hourglasses please inspire me! How do you do casual?

[omydarlin]

as above really. I love dress and legging combo but as work is very smart casual i find work and home often cross over which is not ideal. I am 33 next month and a size 16, do a lot of walking and like to cover my bum as it sticks out a bit. I spent last weekend in my mumsnet scarf a black jumper dress with metallic heart embellishments and dark bootcut jeans which have frankly seen better days and make me look a bit like i'm wearing bell bottoms! Apart from the jeans I liked the outfit. please please inspire me oh stylish ones I guess it doesnt help I am overweight but I am working on that!

I really like wrap dresses, although quite often have to wear a vest top underneath otherwise they can be quite busty. I have had a few cheap ones from H&M, and a few bargains from eBay.
Otherwise empire line dresses are good as they emphasis the thin part of your waist below your bust.
Bravissimo do clothes in various bust sizes: curvy, very curvy etc so you can get well fitting clothes with buttons that don't ping open etc. however I have found that the shops have very few of the clothes in so it does involve online ordering

I guess you can be hourglass with either good legs or not so. I am in the latter category and so whilst I would love to wear skinny jeans/trousers as I do think they are more 'current', I know it would be hugely unflattering.

That said, New Look pink-label bootcut jeans are straighter than a lot of bootcuts (no bell bottoms!) and so might be worth a look OP.

I'm pear shaped rather than hourglass, small waist large hips and thighs and the skinny jeans/leggings plus tunic look really works for me but only with knee or mid calf boots, never shoes or ankle boots, they do give the carrot look. Wide or bootcut legs just make me look large all the way down. Tunics (or knitted dresses) need to be slim fitting not clingy or voluminous, preferably 3/4 sleeves. Wrap dresses, above knee denim skirts, tights, boots work well too.

I'm an hourglass with decent legs, so skinny jeans are okay for me if I wear them with a fitted top then a longer knit waistcoat or short sleeved hip length cardigan over. I wouldn't be seen dead in anything called a tunic though.

For dresses for hourglasses, try something like this shape or this shape or this shape. Phase Eight and LK Bennet also worth a look if you are tall.

Wanted to return to this thread but wasn't online over the weekend.

I'm hourglass-ish (curvy with ok waist but tummy issue) so, although I can show off 'waist' with wide-leg trousers, my legs (and curves ) are my best features so slim or skinnies with nice longish but not too baggy tops are good for me.

Recently got some grandad style tops in M&Co (of all places, a bit but their clothes have definitely improved)

a whole page of dresses for hourglasses

and some more

actually, most of Dorothy Perkins' dresses seem to be hourglass friendly. Might have to pop down there

Also agree with the ones Remus has linked to - the "Joanie from Mad Men" style basically. Whereas the ones I have linked to are more Betty from Mad Men.

Yes, I've bought a few dresses from DP's recently and been impressed with the suitability for my figure.

Joanie from Mad men is one of my hourglass icons (even though I never watch the program i spend ages on google images looking at pics of her and her wardrobe) this is very Joanie and would look lovely with a vintage brooch

Wrap dresses can be difficult for me but I have a stand by from HM that is not too flowy out and has a fixed wrap iykwim it is black but quite thick jersey material- wear it for parties etc with satin leopard print heels and matching bag.

I am definitely going to try on that dress tomorrow - don't know if its very casual though and I may need some new shoes to go with ;)

Ooh lovely dress. I also think the DP wrap dresses look like a good shape but haven't tried them on.

Yes I find it quite difficult to find casual shoes to wear with dresses/skirts.

Heels are not casual and not comfy enough for schlepping around all day. Ballet pumps are ok but not terribly practical esp in winter. Calf length boots are imo only for the slim of calf (ie not me). Knee length boots good but only for winter as v warm. Ankle boots are not bad but they need to be black and worn with black tights in order not to cut my legs off.

sproooOOoogger yes love that dress (messed up link) I wear a lot of dresses like that for work - I guess this just reaffirms to me that I should up the scale a bit for my work wear . I could then wear all my nice dresses for weekends

You tried on the silver dress because you are a secret RAWK STAR [hwink]

This is a bargain if you are a size 16 - might be good with flat boots, which is the only thing I would wear with dresses and tights, though flat ballet style might work too.