Completely confused!

[lisam78]

Hello wise ones,

After lusting over a lovely belted jacket on the oasis website, I ran to try it on in store today and was so disappointed as it made me look quite thick round the middle, a look I would rather avoid!

I'm confused. I have been reading various style blogs to try to figure out my body shape, and I think I am an 8 shape, or hourglass. All the style tips say I should be wearing belts to highlight my waist. Why did the coat look so bad then? I then found another blog talking about being short and long waisted, and after measuring myself, I come up as being slightly short waisted, and all the advice for this body shape is avoid belts! (And anything fitted, instead focusing on drop waist and longer tops). I find these styles draw attention to my hips, and this is wider than my waist.
I've recently lost weight, and I am trying to overhaul my wardrobe, little by little,month by month. I don't want to end up with a wardrobe full of the wrong stuff (again!)
So, as a short waisted 8 shape, what should I be wearing?
Thanks in advance

Could be the cut of the particular raincoat. Some trenches have a panelled top and/or a waist seam and that looks better belted. A lot of loose fabric bunched around the waist is rarely flattering on anybody.

I know this is the gold standard, but the curved panel seams front AND back should reduce volume around the waist make it look good with a belt: uk.burberry.com/mid-length-hooded-trench-coat-with-warmer-p38960311?gclid=Cj0KEQjwvLGfBRDfkrr19KDS-7YBEiQA8CoFJ2LPq8s-yV5x_ty3Vw_JL6lP_5PH7wot3Qj0G1C3JBUaAqN18P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

In contrast, a less structured design such as this looks a bit bulky on even a very tall, thin model: www.johnlewis.com/mint-velvet-georgette-zip-trench-coat/p1245124?colour=Pale%20Pink

Sorry - why did I think you were talking about a raincoat?! But the points I made apply to the cut of any coat or jacket.

Any chunky material tightly belted looks a bit off IMHO. Kind of squelches us out top and bottom!

Technically, an hourglass/8 shape means that your bust and hips measure 10 inches more than your waist. Anything less is just rectangular. sad isn't it? I thought I was a busty hourglass but my bottom is 2" smaller than my hips.

Thanks for your replies.

Flora, that Burberry trench is really lovely, but apparently I should avoid double breasted coats (according to the style blogs that have confused me in the first place!)
There is only a seven inch difference between my hips and waist, can't believe I am a rectangle that sounds so shapeless! But prob explains why the belted coast wasn't so good looking on me.
Better get reading up on rectangle shapes.......or just trust my gut when I try things on

In determining body shape I think it's shoulders, waist and hips that are important rather than bust, waist and hips. Bust tends to stick out in front (hopefully!) whereas shoulders and hips are wider at the sides.

You could have similar bust and hip measurements but narrow shoulders.

So, when facing forwards an '8' figure has equally wide shoulders and hips with a relatively small, shorter waist, an 'X' is similar but with a long(er) waist.

Don't worry about the 'rectangle' tag - I think it's the Daily Mail trying to make women feel bad about themselves (again!).

Thanks for explaining Flamingo. I measured myself again last night, and I am 39 inches across shoulders and waist, and 31 around the waist, so need to lose another inch there if I am to be an hourglass . ...or wear a corset!