Dressing for an hourglass without looking fat

[SummerWinter]

What are your top tips? I have a good hip/waist/bust ratio but a mum-tum and find it really hard to dress as tight clothes that flatter the waist also tend to cling to my belly. Am about a size 12 .

How do others with a similar figure dress? Am looking at advice for both corporate and casual clothes

Have you tried the Bravissio dresses they can be a bit short tho.

Hour glass here too. Wrap dresses are my go to for almost every occasion! V neck, bit of gathering over the tummy and fitted, so that you don't look shapeless. Get them casual, smart, long, short, flared, fitted. You name it, I have every conceivable option there is.

I also like a fitted blouse / shirt, as if these are the right size, they shouldn't cling & they flare out slightly over the tummy but are still shaped, so you don't look like a box.

For winter, I love long sleeved shirt or A line dresses, or flared skirts with tops or thin jumpers tucked in. A thin long sleeved top is a saviour for under dresses and tops, in particular the Uniqlo heatech ones as the scoop neck is really low! If under a short sleeved item, then I'd usually wear a short cardi over, though I prefer not to have to wear a cardi or blazer as it goes back to hiding the waist i.e. the bit we want to show off!

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams I tend to buy from eBay and vintage shops, but I also buy from Lindy Bop (cotton only), Victory Parade (circle dresses rather than shirtwaister) and Vivien of Holloway when I can afford it. Sometimes I buy Collectif as well but usually only for coats. I find the boobs small and the waist wide with a lot of their dresses. Sometimes I buy stuff to fit my boobs and put basic darts in, especially if it is cheap from eBay. I'm not great at sewing but a belt covers the mess! I like my dresses to be between knee and calf length; I hate significantly above the knee because that isn't 50s enough, haha! I've not bought from Joanie yet but I have been tempted.

5' 9" size 12 hourglass here. Mid fifties, love plain Boden dresses, long sleeve, boat or slash neck, they're very flattering and just below knee length.

I can wear trousers but not skirts.

Meant to add, I struggle with casual.

Yes to v necks and scoops - even crew neck t shirts make me look stumpy .

Pencil skirts and fitted dresses for work with wedges to elongate the profile- Boden Next Hobbs (I am similar in shape only to Susanna Reid on breakfast tv)so tend to look for similar style dresses

Fitted pinafore style can look good

Wrap dresses also flatter - the traditional fixed wrap and the latest tie waist type

Off duty skinny jeans again with wedge or chunky brogue

Shirts always tucked in usually with a little strappy vest underneath so you can undo a few buttons to help the lines.

7/8 Trousers (Boden and Next do good ones) are my latest discovery -didn't think I would suit but nice dressy alternative to jeans.

T-shirts and a v neck jumper-with a couple of inches of the t shirt coming out from underneath the jumper is always a good look .

Good bras really make a difference plus suck you in pants if wearing fitted dress

Anything that skims the body is a big no no for me I have to show off my narrowest part -waist

shorter fitted jackets

The life to style blogger is good she is more of a slim pear but has some good advice.

(Petite 5/2 hourglass 34D boobs 26 waist 38 Hips) getting more of a tum as head towards 50

Who’s the life to style blogger?

Life to Style

Midlifechic is also an hourglass.