Wide hips + boleros, shrugs and cropped cardis - YouLookFab Forum

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Wide hips + boleros, shrugs and cropped cardis

isablue

(website)

Hello, ladies This is my first post.

I am a tall (5'10" / 179cm) pear or bottom-heavy hourglass. I have really, really wide hips, but my thighs and legs (and arms and shoulders) are quite slim, and my bum doesn't go very far back; it's all about the width of my hips, really. I should probably also mention that I am (most likely) short-waisted.

Even though I wear a UK size 34D bra and have straight shoulders, they're no match to my 44-inch hips. I feel I need to balance out my wide hips with my comparatively slim upper body, particularly when wearing jeans, as skirts and dresses flatter my body type more easily.

So (now that I have introduced myself) lately I have been thinking: will boleros, shrugs and cropped jackets and cardis make my top half look bulkier? Will they make my shoulders look broader? If so, what styles should I look for? Buttoned or unbuttoned? Buttons on the top or on the bottom? Puffy sleeves? Long sleeves? Fitted? Boxy? V neck or scoop neck? I put together a set of sample cardis and boleros to illustrate, if you wish to see them: http://www.polyvore.com/bolero.....id=8902061

In theory, I think that anything that visually enlarges the chest area and shoulders, but still gives a sense of my small waist would be a good idea. Am I wrong? I haven't even tried on any boleros or shrugs, but I once wore a faux fur stole with a knee-length A-line dress to a wedding and the outfit worked wonders for my shape. But I can't wear stoles all the time :p

I googled these questions only to find contradictory advice regarding the benefit said pieces may bring to my shape. One thing I never get is the advice telling me to show how slim my upper body is. If I do that, my lower body looks even bigger... So that's where I came up with the boleros: they'd hide the slimness of my upper body...

Am I totally off?

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from isablue

Louise

Veteran

Hi Isablue
Here's Angies advice for pretty pears to get you started
http://youlookfab.com/2006/04/21/the-pretty-pear/
http://youlookfab.com/2007/08/.....r-in-2007/
x

isablue

(website)

Thank you, Loulou. I read through it and it's got lots of information.

I have read a lot about the pear shape and what (not) to wear, but I can't seem to be able to put the advice to work. I feel like the "victims" on What Not to Wear when they are sent to buy clothes on their own... I have lots of info, but don't know exactly how to put it to work.

Well, here are some pictures in which I look appalling:
http://flickr.com/gp/isablue/956bQ3
I took them after writing on this forum, and let me say, I feel hopeless. One of the tops has a close fit, the other one doesn't. They both look horrid. On the one where I am standing sideways I actually look normal.

Skirts and dresses are definitely more flattering for the pear shape, but I can't wear them all the time. When I don't, do I have to look like that? Please, someone, give me some guidance, advice, opinions, anything.

P.S.: I know, the face doodles seem pointless as there are numerous other albums where my face is showing, but it's just that my face didn't look any good on the ones where I show my pear-shaped figure.

Debora

Veteran

Hi Isablue!

Welcome to the forum! As a relative newcomer myself, I just wanted to say that Angie and the ladies are terrific. They'll have you sorted out in no time.

That said, I think you have a lovely shape. You look fantastic in those jeans!

I love how you blocked out your face, by the way. Thanks for putting a smile on my face!

Louise

Veteran

I've got wide hips too and according to lasses here my best look is belted tops. Sounds daft i know but drawing attention to your best bits draws it away from the worst bits x

shiny

Veteran

Isablue, you have an absolutely beautiful shape. I would kill to have your shape. There is nothing wrong with your hips at all; they are the perfect size and you have the tiniest waist and beautiful shoulders.

I think you can absolutely wear any of the pieces you put together on polyvore. And you can go crazy with puff sleeves and other sleeve detail, if you like. Lucky girl! But you don't *need* to do this to somehow "fix" your shape. You're gorgeous just the way you are!

And do take a look at LouLou's outfits - she's got great style! Tanya hasn't been posting recently but if you can find her outfit posts, she's another pretty pear to follow.

Kari

Veteran

Welcome, Isablue!

I'm really glad you asked the question about boleros or cropped cardigans because I've been wondering about this myself. I used to wear boleros and cropped cardigans a lot and realized that *most* of the pieces that I wore were not the right style for me - they ended directly under the bust and ended up over-emphasizing my chest while obscuring my waist, which is just the opposite of what I wanted to do. I gave them away save for one cropped cardigan that ends just above my natural waist instead. Example here. However, I'm not sure what the proportions of my outfit should be when I wear this, so I'll be following this thread to see what advice you get.

Can I just say that you do not look appalling in the pictures you posted! I think you have a gorgeous figure, and I especially like the picture of you in the fuchsia top. That being said, since you sound uncomfortable with how your hips look here, I believe that the pants you are wearing would also look great with a tunic on top because they are a slim cut. Or you could also look out for pants that skim through the thigh rather than having a narrow cut, which wouldn't highlight your hips quite as much. However, my impression is that you look beautiful as is.

On a sidenote - your Flickr pictures make me long for a trip to London. You have pictures of so many of my favorite places there!

isablue

(website)

Debora, thanks for the compliment on my shape. I'm glad my silly "art" made you smile

Loulou, I have heard that advice before, but they always make me feel high waisted and short on top, and with huuuge hips... I will take a look at your styles, though, for inspiration on how to dress my pear shape.

shiny, I can't believe anyone said they'd kill for this shape... I often think that being an hourglass or inverted triangle would be so much less of a hassle. But then again, the grass is always greener... I will take your suggestion on looking at Loulou's style. Do you mean on polyvore, or in this forum? (sorry, I'm new here!).

kari, I really love your shape on the picture you linked. I think it looks perfectly balanced, and I can't even tell what body shape you are (maybe because I'm not very good at it, but also because it's so well balanced). I'm glad you like the London pictures, I really love this city as well.

Ladies, your comments have given me hope, so I took some more pictures, this time with slim bootcut jeans.
http://flickr.com/gp/isablue/956bQ3
I really do love how slim jean legs look, that's why they are SLIM bootcuts... I took the shortest jacket I own and tried it in all sorts of ways, even simulating a cropped jacket... I even threw in a dress I wear around the house, just to get an idea of how a tunic/dress with jeans would look, like kari suggested. But I'm thinking that a dress/tunic with an empire waist, or fitted on the top would look better.

I have spent most of my life wearing unflattering "uniforms", but having been living in London for the past months, seeing how girls here (as opposed to where I come from) are not afraid to experiment with their look, often to wonderful results, has inspired me to put more thought into how I dress. I really want to tackle this challenge!

Thanks everyone for your help, I'm going to need it

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Welcome, Isablue!

I have to agree with the other gals, you've got a fantastic figure and I think you are much too hard on yourself. I actually didn't notice that you were a pear until I saw the shots with the improvised cropped jacket; the other shots of that jacket -- and the pretty fuschia top -- were much more flattering. I think where the hems of those fall on your hips, and the way they float away from your body at that point, do much better job at de-emphasizing the bits you don't like than you are giving them credit for. I'm a pear with a lot of curve at the waist too, and I've tried cropped sweaters and boleros, and they never seem to look right on me; I think it's because the cropping and the change in fabric happens right where I am thinnest and the layers thicken that area up.

The tunic and jeans look fab!

Louise

Veteran

Isablue it takes a while to get used to belts- i previously thought never in a month of sundays would i look good in a belt, like you thinking it would overemphasise my hips and even now i look at photos and think do my hips look huge- however i have only ever had comments on my waist- give it a try and post some piccies bet you'll look great x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My goodness! Isablue, you have a delicious body and those jeans look FANTASTIC. I love your long legs and dainty shoulders. SO pretty! You have a great, GREAT bod.

The lasses have offered wonderful suggestions and I have nothing further to add other than that I can’t wait to see you sport those skinny belts the way Loulou does. If you like arty and creative style– she’s the cherub that will inspire you :0)

devin

(website)

Isablue you have such a cute shape! Girl you need to show that off, don't be shy! I think that as already suggested you would look really cute in belted tops and tops and jackets that nip in at your waist to really accentuate your narrow waist. Work it mama!!

anne

Veteran

Isablue, that long tunic over jeans look looks good. I think you might be right that an empire top or fitted top might look even better.

The "pretty pear" category can contain so much variation. I have tendencies in the pear direction, but they come out in my bottom and thighs, not so much hips. I'l love to have your long slim legs. I am long waisted, while you are the opposite. I think the cropped cardi advice might be better for the long waisted pears, as we are trying to shorten the torso with horizontals

However despite the differences, here are a couple of looks of mine that might be worth considering - both empire waist tunics

http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....oz/085.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....0_6082.jpg

isablue

(website)

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement! I looked at some of Loulou's outfits as well as anne's links, and you have inspired me! I am now online window shopping for skinny belts and tunics.

I loved something someone said on one post somewhere in the forum, that wearing a tunic with leggings and ballerinas makes her feel like a dancer. I like that

Again, thanks everyone, you were all most helpful

isablue

(website)

Oh, and I forgot to say that, as far as cropped cardis and boleros go, I guess I'll leave them to the long-waisted gals, unless I try them with dresses or A-line skirts... Right?

Louise

Veteran

I can only wear cropped cardis with dresses
http://i594.photobucket.com/al.....0_1043.jpg
I look rubbish with them over trousers
http://i594.photobucket.com/al.....0_1045.jpg

isablue

(website)

Loulou, thank you so much for the visuals!! They really helped! You look great in the dress with the cardi, really cute and with balanced proportions. I thought it looked so good, I will definitely go for a cropped cardi to wear with dresses

Louise

Veteran

Isablue are you in the uk?- if so New look do great cropped cardis and if you have a Tescos near you which sells clothes i got both my skinny belts for £2 each, cheap in case you don't like the look x

isablue

(website)

Loulou, I will be in the UK for another 2 weeks, so I'll be sure to check those out Thanks for the tip!

Vani

Veteran

isablue, I'm late to the party and all the ladies have covered everything to be said. I just had to tell you that your hips DO NOT look wide AT ALL (all the caps are for emphasis LOL) You have a beautiful figure and you should dress to flaunt not cover

isablue

(website)

Thank you, Niva I do feel better about my figure already