Trinny and Susannah - skittle. Also postpartum

I have just read The Body Shape Bible and instantly identified myself as a "skittle" by looking at the woman protrayed. I have always felt basically in balance except for thighs/legs that looked a size too big for the rest of my body. And while my proportions should have indicated a "pear" by some methods of reckoning (currently 34-30-38 but before latest (3rd) child 33-28-37) my ribcage and shoulders balance out the hips, which aren't that wide and the weight is mostly on the bottom and thighs.

At the moment, 3 1/2 months after the baby, I still have about 10 pounds? (5kg anyway) to lose and much of that is around the waist, back and tummy. These factors, in addition to being slightly more buxom than usual (almost B cup rather than barely A-cup) makes me feel as if my top half looks like a Vase, expecially when I put on a fuzzy long polo neck.

Of the suggestions for Skittles, I loved the party look, but was unconvinced by the dress with skinny belt. I didn't feel that was all that flattering.

I am on the short side - 5"4, and long waisted.
A few questions

1. Any other responses to the suggestions by T and S? (yes I have read the blog comments from a while ago) I thought the "brick" suggestions looked particularly good. I thought Susannah looked quite improved from previous books incidentally!

2. Suggestions for adapting dress ideas for the post partum period? Currently my best looks have been
a)a puffed short sleeve tunic in patterned pink/purple with crossover gathered empire line with straight black pants
b) a patterned nylon dress with crossover top, ruched bodice and somewhat flared skirt
c)bengaline mid calf wide a-line skirt with wide high waist band (holds me in)under a close fitting top.

3. I am in Australia and we are coming up for winter. I need suggestions for a new jumper (sweater to most of you) It would need to be longsleeved and cropped - ie warm! I have had very bad results in recent years in finding anything that suits me and for my lifestyle they are an absolute necessity. I was disappointed that T & S only suggested a vest in the knit department

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I am really not a fan of T&S to be honest. I haven't read the particular book you mentioned, but I read one of their earlier books and it was a total flop for me. First of all, they were the models for ALL of the different body types, which they clearly didn't represent. Second, much of the effect of the "bad" clothes vs. the "good" clothes was created by them wearing clothes that simply don't fit and putting on these horrible facial expressions. For example, it said petites shouldn't wear drainpipe jeans, accompanied by some pictures of themselves posing in ill-fitting skinny jeans and frowning.

One particular picture that I remember was of one of them posing in this blue dress with the claim that it de-emphasized the booty. I was shocked. I showed it to my friend and she also agreed that ALL WE COULD SEE was a gigantic butt. It was so much more prominent than in the "don't" set of pictures.

After reading that book, I really can't say I would buy into their system. I think Stacy and Clinton are much successful. Their clothes aren't usually practical (skyscraper heels and jackets for every season!), but at least the cuts and the fit are consistently great.

Anyone can wear sweaters. Just find the right sweaters. Do you have any online Australian shops you could link us to? I ask because I don't want to send you to stores you obviously have no access to, and which are all selling summer collections at the moment.

anne

Here are some australian shops

http://www.rockmans.com.au//Collection.htm
http://www.jeanswest.com.au/index.php
http://shop.valleygirl.com.au/store/
https://www.sportsgirl.com.au/index.html

With regard to T & S this book is an improvement on some of their previous ones in that it uses different people to model each body type. I thought some of their recommendationds were great eg for the "brick" others not good eg the "cornet" while the "skittle" recommendations were good except for the dress with skinny belt thing.
And I did like their analysis of body types and felt it a better fit for me than other methods. But I needed to actually read the book and look at the photographs - I didn't really get that from the summaries in Angie's post on Dec 12 last year.

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