Anyone else hourglass from the front but apple from the side? How do you dress?

[FritzyMousey]

I'm coming to the point of thinking I am never going to lose the elusive half a stone and maybe I should just come to accept my bodyshape. I see other women that I guess to be about my size (12) looking great and I'm trying to analyse what they are getting right that I'm getting wrong. I think my problem is that whilst I have a slim waist and consider myself to be hourglass shape, from the side my tummy is decidedly apple, I look good when I breathe in but that's just not sustainable!

The trouble is, a lot of the styles I gravitate towards just don't work for me, I like high-waisted jeans or cigarette pants with tops tucked in, I like tube dresses/shift dresses/pencil skirts. I look good with a skater or fifties skirt but I can't wear that look all the time.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm coming up to 40 by the way and I don't want to be one of those women that spends her life dieting but never really changing size!

Oh god me! I look reassonably ok from the front but from the side it's a different story.

I am mainly resolving this by not looking at side on views so following:)

Peplum dresses are my saviour, I have some really nice ones and they make me look hourglass whilst covering a multitude of sins.

I am exercising more at the moment tho - a similarly "apple" friend has been going to the gym for 2 months and by God, the (almost) flatness that is her stomach now...

Same here.

I have basically accepted that I am now, at 50, more akin to a comfortable old sofa, than a Swan chair by Arne Jacobsen.

Watching with interest!

Glad it's not just me then! Sometimes I worry because I think maybe I dress for the slim me that I see from the front in the mirror (breathing in), when people see me from the side (esp after eating) what must they think!

Mistess could you link any peplum dresses you've bought recently? Only thing is I don't really need smart clothes for my work, but going out dresses/casual day.

Of course I am planning on exercising loads and getting a flat stomach, but it hasn't happened in the last 10 years...

Fritzy I mostly buy from eBay...! There are so many on there & I like that you can put in a description of what you're looking for re length, material etc. But off top of my head also try

Goddiva
Quiz
Coast
V by Very
Light In The Box
Missguided
Debenhams

I also found 2 really nice material knee length skater dresses in 'Select', which make my apple stomach look pretty flat for some reason.

Thanks for the list, and the Select dress sounds just perfect. Sometimes it is just about trying things on isn't it, whilst some pencil dresses really emphasise my stomach, sometimes I can be pleasantly surprised. I bought one in Phase Eight recently which has a seam at the waist and it seems to sit at just the right point to make it flattering.

Here's a link in case anyone is interested, there are 2 other colours in the sale: Phase Eight

Maybe we can all share stuff on here when we find flattering things?

I've bought this dress in three colourways, also from Phase Eight. Hides my stomach, gives shape on the hip/leg area with the skirt bit, soft and super comfortable. Lots of different colours and some are in the sale. I'm loving them!

I've seen those dresses Judy, wasn't sure if they'd be flattering or not, I had one just like it in the early 90s! Might give them a try then, are you wearing with tights? What shoes?

@FritzyMousey I've found them so flattering and I'm going to wait (and pray) they are reduced further in the Christmas/New Year sale, so I can get more colours! I went up a size so my stomach area was definitely covered and because the skirt is fitted, it doesn't bag or seem too big. I'm wearing mine with 120 black denier tights and my M&S wedge ankle boots and I wear my flat brogues with the dress too. I'm planning on wearing this outfit on a v long flight this weekend such is the comfort!

Ok I need to try these dresses on, they look so easy to wear and comfort is v important! I wonder if anywhere else is doing dresses like this? I'm not sure how you'd describe them in order to google.

@FritzyMousey I followed the MN Hush love for the Tara dress and think it's similar. Following everyone's declaration at how flattering it was, I tried it on and it looked dreadful so I gave up. I probably had the wrong size on looking back and 'twas the height of summer and I was a sweaty hot mess that day but could see how it might flatter. By chance I was in Edinburgh a month ago, threw caution to the wind and tried this version on and loved it.

I tried the Tara dress and it looked awful on me too - it really accentuated my stomach I got a similar dress from Esprit last season that by contrast was brilliant - really flattering. I haven't seen anything from Esprit this season that's the same but their website is worth keeping an eye on as they often have those sorts of relaxed but flattering dresses.

I'm going to order the Phase Eight one now, thanks Judy

@June just leave the size 16s for me please

Ok

www.wearsmymoney.com/shopping/dressing-to-disguise-a-bit-of-a-belly/

Love this blogger-lots of good ideas.

I thought I was the only one with this issue! The apple-shape-from-the-side thing is a new one for me and I keep forgetting to look at myself sideways when I try things on so buy something thinking it looks ok and then catch a glimpse of myself out & about and wince.

Exactly the same here whenwillthetwitchstrike also I get really bloated so have a real food baby by the end of the day and look awful from the side! Need to wear looser tops with my jeans I think but at what point do baggier clothes just make you look even bigger?

I just googled hourglass from front apple from side and this thread popped up. I know it’s an old one but has anyone found anything good for summer?

I'm the same.. I look nice from the front...go in and out in the right places, then I turn to the side and I look horrific. I find it really hard to know what to wear

Ooh my old thread revived...and I still haven’t got a flat stomach or learnt how to dress for my shape properly! I’ve mostly been wearing loose clothing, nothing too baggy but I’m making sure I buy sizes big enough to skim the tummy. In this weather I’m liking a T-shirt tucked in a maxi skirt like the attached, nothing amazing or particularly stylish but comfortable.

OMG this is so me after having DS!

Ha - i have turned into an actual apple.
Which is ironic as i never eat them.

If you put skater/tiered dresses into the search option in ASOS so flattering stuff comes up.

I know this is a zombie but I googled the title as its my current bane! I'm possibly more a pear from front, apple from side. It almost looks like a bump :/ Just a lot going on in the middle! Anyone else in the same boat?