Tops to wear with jeans (hourglass figure)

[booooooooooom]

Please please please tell me what sort of top I can wear with jeans - something that doesn't hide my waist or make me look gargantuan?

Baggy jumpers look awful (look huge). Tight tops look awful (muffin top).

I have 30HH bust so if I wear anything that isn't fitted I look very very overweight.

Please help!!

[booooooooooom]

anyone...?

[NewYearNewName16]

Semi fitted cashmere V-neck jumper. Get a tailor/seamstress/drycleaner to finish the fitting to your exact body shape.

[herbaceous]

It's a bleeding nightmare. Everything in the shops is boxy or long, or indeed both. I quite like cowl-neck or drapey tops, or a reasonably fitted Breton, or wear a tight-ish t-shirt with an open cardi over the top - hides the flab but accentuates the presence of a waist.

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

I have the same problem. Tunics make me look enormous. I tend to go for shirts - I have to get them biggish to go around my boobs but the overall effect seems okay. I got some in H&M, and Gap also have some nice ones with no buttons (they call them popovers for some reason). A plainish shirt with a scarf or a necklace, and if it's cold I put a vest top under. If really cold I would go for a big baggy jumper and skinny jeans as my legs are okay. My neices in their twenties are currently very into this look so I don't see why not. I also have a nice long fitted semi cardigan from Woolovers (like a "coatigan") which looks nice on, it has a V neck and three little buttons at the front, it is flattering but is difficult as none of my coats are long enough to cover it, so I only really wear it when I don't need a coat as well. Wearing smart boots with a heel also makes me feel more leggy and less like a weeble. I have tried on the clothes in Bravissimo but in my opinion they are mostly hideous, horrible fabrics, and very strange shapes.

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

I have a 34J bust by the way, a size 16/18 bottom but my waist is relatively small, I always have to wear a belt with jeans, even jeggings tend to fall down. And I am only 5 foot 4 so I am roughly as wide as I am tall. Sob.

[Branleuse]

you need different jeans. Maybe some jeggings type with softer waist to stop any bulge-over, and maybe a wrap style top, or a top from pepperberry

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

this is the cardigan I mean

[booooooooooom]

Thank you all! Lots to think about.

I am liking the cardigan link - thank you

Also like the sound of fitted shirts - might take a look in pepperberry so that they really will be fitted instead of either gaping or too loose / baggy.

Is it acceptable to wear heeled boots with boot kick jeans?

Also jeggings - might be an idea but the ones I used to wear made me feel horrible as I hate the shape of my legs. Skinny jeans are a no-no for me.

[Backingvocals]

I have to question the premise here - I don't think jeans suit our shape tbh. I am somewhere between pear and hourglass. I have a small waist. Jeans gape around the waist if they are big enough to go over my hips. And then to cover up the gape I end up with a tunic top that covers up the fact that I have a waist. The only solution I have found is very long shaped jumpers which cover the gape but also cling at the waist.

[booooooooooom]

Backingvocals - I would have to agree with you there.

Jeans are always too large around the waist, I am constantly having to hoick them up. Belts are too clumpy.

But I SO want to wear jeans!! I am never able to dress casually, I wear only dresses. How the hell do I dress casually without looking like a heifer?!

There must be an answer

[Backingvocals]

I agree with you (and me )

I actually can't really do casual dressing as jeans don't suit me and leggings are horrific on me. I am in skirts most of the time but have just come to the conclusion that the smart end of smart casual is my look.

Actually one look I think does work is jeans with a nice shaped blazer. I look like this in mine

Although even that's annoying as you are wearing a jacket for no reason all the time.

[Branleuse]

i have an hourglass figure too. Im usually in dresses and leggings, but i have recently been wearing newlook jeggings with longish jumpers. I wear them with boots and....legwarmers. Its a bit scruffy but ive actually had compliments every time ive worn them.

[booooooooooom]

oh that blazer look is really really nice. I love it. And I think it would suit me. But I am in total and complete agreement, wearing a blazer at all times must feel a bit useless and...silly.

[herbaceous]

Fitted cardi instead of blazer?

I've been a big fan of fitted woolly dresses over the (MN-hated) leggings. Comfy yet faintly figure-enhancing.

[grannycake]

I have solved this by using a jersey blazer - still nipped in at waist but slightly more casual. I got mine on a recent visit to Amsterdam but there will be others around

[nickEcave]

I'm 4 foot 11 with 30G boobs. I gave up on jeans a couple of years ago and found it really liberating! My winter casual wear now is either a semi-fitted woolen dress or skimming wool/jersey top with stretchy tube skirt (H&M £7.99!) worn with thick tights and biker boots. I don't look as casual as people in jeans but I just accept that it is impossible for someone with my figure to do super casual in a stylish way and I don't feel so dressed up that I stick out like a sore thumb. I now only wear trousers when camping (waterproof) or peddle-pushers/tailored chinos in the summer. Jeans really are not the be-all and end-all of stylish dressing.

[BlairWaldorfLovesShopping]

I'm pear/hourglass (28" waist, 39" hips), and for me the key to finding jeans that don't gape at the back is to buy styles with at least a 9" (or so) rise. I'd measure your jeans when flat, from crotch to waist, and see if you can try some that sit a bit higher up on your waist. They don't have to be super high waisted, mine reach my belly button.

For tops, I really like H&M breton tees, they are stretchy and fitted while being thick enough to not cling.

[booooooooooom]

fitted cardi / jersey blazer - sounds good

Also higher waisted jeans might be the answer to gaping.

Breton tops - aren't they horizontal stripes?? If so - YIKES

[herbaceous]

It's a myth that horizontal stripes make you look fatter - in fact, I find them quite flattering! Accentuate the curves, but in a good way.

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

See, I'm the opposite - I basically live in jeans, all the time. So much so that I have basically nothing else in my wardrobe. I would really like to wear something else but jeans go with everything and I know a brand that fit me (shhhh...per una) so I just buy those, I have them in straight leg, narrow leg, and jeggings, as well as black, and a teal pair! I would love some ideas for skirts/dresses but I always feel overdressed and I never know what shoes to wear.

[TheBestChocolateIsFree]

I think that if you're buying jeans that don't fit you and then trying to cover up the gape you're doomed. It all starts with jeans that properly fit - even if you have to try on fifty pairs in fifteen shops it's a worthwhile investment of time. Per Una are indeed the pear-shaped woman's secret friend. I've got some good ones from Gap (real straight and high rise skinnies) and some people swear by Levis Demi/Bold curve though I personally find them frumpy.

On the dresses front tinkywinky I know ankle boots are the "correct" on trend answer but I reckon knee boots are the way to go at this time of year if you're gradually weaning yourself off jeans.

[lighteningirl]

I'm the same shape the only jeans that don't gape on me are Levis they come in half sizes I am currently a 29 and wearing them with fitted v necks. The v has to be quite deep for or I look really mumsy can't do round necks or tunics my 32 g cup is better with tighter tops. I am hoping dry January gets rid of my muffin top

[StephenKatz]

I think I've decided tailoring is the only option! I'm an hourglass (isn't there a lot of us?!) and tops are impossible to find. I posted these pictures on an unrelated thread of mine a couple of weeks ago but the first one demonstrates what's widely available in the shops, and the second one is the same top with me 'altering' it to achieve what I really want!

[StephenKatz]

Second one fail! Here!

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

It's a pain, even more so when overweight
:(

I'm a very busty hourglass and my biggest nightmare is coats. Fine on the hips,too small for the chest, too long on the arms, too loose on the waist. Have to wear them open and look like a giant flapping thing!