Making bootleg jeans look less than tragic

[ocelot41]

Good women of Mumsnet, please help! Although slim ish (12-14) I am also shortish ( 5 4") busty and irredeemably thunderous of thigh and bootcuts are the only jeans I can get to fit me. But in flats I look just...dumpy...mumsy...DULL. Help me? Would boots with wedges look OK? Is there ANY way to make bootcuts look OK or am I doomed to the outer circle of style hell?

Not sure, I only do flats but heel might look great.

Personally I think that boot cuts can look great if they aren't too tight with a camel toe and not light coloured. Also hate them when they are jack-ups topped with a fleece. I might have an issue with stonewashed too twitches

I love those boots from Clarks.

Another thing that might be worth considering with a pear shape is to wear skinny dark jeans with a top/jumper that goes over the saddle bags to mid thigh with over the knee flat boots. Sorts of the proportions to my mind.

Is it just me or does Lily Allen have a pear shape? She is absolutely stunning but it seems to me that she insists on wearing stuff that doesn't do her figure any favours. Recently saw a picture of her with skinny jeans and these massive clodhopper boots which made her legs look shorter and therefore stockier. Same with Lena Dunham who I think is really attractive- she gets out her legs when they are crusty with bites and bruises and wears stuff that doesn't flatter. Maybe they are both making anti-fashion statements

I want to wedge them both in bootcuts. oddball

ooh, luscious

Boot cuts, with trainers, not looking tragic
www.fatface.com/jeans/smithy-bootcut-darkest-rinse-jeans/invt/48116

Those don't look like a great fit for pear shapes. The waist and hip differential looks to be minimal.

Sadly, I look nothing like that in mine!

They do look tragic, it's just they have a very pretty girl in them. Sorry.

They had an article in the Times this weekend, mentioning how wearing jeans that are from an eta just past (ie the bootcut that was in fashion 10-15(!) years ago makes the wearer look outdated and older.

A bit like the 60+ generation wearing those slightly loose bottomed high waisted tapered jeans that are so ageing.

Try some new styles, or just buy old bootcuts on e-bay. There are plenty of people who refuse to give up a style that suits them , like the women who wore bright blue eye shadow in the 80s and defiantly stick with it

IMO, if you think a look is tragic, you are probably a sheep when it comes to clothing.

If bootcut jeans/trousers are so tragic and dated why are the shops still full of them?

I think being a fashion victim slave is more tragic if you are wearing something that clearly doesn't suit your shape.

IMO wearing ill fitting or unflattering clothes is a far more frumpy look.

But the shops are not full of bootcuts, is what was said above.

And the alternative is not ill-fitting and unflattering clothes, there are alternatives out there!

I must only go to unfashionable shops then

Edinburgh Woollen mill? Or whatever it is called? , M&S is gloriously anti-fashion as well. Plenty of choice!

I am a future saddo in terms of fashion. I will never give up on skinnies, they are too damned convenient. Comfy and stretchy, and they fit easily into my welly boots for my twice daily muddy dog walk (paragon of fashion, me).

You can all point and laugh at me in 10 yrs time, in your newly fashionable bootcuts!

Coming in a bit late to this thread...

I don't get why everyone hates bootcuts. Seriously, they are the only style of jeans that look even half decent on me. Although, I never ever wear them with flat shoes, as then you do look a bit dumpy. I have long body and short legs so I need to try lengthen them whatever I wear. In winter I wear them with boots, and in summer with a wedge type heel or similar (I don't do high heeled shoes).

I have tried on every other style of jeans, boyfriend, slimfit, skinny, wide leg, classic straight and not one of them fit me like my trusty bootcuts. BUT this is a big but some bootcuts are much wider at the bottom than others, the wider ones are a no no, much like the wideleg style which make you look just that, wider [wider].

The length is important too. They mustn't be too long that you tread on the back hem, and not too short that you see your whole shoe....

Yes, I have spent many an hour in changing rooms with jeans.... . I know now after 43 years of age, what to look for, I can see hanging on the hanger now if they will look good on or not. And its not just the big brands either, I look shockingly awful in any Levis, Diesel, Sissy Boys... it unfortunately is a case of trying on LOTS of different ones. They are out there OP, you just have to find them....

Similar body type to yours. I love a slim boot cut. M&S Roma fit ok. Otherwise I am a huge fan of leggings and long tunics/short dress.

OK so slim bootcuts are a possibility...but I wonder Murphys if one of the reasons that so many of us lose our style mojo/confidence/whatever you want to call it is that really which mum of small children has the time or energy to spend hours and hours trying things on? plus spending that long in front of a full length mirror in your pants is hardly an appealing prospect.

I don't necessarily think I am a sheep ( nods to the not very supportive poster up thread).But I think that after spending years rearing tiny people, you turn around, wanting to do something for yourself and just think WTF? I look awful and I need some help because I don't even know where to start?!!!

So many of my female friends and I have had similar conversations of late - maybe it happens when the youngest are just about to go off to school? And maybe we should all go out in a mutually supportive pack to go shopping (needs lightbulb emoticon)?

I totally had that lightbulb moment of I look awful, just after dd was 3. I think you just have more time to look at yourself and think.

Well I went out and just bought a better, more expensive version of one favourite thing in my wardrobe every month- I'd gone back to work so I had money too. Like Levi's instead of crap stretchy jeans (Levi's outlet) and a nice vintage shirt, Margaret Howell jumper in sale, Zara top. Nice shoes from shoe, cool jacket from Noa Noa. All spread out.

That really made a difference, I was just a better, smarter version of me, felt loads better. Also chucked all maternity knickers and just bought loads of m&s knicker packs in cool colours.

That's a cunning plan Pretty. I had my colours done, which does help but the lower half is still where it all falls down! I think I also tend to hanker after posh frocks, heels etc that I very rarely WEAR these days, but I don't really know how to do that effortless, stylish, just thrown together look!

ocelot, the secret of that effortless look is that...it requires effort.

Can you go shopping for a day? No kids? try lots of stuff on that you are not sure would suit you, but just to give it a try?

Or order loads of stuff online then send back what doesn't fit? When I started to feel dowdy in my bootcuts, about 4-5 yrs ago (when my kids went to primary! And the fog started to lift) I ordered about 8 different jeans from Dorothy Perkins, only one pair was great,s ent the rest back. But it was my first good fitting pair of skinnies, and the road to new styles.

But it takes time and effort. And maybe, with small kids you have gotten out of the habit of spending time and money and effort on yourself, instead of the kids.

Hell, you may even feel guilty when buying clothes for you, whereas buying something for the kids would leave NO guilt at al. So you always buy stuff for the kids, but nothing for you.... it's not uncommon! (been there)

Laughing bravepotato. You are so right! I am currently watching cartoons in a saddo holiday emergency buy tee and track suit bottoms two sizes too small whilst my DS has his autumn wardrobe, new shoes etc already bought!

Op if bootleg jeans are the only ones that fit why don't you take yours to a seamstress and have the legs tapered more flatteringly?

Ooh now THAT is a clever idea! Is that what you do?

Ocelot I definitely agree that if you are trying to shop for yourself with littlies running about it is not going to happen.

In fact, before the dc were at school I very rarely bought myself anything, I made do with what I had, even slobbed about in maternity wear for years after...

The dc were always immaculately dressed, and I had the walk passed the mirror moment like you, and just thought wtf. So I spend a few mornings while they were at school looking for nice fitting clothes.

I don't shop that often, as shopping isn't really a pleasurable thing for me, but when I do I buy quite a lot. There is a style that suits me well, EckoRed (im not sure if you get them in UK), so I have 3 pairs of those in different colours.

My major downfall in underwear though... if I have nice underwear on, then I feel that much better about myself generally. So I have quite a lot too many really.