What is wrong with this outfit?

[leasedaudi]

Hoping to get some style advice ..

I am looking for a knee length houndstooth skirt. I can't find one that is flattering on me.

Today I tried on this outfit at H&M but cannot put my finger on what is wrong. Is the shape of the skirt not flattering on my pear shaped hips? Is it too small? The size up was too big at the waist.

Should I be looking for a-line skirts?

Or should I be avoiding tucked in shirts? I feel like I don't have a waist when I wear a skirt and top.

Usually I stick to dresses or jeans and tops, but I'd really like to do something new. I really like the colours of this outfit and wish I could find something in those colours, but more flattering to my hips / waist.

Any advice is much appreciated.. thank you!

I think it looks good. I’m pear shaped with a smallish waist and that style is the most flattering. A-line seem to make my hips look bigger and not tucking in makes my waist disappear.

I think it looks nice 👍Where is your top from?

Thank you both! They're both in H&M at the moment. I want to like the skirt but it is very rigid and I think I need a bit more give for walking up stairs etc. Thinking of going back for the top and hoping to find a stretchier skirt, possibly a-line?

The skirt looks like it might "pull" on the buttons when you sit down.

I think it looks good, its pulling slightly across your stomach but you said the next size up was too big.

You look really good. I too like your top

The skirt needs to be longer

It’s just not suited to your figure. There’s nothing wrong with either per se it’s just not for you.

I think it’s a centimetre too tight. Be fine in black but in houndstooth you can ever so slightly tell. I think if you sit in it then it’ll get creased a bit much where it pulls.

I think you look lovely. I wish I had your figure and I love the skirt.

Hi OP.
There's is nothing wrong with you, your figure, or technically the skirt.

However, it's H&M, it's cheap material and the seams don't match up, meaning that even subtilely the eye is drawn to the buttons and details on the front of the skirt which creates visual ' noise'
What happens then is that people focus more on that area because it draws the eye, which means it's more apparent then that it looks like a less than expensive skirt...

It looks ok to me but it might be a bit too short when you sit down?

Its too tight across the hips imo. You can see the horizontal folds where the fabric is pulling. Your figure is fab, that particular skirt just isn’t the right shape for you.

Is it a little small, the skirt i mean? It like looks like it is. A size up with some nice shoes wld be ace.

The skirt looks like it’s slightly too tight across the stomach which the button detailing accentuates. It would be a nice work outfit if it wasn’t for the front buttons.

You have a lovely figure, I think the skirt is just an odd length. Slightly shorter or slightly longer would be better, but the style suits you.

Lovely figure.

Cheap and nasty clothes

Sorry, but that is the problem.

Candidly: it's too small. You look like you're a very similar shape to me. The skirt is wrinkling across the hips because it's not big enough. You will probably also find walking an issue with it riding up. The skirt isn't as flattering as it could be because it's clinging to the widest part of your lower body. Buy a larger size and get it tailored to your waist.

This should not be a discouragement, but if you are pear-shaped, wearing a pattern on the bottom half and a plain dark colour on the top half will make your bottom half look bigger. If you want (which you may not) to look more balanced, then you want to reverse that. Plain, matte fabrics in simple shapes with little-to no detailing on the bottom half, coupled with patterned, colourful, detailed clothing on the top half will create a visual balance.

You've mixed navy and black. They can't be.

The skirt is a whisker too small.

Different tights and it'd be lovely.

@LadyOfTheCanyon has it. Seams are all over the shop. Does you no favours and it's certainly not your figure that's the problem.

Thank you for all the honest and kind replies!

Yes - I had my doubts about H&M, but they opened this fancy new concept store in the City and I was tempted by the posh decor. I was hoping this outfit would be as good quality as the decor!

But no.

Thinking I'll get the shirt as it's not expensive, and find a more flattering skirt. Perhaps Hobbs or similar, and then it's worthwhile tailoring to fit properly.

Good plan

@AfterSchoolWorry I was just trying on the outfit in my lunch break so would definitely get navy tights if I were to buy this outfit.

@Terramirabilis good advice! Pre-baby I tended to go for patterned skirts and plain tops, because then it's easy to mix and match different coloured tops with skirts; but perhaps it's time to swap that rule around?

It's too short, it needs to be another 2 inches longer.

You have a fab figure

It sits too low. Pencils skirts/skirt where you tuck in your shirt in general need to sit on your waist. You are also wearing wrong tights. You just never wear stockings darker than your skirt.

Well its not my style, but I'm not wearing it. However, The only actually fault I can find is that you're wearing black tights with a Navy blue top. Other than that. Its all all good.