I have ugly proportions that are undressable and unworkable. If I hand them over, can someone help me to look pretty, please?

[ziggiestardust]

I am 5 ft 9, size 7.5 feet
31 inch waist
39 inch hips
36 inch under boobs
40 inches over boobs
And huge thighs; 26 inches round the top of each. Always been this way; I swam and ran my way through my teens and my proportions have never been any different.

Jeans never fit. Fine on the thighs, but useless on the hips and waist tops never come down far enough, and to top it all off, I think I have slippery skin. Every time I move about (like put a load of washing on), my boobs actually come out of my bra totally and I get a 4 boob thing going on. My jeans slip down over my bottom sometimes

I feel and look unglamorous. I just want to look nice.

Can someone please help me?

What about rushed jersey dresses like the ones Baukjen and Me and Em do. Leggings or opaques underneath, then layer chunky knitwear. Layering in General is nice. Jersey dresses would help you avoid the whole tops riding up thing. And comfortable too.

OP - just this morning I was thinking about starting a similar thread, and now I can sit in on this one!

I'm 5' 6'', also have hourglass proportions. I'm not overweight, but somehow the wrong shape for most clothes it seems! Jeans in particular are doing me no favours, and lots of things make me look matronly (I'm in my mid-thirties, so would like to stave off matronliness for a few more years if possible!).

Like the OP, I actually look ok without clothes, so I live in hope it might be possible to find something flattering, or even not actively unflattering to wear... I do actually like clothes and am not a natural nudist.

So, all tips gratefully received.

Clothes just do not seem to be being made for hourglass shapes anymore. Some women have hips, you know

Dresses with belts/nipped in waists are the way to go.

I'm actually wondering whether it'd be better for me to get clothes made. I'm not sure.

I googled it today, and only 8% are an hourglass shape that doesn't bode well for finding nice things! I'm only 26, I want to look pretty. Not frumpy.

Another idea would be to buy trousers cut to fit your hips and have the waist taken in. Tbh it sounds like you have a fabulous figure.

I'm an hourglass-ish shape (waist a little bit thick, slim hips but more hourglass than apple). I find that buying clothes which fit my boobs/hips, then having them taken in at the waist/around the torso is the best way to get clothes which fit. I often buy clothes on ebay so don't feel to bad about paying extra for alterations. And I have done this with quite cheap clothes - I have a pair of 10 quid New Look jeans which were perfect once the waist had been nipped in. And I then wore them all the time, so it was totally worth it until I had DS2 and wrecked my waistline forever.

I feel chubby most of the time! Tbh, I could probably do with toning up, but if I lose a stone (I was a stone lighter pre DS), I look hardly any different. Things are a tad tighter, but that's it! I wear the same jeans now as I did before.

Having things taken in is a good idea, I might consider that.

I love bright, in your face prints, I bloody love leopard print a la Pat Butcher , I'm still 18 in my head I think!

A lot of the time I wear leggings, because they fit all over properly. I tend to wear them in a river island 12L.

Ziggie I'm 27 and I know what you mean re frumpy. I find casual clothes quite difficult - thankfully my job is one where smart dresses go down well!

Here's a few things I've bought and got on with - as I say I'm a more exaggerated hourglass although I think my overbust measurement must be pretty close...just even more hips!

phase 8
I have this in a purple and a black with red version
I'm after this
cowl top

Skater dresses can be very good on me (they disguise just how big my hips are!) and are quite a trendy/younger shape too. For example, I really like the shape of this. I also love fifties style/prom dresses.

As I said casual is harder. The only jeans that fit me are my Levi's, which I wear with a low hip/thigh length top. Most often a draped cowl neck. I either wear with a longish cardigan and boots for really casual, or I have a couple of really nice blazers which work well with killer heels for evening.

How about this with a red chunky statement belt?

statistically love the links to the phase eight stuff, that looks like a good shop. Also seen pepperberry before as well, and I think some of their dresses are lovely.

Will try some of those Levi's curve jeans and see what they look like too. I think v neck is the way forward for me though, or wrap style, or I can end up looking very chunky and built because of my shoulders.

Don't be hard on yourself. As burnished says, be proud of your figure. Think 'goddess', 'warrior queen' etc etc. Stand up straight and tall and get fitted with the right size bra - all the Mumsnetters who say this is important are 100% correct, IMHO. For comfort and confidence, as well as for appearance.

Am perhaps prejudiced, since I am similar shape although about an inch shorter. What I find works best is good tailoring that fits the waist and flares tactfully above and below. Baggy is BAD. Something that fits the shoulders nicely is also helpful. I find Italian styles very good indeed. If I could afford it, I'd dress all the time in Max Mara and suchlike. My most flattering garment ever is an Armani jacket purchased in a charity shop. It's European size 46 (ye gods!) but fits like a dream. I also purchased an old-fashioned English tweed hacking jacket, which is another closely fitted style, to wear with jeans and trousers. Expensive (though also sometimes found in charity shops/secondhand) and very flattering. For jeans, I'm afraid to say that I often go online and buy US 'preppie' brands such as LL Bean - who do 'tall' and 'medium tall' leg lengths which are fantastic for anyone over the M&S standard 5ft 5 in - but also come in a range of shapes, curvy and straight. Some even have the dreaded elastic waist. Although that is designed to fit people who are wider around the middle, the elastic also shrinks in a little bit to accommodate a smaller than standard waistline.

Agree also with previous poster who said that when buying tops go for a size larger than you might think. Much more comfortable and flattering - no 'squeezed into a sausage skin' effect. Bigger tops also offer the hope that you might get sleeves that are actually long enough. I HATE the current trend for three-quarter sleeves. On anyone tallish with long arms in proportion, they make it look and feel as if clothes have shrunk in the wash.

On me, I don't think that dress would work because it would make everything look as wide as my boobs without a belt, and I think it might be a bit distorted with one. I tend to belt things which are already meant to have a defined waist...but just don't have enough of one!

So, I'd end up putting a slim, sparkly silver belt on this as if it fitted hips and boobs it would bag at the waist. this would get a belt too

flora thank you

statistically love the first Oasis sparkly dress. Very pretty!!

Agree also I need to stop shopping online and go and try things on and not worry about the size. Because of my boobs, some button tops would definitely be better in a 16, then getting them nipped in or using a belt, rather than having any tightness. And arm length! Ugh, don't even get me started

I actually quite like a three quarter length sleeve - the end of the sleeve draws attention to the smallest part of your waist.

I know some people hate White Stuff, but I have something like this www.whitestuff.com/mobile/ring-ring-wrap-dress-prod408352_dk_ink/ which is flattering go think, and great for the weekend. Or this one www.whitestuff.com/mobile/3-4-sleeve-twinkle-dress-prod408121_dk_sky_blu/

Either would be great with pumps or flat or heeled boots, and you can dress them up or down, and belt them.

I'm currently breastfeeding and miss wearing dresses

This site is good for explaining body shapes and how to dress them.

I would suspect given your height, that you're an X shape, like me (I have almost identical measurements to you, but 5'8"), but you may be an 8.

She gives lots of good advice on how to dress each body shape, if you poke around in the archives on the blog...

I've found I can get clothes to suit my shape from Hobbs, Phase Eight and Esprit, plus another chain of shops here in France. Around 90% of my wardrobe comes from those 4 brands, although I systematically get trousers taken in at the waist when I buy them, regardless of the brand.

Have you tried wearing a slip with your dresses? I have a sort of stretchy black slip ( not control, just jersey that fits me closely. I wear it under most of my dresses and it makes them look 100% better, they don't cling or ride up. I know it sounds a bit old fashioned but I'm a total convert.

I'm similar to you OP but older (42) and with 28FF - but certainly an hourglass. I can do skinnies (H&M) and a high waist Top Shop Jean with stretch but yearn for young and nice dresses too. Oasis are nice. they do fit and flare and skater dresses. These are the ones you want, imo. not tried Asos but that dress that was linked to is lovely and bang on trend.

fashion.oasis-stores.com/search?asug=&country=GB&w=skater+dress

also a bit of a cliche but to look more feminine and give a wiggle a heel is necessary imo.

Just seen this on Oasis - was after an on trend dress and found this. It probably would've been better in a 10 but got it in a 12. i think I can wear this easily out next year etc so for price an absolute bargain.

www.oasis-stores.com/oasis/fcp-product/4470123758#GBP

at slippery skin.

If your boobs are falling out of your bra when you stretch then you are wearing a bra that is too big around the back and too small in the cup, mostly probably.