Outfit lab: long torso and pear

anne

Picture one was taken a week ot two ago. Once I saw the photo I did NOT like it - felt like a spoon with a long handle and then a big curve!.

However that photo was taken with my commuting shoes (aka my running shoes) which I covered with a coat, so no one much actually saw it.

So I wore the outfit again today, as actually worn, and got some photos (pics two and three)

Questions

- Have I fixed the proportions enough by adding the jacket and the slightly heeled booties?
Or are there other styling suggestions for these pants?
And are the pants too big (they are loose around the waist) They are a lovely YLF handed down item and a much better quality than I can afford - should I alter?

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7 years ago

Body Type

26 replies

Latest reply was from Column

Joy

Veteran

I like the third styling best. Your hair looks beautiful.

7 years ago

anne

Veteran

Thanks Joy,

I'm having a good time with my hair at the moment- must be the unexpected humidity. Don't know if it has lasted the walk a few windy blocks into the office though!

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those are great pants! And they look fab on you. I like them in #3. The proportions of #1 are foreshortened due to the angle and exaggerated due to the hands on hips post. But in #3 you are balanced beautifully.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I echo Joy and Suz 100%.

Your hair looks really pretty, Anne.

7 years ago

ladypainter

Active Member

Nice trousers--the outfit combo in 2 and 3 is very flattering.
The pants legs look like a slightly relaxed straight-leg fit--no worries.
But if the waist feels/looks too big to you, it would be worth getting them altered. Minor waist darts/reductions are pretty simple, and usually not too expensive.

7 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think you have worked out how to balance the outfit really well. I would be tempted to get them altered as they look a really good classic work pant.

7 years ago

anne

Veteran

Sal - yes and I hate buying trousers. I haven't bought any for 8 years at least! I am hoping an alteration could stop that crease around the crotch point.

I think the lesson from everyone's comments is not to stand with my hands on my hips!! I think I can manage that

Also, the next question is ...but what about when I get hot and take the jacket off ....?

[see pic below]

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7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Your legs look really long in #3. I can’t figure out what’s different from #2 to give that effect. When you take the jacket off, you have curves like a woman. I’m guessing you posted it because you want to “fix” what you see. I’m no help because I think you look great.

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

sorry-posted on wrong page!

7 years ago

Liz

Veteran

The angle of the photo in #1 feels different from the rest -- did someone taller than you take it, with the camera pointed down? I feel like the angle is giving a somewhat false reading of the visual.

#3 looks lovely.

I think I'd suggest the alterations, just to see if you can get a better fit on the waist (and therefore less fabric sagging into the rise).

7 years ago

anne

Veteran

Actually someone shorter I think in all cases - my DD9

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

With my iphone 7, holding the camera at arms length and slightly above my head results in amazingly funny selfies where my head is huge and my legs really, really short and skinny. Even with mirror selfies I have to be careful how high/low I hold it, because it will definitely use “perspective” to make whatever is a little closer look much bigger. Maybe the camera your daughter uses has a similar lens.

7 years ago

ladypainter

Active Member

The last photo with you wearing only the shell top over the trousers looks good! You have a nicely defined waist, and this combo shows it off.

7 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Hi Anne, I think you look great in this outfit especially with the dark shoes. Your trainers really shorten your leg line with these pants, but the darker boot extends the leg line and you look great with and without your jacket. As a fellow pear-shape, I totally get why you don't like photo #1, but really you just look slim and fit in all of these. When you get hot, take off your jacket!

7 years ago

Sal

Veteran

The last pic is fine too. Exactly what Bijou said

7 years ago

Katerina

Veteran

Nice trousers! In the pictures they look very good on you.
The combo with the jacket is really good, you look very pretty.
The last picture with the shell top looks nice too. Don’t worry!

7 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

What Bijou said! I wish I was as fit as you are.

7 years ago

Anonymous

For a leg lengthening effect, I would wear pants that are more fitted in the hips and leg join area.

As others have said, you are gorgeous!

7 years ago

tanstaafl

Active Member

I think you look great in 2 and 3. If you love the pants, but not quite how they fit, you might as well at least check on getting them tailored. It's easier to decide what to do when you have all of the information, like what they can do and how much it would cost.

7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You look great. If the pants are loose in the waist, have them taken in -- they will sit higher on your waist and help disguise the proportions you are self-conscious about. Take it from a short-waisted person who cannot wear high rises and looks like a squat little torso on top of long legs, it's not easy on the other end of the spectrum either!

7 years ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I have a similar shape to you and I find it balances the figure best by having emphasis at the shoulders and waist.you have done this by wearing a jacket with what looks like a little padding at the shoulders and by keeping the jacket shorter rather than bottom covering.You are slim so showing off your waist is a good idea.I think that you have instinctively done this .The trousers are a little big on you and too long I think that you would feel that they were more flattering if they fitted you properly.A slightly higher and less chunky heel might be worth a try as well.

7 years ago

anne

Veteran

Fashiontern - thanks. I don't know why 3 should look better either, with the same outfit! And I sympathise on the photo angle issue. Not easy, especially with selfies. And my daughter was using my phone which is a cheapie and doesn't have a particularly good camera

Ladypainter and tanstaafl - thanks. I'm contemplating doing the alterations myself at this point

Bijou - thanks for the pear empathy!! (not that I even notice that you are a pear) I know it sounds silly, but I actually forget my shape quite a bit. I dress in the dark, or in a room without a full length mirror. Plus most of my outfits are relatively pear friendly because I go for certain styles as a matter of course. Then occasionally I look at a photo and get surprised

Sal, Katerina and Harmonica - thanks

Smittie - I think we may have similar leg shape? Thanks for the advice

Janet - yes - YLF has been great in exposing me to "the other side" of all sorts of body types. And I don't mind my long torso at all, except for the difficulty of finding things that fit (but I wouldn't say no to longer legs!)

Cardiff girl - another similar shaped person - I look forward to seeing your photos if you choose to put some up. Yes I think there's padding in the jacket. Higher and thinner heels are indeed usually a better look for me but are difficult for to wear - that (second) day I wanted to walk home from the bus, about 700m, and that's the only work suitable shoe that can manage that.

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

The pants are gorgeous on you and look great with the styling in pic 2 and 3. Your hair is beautiful.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

3 is on the money.

I don’t think you’re really a pear visually, honestly. I think it’s all a matter of a long torso. I, of course, have no torso at all. The legs just start at the neck. Very sad, lol

7 years ago

anne

Veteran

RL, I usually say pear/ rectangle, with sometimes a leaning towards hourglass. Angie reckons pear. I did FEEL that I looked very "pear like" in the photo.

7 years ago

Column

Veteran

Anne,
As a fellow spoon (love that description!), I would tuck the cami without the jacket. I find I like full tucks over faux tucks every. time. Continuing the leg line with analogous footwear is also wise, as others have stated. Express has paperbag waist pants on sale (esp. for summer), which I`m planning to try. So with you on trying on pants. It is as bad if not worse for me than bathing suits--mostly because I don`t need any new bathing suits and therefore don`t try!

7 years ago

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