I need your help! My fashion sense is absolutely horrible. I am okay when it comes to things like jeans and t-shirts (which is my default outfit) but anything more complicated than that makes my head hurt. I have always known this and my closet has 3 sections-jeans/t-shirt section, the 2 dresses I have for more semi-formal occasions and a suit for job interviews, and my slacks/non t-shirt tops for work in a business casual environment. The business stuff tends to be where I have the biggest problems unfortunately.
Thanks to some pretty significant weight loss over the last year the clothes I own now don’t really fit anymore. My shirts are too big and expose my bra straps no matter what I do or the neck line has gone from appropriate cleavage exposure to plunging halfway down my stomach, my pants shimmy down to the floor of their own accord, bras are being fastened with the first set of hooks and my breasts are now a size too small for the cups, etc. I must get some new clothes that fit me properly so I stop looking like a child playing dress up in mom’s closet but I absolutely dread going to buy new clothes. I just know I will walk out of the store with stuff that fits but clashes with my hair/skin/other purchases or stuff that is nice color/design wise but doesn’t fit properly, etc.
I have been watching What Not To Wear to see if they have anything to say that might help me out but they only seem to dress women smaller than a size 10 and they keep advising them to get the most expensive possible stuff that is covered in crystals or has unicorn hair woven into the hem or something. Since they have been no help to me I come here to the dope in search of others who can help me master some basic clothing guidelines before I go out and purchase an entire wardrobe so that hopefully I will no longer look like such a fashion victim.
Here is a little information for those of you who are able to give me a bit of advice:
-I have auburn hair, brown eyes, and a pale complexion. I have lots of freckles.
-My skin has pink undertones.
-Though I have lost over 50 lbs I am still plus sized so things that look good on teensy women won’t look the same on me.
-I am built pretty proportionally but I am slightly bottom heavy.
-I am 5’4".
-If I try to wear things with empire waists they cut across my boobs instead of where they should sit so I would like to avoid those if at all possible.
-I would like to find things that have proper sleeves-those tiny cap sleeves were created for someone far smaller than me.
-I am not a billionaire so please don’t send me to Saks or Lord & Taylor or anything like that.
-I refuse to wear heels, all my shoes must be flats.
So, ladies and gents, if you have any kind of innate fashion sense please give me some tips. Got any recommendations for colors? Styles? Cuts? Types of fabric? Specific stores? If you need more information or pictures or something I can do that when I get home from work today.
Because you *realize * these things, the battle is 90% won. I would especially like to commend you on acknowledging the part I bolded. Ladies, that seam belongs UNDER your breasts. If that seam is not UNDER your breasts, that shirt DOES NOT FIT YOU!!!
Deep breath Okay, I feel better now.
The key to dressing well is proper fit, and accentuating the positive.
Stacy and Clinton are right about some very important things. Choose a straight or slightly-wide legged pant. Keep your shirts and jackets close to the body, especially if you’re pear-shaped. Use pattern, color, and accessories wisely, to draw the eye and emphasize the parts of your body that you’re happiest with.
Flats are fine, especially with pants. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Personally, you’ll pry my heels from my cold dead feet, but that’s because I love them. There’s no reason for you to be uncomfortable.
As for stores, try the TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Filenes Basement type places (or whatever is the equivalent where you live). Most of my best stuff has come from those stores. If you’re looking for work-wear, you could also try Ann Taylor Loft, they carry sizes up to 16. I’ve gotten some really great suits there, for the price. Wait for the sales though. (“Never pay full price, especially at a mall store” is the closest thing I have to a religious belief.)
I just went to the What Not to Wear website and took their fashion quiz. I missed 6 out of 10. The only ones I got right were for the tall, willowy woman…you know, the one who looks the least like me! :smack:
I don’t know that I have any constructive comments, but someone on the Dope mentioned that Maurices carries larger sizes. I was at the mall this weekend and that particular one had a size that says “Sizes 1 through 24,” so that might be worth a try if you have one nearby.
I don’t know what installments of What Not to Wear you have seen, but I have to disagree with your comment on the size of the people they are dressing. The ones I have seen (a lot!) the person is almost always plus sized. In fact their mantra is something to the order of dressing your body “for the way it is, not for what you want it to be.”
Have you seen the British (the original) version of What Not to Wear, with Trinny and Susannah? They tend to dress all sorts of women’s body shapes, and since their show seems to have a smaller budget they usually shop in more reasonably-priced stores. You may not be able to find the store but at least you’ll see what a cheaper-priced item looks like. (Stacy and Clinton have dressed heavier women but I agree the episodes seem few and far between when you’re actively looking for those.) They have a couple of books out, including where they pick differing body shapes and show tips for those. I’d recommend hitting a book store and seeing if they’re in stock - if so, skim the chapter for your shape and see what you think.
Their show (I’ve seen it on BBC America on cable) seems more down-to-earth, but can be shocking in comparison to the US version when they strip the gal down to her undies on camera and critique those too. They do make a good point that underwear choices can really help or harm your overall appearance.
Before anything else, get a bra that fits. That’s about 40% of your battle right there.
Nordstrom’s has good measuring/fitting people, but you don’t have to buy there. (If they pressure you, which they won’t, tell them you have your eye on this other model you saw on their website and thanks so much for the fitting.) Once you know about what size you are, get over to Target and get yourself a couple of these. Don’t panic when you read “Padded”. They don’t mean padded padded, just that the cups are firm, which gives you great support and shaping (and nipple coverage) without a lot of wires ‘n’ stuff. It won’t make your breasts look bigger, it will make them look smaller and perkier.
What’s your general shape? Tomato? Pear? Hourglass? I’m hourglass, so I try to play up the bust and the waist, and minimize the ass as much as possible.
If you have any waist at all, try on this dress from Merona while you’re at Target getting your new bras. It has the vestiges of the horrible-yet-trendy empire waist, but then a series of bands of very loose and comfortable elastic gathers the dress in until your hips. It’s the same basic shape as that classic Marilyn Monroe dress worn in The 7-Year Itch. Very flattering to larger women. I’ve gotten tons of compliments on this dress since I got it a month ago.
This sort of gathered ribcage thing called “ruching” (here) is very popular right now, and good if you have that “double belly” thing - the irregular surface of the fabric masks some bulges and bumps.
Okay, try not to look at the hideous fabric, but the shape of this one. Again, see how it’s kinda sorta an empire waist, but there’s an hourglass shape and the “belt” is fairly wide? That couple of inches is the difference between “is she pregnant?” and “wow, you’ve got a great waist!”
Another good shape - and hideous fabric - for plus sized hourglass women is this sort of thing. The dark fabric at the neck edge and on the belt draw the eye up to where you want them.
I’ve been trying to find a version of that first shirt (the hideous fabric one), but manufacturers seem to think we all want our arms showing. I don’t. Where is this one from?
ETA: Oh, I forgot to mention, irregular or asymmetrical or pointy hems on blouses seem to flatter my shape more than a straight edged hem. It just softens things, and I don’t have this harsh line across my ample hips.
Absolutely on the “get a bra that fits first” thing. No clothes will look right if your underwear doesn’t fit!
And thank you thank you THANK YOU for realizing that an empire waist isn’t supposed to be crawling all over your boobs. Thank you. I can see TWO of those right now from where I’m sitting and it drives me nuts. That doesn’t fit!
I have no idea. I am slightly bottom heavy but I have a fairly defined waist so I would assume that makes me a pear shape, but I also tend to lose weight from my boobs first and then the rest of my body catches up so 20 lbs from now my proportions might be a little bit different.
Thanks, WhyNot. I may try that even though those aren’t my best colors.
Also, I have recently at long last found a bra that I love that I didn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for. It’s Olga brand, and they can be found at many outlets such as Kohls, WalMart. Full price they are upper $30’s, but I got two at half price. It’s the first bra in YEARS that I have been comfortable in. Olga apparently specializes in the larger sizes. I don’t know if they go into the 50’s like that new one at Target, but for sure 40’s. It might be worth a try.
But I have virtually no luck at Target for bras. The ones near me have more nursing bras than full-figure ones. Target’s good for some other stuff, though.
OMG–that blouse is truly hideous. My eyes!
I third/fourth (whatever) all this advice. Also, do NOT buy straight legs jeans notforyou
–buy a slight boot cut– betterforyou
which will help balance the heavier midsection. Also, do not buy cropped pants, EVER. You are too short and too er, wide to carry them off (we all are–unless you’re Kate Moss), however, a nicely proportioned Capri can actually lengthen your legs. Look for ones that cut just below the knee (think knickers). August’s issue of Glamour(had Christina Aguilera as a bleached blonde on the cover) does a whole section on blue jeans that flatter. Another excellent piece of advice from them: take at least 3 different sizes and styles into the dressing room with you. Brands vary as to sizing and styles either flatter or … don’t.
I would think that any thing shaped to emphasis your form would flatter you. Do not go with boxy justlookattheshape
or shapeless tops. You need (90% of us need) a bit of shape to our tops–a curving inward, some tailoring nevermindthefabriclookattheshape
or a “line” to the tops which helps move the eye upward toward your pretty face.
Also, watch those accessories: you are petite and less is more. One nice chunky necklace OR one slim lined gold chain with a “charm” or pendant, not both. I’m glad to hear you don’t like heels–many, many shorter women walk around in 4 inch heels–these do not make them look taller (confidence does that. And what’s wrong with being a smaller scale powerhouse, anyways?).
The rest is child’s play: no horizontal stripes (depends on the stripes/pattern/color really), no LOUD prints as evidenced by the Hideous Blouse above, no misfitting Empire waists (which are really quite nice, but don’t work for everyone). Good luck!
I quibble with two parts of your jeans advice–the example you show for straight leg doesn’t truly look straight leg to me. I agree with you that the ones you show are not good for someone who may be a bit heavier through the thigh. One tip I’ve seen on What Not To Wear regarding the width of the jean leg is to pick up the bottom of the jean leg and hold it up to where the jean leg actually starts. If they are the same width, that’s a straight leg jean. I had to look long and hard to find a pair of truly straight leg jeans (they ended up being on clearance at Banana Republic), but they really are very slimming.
Also you’ll want to consider a dark wash, not a light wash. Again according to WNTW, the dark wash helps de-emphasize the thigh. I know I sure love my dark wash truly straight leg jeans.
Agreeing that the first linked pair of jeans are NOT straight leg, they’re slim fit. On a straight legged jean, like on a straight legged pair of pants, the ankle is the same width as the place where the leg and crotch/hip meet, and the result is a leg that falls in a straight line directly from the hip to the floor.
Slim fit hugs the leg and tapers toward the ankle. This is a very flattering look if you’re tall and skinny, and a very unfortunate look if you’re not.
Oh, I would love to go shopping with you, Green Bean!
It would help to have an objective person to take a look and see what works and what doesn’t. I suffer from this disease where I think I am really sexy all the time and dressing room mirrors amplify the sexy so I feel gorgeous until I have paid for the clothes and taken them home, at which point I realize I have once again fallen victim to thinking I look much better than I actually do.
Aha! You two must be the ones that the GAP made their “straight leg” jeans for. I was in The GAP awhile back and the clerk brought me a pair of “straight leg” jeans. They fit your criteria accurately, but I’d never call them straight leg jeans: to me, they looked like what we used to call “elephant pants”–very wide legs, but yes, the bottom of the jean leg matched the width of the leg at the crotch. They can be very flattering (not on me). I just googled a bit; I didn’t consider color or current accurate style name when I posted. I don’t call the GAP ones straight legs. It’s probably a regional thing or I’m out of date, but I’m glad you all set it straight for the OP. Either way, the OP should not wear the style I linked to.
“Slim fit” can flatter lots of people, IF worn with the right top–not cropped, not one that hits the waist, but an elongated top, would look good. But again, with petites, proportion is everything.
I haven’t been able to find a pair of jeans at the Gap in ages. They seem to be attempting to bring back the Mom jean, and I’m not having any.
I’d also mention that fabric is key here. A straight leg in a soft denim is going to be way more flattering than a straight leg in a stiff denim. Thinking of a straight leg in a stiff, cheap denim easily calls to mind the “elephant pants” silhouette you described.
Speaking of which, I know that long shirt over slim pants is ‘in’ again, but every time I see it, I just think “1985 called, they want their horrendous clothes back.” IMO, if you wore that look in '85, you’re too old to do it again.
Also, I think a light jean is fine, as long as the cut is flattering, and you wear it with a similarly light (or lighter, or bright) colored top.
