And the comments just get MORE interesting! Wow! I love it

IK, your comment is especially food for thought. (And thanks for your kind words too).

Carole & Heather, thank you.

We are really thrashing out what it means to look "bombshell" - and are quite divided it seems.

I am late and need to get going. Back later.

My take on both looks, incredibly attractive but not bombshell. To me bombshell brings thoughts of va-va-va-voom with the hair and makeup to go with it. Not necessarily sexy in an obvious way, I think it has to do with your body shape and your style. For example, I have short hair and slight curves, I would not look bombshell as easily as someone with long luscious wavy hair and generous curves. We could wear the same outfit and give off totally different vibes. This is just one example that comes to my mind.

Hi Angie! I think the first one isn't since it has edgy elements to the purse and shoes. I'd say the blue dress is 100% bombshell and you look stunning in it even though I know it is not your style in general.

No. I think a lot has to do with the rest of you, though - manner, hair, figure. I think of Jayne Mansfield when I think of bombshell in the traditional sense. There's also the YLF term, which conveys an entirely different meaning to me - a style rather than a LOOK, if you will.

You look wonderful. I think Bombshell is all about the look on the woman's face and the placement/movement of her body and what it implies. Doesn't need no stinkin' pencil skirt. A Bombshell is dressing for effect. No audience, no bombshell. You can see pix of the ultimate bombshell - Marilyn - in casual clothing and it's all about the expression on her face and the arrangement of her limbs. In my book, ladylike and bombshell don't coexist.

still no.
The links Anna added are exactly what I picture bombshell to be.

If "Bombshell" means alluring*, then for me yes, both outfits would fall into that category.
Both the pencil skirt + shirt and the blue dress are in a way more of a "strict", covered-up look, which I feel can be very alluring.
Also: the way you are wearing them (plus the colours you've chosen for the items), the way you carry yourself etc. makes your ensembles feminine and attractive (ALL good things, mind you, I LOVE these outfits).

*I think we've talked about this before, to me "alluring" isn't necessarily a synonym of form-fitting, showing lots of skin - completely buttoned-up looks, tomboy style outfits and so on, can be totally alluring too. I would not call that "bombshell" though.

FWIW, I still associate "bombshell" primarily with the original, narrower meaning of the word: the pin-up stars on World War II posters, movie stars considered sex symbols. So then I would have to say no:-)

Angie, I never see anything but a Lady no matter what outfit you wear.

I'm with Inge, still relating the bombshell term to retro sex symbols. Somehow, I always think of bombshell style as creating an *exaggerated* hourglass figure - very cinched waist, bust-emphasizing top, tight skirt/pants/shorts.

I LOVE the blue dress / red shoes / yellow handbag combo. So bright.

But ok, I think neither is bombshell. Don't know how to say this, but I'm not sure a person can be slim and trim and be all the way bombshell. I feel like you might have to be a smidgen outside of your proper BMI range. Or at the far end at least.

But maybe not. My other thought is, the shoes. The shoes always have to have be skinnier than the skirt. What I mean is - like with a pencil skirt, it has to be spike heels. If a big circle skirt, then stacked heels would work.

To my eye, neither of these looks are bombshell. I may be totally wrong, but I've always thought of bombshell as having very obvious waist definition (cinched belts and tucking) plus a tight top and skirt. But neither outfit is particularly tight looking. The blouse in #1 is somewhat voluminous, and the dress in #2 just skims your body rather than clinging to it.

I'd say these are both ladylike/feminine looks....not bombshell.

I didn't read the other posts but I don't really see either as particularly bombshell. They are each classic and polished and uber fab but they don't have that bombshell vibe to me. I think of bombshell as looking more overtly sexy, I suppose.

What an interesting read! I think the first outfit is not so bombshell because of the looser fit of both the skirt and the blouse. Also the lower, chunky heels. The second pic is closer to bombshell because it is more form-fitting, higher heel. Bombshell and classy.

I agree with the comments too about bombshell equating exaggerated hourglass ( Marilyn Monroe) in my mind so Angie you would always be gorgeous and classy but not bombshell the way my subconscioud perceives it. I will say to me bombshell in my mind is more cleavage/upper body curves related rather than lower body curves related. Hmmmmmm.
I think pic one if the skirt were tighter would do it for me paradoxically ( although it would do nothing to your upper body) so maybe I'm even more confused than most? Or is that a tighter skirt in look one would make your bust line appear fuller?

Sorry if i rambled and was tangential? I will blame it on my ongoing sinus infection!

Beautiful, Sophisticated, Refined. NOT a bombshell!!

To my eye, the first is not bombshell. Your curves are hidden, especially with the loose blouse.

The second is more bombshell. The dress hugs your beautiful curves. You could push up the bombshell with higher skinnier heels, which would make your calves curvier.....

What I find interesting about this discussion is that many people seem to find bombshell a negative descriptor......

Personally, I think bombshell is a great look!

I do think there is a difference between being a being a bombshell and having bombshell style. IMO being a bombshell is about the curves, the hair, the pout...it sreams I'm fertile but in my opinion any body shape can both channel and pull off bombshell style.

Oh, these are interesting responses, and I agree with Anna's reasoning, in not seeing this as "bombshell." I also don't see the second photo as "bombshell," either, but I would call it out as "curvaceous classic" or "sensual softness" if these are terms.

As Inge states?, I also associate "bombshell" with the '50s pin-ups and the Rockabilly look.

Whatever it's called, I absolutely love both of these outfits, for the color and fit!

I think these are classic looks. For me a bombshell has more to do with the person's shape and then how they choose to dress that shape. If they choose to accentuate the curves, wear heels, have long flowing hair and done up make up.

You look great Angie!

I think the second look is also beautiful, less business-like than the first beautiful outfit, but neither reads "bombshell" to me.

I have an idea for an experiment. In general, I agree that bombshell depends a lot on
displaying some voluptuousness. But I have been thinking it over and a lot of what people here have been considering to be bombshell often involves more of a sexy secretary look. You know that old movie, "Why Miss Jones, when you take off your glasses....." And then you hear that cheesy music.

Anyway, looking at pictures of bombshells and also observing one we have in the neighborhood, what they all seem to have in common is a lot of nude space in the
front chest area, with or without anything much spilling out. Saw one this morning,
a platinum blonde, jeans in boots, beautiful ivory plush wrap coat spilling open,
long red scarf..... and a form fitting black top with a very wide decolletage. This for
taking the kids to school. It's like that description in the Lucky guide to any style where you have all the sexpot clothes for going to the market. IOW, exposure of
chest area in situations where it isn't the expected.

So, even though you have a slim figure and are usually covered up and always
ladylike, what if you tried on an outfit incorporating lots of skin showing in front?
I'm wondering if that alone might nudge you over the edge into discovering the meaning of bombshell?

Angie- I just don't think that you have a 'bombshell' body, no matter what you put on it. You don;t have the voluptuous curves that I associate with Bombshell looks. On a different body, and styled slightly differently it could read bombshell.

Isis, I also find it interesting how many people seem to think "bombshell" has negative associations. To my eyes a woman can be elegant, sophisticated, refined, and still look like a bombshell.

I especially enjoy the bombshell ladies who are bombshell with a twinkle in their eyes: "I'm sexy and I know it, and I'm not taking it that seriously." (Okay, do you all have LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" stuck in your heads now?)

The first looks modern classic to me done beautifully. Put a slim turtle neck and tighten up the skirt, add some stilettos and you are a bombshell.
I don't think one has to be full figured or hour glassy to look/be bombshell.

The second looks more bombshell but ~not quite~ to my eye...classy/alluring for sure.

I agree with Isis and Alicat, I'm surprised at the negative associations people seem to have with the word bombshell! Bombshell does highlight the feminine figure, but it doesn't necessarily have to be tight or trashy! And what's with the comment that bombshell cannot be ladylike? I always thought that bombshell was ultra-ladylike and super feminine! For me bombshell is all about waist definition to create an hourglass figure and a hint of retro and glamour, like the 40's pinup girls or 50's stars like Marilyn. And maybe some red and leopard and faux fur thrown in once in a while. Fun and flirty and a little girly and sensual. Of course, there is the voluptuous sexpot look, but I don't think that defines bombshell. I guess that's why I'm a demure bombshell, since I am neither voluptuous nor sexpot! My bombshell style aspiration is the 1940's secretary look.

I think Angie's outfits could be more bombshell with a few tweaks. Swap out the button down with a pussy bow blouse, and maybe a more tailored form fitting pencil skirt. The dress is certainly elegant and form-fitting and the red pumps are classic bombshell, but you would look more bombshell if you put your hand on your hip. You yourself said your style is absolutely not bombshell so maybe that is coloring our opinion...if Kari or MaryK wore the same dress we'd say it was typical bombshell!

All this talk of how to de-bombshellify outfits is making me squirm. I think I'm going to have to post my WIW from today, because I'm dressed super bombshell today!

Thanks for all the thoughts, ladies. AMAZING! And thanks to everyone who was gracious with their compliments. (Rae, I aspire to being a Lady, so your compliment was especially appreciated).

Natalie, this post struck a raw nerve with you I see :). I am sending over a hug!

A very important distinction has emerged. Being a Bombshell, and having Bombshell Style are not the same thing - much like being a Tomboy is different to Tomboy Style. Una and Julie grasped that fast.

To answer my original question, no - that first pencil skirt outfit is not bombshell style. Anna was fast to point out exactly why and I am in agreement.

The second outfit is about as bombshell as I get. That's my tightest and most revealing dress worn with my highest heels. Perhaps if I had a plunging neckline which is to Vildy's point, the outfit would have looked more "bombshell".

I have the same perception of bombshell-type-silhouettes as Rae and Inge - and nice visuals from Anna.

I never refer to hair as bombshell, and yet there were many references to long hair on this thread. That was an eye-opener.

IK makes an excellent point. When are you Bombshell and when are you Sexpot? One has a positive connotation while the other one has a less than positive connotation. I can't actually answer that question. Perhaps you can?

Julie, I never feel like a bombshell. I guess that very much comes through in my style.

So I guess the question remains: can someone who is not very curvy or busty achieve bombshell style? Khris and Rachy say no, Taylor, IK and LOP say yes.

Ok I have not read most of the posts yet but won't have anything left to say if I do! With the blue dress I see a Grace Kelly kind of bombshell. The first outfit is not bombshell to my eye, maybe the top is not form fitting enough. Now I will read the rest of the responses.

Angie, the look is beautiful and classic, yet you put such a unique edge to it! I love it!

As for the "bombshell"-ness of this look: when I think "bombshell" I think slim and body-hugging all around... "sexed up", for the lack of a better term. I guess a bit more revealing, more plunging cleavages, etc.

I see this outfit as more classy and sophisticated. The shirt doesn't hug Angie's curves, and the skirt doesn't hug her figure all the way to the hemline. So no - I wouldn't call it a "bombshell" style.

Can you be a bombshell if you are not uber-curvy? I suspect that's a big part of what creates a bombshell silhouette.

I've never been described as bombshell, even in a close-fitting pencil skirt, and I doubt that I ever will. When I was young I longed to be considered a bombshell beauty, but instead I always got "girl next door."

Can your outfits be considered beautiful and sexy? Of course. And the same goes for a girl next door. But bombshell? Not so much.

J Lo naturally curvy ...VB naturally very slim....both equally bombshell IMO

http://www.latina.com/entertai.....ver-ritual

here we go:)