Talk to me About Being an Hourglass - YouLookFab Forum

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Talk to me About Being an Hourglass

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Now that the lovely ladies here have confirmed it- I know why my clothes suddenly feel all wrong. I've changed from an apple to an hourglass, and hardly noticed!
I've read Angie's original post about dressing for an hourglass, but I'm still having problems figuring out how to apply it to me. It seems like the main things are lower necklines (which I already wear), emphasiing your waist (which is ALL new to me), and cfitted garments.
Can I still wear my beloved volume? What styles of jeans are best? Any other advice or tips as I navigate these new waters?

Body Type

18 replies

Latest reply was from Kristen

Misia

Veteran

Hmm,don't know how to help you,still trying to dress my body that is pleasing to my eyes,but that is why we are hear,we are on this together.You learning how to dress your smaller self and me my bigger self .At this moment I'm very confused.:(

Maya

Veteran

Khris, seeing your "new" self is indeed surprising! I think you can start by wearing more subtle waist details like seaming and darting, peplum hems, or fixed wrap tops. Maybe you can experiment more with belts and ties at the waist, since you have one now Of course you can still wear volume.

Seeing you made me realize my body type is still more appley. Or like an apple/rectangle from the front and hourglass from the side or something wacky like that. Anyway, the point is that all your hard work seems to be paying off in a really tangible way and one that I envy. It must be a fantastic feeling!

anne

Veteran

Khris, that safari dress with the belt looked fab - there's a start!

I suspect you don't have to give up on volume since Angie seems to be trying to get everyone to try it out, including hourglasses !

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I'm certainly no expert, but I'd be inclined to suggest stretching your boundaries a wee bit - and going with the recommendations for hourglass figures. For you, this might mean highlighting that lovely new waist of yours. Moving away from the usual volume-type tops and dresses. Sort of a flexing of your new-found 'hourglass' muscles, so to speak.

I thought I saw something recently on Angie's blog about how you can't really break the rules until you've learned them in the first place. Looks like your shape has changed, and as a result - you have a whole new set of 'rules'. Pretty exciting!

How about getting good at the basics for dressing an hourglass figure? Even if that means veering away from your comfort zone? This could be a lot of fun, you know.

How about some pencil skirts, some waist-defining smart and cute little jackets and such? The complete opposite of 'volume' ? Skinny jeans for curvy bodies, tops with some waist definition and so on.

Fun, fun, fun!

rute

Veteran

CS,

My main advice is that you try a lot (there is no other way of knowing what is best for you).
For me (hourglass all my life), I know what works best:
Fitted clothes, Always accentuate the waist.
Divine: pencil skirts, sheat dresses, button-down blouses, fitted jackets, wrap dresses, cardigans (that hits on the waist), thin belts, fiited vests, trench coats.
Not so good: cascading cardigans, empire cut tunics and dresses, flowly large shirts and tunics, anything that adds to much volume, large coats...

Have fun with your new hot body!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

rute- I was just thinking about you yesterday. When I'm looking at clothes, I told myself "Look for things like rute wears" because I know you're an hourglass. It's such a mind shift. I have spent the last 30 years trying to hide my waist/tummy. All of a sudden I am supposed to highlight it- and that terrifies me. I don't even own a belt that fits right now.
All of those things that are not so good? I have a closet full of those LOL But they worked great for me up until a month ago. I need some quality time in a mall (a good mall- not my local snore fest) to try stuff on. I'm trying to get to one tomorrow, but I will have both kids with me. I may bribe them with a movie.

shiny

Veteran

Woo hoo Chewy has a waist! Congrats on all your hard work.

Empire styles aren't necessarily bad - depends on how high up your waist is. From your photo, I can't be completely sure, but it seems your waist is up fairly high? So is mine (right under rib cage) and empire styles can look pretty good.

But I agree with Rute about the cascading cardis... I can't get this to work either.

Belts - can be hit or miss, depending on your waist and how it's shaped. I can wear them with high-waisted skirts but not so well with pants.

I would love to see you in a super-fitted jacket that nips in at the waist and hits at high hip....

Vani

Veteran

Khris, rute has listed everything that an hourglass can totally rock. But I wouldn't say that would necessarily mean what you already have will not work with your new teeny waist I'm an hourglass/pear and sometimes I find waist emphasizing a bit tedious. Volume can be so liberating, especially in hot climates like yours and mine.

The neckline on your print, banded top is fabulous and I hope you continue to wear such tops. And this dress looks fantastic on your new body, with my favourite neckline (my DH wants to me buy everything that has this neckline). As for your cascading cardi, maybe belting it will help you keep it in rotation. Start working with what you have in your wardrobe if you don't want to invest in too many new purchases till you hit goal. Try buttoning your vest, buttoning your cardis at the waist and so on.

Congratulations on your astounding achievement Khris!

rute

Veteran

CS ..I'm blushing..

I'm so happy for you! Isn't fun? You'll have a lot to think about and tons of things to try!

Please post pics!!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

rute-
I wish that I could figure out how to post pictures from my phone. It would be like taking you gals with me shopping.
I'm thinking that if I can find the right belt, it will transform much of what I have now and feel frumpy in.

I do love that neckline Vani- I will continue to wear those.

Shiny- did you see the blazer that I got off ebay? I like the suggestion of belting it. I do think that my waist is rather high, so I will have to just try things out.

Besides just the mind shift, the recomendations for hourglasses always seem to be to dress "up" more- and I have a very casual lifestyle and wardrobe. One good thing that I just thought of is that I have always liked the preppy look, but never could do it because of my shape. Now, I think that I cold pull it off if I wanted to.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice thread, Khris!

Hourglassses are not created equally. I think that bust size and curve size comes into play as well. I’m an hourglass half of the time (and a rectangle the other half of the time). I wear all the styles that Rute does not prefer, but don’t look good in anything that is wrap (wrap top, or wrap dress). I also don’t wear empire cuts unless they are very flat (sans gathering).

I’m a big button down shirt girl, but most of my hourglass clients loathe button downs. And I can give you countless examples of this type of thing.What I’m trying to say is that you should not rule out styling yet!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Khris, my advice is to carve yourself out some time, and just try things on. Take all different kinds of items into the dressing room when you shop, even things you know you are not going to buy, and see how the shape works for you. I had to do the same thing when my shape went through a similar transformation, and it was eye-opening. (And exhausting! Bring some water with you, you'll be trying things on for hours!)

Another thing I did as my waist changed was picked up a couple of new belts, and belted some of my looser volume tops. Just that alone was enough to get me started as my eye adjusted to what I really looked like now.

rute

Veteran

CS,

I always take pics with my phone.. Then I connect to the computer with a cable and have a Nokia program (that you can download free on the internet to pass the photos to the computer).

You are tottaly right.. with the right belt you can adjust boxy clothes even cascading cardis look better if you put a belt.. it's all a matter of trying and trying what works for you.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I got a chance to go shopping last night. I tried on a million things, and I had two good finds. I'll post pictures later on another thread, but one is a fitted button down shirt with puffed sleeves and rusching at the bust and the other is a little moto jacket.
I don't have a cable to connect my phone to my computer- maybe that's the problem.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Can you bring your point-and-shoot when you shop? I stick mine in my bag just in case!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

No- my camera is pretty big and heavy, and my purse is small.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

What a frustrating shopping trip! I left that big mall completely empty handed. I did fine one style of top that I liked at Old Navy.
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=675594032
It would have to be belted (and I don't have a belt yet), and it was still full price. I may try the other Old Navy and see if they have it marked down. I tried the button down that Sarah recommended. it had a chest pocket that was gathered at the bottom. It hit in a really bad spot, and the chest was really tight anyway. There is no way that I could have buttoned it up. I tried really hard to use Vani's H & M coupon, but I didn't find anything there, either.
I was lusting after this belt at the new J. Crew outlet:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../17318.jsp
It was actually a little cheaper there, but still too rich for my blood right now. I'm hoping that I can find something similar at a smaller price point.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Yep, unfortunately you can expect that a lot. Then all of sudden it will be too easy, and you will be sadly have too many options to choose from!

It will be a very nice problem to have. Believe me.