Quoting Mochi: Style conundrums - YouLookFab Forum

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Quoting Mochi: Style conundrums

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I feel like Mochi's latest words from her style crush post might get lost in the fray, so I wanted to bring them up here for further discussion. Here's what she ended with:

"WHY two women with identical body types wouldn't look the same in a certain item of clothing. WHY clothes look better on taller, thinner bodies (or at least, why we are told and believe that they do). HOW to find, perhaps even create, ourselves through our clothing choices, especially when these limitations are placed on us. And conversely, HOW to not worry about it too much, because at the end of the day, they're just clothes!"

Questions worth pondering, no?

My first reaction was that clothes do NOT look better on taller, thinner bodies. Or rather, SOME clothes do. But lots of clothes don't. The tricky part seems to be identifying the clothes that work best on our own unique bodies. And wow, it is SO much harder than it seems! All the "body type" and proportion rules in the world just don't hold a candle to the mirror and the camera. And trial and endless error. Or at least that is how it feels to me.

And Mochi, I am right there with you in the difficulty of finding/making ourselves through out clothing choices. One reason you admire GB, I'll bet, is that she makes that seem so easy.

46 replies

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Anonymous

Well said. Add to the confusion that our bodies and preferences change all the time and it's a never-ending task...a journey or sorts. We just need to learn to relax and enjoy it, knowing mistakes and discoveries will be made.

Traci

Veteran

"WHY clothes look better on taller, thinner bodies."

I really appreciate ylf for dealing with this conundrum. I can't tell you how many times the ylf member looks better in an item than the tall willowy model does on the website. It has been really helpful to me to be able to look at other people's pictures and compare them without all the emotional charge I have when looking at pictures of myself.

I do think some items look better on tall slim women, but I also now know that some items absolutely look better on someone petite, or curvy or fuller figured. I never would have known this without all the women of ylf.

jayne

Veteran

what a great quote fro MOchi...must find that thread and read up! And absolutely agree, watching you all wear clothes is much more fun that looking at tall IT in the mags! I am not a tall IT.

cannot read or write more now...nagging child wants to want star trek

deb

Veteran

My personal experience as a once tall, VERY thin, person was that if an outfit looked good on a hanger it looked good on my body. It was so easy to dress myself then. Allbeit, I was very unhealthy, but my clothes looked great. After a stroke and daily meds, my body has changed dramatically. I would say it is probably normal, now. The conundrum about clothes on taller, thinner bodies resonates with me. An it is amazing how different I look in a photo from the mirror image. I never thought my mind altered my vision in the mirror until I started looking at my photos. I must thank YLF for helping me to see this. This new understanding is enabling me to present myself in the way I thought I was but really wasn't. Very thought provoking.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Traci was saying:

"I really appreciate ylf for dealing with this conundrum. I can't tell you how many times the ylf member looks better in an item than the tall willowy model does on the website. It has been really helpful to me to be able to look at other people's pictures and compare them without all the emotional charge I have when looking at pictures of myself."

I couldn't agree more.

Also, wanted to add that in addition to working with "what is" in terms of what looks good on our own particular shape, it has been helpful for me to try things that I wouldn't have considered at all in the past. Most recent ephiphany - picked up a very reasonably priced ponte knit pencil skirt at Costco of all places. I would not have considered a skirt like this ever - because it was a knit, it fits closer to the body and so on. The big shock to me is that it looks way better on me than I expected. Such a surprise! I thought that because it was a knit, and closer-fitting...it would accentuate my pot belly and other lumps and bumps. It's the complete opposite! I think it's because of the thickness of the knit and because it's a seamed pencil skirt instead of just totally plain.

So now I'm thinking that maybe I could at least try some slouchier pants. My first reaction is "no way" - but YLF has really taught me that you just never know - and sometimes something you'd instinctively reject in your head because of body image concerns turns out to be fabulous. Weird how that works!

shiny

Veteran

I confess I was feeling whiny when I replied on Mochi's thread. I hate it when envy rears its ugly head, and those photos triggered envy for me. I wish I was taller. I wish I was thinner. I wish I had access to fabulous designer fashions. I wish I could fit in them. I wish I had an eye that would know how to mix and match like that. On and on. Envy.

In my more charitable moments, of course I very well know that tall thin women have their own fit and fashion challenges. It's no easier for them than it is for any of us. "Style" is all about knowing what works for YOU. It's not about being able to wear anything and everything. Style only looks effortless; it isn't.

For those of you who know my BFF, Jane, she and I are exact opposites. I am a petite IT; she is a foot taller than me and a pretty pear. She has oodles and oodles of style and makes it all look effortless. I envied her until we started going shopping together and I discovered that there are tons of fashions that do not work at all on her figure -- but work on mine. And items that work on her, do not work on mine. It's all in knowing what works for you -- and being wise not to wear or covet what doesn't work. (You can still covet but it only makes you suffer).

I agree so much with Traci: the first YLF regular that came to mind was Kari. Kari totally rocks the wrap dress like no other! I often find myself envying her wrap dresses. Sorry, a tall thin model would just not rock a wrap dress anywhere close to Kari!

I have a long list of YLF regulars who knock my socks off all the time. What's cool is that by sharing trials and tribulations and yes the mistakes, we get to see that it really is not effortless. There's no such thing.

Anonymous

I studied Giovanna a bit closer. Let's face it: with those cheekbones (and overall bone structure), that hair, and those legs you can really do no wrong. Let's dissect, and - if we are so inclined - COPY her simple yet stunning formula!

-She does simple in a BIG way!
-Her hairstyle is either loosely (but neatly) up, or loosely down and carefree.
-She wears clothing that no one else has-UNIQUE STYLE
-Big Statement Watch
-Statement Bag
-Statement Coats
-Statement Shoes
-Statement Earrings

Who wants to try it?

deb

Veteran

I am in!

jayne

Veteran

too much statement for my lifestyle...Imogen taught me that I was buying on heroes for my closet, because they are fun...but I needed basics to make the outfits wearable for my square life...and to make the hero pop and not compete with other heroes. This lady takes dressing to an art form, like Daphne Guiness...I will sit it out and enjoy the show!

Gaylene

Veteran

I agree with Jayne. it's fun to look at pictures of tall, thin women with great cheekbones, a flowing mane of hair, and a seemingly unlimited fashion budget but that body and her lifestyle are worlds away from mine. Even if, by some miracle, I was able to copy her style exactly, my version could never achieve my fantasized image nor would it work for my real life. Having a style crush is, to my mind, much the same as having a crush on that cute boy in high school. Great for daydreaming, but probably better in fantasy than it would ever be in real life.

And that's why I prefer the pictures of the YLF women. Gorgeous women in all shapes and sizes who take current fashion and make it uniquely their own. That is what encourages me to experiment and to expand my fashion boundaries. Just like it can be much more fun to spend time with a real boyfriend than with than the imaginary one that exists only in your mind.

Echo

Veteran

We tend to think that clothing looks better on tall, very thin bodies because those are the images that surround us constantly. However, keep in mind that designers choose the thinnest and tallest models - sometimes underage and sometimes even male to make absolutely sure that there will be no bumps to distract - to showcase the clothes. They WANT the clothes to wear the model and for the model herself to either fade into the background or look the same as all the other models. They want walking clothes hangers.

So yes, those bodies are easy to drape/dress. Everything looks the same on them as it does on the hangers, so there is no consideration of what is flattering because there is essentially no figure to consider. Very thin celebrities or fashion editors also seek this look because they can then wear virtually anything without worrying about it.

But the reality is that the vast majority of people do NOT look like that after the age of 22 or so. Some do, as it is a naturally occurring body shape for some, but it isn't something to aspire to if your body doesn't tend that way (just as curvy isn't something to aspire to if one'[s body tends towards tall and willowy). It takes more work to determine and experiment with what looks good on bodies that are underrepresented in the media, but that's why we're here!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I really enjoyed reading this thread - thanks Suz (and Nancy) for starting it.

I agree with everything that has been said so far!

And I'd like to remind you how much better my clients Meredith, Phoebe and Bei-Jing looked modeling their NAS items on YLF than the models in the online catalogue. There is the proof in the pudding.

Anonymous

I'm willing to give some of this a trial run, as in bolder earrings, unique shoes, statement watch, simple hair and makeup....I'll let you know how successful it is for me. I won't be wearing Prada or Givenchy, mind you, and I'm mindful that she can get away with some pretty bold fashion faux pas, simply because she's incredible to look at and RICH to boot. I hear quite a lot that I'm beautiful, which is far from incredible in my book, and I'm NOT rich. I have a feeling that because she's a style editor at Vogue she's seen as brilliant. Tell me I'm wrong, but I have this little niggling feeling that if I wore leopard tights with leopard heels it would translate more crazy than "chic".
Anyone trying it with me???

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm just catching up on some threads now and am fascinated with this post - thanks Suz (plus I now need to go and read Mochi's).

I have FAR from a perfect body - I'm short, I'm overweight, and I carry most of my extra weight in my midsection. But there are outfits I feel tall and slim in. It really is all about proportion and finding what works best for each individual.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Can I clone you, Shannon? You have the BEST attitude and it's just one of the reasons I adore you.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Anonymous

Totally off-topic, but I just added gnocchi to my meal plan for next week. Every time I see "Mochi" I think, "gnocchi, yum"!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Here is my theory why so many YLFers who are not as thin and tall as models rock the same clothes better than the models in the catalog:
- when a model wears a piece of clothing for the picture it is not her choice and maybe not even her style. Very likely she acts like an animated hanger in the picture;
- when Kari or Jonesy or Suz or Shannon (I can continue the list endlessly here) put the same item on she OWNS it and owns the whole look. It becomes a part of her personality which shines through and it is much more mesmerizing than the catalog shot...
Just my 2 cents...

Clarissa

I agree from personal experience that certain clothes do not look better on the model. I am a petite hourglass and I love fitted or fit and flare dresses and that flatter my curvy body better than it would a straight body. Its the differences in our bodies that make them special. Certain clothes look better on certain features, finding the ones that flatter us make fashion fun!

Anonymous

Gnocchi - very yum indeed!
And Shannon - please tell me what silhouettes make you feel tall and slim cause I'm totally stealing them!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, you are a gem of high price. And worth every penny!

I agree with you 10,000%. There are some outfits that make me feel - well, I don't know if I feel tall and thin - but I feel GREAT, which is even better, in my books!

And Angie, I could not agree more about your gorgeous clients Bei-Jing and Karen and Meredith. So many times, I have seen the individual pieces that you've dressed them in on the models and thought, "Meh." Then I see the items on them, and WOW!! The difference is that the tall very thin model could not do the item justice.

It helps, of course, that they have YOU for their stylist! You help them cut through the chaff and find the pieces that really sing on their unique bodies. But through reading YLF I feel as if I am slowly beginning to understand the "whys" of figure and style flattery. It's still a challenge for me to put it all together for myself, but I think I'm learning.

Some of the most stylish women I have EVER seen in real life were plus-size women. I mean that. I truly believe that style has no size. It's all about attitude. And a willingness to play, I think, and a sense of humour, and, I guess, a love for it all.

Shabbychick, I'm not going as far as trying out GB's style because it's not a style that I personally could aspire to, at least not in total. But she DOES remind me of the importance of statement pieces, of luxe fabrics, of choosing at least one glorious piece per outfit. I'm already on the same page as her when it comes to simple hair and makeup. I do tend to prefer statement shoes, although mine are not and cannot be sky-high heels. I do love a statement watch and would love to get myself an understated one (if that's not an oxymoron, LOL!)

Anonymous

I have a Michael Kors watch on my wish list. Right now my watch is a big BCBG, which is fine. Just not as fine as the MK

One does have to be careful about statement everything, lest the clothes end up wearing the wearer. I shall take the challenge of finding the right balance!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Gnocchi - MMMMM!!!

That's so funny.

And Sveta, you are SO right. A lot has to do with the personality of the wearer. Ditto, Clarissa. Wrap dresses are the great case in point; curvy women look SO much better in wraps than straight types.

Shabbychick, not Shannon, but here's my guess: she will feel tall and thin in a pencil skirt with her wedge heel booties or shoes, a fab jacket that nips in at the waist, and something retro in the outfit as well as something rugged. Or a fantastic drew with a jacket.

ETA DRESS not DREW. Sheesh!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(I look AWFUL in a wrap dress. In fact, I don't look great in items that need filling out because I just can't fill them out).

Suz, you so have your look honed. No worries!!!

Mochi

Veteran

Oh, I feel honored to have been quoted! Thank you.

Will just succinctly agree that no one could have been better ambassadors for those clothes than Bei-Jing, Meredith and Phoebe. In fact, it was so shocking, almost--and then I was wondering why the industry doesn't employ more shorter, average-sized women like them. They'd absolutely sell more clothes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hugs to you, Nancy! Meredith, Bei-Jing and Phoebe are all petite - 5ft 2-ish. Below average height in the US actually. Karen is taller than me and stands at about 5ft 8-ish. They all make EXTREMELY compelling models.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Agree with many of the thoughts on this thread, in particular the realization that many of the greatest looks on YLF have been worn by women shorter, heavier, older, etc. women without access to high designer pieces. I find it so empowering, and also ego salving, to remember that in moments of self doubt.

Mochi

Veteran

Yes, of course Karen is a knockout too. My thought being that the fantasy sells to a degree, I'm sure, but also some realistic depictions of clothes, as a wide range of women wear them, would ultimately be more successful in giving us the confidence to buy. At least that's how I tend to think.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree, Mochi. You know what would be really neat? Well, for all I know, maybe it actually exists. A site where someone shows her high-fashion inspiration (or her nature inspiration, or whatever her inspiration is) and then her translation.

Actually, we do that here in our challenges. But it's a bit different if we pick our own inspirations.

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