so awesome to be in such a friendly place!

15 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I'm late to this thread, but I think your idea for a shopping excursion is wonderful! You can post pics and go though to figure out what works and what doesn't. Then, you can go off to the thrift store/Ross/etc. with an idea of what colors to aim for (my thrift stores are always organized by color, so I can bypass poor colors for me entirely and not be tempted just because something's cute).

I am also short-waisted with a curvier bottom (not so much from the front, but definitely from the side!), and I have much better luck with skinny belts. I also like tucking because, even if a blouse pulls around the hips, I can cover that part up with my pants/skirt. I hope some of this helps give you some direction when you go out on the hunt!

15 years ago

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