Hourglasses - gather here and share your top tips for looking fabulous

[Chorltonswheelies422]

what are your favourite styles for work suits,
dressing casually
dressing for evening (casual and elegant)
Coats and jackets

[SpiritedLondon]

Hmmmm I agree with quite a lot of these suggestions but I don't spend too long worrying about " rules" in the same way I did when I was younger. My problem is that I don't feel comfortable in things that suit me and am drawn to shapes that don't look good . I should have been born a skinny Japanese girl not a blonde, booby woman who's a size 16. For example I know that I suit a pencil skirt but I feel like such a " lay-dee " in one and look a bit like a larger Barbara Windsor wiggling all over the place. It's not necessarily the image I want to project at work. I have developed a bit of a uniform of 7/8th trousers ( cos) ankle boots, fitted top and either a fitted single breasted jacket or a cropped jacket ( often an "edge to edge" jacket ) A favourite dress is a shirt dress with a flared, midi length ( not too full) which is very fitted in the waist. I like midi skirts if they're smooth over the hips and also worn with ankle boots. That being said I did buy a wiggle dress from ASOS which was knotted at the waist and is pretty flattering. I do struggle with casual clothes - my bum does generally not look good in jeans and although I generally don't give a toss I have been on a mission to find a flattering trouser that looks cool and is not too formal. With that in mind I have bought some slouchy indigo trousers from Cos which may do the job. I quite like Victoria Beckhams style recently - wide leg trousers and simple white shirt... Much more casual than her old looks.( I never thought I'd write that sentence) Ultimately I think I look better naked..... Perhaps that's our lot in life ?

[lasttimeround]

Does say one else find they struggle with the sort of bombshell/sexy look you easily get with this shape. Maybe I'm wierd but I generally dont like that snd try to underplay it. I find it doesn't suit my personality at all. I feel bad as it's always described as such z desirable shape but I dont really like it or stick to any of the hourglass "rules"

[outofdepth]

What do you hourglasses wear for casual? My work hamlet us wear whatever we want and as I'm a lazy bugger I have gleefully embraced skinny jeans, v neck gap tshirts and trainers combo

[NightWanderer]

Thanks! I'm googling. I think a more fitted style then. Like a 50s pin-up. I'll have to have a look for some.

[RaisingSteam]

Pedal pushers and fitted/t shirt or blouse?

[NightWanderer]

Can I ask what people wear in summer? One of the websites listed said that cropped trousers were good, but I have quite shapely calves so cropped trousers tend to cut off at the widest part which isn't flattering. All I can see is knee-length skirts or boot-cut trousers. I have young kids so knee-length skirts aren't practical for playing in the garden/at the park and I'd like something cooler than full-length trousers.

[mrsmortis]

Silly question what 'foundation garments' do you recommend. I'm looking for spanx or something similar that will pull my tummy in without loosing width in my hips or my waist.

[HermiioneSnape02]

Just posting to say thank you for whomever mentioned Pepperberry. I've bought 2 dresses direct from them and a dress and leather jacket from eBay. Fit like a glove. No cleavage showing. Skims the tummy. Love them.

[Thelovecats]

I'm the same morekopparberg, narrow shoulders/ribcage but big boobs. I need to dress the top like an hourglass and the bottom like a pear 😆

[herecomesthsun]

Have just ordered some things from the Crew clothing sale- this might be as casual as I get. I like the tie waist and promising shaping and the jacket looks tailored in at the waist. I don't do above the knee and I suit blue. Here's hoping they work.

[herecomesthsun]

I think it is possible to overcomplicate this ,

[MissBattleaxe]

I really love this site for hourglass feminine dresses www.lindybop.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwoYi4BRDF_PHHu6rI7NMBEiQAKZ-JuHCsUM4ydkvG_ClQjQsn78Qzm8jW6RES5dihiCl2-OcaAoXH8P8HAQ

[Higge]

I'm 8 shaped on that site which is a high hipped hourglass

[KatharinaRosalie]

Has anybody found any nice work skirts? (Pencil, knee lenght)?
I'm looking specifically for something where I can tuck shirts and blouses in. Normal suit skirts are too big around the waist and make me look bigger. Jersey skirts go baggy. Proper bandage skirts are I think a little too much for the office. So something stretchy that holds its shape, but not too tight?

[Thelovecats]

I used to think I was an hourglass because I have a defined waist (well, I did before 3 kids anyway) but actually I am too wide of thigh to wear the pencil skirts that suit hourglasses.

This quiz is quite useful, and her blog has some good ideas on it for dressing to suit your body shape (on her blog, X shape is hourglass)
www.insideoutstyleblog.com/category/body/body-shapes-explained

[mimiasovitch]

And, not s F. My fingers are very fat this morning.

[mimiasovitch]

Personally I think that if your bust and hips are approximately the same size, s F your waist is clearly smaller, then dressing for an hourglass figure helps. When i gain weight I look like an hourglass from the front but an apple from the side. I dress the front view as it makes me happier . There is a great blog - insideoutstyle I think, that looks at body shapes in far more detail. An hourglass has a much higher hip than an X for example. It's worth a look at.

[simonettavespucci]

Thanks katharina! I will give that a whirl.

[KatharinaRosalie]

Simonetta, M&S has some, for example: www.marksandspencer.com/l/lingerie/slips
It stops the fabric clinging to any bumps and gives a much smoother silhouette

mimia great idea - just checked that there are loads available on eBay and places for very little money, can get one to match any wrap top or dress

[candykane25]

Yes vests under everything here. If they are elasticated they act as tummy control too.
Gap vests are thin so don't get overheated.
I buy petite ranges too at gap which means the scoops are not to low.
I don't wear wrap toots at all as they are always too low. I know some people like to flash cleavage but mine gets cold! Also, the small of my back gets cold too if jeans sit too low so long vests get tucked in.
I'm such an old lady ;)

[mimiasovitch]

I meant to add that I can only do jeans/casual if the top is very fitted/smart. I have a ridiculous number of longline vests from Matalan (I love the quality and stretch, and buy too many just in case they stop selling them), which, on the rare occasion I wear jeans or trousers, I wear under a fitted, cowl neck sweater. Always fine knit. For some reason it always looks better with a small line of different colour between the sweater and jeans.

Regarding full skirts, they look wonderful if they're cut from panels or a circle base. By which I mean the fabric isn't gathered at the waist, but flares out. Gathered makes me look huge and feel frumpy. My sister, who is much shorter than me but still curvy suits gathers just fine. She was delighted with this realisation of mine when it meant all my mistakes jumped into her wardrobe.