Can you appreciate volume? - YouLookFab Forum

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Can you appreciate volume?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I guess Jenny's honest response to Maya's belt-less version of her new killer frock made me post this thread.

I've said it several times: as much as I love a highly structured hourglass look, I love an unstructured voluminous one just as much. Today, I wore my new short sack-like denim dress and it's my favourite frock at the moment. As long as the frock is short, I feel alluring in a voluminous look because it showcases other parts of my body.

We have been seeing fashionable voluminous waist-less silhouettes for about 3 years and I don't see it stopping. Who can appreciate the look and who can't. (Maya, Laura and Cathy - I know that you like to wear voluminous items like I do).

Btw, no worries if volume is not your thing. I'm just curious as to how many eyes have adjusted to the look.

General

51 replies

Latest reply was from taylor

marianna

Veteran

I can appreciate and like volume on slender figures. Is this a prerequisite for making the look work? When I attempt to wear something unstructured, I feel like I look like I am trying to hide my lumps and bumps, and I just look larger than I am. To my eye, volume makes me look even rounder. At my size I am really concerned about wearing flattering clothes, and I don't think volume does anything for me. I don't feel this way when slim women wear volume, though!

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Yes I agree with Marianna - I really like to wear tops with more volume especially in the hotter weather we get in Australia but I dont think it loves me back equally. I sense it's just a matter of finding something with a bit of volume but still a bit of shape so at least it follows your curves but doesnt totally hide it. Would love to see some examples for inspiration though!

AJ

Veteran

I think my recent embracing of my natural curly hair is enticing me to try more hints of bohemian and edgy in my outfits. LOL!

With rising temps, I am interested to see if voluminous tops and dresses will make me feel cooler. I have a couple of tops that I will try to restrain myself from belting. Also there are three dresses that could go unbelted as well.

You mentioned that the look works for shorter length dresses, but what else should I do to keep from looking like I'm in the early stages of pregnancy?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I think I'll always struggle to embrace volume just because of the tactile element. Voluminous garments tend to feel like they don't fit properly even if they look great, and as such they fail to meet my top fashion criterion. I have a personal line in my head where loose-fitting ends and voluminous begins, and I tend to reject clothing items that cross that line. My blue and green leaf-print tunic tested that boundary more than any other garments, past and present, and I think that's as far as I'll go.

I fully believe it's a great look on others. But since I', self-conscious about most elements of my body *except* my waist, I think it contributes to my reluctance to get on board with this trend.

taylor

Veteran

I have several waistless dresses and longer tunic tops.
I love belting items because often my frame can get lost unless my clothes are fitted, but I don't feel the need to always show every curve of my body either.
I can appreciate the look of both.
I believe is is HOW you wear an item. You can be covered completely and look very alluring AND yes sexy without waist/bust definition:)

elpgal

Veteran

I love when other folk wear volume, don't quite know how to do it myself. Not a big fan of bust/hip definition. Something that *hints* at waist definition is quite alright by me.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Love it!

LoP

Veteran

It's body type and styling that makes it a yes or no for me. The higher your Jupiter section (Mine is bust.), the less fab it looks.

I appreciate it on others, but don't feel my best in voluminous dresses without a belt. I actually like it so much on others that I bought a few over the last few years. I just belt them. I think it is being busty that makes is look funny on me. I feel like a walking curtain if I don't belt them.

fathenry

Veteran

Nope, have not adjusted. My whole focus is trying to create a waist for myself.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Yes and No. I have embraced voluminous tunics wholeheartedly. They are a no brainer with my skinnies and they also tone down the sexiness(?) of the skinnies. I keep on trying voluminous dresses but I have yet to find one that works on me, I will continue to try because I love the look on others.

Ele

(website)

For me, it's not really a question of whether my eyes adjusted- I've always loved volume! It probably comes from being obsessed with vintage Balenciaga when I was about 12

On me though, I proceed with caution. I love voluminous tops with skinnies or slim skirts, and it's pretty much my summer uniform. But dresses like Maya's don't really suit me- I adore them on others but I don't personally feel comfortable in a sack. I think it's the length thing- since they've got to be somewhat shorter than other styles to work, I get too self-conscious about my legs.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I have just started to discover voluminous tops quite recently. Personally, I really love the look when it is balanced by a "slim" lower half, whether it be nude legs, leggings, skinnies or a pencil skirt. Volume on top of volume on top of volume makes me think of a clown costume I must admit!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

I do like volume!

But I think you have to have it just right - too much and its overwhelming, and wrong lengths/fit etc can be not so good. And I think fabrication plays an important role in it too.

I am starting to love a nice voluminous top, but I am wary about how and where they fit - I'm paranoid about anything providing any extra volume around my hips/butt/thighs...

So I say yes, but it has to be in the right circumstances...

Dusty

(website)

I do like it. I think it's a little tricky to get it to work, though. I don't really like volume created by gathers under the bust, but a sack dress or a tunic that floats down from the bust looks great!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Yes! A big yes. As you mentioned, I really enjoy volume and feel fab in sack dresses. The key seems to be the shoulder line - it has to be strong enough to give structure to the whole look - and the length.

stringy

Veteran

I'm with Dusty - I like the look, but it seems tricky to manage successfully.

I haven't really tried it myself, because I'm actually working up to trying some belts for the first time, and cropped cardis instead of my usual puffy, woolly jackets, so I'm in a sleek place right now (or trying to be, at any rate).

But hopefully the look will be around for a while longer and I can graduate to it later

crwilson

Veteran

I love volume and always have. I do think that it's a tricky look, and sometimes just not as flattering as other garments. However, I have a couple of voluminous pieces that I love, and while I'm sure they don't look as great as some other things I own, I feel so good when I wear them that I like them anyway. I also really like balancing volume on top with slender bottoms.

Mac

Veteran

As is so often the case, I think volume can look terrific on others but is not a look for me, personally.

Mellllls

Veteran

I like volume as well but feel it is more difficult to successfully wear. So I generally don't purchase voluminous pieces for that reason. I just bought a dress that I need to post pictures of because I can't tell if the skirt of the dress is too big, A-line, or voluminous.

rute

Veteran

I love the look .. on others on thinner gals.

I'm still trying to adjust this look for myself.. I have hips and bust and I'm petite and I look bigger, that's a fact!

I have just bought a voluminous coral tunic and I'm super insecure. Hope I can adjust, it's a habit, I guess..

Maya

Veteran

I think there are 3 types of people:

-those who like and embrace volume
-those who like it on others but find it hard to understand on themselves
-those who just don't like it, period

Angie, Cathy, Laura, Inge and I are all in the first category. Rute and Jenny are in the last. Most seem to fall in the second category.

I think we all have different goals and motivations when getting dressed and finding clothes. Some want to look sexy, alluring, and/or hourglassy all the time and can't see anything else as being a flattering option. I am not one of those people. For me, fashion is very architectural. I like building different silhouettes on the framework of my body. I'd get bored quickly without a variety of silhouettes to choise from. Being sexy and feminine is about the farthest thing from my thoughts when choosing outfits. That said, I think volume is alluring in a different way. It showcases different areas of the body, like arms, legs, shoulders, and the neck. Incidentally, the things I am most confident about.

I do not think I look bigger or pregnant or anything else people commonly fear with volume. I'm also amused when people mention a large bust as the reason volume can't work. At a 28FF, I am reasonably confident that I have one of the biggest racks compared to my overall frame size of pretty much everyone else on the forum. Laura has more pretty pearish tendencies than I do and she looks great. Cathy and Inge look fab too despite being different shapes as well. So while I respect the fact that some people have trouble making volume work, or just flat out don't love it, I don't accept body type as an excuse!

Queen Mum

Veteran

I love voluminous tops and dresses especially for their comfy casual look.. and I often reach for those pieces in a store, but they don't always work out on me. I think Laura made a good point that they have to have structure in the shoulder line. I think fabrication also plays a huge part. The right sack dress I can totally embrace on myself... the wrong one makes me look chubby ;00< that is a stick figure of me looking chubby

Alecia

Veteran

Yes! I was on the hunt for a voluminous dress last year but didn't find anything that I liked. Maybe I'm stuck because it is better a little shorter and my knees don't really need to highlighting. Interesting.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I like the look a lot. Not so much on me, yet. I'm still trying to reconcile volume on my curvy figure. I feel like my best friend is a defined waist OR volume on top with a slimmer bottom and vice versa.
Overall volume is not something I've loved on my figure, but I love it on others.

JennyK (NC)

hmmm.... this is turning out to be a deeper question than I'd first imagined. I need to give this more thought before I can articulate my feelings on it.

Anonymous

I've been slow to embrace the look for myself both because most voluminous tops I try seem to overwhelm me and because DH has not been a fan. However, at my age I no longer feel that anyone would mistakenly think I'm pregnant!
Yesterday at Kohls shopping for an organization I fell for a floaty Vera Wang dress that is too short for a dress but I hope to pair with leggings.
http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStor.....+Dress.jsp
The print adds curves. I haven't had time to play with it yet and wish that there was a size 0 available, but hope it works for me.
I'd never had tried this look without YLF members looking fab wearing it and Angie's encouragement to try new silhouettes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wow. Thanks for the great responses. I have to run and will chime in again later but for the meantime, here are some things to think about:

o Re-read this post, for AJ especially:
http://youlookfab.com/2009/07/.....waistline/

o There is volume and there is volume. Sack dresses are best sleeveless and short - above the knee. If you’re going to do a sleeve it *must* be sleek.

o Marianna, you actually wear voluminous tops well. That black eci top with the waist volume and yoke embroidery is killer.

o Bust lines needn’t get in the way of voluminous pieces, if the necklines are right. Maya just illustrated that.

If you want to wear volume – you can. Yes you can! As Theresa says, you have to get the details right. But if you’d prefer to stick to hourglass-y silhouettes, than that’s fab too. Something for everyone.

Becky

Veteran

I fall into the camp of those who can appreciate the look (especially on those with slender figures), but don't find it as flattering on myself. I feel more flop-proof with a defined waist, and I have neither time nor inclination to spend a lot of time looking for something voluminous that would be flattering on me.

Maya

Veteran

For me, fabric is a huge determining factor in making volume work. It HAS to drape well, by which I mean it really needs to move and collapse. Knit or woven, doesn’t matter. Stiff fabrics are a total dealbreaker. They trapeze out from under the arms, but don’t collapse, so you end up looking like a tent! They are too rigid for what should be a loose, eased silhouette. I had a voluminous dress made out of stiff 100% woven cotton, and I eventually tossed it because the dress was just awkward to wear. It was like wearing a paper bag. No drape, no movement.

I don't mind the fact that other people don't necessarily love volume, but I think one must be careful in repeatedly stating that all volume is, by nature, unflattering. That would be like me replying to all the denim shirt posts and saying they are all unflattering and you can do better, just because I don't like them.

I guess this goes back to the post about being objective and not assuming that the goal is always to be hourglassy, or act as though being hourglassy is the only flattering option.

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