I'm very aware of silhouette, and definitely have my favorites. I prefer either slim pants (not "skinny pants") or pants that taper to the ankle, but that is likely due to both the '80s influence on my fashion and the fact that I have very short legs. Wide leg openings required tailoring, which I didn't indulge in during my formative years. Despite me having things altered frequently now, my eye still favors the look of tapered trousers. I also like leggings with boots and a longer top.
I wear dresses quite a lot. I prefer fit and flare styles that come in at the waist with a full skirt because they create a more feminine shape to my eye. I was more rectangle shaped when I was younger, so that became a habit, despite me being slightly more hourglass now. I have to say, though, that as my body has changed (I've lost 36 lb so far), I find myself liking dropped waists and flouncy hems, as well.