ITs... do you break the rules?

qfbrenda

I'm currently tempted by a striped jacket with wide lapels. I must be nuts! But then hubby compliments me every time I wear something that shows off my shoulders...

So, how closely do you follow the rules? Are you tempted by items that show off your shoulders?

13 years ago

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from

Kristin SF

Veteran

I seem to be wearing a lot of striped boatnecks recently, and I think those are advised against for ITs. But that's what's in the stores and I do love me some stripes.

I am NEVER tempted to wear halter tops. That style really does make my shoulders look HUGE.

13 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

Rules?

Yes,, all the time. Remember years ago when Land's End pioneered the customizable on-line model? My friend entered my measurements wrong--way too much bust and not near enough shoulder width. Everything I put on that model looked horribly frumpy and not at all like me. When I corrected the measurements, all of a sudden she looked slim and chic (despite my accurate tummy measurements) and the clothes hung on her like on a catwalk model.

That was when I realized that my shoulders are my asset, not something to be played down to make me approximate some "ideal" shape, hourglassy or whatever. As we are learning from the YLF sisterhood, we should embrace what makes us different and play it up, not down, for maximum flattery.

And my horizontally striped mariniere tops are my favourites now.

13 years ago

Anonymous

See, I think ITs often look very strong, graceful and elegant in boatneck tops. If you've got 'em, flaunt them, Kristin SF!

13 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Brenda, I break them quite often. Today even, in fact: heavy texture blazer with *gasp* shoulder pads, very skinny jeans, and very refined pointy-toed booties. Pretty much the definition of what ITs are usually supposed to avoid I also wear boat neck tops, TONS of horizontal stripes, skinnies are my go-to, and I adoooore wide lapels. The only time I am really cautious about shoulder emphasis is when I am tucking a top into a skirt that sits at my waist; due to being somewhat short waisted + long torsoed, it can really _really_ over emphasize my shoulder width unless I do a lot of extra work to balance things. Honestly, my shoulders are a passing thought when dressing. The issue really only comes up when shopping, when it becomes a nightmare to find anything that fits properly. I think you could easily work a striped jacket with wide lapels! If you really felt you needed to balance the width, slouchy-styled boots would probably take care of it for you

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I'm not sure. Some of the items that would break rules are styles I just don't like. For example, my sister brought me a black velvet Guess jacket which was adorable but had puffy shoulders (which she hadn't noticed) and I just couldn't wear it. Puffy shoulders make me feel too frou and girly. But I will wear my sharp-shouldered velvet blazer. Don't do cap sleeves for the same reasons - too femme-feeling for me. But will wear a cut-in tank top.

Mosty I love my shoulders and have realized that they allow me to wear certain styles (oversized!) with grace and power.

The only way to know is to try!

13 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

My trick for fit--at least when thrifting, especially 80's type garments--is to remove the shoulder pads. Suddenly they hang better, the sleeves are suddenly long enough, and the shoulders don't look extreme because they're not up around my ears.

13 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

What else are they for? Seriously, I think once you know the rules you can bend or break them to suit:)

13 years ago

deb

Veteran

Rules are meant to be broken!

13 years ago

Tina.b

Veteran

I like my wide shoulders, think they allow clothes to drape in a good way. I don't love horizontal stripes on me, and I definitely try to steer pretty far afield from cap sleeves, puffy sleeve shirts, and epaulettes. I will wear boat necks, wide lapels, and halters happily though.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I would definitely try on that jacket and give it a whirl!

I break the rules all the time! I really look carefully at the item that I'm breaking it for, though.

I wear lots, underscore lots, of striped tees and I adore them. I wear boat necks, striped and otherwise. In fact, a boat neck was one of my first WIWs and even then I said I knew it emphasized my shoulders, but I didn't mind. And I have wide lapel jackets. I think the right one can work amazingly well with my wide shoulders. My favorite is one that has a wide lapel and very slightly puffed shoulders, but the shoulders are set so that the end of the puff is exactly at the edge of my shoulder. It in effect moves my shoulders in a bit visually. Magic.

13 years ago

Aida

Veteran

K, that's a good point on the puffed sleeves for ITs. If that's a sleeve shape you like, finding a jacket where the shoulder is inset and the puff _ends_ on the shoulder is just the ticket. I have a jacket like that too (square puff!), though it hasn't been getting as much wear lately because it's quite fitted and I'm in the mood for slouch.

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13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Aida, your awesomeness never ends! That jacket is a PERFECT example of the puff, plus it has pretty wide lapels. Ta da! Wide lapels and poufy shoulders can work for us shoulder gals, and not just work, but look gooooood!

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Not a true IT so perhaps not qualified to say. But I definitely have wide shoulders for my size and they are wider than my hips. And I love my shoulders and happily ignore most rules about dressing them. Stripes, boat necks, even the right shoulder detail...bring it on!

13 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

This is encouraging! The other thing I love about the jacket is it's knit. So it would look like a jacket and feel like a sweatshirt. I just might have to try it.

13 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

I'm going to try it. Here's the jacket I ordered:

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....=352144012

13 years ago

Veteran

For me, it's all about balance. If I'm wearing something that emphasizes my IT shoulders, then I'll add a scarf/necklace and a-line/full skirt to compensate.

13 years ago

Charmian

Veteran

I personally think AJ's comment hits the nail on the head: once you know why the rules are the way they are, you can start applying the underlying principle and ignore the letter of the law!

Personally, I don't go flouting the rules (I'm not confident in my abilities yet), but I do toe them with zest and then try to balance it out with IT-friendly silhouettes, patterns, etc.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Brenda, I just saw that jacket in the store yesterday and it's CUTE! Too bad I didn't try it on....I could have commented on the fit. Does it have raglan shoulders? That could be a good thing.

The main styles I dislike for my strong shoulders (and it could be more of a style thing than a technical rule that I won't break) are puffed sleeves and shirring at the shoulder seam. I do have one cardi with a few gathers at the crown of the shoulder, but it's a leopard print to they aren't noticeable. The jacket that Aida has shown I would wear as well. It looks great. Good luck on your Gap jacket!

13 years ago

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