Hourglasses - most flattering sillhouette on you?

Shu

Hi ladies,
Since I've been here taking pictures of myself in clothes, I've started to notice that I seem to look less big if I wear clothes that follow my curves more closely - clothes that follow the curve of my hip back to the narrower part of my legs rather than clothes that fall away from my hip - like skinny jeans vs bootcuts. Examples:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....hoto-heavy
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....a-baseline

I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this on themselves? I apologize if this is a stupid or obvious question, it's just so opposite of everything I thought I was supposed to do with my body. Every single dress or skirt I own flows or flares away from my hips. My goal has always been to hide them. Could it possibly be more flattering to show them off?

13 years ago

Body Type

33 replies

Latest reply was from Turkey Vulture

Isis

Veteran

I am an hourglass, and I like fit and flare dresses. The key is to highlight the waist. Don't throw out your dresses and skirts; I bet they look good with a belt at your waist!

Your form-fitting clothes also look great!

13 years ago

Shu

Active Member

Isis, you're right, I was just thinking I bet I would like a fit and flare dress.

13 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I definitely find that a figure skimming silhouette is my best friend, but that's not to say I don't enjoy my fit and flare dresses or boot cut/ wide leg jeans on occasion. The trick for me is to balance the less fitted with fitted... if I'm going to wear wide leg jeans, I need my top half to be more fitted usually. And of course, fit and flare dress has this balance built in.

13 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

I actually feel like fitted or flared skirts/dresses work equally well for me, but in general I stick to fitted silhouettes. I like wearing bootcuts as well. I also surrender my waist often, but then I would keep the rest of the outfit fitted. I think you look good in bootcuts too, but in the ones you show they could possibly be more fitted at the knee. I really like your skinny outfit with the oversized coat.

13 years ago

PalmFronds

Active Member

definitely: I am a "small/slender hourglass" and I find I look and feel best when there is atleast some waist definition.Otherwise I look very blocky and about 10 pounds heavier...or pregnant...All of the outfit does not need to be fitted, but some portion needs it , usually the waist. Otherwise outfits like your skinny jeans version work great

13 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

My tall, slim hourglass body DEMANDS fitted clothing. Surrendering my waistline IS an option, but I rarely surrender!

I definitely feel sloppy if something is too loose. Skinny jeans and A-line skirts are at the top of my list.

13 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Hi Shu, this resonates so well with me:-)).
I missed your last 2 threads, but I have just seen them now, and I think you look equally well both in skinnies and bootcuts, too. :-))

I don't really know if I am a regular hourglass, as I have a bit of apple tendencies, too, but my shoulders and hips are wide, and have usually a defined waist, so that's it for the start.
I have worn bootcuts and flared dresses and skirts for years now, but for one or another reason last year have totally switched to straight leg and skinnies and fitted pencil skirts.
There are more flaterring for my eyes, now-and like you I have put me the same questions and wonderring about the reasons. IMO the answer has to do more with the current trends, than with the knowledge...I noticed, all current clothings are much more fitted so do think our eyes have adjusted to this, too.That's why we do find ourselves looking better in such siluettes, too.
I dunno about others, but all my flared dresses start to look dated on me despite I have a few I very much love. May happen we just got borred of them already, and willing to try something new, the same thing as when we often long for a new hairstyle.

13 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

You know what though, thinking about this more, I never feel as good in fit and flare dresses as in more fitted silhouettes, even though objectively I don't think they make my figure look better/worse. I am not sure if it is just my taste or if it is really a question of proportions. I am interested to read what others say about this.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I gave away a cobalt dress that was fit and flare just last month. It didn't look bad - I actually got plenty of compliments in it - but it didn't feel right on me. The hem ending in what look like a wide triangle to me was what threw me.

13 years ago

Irene

Veteran

I am a quite slimish hourglass, so I actually love it when a flared skirt makes my hips look bigger than what they really are because I feel they accentuate my waist. Also, I feel too va-va-voom in fitted dresses because I feel like an Audrey Hepburn with the shape of a Marilyn Monroe. I don't like getting attention -especially the wrong kind- and it's easy for me to get that given my curvy shape. Flared dresses give me a sort of more feminine and innocent look. Of course I know this is all psychological, but it makes me feel more relaxed, so that's it.

13 years ago

bran888

Active Member

Shu, I think because you have a high hip, fitted skirts are more flattering than a-line skirts. (Imogen explains this in her blog, 8's vs. X's)

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a theory on this, based on my own recent feelings when looking at myself in A-line and fit-and-flare silhouettes lately. I find them basically flattering to my shape, BUT I also find them a bit too conservative for my current style. They seem to be a little more difficult to "edge up" and dress down than straighter styles. Anybody else feel this way?

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Yes, Janet. Me me me!!

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

In a word: yes. My most flattering bootcuts are very slim to the knee before flaring out, and I also prefer my jackets to stay fairly slim to my frame. I think this is because it lets the eye see the narrowest points as well as the widest points, whereas cuts that flow away from the body show the eye the widest points *and then some.*

I still like to wear volume sometimes to feel more current, but I still like to ground the volume on a narrow point of my body. For me, this might mean a flowy tunic that hugs my narrow shoulders or a tailored jacket over a loose top. I prefer pencil skirts on myself that taper toward the knees, because I'm narrow there as well. HOWEVER, I also really like A-line midis that hit at the smallest part of the waist, because I have pretty small ankles.

13 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

I have been an hourglass for most of my life, but am currently an apple. As I've tried to do some deep thinking on what flatters me and what I feel good in, I find it's the trim silhouettes that you are talking about. A pencil skirt hands down is my favorite skirt shape no matter what my weight. And my happy fashion memories often involve slim-cut jeans or slim black pants. So yes, I think you're on to something!

13 years ago

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I agree with bran888 - I am a high hip hourglass, and any item for my bottom half that flares (skirts/dresses) will flare from just under my waist, where my high hip starts, which adds at least 10 pounds to my frame. I really don't like the look on me at all.

For that reason, I don't wear flared, full or A-line skirts (A-lines in particular look completely awful) or dresses with skirts constructed like that. For pants, I will wear slim bootcut or straight jeans or pants - it doesn't matter so much with pants, as they don't do that 'hitting my high hip and then carrying on outwards' thing that is so unflattering.

13 years ago

Shu

Active Member

This is so helpful, I'm feeling the beginnings of a fashion liberation - more than that, a neurosis about my body liberation - coming on. I've been apologizing to the world for my hips all these years with a closet full of flowy a line skirts you could fit two of me under. I MUST get a pencil skirt.

13 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

Shu, that sounds so fantastic! Yay for liberation from body neurosis!!

13 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Shu, I am cheering you on!

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Shu and Jonesy, I like the sound of that -- "liberation from body neurosis"! I've been working on some of that myself.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Shu, you will ROCK a pencil skirt! Please share pics when you find the one for you!

13 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Shu, I think I missed your posts the first time around, but looking at the links my favorite outfit above all is this one: http://youlookfab.com/upload/i....._image.jpg
I love that you are embracing your curves with an outfit that hugs your gorgeous figure, but that jacket on top is the PERFECT over-layer to give the outfit a waist-defining shape without being too tight or body-hugging.

I'm a larger-framed curvy hourglass with a large bust and hips and a very short, high waist, and I'm a not-at-all-reformed pencil skirt addict - I like the fact that they emphasize my hips and waist without making me feel larger than I am. Like many others on the YLF forum, I'm a huge fan of the Halogen seamed ponte pencil skirt, which I've bought in a few different colors - I wear at least one a week, and often different colors multiple times throughout the same week. These skirts have pretty much replaced pants in my wardrobe.

I *do* wear fit-and-flare dresses, but they have to be cut and drape just right - not too voluminous, otherwise I do look very large. (This is actually a fit-and-flare dress I found a couple months ago that I LOVE.)

I am biased because I'm 100% totally a fan of the pencil skirt, but I definitely think they are worth trying. Because my hips are quite curvaceous, I look for pencil skirt that lie flat when I'm not wearing them - they look quite straight if I have the skirts laid out flat on the floor - because I know that my hips will cause the skirts to fit in a curvier way once I'm wearing them. If I try a pencil skirt that has a more exaggerated shape - one that looks like it curves before I'm wearing it - it tends to pull in *too* much below the hips and isn't very flattering. Since your frame is somewhat similar to mine, I hope maybe that will help you as you're starting to look.

Wishing you well, and I'd love to see what you find!

13 years ago

Anonymous

Pencil skirts, sheath (not shift) dresses, wrap dresses, empire waist dresses depending on how they're cut below the bust (not too much fabric or else you'll look pregnant!) and straight-legged pants.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I find that things need to be fitted from ribcage to waist-- so bootcuts, even widelegged jeans are fine, as long as I have a waist. I cannot easily wear things that are loose on top but have a waist (think banded tops) unless they drape very well and lay fairly close to my body. I often find that fabric makes more difference than form-- things that are stiff don't look as nice as things that are drape well (unless they're stiff and form-fitting, in which case, wowza!). I LOVE fit and flare dresses, they're probably my favorite thing to wear. (Of course, that's coming from someone who wants Grace Kelly's wardrobe, so maybe take it with a grain of salt.)

12 years ago

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Fitted jacket over a dress always works wonders for me!

P.S. Hourglass is my secondary shape.

12 years ago

mamaKate

Veteran

Hooray for liberation and embracing curvy hips!

I am a low-hipped hourglass (I haven't brushed up on Imogen's X vs 8, I'm guessing I would be an X) and I feel most fab wearing skirts or dresses with a high-waist fitted pencil or fit-and-flare silhouette, or high-waisted trousers fitted through the hip and wide-leg/straight-leg below the hip.

I like A-lines if they continue to be fitted down through the full hip and flare out only thereafter.

Seems like you have found your groove, Shu! Hats off!

12 years ago

teri

Veteran

belts are my best friend..... lol

12 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

answering on the fly here - but wanted to say yes a more form fitting silhouette is very much more flattering. i've big hips, bigger bust, even bigger shoulders - if i don't define my waist, ribcage, SOMEthing i look like a beefy linebacker!! i've found (thru a class i took years ago on French pattern fitting techniques) that even defining the space between the breasts - as in ruching or wrap tops or dress - helps a lot to tone down the 'Ka-Wong!' effect and give a more graceful silhouettte.

i think it's important to define as opposed to squashing yourself into something skintight, as well. That can backfire and make you look like you're busting out all over! Great topic!! steph

12 years ago

Lantana

Veteran

Yes, I agree, great topic with much to mull over. For starters I'm heading right on over to Imogen's - again - to check out the X and the 8 of things. Thanks a lot, Shu

12 years ago

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