What I bought K/R plus 'improve my outfit'!

ButterflyLady

Some photos of the (few) things I bought, and a request for input!

1. Basic tanks from H&M - dark navy/white and plain black - keeping both of these for layering.

2. Black bootcut jeans, worn with oatmeal cami and sleeveless vest - I know what I think about these, but will wait for opinions before I share!

3. What I threw on today - I want to say 'pimp my outfit' but that sounds a bit rude, but, you know, it needs tweaking as it's v. dull!

4. A demonstration of how high-waisted I am, and how long my rise is - I am pointing to my waist! I find it really tricky to know how best to dress this aspect - any advice?

Thanks for looking!

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14 years ago

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from ButterflyLady

Tanya

Veteran

I like both outfits, and the tanks look pretty. To #3/4, I would add a printed scarf or an interesting necklace. Or swap the knitted top for a button down shirt/blouse, maybe in a subtle print.

I have a similarly long waist, and some of the things that I find working are horizontal stripes, wide belts worn on your natural waist, long tunics, empire waists etc. Also higher waisted bottoms, possibly with tucked in tops.

14 years ago

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Tanya - I am interested that you say higher waisted bottoms with tucked in tops work for you. If I do that, I look like my waist is under my armpits! I am short from under my boobs to my waist, and really, really long from waist to leg break - I need to break up the waist to leg break expanse otherwise I look extremely odd!

ETA - I've just looked at the WIWs you posted just now, and can see that you have a long body, but a balanced waist/rise, so you don't have the same issue as me!

14 years ago

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I forgot to say, outfit #2 - I am thinking of keeping the black bootcuts (for autumn/winter) and returning the cami/vest, as I don't like how it looks at all. Still interested in other YLFers opinions, though!

14 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Oh, I see. It could be that our waist positions are a bit different, e.g. yours is higher than mine. I am have a lot of length everywhere from my under by chest to where my legs begin.
Then, try maybe the opposite, slight drop waists? Lots of those around these days.

I like the bootcuts too, and see nothing wrong with that vest, But if you don't like it, you should definitely return it.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those tanks look like great basics! I predict you will enjoy the striped one this season. The jeans also look really good, from what I can tell on my monitor, so if the comfort factor is there, I say keep! ! If the cami doesn't feel right, take it back! No point in keeping items that are not just so.

I have a similar proportion issue with a relatively high waist. I always thought my rise was long (and it is, compared to my waist) but in fact, using Imogen's proportions measurement guide, it turns out it's pretty much regular...it's just that the upper part is short and then my legs are on the short side as well. So in relative terms my rise is very long.

Anyway....FWIW...I have read suggestions to wear empire waists; these actually don't do me many favours unless they are fitted rather than voluminous, because as a small person I am just swamped in fabric. I have also read suggestions to wear drop waists; if I had long legs that might work, but I do not. So they generally look worse on me than clothes that fit at my natural waist.

In order to find shirts and jackets that fit at my waist I need to shop in the petites section. I am 5'4" but I find the petites give me a much better fit for tops. Occasionally I can find a small regular sized shirt that works, but generally only if it is not a very fitted style. Some dresses from the regular department are okay; it really depends on the style, fabric, and cut.

Surprisingly, perhaps, I find that RELATIVELY high waisted skirts can be terrific for me. They give me the appearance of longer legs. Nobody knows where the crotch is with a skirt...the lower body looks like legs from the waist down. Know what I mean?

Sadly, this does NOT work with trousers, so there I have a problem similar to yours. The super cropped sweaters and jackets that look so cute on others look a bit odd on me, with trousers, unless I am extremely careful of what tops I wear underneath—colour, shape, etc. And I haven't found any "rule" that works for this; I just have to experiment with it a bit.

So far, the closest I can come to a guideline is that when I am wearing low rise jeans (either skinnies or bootcuts) what works best is for me to wear a high hip length jacket (something with structure) that nips in a bit at the waist. If I do this, I can safely get away with an untucked top underneath.

Also, tucking and belting at the natural waist works great for me with skirts.

A while ago I did a post called "proportion play with jackets" where you can see my problem is similar to yours: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....th-jackets

And then check some WIWs maybe to see how I have tried to address? Not sure....

14 years ago

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

Suz - thank you for your long reply. I don't wear skirts often, but yes, you're right, as you 'lose' where your leg break is, it takes away part of the problem.

I'll have to have a go at Imogen's proportion guide - I can see from photos that my body is longer than my legs, and my waist is high - but I may be the same as you. So far I have found I look best with a shorter layer over a longer one on top, particularly if wearing jeans (which fit closer to the body than ordinary trousers - I have a bit more leeway with trousers, that's probably why I wear them more often than jeans). I find jeans really difficult to wear and feel good in because of this rise/torso/waist issue. I'm going to take a look at your post about proportions ....

14 years ago

JennyAnne

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Veteran

The jeans look a little baggy to me. I'm not sure they're the most flattering fit, but it's a bit hard to tell what with them being black and hard to see. I have a high waist, too, and mostly I try to hide it. I hardly ever wear belts at my natural waist, and I do quite a bit of surrendering my waistline to let the mind imagine it is lower. I never wear high-waisted stuff, personally. I am actually wearing a very similar otufit yours today - V-neck cardi, cami, bootcut jeans - to spice it up, I'd just suggest a big ol' necklace or scarf.

14 years ago

ButterflyLady

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Veteran

Thanks JennyAnne - I think the jeans are just too long for wearing with flats, so they are sort of bunching up.

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice pieces! Do YOU like #2? Can you wear the new bootcuts with low heels? I bet they would look fab.

You look splendid in that shade of coral too.

Have you ever tried wearing low slung belts - low slung in the front? That could be a great look for your short waist and long rise.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I had a belt like the one that Angie's recommending, and I loved it. Sadly, it's too big for me now. It doesn't work with jeans, though, if you want to put it through the loops. I used it on top of sweaters and with a skirt.

14 years ago

cora*♥*

Active Member

I'm bookmarking this thread as I have the same high-waist/long-rise "problem". I like these suggestions from Imogen Lamport but I haven't tried them yet (you are doing this with your shorter bright cardi look):
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-belt.html

14 years ago

KikiG

Veteran

I have a similar problem--a very short torso from the bottom of my bra to my hip bone. I have found that if I wear a somewhat fitted top as an under layer--one that follows the under curve of my bust, rather than tenting off the peak AND wear a belt below my natural waist--with the buckle at or just under my belly button, I can visually correct the disproportion. Any belt that sits at my natural waist at the back, and then dips or forms a "v" in the front is also excellent. I have several such belts from Chico's, and one wonderful one I got from Target, and they all adjust for size the back.

I wear a lot of camis or tanks under a jacket or cardigan or vest.

14 years ago

christieanne

Veteran

Chiming in on your new finds - the jeans seem to fit (bit with black it's hard to tell from a picture). Are you going to wear with heels or have hemmed?

Not a huge fan of the vest - it's so long that it seems to drag you downward.

I have a short waist that isn't really defined currently but I tried the banded bottoms top theory (Angie has blog posts on this) and it works like a belt but without the belt. I just put the band at a lower point than my waist - like at hip level. Yes it's somewhat waist surrendering but creates a better proportion.

14 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I like the tanks, and I rather like the vest BUT I think because it's long you need to lengthen the leg and wear heels with it. Of course if YOU don't like it, that's all moot I agree with Angie that a bit of heel with those jeans will look fab. A few ideas for today's outfit: instead of buttoning the top of the cardigan, try buttoning a few in the middle so that it creates a cinch at your waist (good way to control the location, and enforces the hourglass shape); try a lighter lower layer, like your new white tank or even the striped one, to lighten and springify the outfit; if you have a white or light watch that'd also lighten it a bit; maybe try adding a long pendant or a stack of sparkly bangles?

14 years ago

ButterflyLady

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Veteran

Thanks ladies!

Angie and KikiG - yes I can see that a belt would work - have added that to my shopping list!

I think the black bootcuts would look FAR better with a bit of a heel - if I was wearing them in the autumn/winter, I would wear booties with a 2/2.5 inch heel. But in the spring, I'd prefer not to wear boots. So I've made a decision that they are being returned. That store sells that style every year, so if I want them for the cooler weather I'll buy them then - having them now is just muddying the waters - I need to concentrate on lighter, spring-ier clothes!

Aida - I agree with you about #2 - it's long, so I need a longer leg line, and then, well, see the paragraph above! So that's being returned too.

The problem with the cardigan in #3 is that it has a low scooped neckline, so it looks weird without at least the top button done up. It's also quite old, and beginning to show it, I think I may donate it. I agree though that a different cardigan with just the buttons at the waist done up is flattering. And yes, would have been better over a lighter colour. With accessories.

christieanne - I've never tried banded tops - I will take one into the fitting room and see how I get on. I've always dismissed them because I quite like my small (relative to the rest of me) waist.

So my new shopping list is - the blue cardigan I didn't get, but liked (!), a belt that dips in the front (I know what I mean!), some more lighter spring-like bottoms and some long necklaces.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's so interesting. I've never liked the banded tops, either. I don't mind surrendering the waist, but I do mind shortening my leg line, and for me, moving the waist lower does that, since my legs are short. It sounds as if this proportion issue is not straightforward. Just because one may be long in the rise, the solutions may vary so much depending on other proportional factors (as well as personal preferences, of course). For example, the suggestion that others made to wear a lot of longer tanks under shorter tops is very tricky for me, personally, to pull off, without sacrificing leg line. It might work okay if I wore more heels, I suppose. And I DO wear outfits like this on occasion. I just find I have to be quite mindful of the way the top portion fits me and I need to create a column of colour with the bottoms or it ends up dividing me in distinct thirds—not a good look in my opinion, even worse than being divided in half!

14 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Do you not wear heeled sandals? Or maybe a little wedge heeled pump? I think those would work quite nicely with the black bootcuts for spring. And if your spring is cool like mine, heck you could wear boots with them (I still am wearing boots, tall ones today in fact). Of course if they're not gonna work they're not gonna work, just wanted to say those last few ideas

14 years ago

ButterflyLady

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Veteran

Suz, yes, I can't wear really long tops, otherwise my legs look even shorter - it's very complex to work out what would be best. Personally, I find longer tops ending a few inches above my leg break are ok - no longer, but I still need a shorter layer over the top. And it's better if the bottom/top are similar colours, with a different colour in the shorter layer. Which is quite restricting. Sigh.

Aida - I could wear lowish heeled sandals if I could find some! I'm still looking for the perfect 2 inch heeled sandal .... I run warm, so I do find I get too hot in boots - not saying I want my toes out, or anything, but my ankles need to be free

Thank you, everyone, for your input. I am shopping again tomorrow (and possibly Saturday, too), and am ordering more online - in the past I've given up when I've found it difficult, but I have so few clothes for this warmer weather we've been having in the UK lately that it's become a matter of urgency - it was 75 degrees yesterday!

14 years ago

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