Please help! Inverted triangle with large bust & long waist I think? - YouLookFab Forum

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Please help! Inverted triangle with large bust & long waist I think?

ElleH

Veteran

Hi Angie & everyone else. I love this forum. I'm new but have been lurking for a while. I don't have too much time to be on the internet but I need the help lol. I will post some pics if I can figure out how so you can give me your opinion.

I am very confused by the different advice given on the different sites. There are common themes for the inverted triangle such as tops that don't make shoulders look broader but then I also have a large bust & long waist & neck & the advice for all of those sometimes contradict the advice for the IT. Furthermore, according to Imogen at inside out style I have a balanced vertical proportion but I paid for a program at my private stylist where I sent my photos & they say I have short legs. This all creates further contradictions in what looks good or bad on me & don't even get me started on the Golden Mean. Yes it does look better when you follow that but again it creates more contradictions. I am ready to give up on all these websites & go back to looking in the mirror & asking myself does this look good? Does this hide my protruding stomach & or muffin top & leaving it at that.

Hopefully this link should show pics. Keep in mind my cropped leggings make my legs look short but my top of head to leg break (which is higher than crotch) is the same as break to floor.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p4g.....8TH4GxJIQw

Body Type

53 replies

Latest reply was from ElleH

Krista

Veteran

Hi Elle,
I checked out your photos and I would go with either inverted triangle or hourglass, according to the body types on this website. I will gently suggest that, by your photos, it doesn't look like you have an overly large bust.
Now that you have a way to show photos, why don't you try posting some photos of outfits so we can help you identify what looks good?
Looking forward to helping you out!

ElleH

Veteran

Thanks Krista for your help & invitation to help more:)

I never thought I had a large bust. In my Chantelle bras which I found to be the best for me I am a 32DD. I have been a D cup in Elle McPherson, not sure if it was 32 & 34C in other brands but I think that was wrong for me. I think I am right to go up a cup size & down a back size.

Anyway what I think you are saying & what I am saying is that my bust is not too big. Despite cup size it's all about what we look like not what we measure right?

I did pay extra to submit photos to the "My Private Stylist" program so that experts could tell me what I am not just have me measure but they also ask for cup size & I put DD so they might have a computer program that spits out results for large breasted women. Then why did I bother to pay extra for my photos to be analyzed?

Then with the string measuring by Imogen on Inside Out Style I got further confused because it says to measure straight from what appears to be the top of the head not face. Mine is about 9 1/2 inches making me short waisted but balanced upper & lower if we go from leg break rather than crotch. My experience though is that of a long waisted person because the waist or belt loops on trench coats & tailored tops & dresses falls above my natural waist.

Anonymous

You don't have a large bust at all. Cup size is only a function of band size, so a 32DD is going to be smaller than a 36C for example. I think DD is a difference of 5" between bust and underbust measurement, D is 4", C 3" etc.

I would say hourglass with strong shoulder line also.

qfbrenda

Veteran

I agree with "hourglass with strong shoulder line". Your shoulders are a bit wider than your hips but I think you lean more towards hourglass than IT.

ElleH

Veteran

Thanks Ceit!

Wow I'm so pleased with all the free help I'm getting here already. I paid for a program from experts with photos but maybe they didn't really look? Ok so we're all agreed that my bust isn't a problem so I won't let that influence my choices. Basically my program is useless now because even though I will ignore the advice for a large bust the way it works it isn't going to show what does look good on me:(

ElleH

Veteran

qfbrenda thanks:)

OK so far hourglass is leading the race so I don't have to avoid clothes that don't look good on IT's necessarily, unless I just don't look right in something. So much help already ladies.

Now what to do about muffin top & pregnant looking belly. I haven't even had kids!

And the whole proportion thing. I find I look better surrendering the waist because of tummy & my waist being too low for tailored clothes. I look better in a slight trapeze raincoat with princess seems than a trench that belts too high & can't allow belt loops to be moved. I could try one that can be moved I suppose but I still feel big & bulky under the belt, especially with winter layers underneath.

But...what about "What Not to Wear"? Don't they say to always define the waist?

ElleH

Veteran

Oh & I often look for empire styles to hide the tummy.

Anonymous

I think if you work on posture, that will help a lot. You stand in your photos with your hip bones tilted forward, which kind of allows all your innards to spill forward, instead of nestling in your ilia (pelvic bones). Try tucking your pelvis back (not just sucking in your stomach). You may find stretches and ab work will help your core muscles so that it acts as a framework to hold everything in.

I found with both my pregnancies, my pelvis tilted forward on its own as the baby got bigger, and afterwards it took a little work to get things back to where they were before. I am no ripped 6 pack abs person, but doing simple core exercises like crunches while I watched TV or whatever really helped my posture and also stopped my back from hurting as I spend far too much time in front of the computer!

Now, biomechanically, this might not work for you. My husband is swaybacked and can't tuck his pelvis under for the life of him! But that is the biggest thing I notice.

catgirl

Veteran

I see an hourglass here with a strong shoulder line as well.

ElleH

Veteran

Alaskagirl, thanks:) another vote for hourglass

Ceit, I am swaybacked but I think I can tuck my pelvis. I'm not sure how long I can hold it for as I only do it side on in the mirror. The tummy looks better but the butt goes flat:(

Also I do carry fat there & am trying to lose weight at the moment. It seems to be the last place to go. It all pushes up over the top of low rise skinny jeans or bootleg jeans. If I buy them bigger they are too big for my hips, butt & thighs....sigh

ElleH

Veteran

Krista here are some pics as suggested. I'm not sure if this is the correct forum. I don't necessarily have specific questions. I will do that somewhere later. These are just some I have to give you an idea.

The 60s one is a halloween costume but it shows a high neck minidress on me.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pdo.....r2Mo6U8gGL

ElleH

Veteran

So going by YLF if the shoulder is wider than the hip only slightly one is not necessarily an IT? Also if my waist is only 7" smaller than my hip am I still an hourglass or more of a rectangle? TIA

ElleH

Veteran

One more thing that I suppose I can correct with posture is that I am round shouldered which was described as a dowagers hump in the My Private Stylist program. Sheesh, I can't wear halter necks now.

Oh & I'm 46 so it says no bikini. Well Angie wears one & she is 40. I know I don't have the most amazing young body but one pieces are too short in the body for me, they ride right up, ouch!

April

Veteran

Elle, the way I can tell that you're neither an IT nor a rectangle is because your waist is so markedly, beautifully visible. ITs and rectangles are "straight" shapes -- very little inward curvature at the waist. Almost a boyish outline (never mind what's going on with the bust or the rear if one turns sideways -- I'm speaking only of the front-on shape.)

I would say hourglass, based on your lovely inward curve.

Mellllls

Veteran

if you are self-counscious about your stomach, maybe you should look at the guidelines for adorable apple. im not good at determining body types.

ElleH

Veteran

Aww thanks April you are so kind.

Melllls yes I have thought of that & should look at the tummy disguising suggestions for the apple.

DonnaF

Veteran

Elle;

Welcome! It looks you have a really great figure! In maybe the last month or two, there was a discussion on these boards about mirror vs. camera angle and the *truth*. It is very possible that you may have sent that stylist photos that distorted the length of your legs and made them look shorter than they really are. And if you had set the camera close to the ground and shot up, the stylist might have described you as a pinhead on stilts! Yes, cameras can lie, and the mirrors in some stores can make us think that we have a future in modeling!

I can tell you have a strong sense what flatters your body. Have you read Angie's archived blogs on dressing particular body types? Certain ones will probably resonate with you. Many of us are combos, so take tips from a couple of body types. Remember: They are guidelines and not rules!

ElleH

Veteran

DonnaF thanks:)

Yes I have been lurking here for a while & other sites too more recently. That's when I got overwhelmed & bought the program. The photos I posted here of me in black are the same ones I had taken as per the instructions of the program with the photographer at stomach level etc.

At first reading all of this stuff seems enlightening & then it becomes too much, especially when I find contradictions due to falling into several categories.

Also I'm 46 but don't look it & don't want to stop wearing short dresses because they seem to look good on me.

Anonymous

Elle, definitely no bikini at 46. You have to wait to wear bikinis until you're 47, like me! LOL

I also see an hourglass with beautiful shoulders.

ElleH

Veteran

Alicat LOL. I think a bikini looks better on me than a one piece that rides up my butt because it's too short. Also I think I tend to look at the bikini when women wear them, including myself, & not at the tummy, which doesn't go away in a one piece anyway, it just changes color.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Lovely hourglass, with beautiful curves and a nice strong shoulder line.

If you are concerned about any slight "apple" tendencies of your tummy, the suggestions for apples might be helpful.

And as for no bikinis - bunk!!!

Krista

Veteran

Elle,
I didn't realize that the title of this thread was actually a body type that you had been given. Sorry! I thought you were saying that you had a large bust, and when I looked at your photos, I didn't see a large bust at all. I wear a 38G and I'm short-waisted, so I look pretty busty, and I always use myself as a comparison to others! That being said, I've picked up some great tips here on YLF about how to dress better for my body type and I am feeling much better about how I look. So you are in the right place!

I checked out the photos with outfits that you've posted. I would say that you have a pretty good eye for wearing what is right for your body type already! And I can safely back up my original suggestion that you are an hourglass. Cheers!

ElleH

Veteran

Thanks Krista,

I think you & others have confirmed what I thought when I received the definition of busty. That I have never considered my bust too big. Thanks for checking out my photos too. They are just some full length photos I had. I will post ones that I have questions about soon:)

Jonesy

Veteran

Sounds like your head is spinning from all of the rules and contradictory info. you've been receiving :). To me, rules are a great starting point, as long as they are *helpful* and give you a boost of confidence, not the other way around! They should simplify everything, not make it more complicated! For a lot of us here, taking pictures of outfits is really the best way to see what works and what doesn't. Maybe set aside some of these crazy-making, contradictory rules for a bit and just focus on honing in on what you think looks good and what is working for you?

ElleH

Veteran

Thanks Jonesy I needed that.

ElleH

Veteran

OK so I wrote the people I bought the program from because I thought there was a mistake. They said I am a triangle & I thought they meant inverted triangle but they comfirmed I am in fact a triangle, which is more or less a pear. They don't consider the shoulders. Just the bust to hip ratio. Now I'm really afraid to take their recommendations & throw out all my clothes & buy new ones. I always found my hips to be too narrow for clothes that fit me elsewhere. Perhaps because of my tummy? I never thought I was a pear. If I ignore the shoulders as they have done then a rectangle or hourglass I would think but then again their lines don't lie. Maybe I am a very slight pear.

Please see the photo that they drew over & the one without the lines

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1pnr.....age007.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kun1.....nt%202.jpg

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Elle, I don't think this program's advice makes sense. They are telling you that you have a large bust, and that you are a pear because your bust is smaller than your hips. These can't both be true! I know you have already paid for the program, but it sounds like its advice is just causing you trouble. Maybe forget about it for a while?

ElleH

Veteran

Yes Cinnamon I got confused for the same reason & wrote them about it. I was the one who told them I wear a DD so that's where they decided the bust was large but photos show hips wider from front view. They took a second look at photos, upon my request, & changed my cup size to a D because I don't look like a DD. to be honest I have worn D & even C in the past but I've gained weight & I feel like the C was always wrong. You know when you buy bigger strap size & smaller cup size & then you get fitted by a professional who brings you a great bra that really works. I don't wear bras with any padding at all because I dislike the stiffness, though I found ones that are firm & don't show nipple.

I do wear a larger top than bottom often but they say that is due to my bust size.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Elle, welcome! I'm sorry you paid for "my private stylist" and got such confusing results. The thing is that there are so many figure variations, very few people can stick to such strict rules.

You have gotten some great advice here so far. You are at the beginning of a wonderful style journey. Breathe and relax into it. Unless you absolutely hate your clothes, I wouldn't recommend throwing them all out!

I think you have a fantastic figure. I'm quite envious of your small waist. I'd play it up whenever you can. A couple of ideas...perhaps try tailored slacks with a wide waistband I think you'll like them. In terms of a trench coat, look for one that you can move the belt loops to your waistline. Or look for a coat without a belt and add your own leather belt. It's kind of a pain, but you see it on the runways all the time. Very chic!

If you feel like our shoulders are wide, simply avoid puffed sleeves, epaulets and other shoulder details. And lower necklines will flatter you better than high ones. You have tons of style options. Have fun experimenting!!

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