Imagining how a garment will look on you when seeing it on a hanger - YouLookFab Forum

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Imagining how a garment will look on you when seeing it on a hanger

Gigi

Veteran

I'm just curious as to how many of you are able to imagine pretty accurately what a piece of clothing will look like on you when you are just viewing it on a hanger. I am trying different silhouettes for tops, and my big fear is always that my small frame will be swamped with all the fabric. However, by the time I get stuff back to the dressing room, very little of it is actually drapey and swamping me; it's still a little too fitted. This leads me to the conclusion that I am not imagining correctly how a garment on a hanger will translate onto my body.

Does anyone else have this issue? To get better at it, do you just grab a bunch of clothes, regardless of whether you like them, and try them on in a fitting room to see what the different silhouettes do on your body?

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from Marley

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Mmm, I'm fairly accurate at hanger guessing, but there are some clothes that it's harder to do so - especially things that aren't tailored and are drapey. We are three dimensional creatures, so it's different on everyone, I suppose, so there's more ways that it's shape could be altered vs. a tailored button up shirt, does that make sense?

I usually wear pretty structured clothes so it's been easier for me to guess with a higher degree of accuracy.

Adelfa

Veteran

Hi Gigi. If things are looking that different on you from what you imagine, then yes, I would try a bunch of different things, because that says that your hanger assessment might not be helping you.

I find this happens especially when there are new fashion trends. An example of this is the change towards fluid fitting styles. It takes a while for the eye to adjust to new lines, and to be able to calculate what they will and won't do for you. With practice you learn, until the styles change again.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I always try garments on some things just come to life on but are lifeless on the hanger. That is why it is difficult for me to order online I would be returning everything.

Sharon

Veteran

I have a basic idea of what styles are going to work for me and which aren't and I can usually eyeball something on a hanger and mentally put it into a group of similar silhouettes. Adelfa's experience is true for me too -new looks require a few trip to the change room to get my eye in.

kerry

Veteran

Gigi, what a great question! I think I'm lousy at assessing how a garment will fit/look on me from seeing it on a hangar. This makes online shopping even trickier! I'm the type in store to load up on MANY items to take into the dressing room - often 2-3 arm loads!

Anonymous

I absolutely cannot look at something on a hanger and imagine how it will fit on me.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I am getting better at this, knowing where my trouble spots are and being realistic as to whether or not the item will work with those areas. For example, I am busty for my size so I know that oversized can make me look pregnant from the side unless the item has some stretch or drape. So eyeballing as well as a tug on the fabric or a peek at the label gives me some info ahead of time.

kkards

Veteran

i learned a long time ago, not to judge a garment by how it looks on a hanger. it would be like buying a house just from the pictures, you can get some ideas, but really you need to see the neighborhood, stand in the kitchen, turn on the lights etc.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm not so good at this either, for knits especially. Necklines , usually I judge correctly( so many are too scoped or wide for me) , but other fit is all over the map. I'll take 2 or 3 sizes to try. Plus there are just so many variables. Also I finally learned to go browsing and try on stuff so I'd have an idea about which of the " trends" work for me and also know fit for online sales.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I can usually have a fairly good general idea from a garment on a hanger, but I find that the more fluid, drapey, or oversized something is, the less predictable it is. Sometimes the fluidity through the body is just fine, but the armholes or neckline are totally wonky. Like unfrumped said, there are a lot of variables. I don't always trust my hanger eye -- if I'm intrigued but skeptical, I'll try it on, just to see, and maybe even in a couple of sizes.

I find tailored garments easier to envision on my body, but even that can be tricky.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I never grab anything I don't like. The item has to appeal to me in some way. Sometimes it's "like" - and sometimes it's "love at first sight".

The only part I am very careful about is the neckline. There must be structure around the neck, or it does not follow me into the dressing room. Next is the colour. Does it make me happy? Then I assess fabric. Do I like it? Once those parts are in place, I'm open to trying just about any style and silhouette.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great question, Gigi. I echo Adelfa, Sharon, and Angie. I start with some body type modifiers in mind. A big wide V or scoop neck just won't work on me. The way a turtleneck might never work for someone else. From there it is fabrication and colour. And then, give it a go. The more items I try, the better I am able to imagine them on my body. I also study the online photos and make scale adjustments in my head. The print that reads as medium sized on the tall model might seem much larger on me.

Day Vies

Veteran

I have a very good spatial sense but sometimes clothes are such a tangle I can't fathom what they'll do on my body. I know generally what silhouettes won't work (empire) but sometimes I'm surprised because the cut or the fabric is a bit more forgiving than I anticipated. As a result, I am a huge fan of trying everything on -- even if it's just a different size or color. You'd be surprised in the variation between sizes or even switching to a different color of the same garment. I even try t-shirts on because sizing is so inconsistent across brands and I want things to fit in a certain way.

You're going to spend the time either on the front end (trying everything on) or the back end (returning what you just bought) but you have to invest time in choosing clothing or else you'll never be truly excited about what you have in your closet and you'll have a hard time determining your right and perfect fit.

Anonymous

I'm kind of hopeless at this. I can do okay when it's a simple shape and is pretty similar to things I'm used to wearing. And can rule out some things that probably won't work at all. But I really don't have a clue at all when it's a new trend, or even just a shape I don't wear that much. And, like people have said, things that are supposed to be very loose or drapy can be especially hard. On the other hand, I have a hard time judging very tailored things too, because there are so many more places where it has to hit just right.

All this probably helps explain why I have so many simple knit dresses in the same few basic cuts and so little of anything else.

And, since I order online a lot, I'm kind of guilty of ordering shapes that are likely to work rather than having to charge a whole bunch of maybes in several different sizes each, then deal with returning almost all of them.

Gaylene

Veteran

I'll assess color and fabric on the hanger but otherwise I try to reserve judgement until I see the item on my body. The big exception is styles and trends that just don't appeal to me--like distressed denim, gathered skirts, super-short anything, hectic patterns etc. Otherwise some of my favorite buys have been items that didn't look that appealing on the hanger, but looked great once I put them on my body. I think this is especially true of fluid and draped items; some look absolutely terrible but others can be quite flattering.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Meant to add -- it's hardest -- and most instructive -- with drapey, fluid items. As Gaylene says, some will fail extraordinarily and others will look unexpectedly great - -and it doesn't seem to relate so much to how great (or terrible) they look on the hanger. And, as others often say, it's much tougher if you have never tried on that silhouette before. I find it really helps to see it in action as it is supposed to look -- either on the website, or as modelled by a YLF member (there is a good reason as well as less good reasons that we tend to be lemmings around here!) or a blogger. Another reason that Angie's picks are so helpful is that she does that crucial interpretation of the trends and finds the good versions of this or that item, with explanations about who they might work best for. This has helped to educate my own imagination so I'm getting more accurate in my guesses.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I'm terrible at assessing things on the hanger, but I think I can do it! I'm always holding up stuff still on the hanger in front of myself, going "hmmm...* Lots of times things look great on the hanger or terrible, and trying them on is the pudding proof. While I was shopping yesterday, this lady was bemoaning how much she liked a top but how terrible it looked on. I also tried three dresses on - all the same style - and only one looked ok. The other two doubled me in width. So odd!

Anonymous

Hmmm, I have a hanger shaped body, broad shoulders, flat chest and hips. So yes, what I see on the hanger is what I see in the mirror

Gigi

Veteran

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one and that others find drapey, fluid items especially challenging!

I'm like Aubergine in that I do a lot of online shopping, simply because my size isn't normally in the stores. So I do end up ordering stuff that I think will fit right, which means playing it safe and getting something more tailored. But I am getting tired of tailored and want something fluid. I have *no* fluid tops in my closet right now!

It sounds like I need to be more open to different silhouettes, regardless of whether I think they look pleasing. I hadn't ever thought of just liking the color and fabric and neckline and then going from there. Hopefully my next trip to the mall will be more fruitful and I will be unexpectedly surprised.

Dee

Veteran

I am pretty good at judging based on cut. Anything long and narrow through the torso, super clingy, or necklines with deep vees or low scoops are right out, and I can ballpark things that will be too big (rather than just fluid) reasonably well. Once I've done those checks, I decide based on fabric and color and then grab one or two sizes/colors and try it all on. If nothing sets off any warning bells, why not try it on at least?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Gigi, for you, (you're in the US, right?) orders and returns are pretty much free, correct? In that case, I would PURPOSELY order a pile of stuff that you like in theory but don't think will work well on you. Newer silhouettes, that is. If you're right, you're right. No loss. If you're wrong, you'll have found a whole new set of options.

DirectorofAwesome

(website)

I struggle a bit with this too. More so for tops than bottoms actually. I am bigger on top than I think I am, but I still find that my size varies a lot and more so than for bottom pieces. I have to be careful not to just default to grabbing everything really big, and remember to try on a size smaller than I think I need because often that is a more flattering fit. While I am very attracted to drapey things, I find I look better in something that isn't too large and shapeless because if it is pushed outwards by my bust and then hangs down from there I can look heavier than I am or pregnant! I know what I am aiming for, but judging if something on the hanger actually meets the criteria is not always easy. Trying things on in a few different sizes is a must!

Gigi

Veteran

DoA, we have opposite tendencies...I'm always grabbing the small sizes and deathly afraid of the larger ones, because the latter make me look dumpy. But I have virtually no bust (rectangle body type here!). I too find that bottoms are easier to fit.

Suz, I did just that, on the Anthro site (you can read the harrowing tale here). My credit card is now lying down on the couch with an ice pack on its head. I hope it will make it; if not, I will call Dr. Lyn for more advice. I ordered all kinds of crazy things, a lot of them drapey or a lot longer than I would usually buy. I was going to attach them to the Anthro post, but my YLF Finds button thingie doesn't seem to be working on the Anthro site. I did stress my computer out tonight, though—it doesn't like it when I have a lot of tabs open on my browser—so that might have messed something up. Anyway, the shipping was only $16, and I have a store twenty minutes away so I can return for free.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

What Gaylene said I'm fairly good at knowing what will fit & how it will fit but if I'm trying new silhouettes then I take a size up & a size down to "test" the fit.

Marley

Veteran

I have a good general idea of how something is going to look on me - mainly because I positively know what isn't going to look good on me - such as, warm colors, turtle necks, short skirts or dresses, etc. So, I'm able to eliminate a lot of things from the get-go. In addition to color, silhouette and style, I consider fabric content. I never take things into the dressing room that I don't like! (I may be missing out on some things that could work for me - but, I really doubt it - I pretty much know my style, my colors, etc.!)