Need a lot of help with style, small chest, big bottom - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Need a lot of help with style, small chest, big bottom

lmeyer7716

Member

I like many people have been in mommy mode either pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 7 1/2 years. I've always been self concious and having 3 kids hasn't helped it. I don't think i'm fat just built weird. I have a small chest (barely a 34B) and a bigger bottom (typically a 6 in jeans). So I'm saying I'm a pear shape, i guess. I just measured myself c=34", w=32", h=39". i'm 33 years old about 5'6" and 133lbs. I call myself a fashion retard. I typically wear jeans and like a gap favorite fitted tee. I wear no accessories.

So I'm asking what kind of stuff should I wear and stay away from? Also where can I find the kind of items you are talking about.

My most pressing fashion emergency is I am going to an event Friday night that says Nice Casual as if you are going to a movie date or a nightclub. I only go to the movie with my kids and having been to a nightclub in probably 10 years. What kind of stuff does that mean? It is a concert and it will be in the low 60's when we head there but in the 40's before we get home and we won't have anywhere to put coats.

I will probably have an hour and a half before our mall closes tomorrow night to shop. We have Sears, JCPenny, Limited, Express, Dillards, Forever 21 and Maurices.

Please help me. I would post a picture but I can't figure out how to. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from abc

Mirp

Jersey dress w/ a jacket and a scarf are my go to feel good outfits as a Pear. Then I wear tights and lovely shoes.

lmeyer7716

Member

I feel like jersey material just accents the extra "skin" or left over pudge from my pregnanies. Also dresses are kind of difficult for me to wear when dealing with very active little ones. Maybe long dresses but I am constantly bending over and don't want to flash anyone.

Molly L-R

As a pear I gravitate towards A-line and full skirted skirts and dresses. Trousers need to be wide legged and a small heel is always more flattering.

JuneBug

Veteran

I agree with Molly and would find a black skirt, worn with a fitted top and tucked in because this actually slims the body visually. Over this you could wear a fitted moto style jacket that ends at your hips and that is not boxy in structure, Loose clothes give the impression of bulk visually, so it's always nice to wear one piece- top or bottom, that is fitted.

2. If you are wearing trousers or dark wash denim (very flattering), you could wear a pretty blouse and the same moto jacket, with a scarf and accessories.

3. A tunic top with skinny jeans, boots, a cardi and scarf. You could add a moto or fitted jacket for when you are outdoors.

An attractive bag and interesting accessories (a ring/ earrings/ necklace) always lift an outfit.

rute

Veteran

What about dark denin jeans white t-shirt a jacket or a leather jacket and a leopard scarf? so simple and stylish!!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Go, mom, Go!

So glad you have an opportunity to dress for something special. If you still feel a little "squishy," a little more structure in your clothes can help. Some ideas:

1. Black ponte pencil skirt (I have one from JCP), sweater/blouse, denim or lelather jacket and scarf.

2. Dressy, dark wash jeans, sweater/blouse and jacket. Boots or medium heels.

One note: If you haven't shopped for jeans in a while, I think and hour and a half might not be enough time to find the perfect pair and the perfect fit. I''d suggest pulling out of your closet all the items of clothing that you like and that fit well. Make a list of these or take some pictures before you shop. Remember that a great pair of boots/shoes or an amazing statement necklace or scarf can elevate any outfit. BTW -- a statement necklace with a hanes t-shirt and jacket could be simple and really fab.

Good luck!

Also, are you new to the forum? You can post pictures after you've commented on about 10 other posts, I think.

lmeyer7716

Member

Junebug, what is a moto jacket? motorcycle?

Yes Beth Ann i am new. I was searching online for body type clothing and ran aross this site. Since i can't post pics i'm trying to use my profile picture to post a pic.

I have this pair of basically black gap jeans that have a wider leg. So something like that with a white fitted white shirt and a jacket and boots? What color boots and jacket and what type? scarf? necklace? Most of my jeans are old navy boot cut style. I know i need more time to shop but I won't be able to go without kids except for a very short time before friday.

lmeyer7716

Member

also seeing a picture of what you mean helps me a lot because I can visualize it and go look for something very similar to it. I really do appreciate everyones help.

JuneBug

Veteran

Yes a moto jacket is short for motorcyle. I would suggest one that is not cropped-

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Love the idea of using your black pants, white fitted shirt as a base. As for color of jacket? You have mryiads of choices right now --- denim, cobalt. I see you're wearing green in your profile pick. Green, teal and turquoise are big right now. If you prefer neutrals, you'll find lots of grey. In leather, cordovan (rich brown) is lovely.

I'd find the jacket first, if you don't have a suitable candidate, then add a scarf. I'll check this thread tonight, when I might have time to add some pics.

shiny

Veteran

Dress codes are highly regional. You don't mention where you live? I am in Boston and "Nice casual" here is going to be different than, say, St Louis.

Don't forget your shoes! A nice pair of funky pumps will ratchet up jeans and a simple tee!

You mentioned the Limited: do any of these looks appeal?
http://www.thelimited.com/wome.....lt,sc.html

Forever 21 is a great place to shop for a topper to go over your tee shirt, especially if you are not ready to commit a lot of $ because you are still finding your style:
http://www.forever21.com/Produ.....nd-jackets

Check out that houndstooth jacket! Or try a pleather moto.

I would suggest you start at the Limited, and do not be shy: ask a sales clerk to help. That is what they are there for. Dilliard's looks good too but with the limited time you have, you may find yourself overwhelmed sorting through everything. Hit Limited first, check out F21 for a topper if you haven't found one at the Limited, then swing by Dilliard's for some awesome shoes... ?

MNsara

Veteran

Here's a link to Angie's Mom on the Go blog posts with outfit ideas.

Look through them and look through your closet. Between Beth Ann's advice to pull out possibilities from your closet, and these outfit ideas -- maybe you can focus your search on one or two items to make an outfit work. . .
http://youlookfab.com/category.....on-the-go/

There are all sorts of outfits represented (and all types of casual in all types of seasons, etc.)

It's a great starting point for anyone !!

ETA: Angie is quick to say these outfits aren't meant to be exactly copied -- they're meant to be springboards for you to replace the pieces with the pieces you like/own/prefer/look better in. It's easy to see that in the most recent one -- where she actually put in multiple tops, multiple pants, mulitiple footwear choices to show you how flexible and individual the look can be.

rachylou

Veteran

The dark jeans are great. Old Navy boot cut jeans are highly versatile. I'd concentrate on tops. You can dress the jeans up or down, depending on the top. For your concert, I'd go to Forever 21 and look for a sweater on the longer side or a bat wing sweater, something with some pattern or shine or sparkle... Although, I will say their sweaters can be thin, and it may be too cold for an F21 sweater if you'll be outside.

I always pay attention to where tops stop. I find it rarely helps to have a sharp dividing line at the widest point of the hips. A person could be perfectly symmetrical, but the line fools the eye.

p.s. Jersey can be the most forgiving of fabrics, but it should be the kind with some heft.

lmeyer7716

Member

It is in new Orleans. I am going to start at limited. I never ask for help and often the people working there are older than me but I am going to ask this time. I believe it is inside. It is a vh1 Super Bowl party with train playing. It airs tomorrow night so I'm guessing it is live.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I feel for you! It's so tough to shop under pressure, and especially when you have been away from it for awhile. But it's going to be okay. And you're going to look great! Keep the jeans, do as the others say and search for a fun and funky jacket, and YES, ask for help. Ask at the Limited, as at Forever 21...just ask. It feels awful the first time, and true, you might be cursed with a clueless sales associate, but then again, you might get super lucky and find someone who can truly offer useful advice. Good luck - and have fun - and come back to report how it all went.

By the way...when I look at that photo I see a nice shape!

lmeyer7716

Member

My profile picture is what i think i'm down to. The first one is a sweater, the other two is the same sequenced top, middle pic is blue jeans, last pic is black jeans. I leave in an hour. Still not completely sure.

A.Kiernan

(website)

Take a look at http://thepearshape.com/

She's a member here and has a lot of really great looks and advice.

shiny

Veteran

From what I can tell by the pics you've got some good pieces there! Looks like you could focus on accessories, which would make your shopping a lot easier.

Suggestions:

1) Animal print shoes would take it up a notch. Or shoes in a pop of color.

2) An interesting clutch. If you did animal print shoes you could have a clutch in a pop of color. If you did shoes in a pop of color, you could do the clutch in an animal print. Oversized clutches are in now.

3) A scarf.

We'd all recommended a moto jacket or something similar, but if the venue is indoors and it's going to be warm enough, maybe you don't need this since you have long sleeves? Maybe better to focus your budget on the other accessories for now?

Can't wait to see what you come up with! Good luck and happy hunting!

Anonymous

Ahhh, helloooo, have we met?

I have a full size difference between tops and bottoms. I think I am good at hiding it for the most part, I also have very narrow shoulders and no bust. It could be a challenge.

Some of my tricks:

Darker colors on my bottom half.
Jackets have to hit at the exact spot, slightly above the widest part of your hip.
Bootcuts and flare legs are good at balancing your figure.
Opt for a good, defined shoulder line, to balance a wider bottom
You can do volume, even a pattern on the bottom half, but keep your top tailored, so you are emphasizing your smaller parts.
I feel like bigger necklaces and collars create more volume on top, therefore balancing my bottom.

lmeyer7716

Member

i am definitely going to come back and go through all of the links. life is just crazy right now. i wore the sweater because it was going to be cool and i really didn't have a jacket that went with either and it was warmer. Thank you everyone for the advice.

qfbrenda

Veteran

From your profile pic, I don't think you are a pear. You look more like an hourglass. Your chest and hip measurements aren't enough to determine your overall shape. Your shoulders also play a role. You might still have an interesting time with being different sizes on top and bottom but your hips are nicely balanced by your shoulders. You look in perfect proportion to me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hope you had fun - and hope to see more of your style. Agree with Brenda that you don't look much like a pear from what we can see.

Anonymous

I'm a pear shaped as well. (5 ft.6, 140 6-8 range 36-28-38.) I also wear a lot of blazers to make my narrow shoulders (15") look wider to balance off my lower half.

As far as tops are concerned, wear shirts with some prints whether it's dots, stripes. Horizontal stripes are your best friend if you're small chested.

When it comes to jeans, DO NOT wear skinny jeans. They are your enemy. They will make big hips, and thighs look bigger. Definitely wear dark color bootcut jeans. I wouldn't go for flare jeans because they might make your legs look shorter. Hope this information helps. Have a good day.

abc

Veteran

This is a year old thread...