Hello everybody - body type and introduction

Hello! I have lurked here for a while, but decided to finally take the plunge and start posting.
First, I want to say that I've lurked on a few fashion-y sites, but this one is by far my favorite. Angie, you are so wonderful! Your style is inspiring, fun and pragmatic. And the people on this forum are so nice to each other. I think that has a lot to do with the tone you (Angie) set. I love how people are so honest with each other about things (which is what I am looking for), yet still kind and not catty at all.
I am a 30 year old, Indian-American work-at-home-mom, currently living in the Philippines. We are preparing to come back to the US at the end of April, and I am trying to build a spring/summer (maybe even fall?) wardrobe before we leave. I love fashion, and would describe myself as modern-classic with a funky edge...but I don't always get the edge I desire because I hold myself back sometimes. (see below)
I think I am pretty clearly an hourglass (you can let me know if I am wrong), and have been since puberty. However, I wasn't such a busty one before breastfeeding. I am a 30H. So difficult to find. In the pics I am wearing a 32G which is too big around the back, but it's the best I can do right now. My first stateside purchase will be new bras! My waist is definitely less defined due to post-pregnancy mush, and I have thick thighs no matter what my weight. My most common fit problems - finding things to fit my bust without being huge everywhere else, and pants that fit my hips,bum, thighs are too big in the waist. The second problem is easy enough to fix with a waistband nip. The first - I still need help with that! I am 5'3", but I can never wear petites because the arms and legs are never long enough. My measurements are 37.5" - 27' - 37.5"
In regards to holding myself back - I am very hyper aware of how busty I am. I wasn't able to button up shirts even before kids - so growing a few cup sizes was very traumatic for me. I used to be really self-conscious as a teenager, and sometimes my ginormous rack brings those feelings flooding back! So I try on shirts and always end up putting them back. I am hoping posting here and getting feedback will help me with that. You ladies always have such great ideas!
So here are my body type pics, for confirmation:
http://s557.photobucket.com/albums/ss19/lukkymama/

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Welcome Asha. I agree that you are definitely an hourglass. We have a lot in common: I am also petite but can't wear petites because I am too long-limbed, and I sympathize very much about being traumatized by gigantic boobs (I am a 32F). Hopefully we can help each other out!

shana

Welcome Asha! You definitely look like an hourglass! I can't believe you even had a baby - you really have a tiny waist!!! If you want to see some real tummy mush, come over to my house - and my baby is already 15 months old so I don't think it's ever going to go away. Are you still nursing? It takes about 6 months after you stop for your breasts to kind of settle so you never know where you might end up size wise although I'm sure you will stay a busty girl. I'm down to about a 34E at this point so I can empathize with finding tops that fit. The key to not looking dumpy or pregnant is to find shirts that are fitted at the waist - wrap tops & wrap dresses work great on your figure. You are lucky that you have such a nicely defined waist so don't be afraid to show it off! I'm not sure what it's like in the Phillipines but is it possible for you to get some clothes tailor made inexpensively for you while you are out there?

I also want to say - I know it's hard to feel confident when you feel self-conscious about your body but learn to embrace what you have and focus on the positives. You have a beautiful, feminine body!

P.S. - I am Indian-American too!

Kari

Hello and welcome! You have such a lovely hourglass frame. I'm also a busty hourglass, but on a larger scale, and I envy your slim waist.

By the way, 30" band sizes are definitely tricky to find, but if you have a Nordstrom Rack nearby once you are back in the States, I recommend scouring the lingerie section. I've scored a few 30" or 32" Fantasie bras at 1/3 their list price from lucky finds at the Rack.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you for your lovely words, Asha and it’s good to have you onboard. Welcome to our forum! You did a marvelous job of posting a picture with your first post. Well done.

You are a perfect little hourglass. Delicious! And you have a microscopic waist! You are in such good company here with our other hot hourglasses. We’ll have you sorted in no time. Which part of the US are you moving to?

Are you still nursing?

Asha

Active Member

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your kind words - they made me smile. I gain a lot of weight (60+ lbs) when I'm pregnant, and I have to work hard to lose it - I'm not one of those people where it just falls off, so it's especially nice to hear after all the hard work.
I think rather than saying I have a less defined waist, I should say that I have a below-the-belly button tummy pooch where I never had one before. It's an easy enough problem to solve with the right waistband/rise - but let me tell you, the low-rise waist is VERY popular here. It takes quite a bit of searching to find higher rises. Maya, I think I remember from reading other threads that you usually feel rises aren't high enough either - so we have something else in common!
I am still nursing - I'm actually tandem nursing. My son is 15 months old like your baby Shana, and my daughter (3) still nurses as well. My mom and most of the women in my family stayed very busty even after weaning, so while I hope my bust will shrink some when they wean, I am prepared that it may not. It's part of the bra problem as well - finding a well-fitting and flattering nursing bra.
Kari, I've seen your blog and you've inspired me to try tops I would normally pass by because I think they would be too "boobalicious" but they look great on you. Thanks for the Nordstrom Rack tip. The economy has really impacted us, so I am hoping to find bras at a more affordable price.
Angie, we're actually not totally certain where we're moving back to - it depends on where the job search takes us. It will likely be somewhere in the midwest - I know I can prepare for a hot summer.

hanna

hello asha, and welcome! you are a definite hourglass - what a tiny little waist!

you're in the philippines - my neck of the woods (i'm originally from malaysia), and you're likely moving to the midwest, my current neck of the woods (chicago), so i feel like we're already neighbors

Antje

Welcome Asha! Glad to have you join the forum.

You definitely have a very pretty defined waist. In terms of bottoms, I often experience the same issue: pants (and some skirts) are too big in the waist if they fit over hips and bum. Rather than searching high and low for pants that fit perfectly straight off the rack, consider just having a tailor take in the waist band. I never did this until I met Angie, who told me she does this with most of her jeans, and it truly is a very simple and effective solution. I take all my jeans and denim skirts to the tailor now and they just take in the waist band in the back and create a perfect fit.

I don't have tips for your questions about the upper body half as I'm not rather small chested, but I bet you can find some good tips in Maya's and Nicole's threads (you can find threads started by specific individuals if you click on their names). Nicole also wrote a great blog post on a brand of blouses specifically tailored for busty women.

Thanks Antje! I am excited to find new ideas.
I've seen some of your outfits, I love your funky style (and your specs).

Question - When you get jeans taken in, do you wear them for a while first? I can't afford premium jeans just yet, I don't know if it happens less with those, but jeans stretch so much on me. It's a catch-22, because without stretch, getting jeans to fit my thighs is tough.

Tanya

A warm welcome from me too Asha! You do have a wonderful hourglass figure.Looking forward to more photos of you.

I am another hourglass with a quite tiny waist ( if I may say so myself) so I always have to take everything in, not only pants/skirts; but sometimes even shirts and blouses. It is annoying, but there's no other way.

Here's a proper protocol for dealing with new jeans: when you get them first you should wash them and dry them the way you plan too in the future, preferably wash in cold water and hang dry. Once they are dry you wear them around the house for a full day and only them bring to the tailor to take them in ( and hem if needed). since most jeans will stretch a lot with wear.

bella

Hello Asha, I have to nothing to add but I wanted to welcome you to the forum and tell you that you have a gorgeous body!

Asha, I'm flattered that you were inspired by some of the pictures I've posted here. I've found so much inspiration and help by reading & then participating in the forum, so it's great to be able to pass some of that on.

I look forward to seeing your posts/outfits!

P.S. In these pictures you're wearing clothes that really show your shape, and I don't see anything resembling a "tummy pooch." I hope I can look that slim and shapely after/if I have kids!

tarzy

Asha - I have many of the same problems with fit as you do. I'm 5'4" and busty, but can't really wear petite sizes. I'm a lot older than you though, (51) and my waist has been expanding a bit, but I still find that wraps and v-necks are the best look for me in tops. And I never go anywhere without a cami! I look forward to seeing some of your future outfits.

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