Hourglass Casual help please

[floffel]

I’m a 5ft 3in hourglass and am clueless when it comes to dressing casually.

Would this cardigan work with these jeans?

Cardigan - www.johnlewis.com/mint-velvet-ribbed-biker-cardigan-dark-grey/p4761681?size=12

Jeans - www.johnlewis.com/levi's-721-high-rise-skinny-jeans/black/p4161200?size=w30-l30

Thanks in advance

I luffs you all

Chunky shoes @happytobemrsg ? Have any ideas to link?

Op, what size you if you don't mind me asking? Other than the jeans, you seem to have a bit of a penchant for clothes that are quite boxy. In my experience this isn't the most flattering for an hour glass.

DOLMAN! Not Dolby though I just googled pictures and I don’t mean the full on 80s style ones, I mean a subtle one.

Hi @bluntness - not at all! I’m a size 12 but because of boobs i usually end up having to go larger. I do like bravissimo for dresses and tops because they do the curvy/super curvy sizing that works well but I don’t actually like a lot of their stuff - I find it a bit frumpy (for me)

You’re right - I have a penchant for things that I WANT to look like, rather than things that would actually suit me. Hence the thread - I know I’m hopeless

Hahaha Spuriouser! Because I’m clueless I didn’t realise the typo - I just thought ‘another style I’m clueless about’ :)

It’s casual stuff where I’m hopeless - for smart, it’s easy to find fab great looking things and I love dressing up and looking wow - I’m currently coveting a couple of Bombshell dresses .....................

Are these too chunky?

Are these the kind of things you mention in your post @SpuriouserAndSpuriouser?

Are these the kind of things you mention in your post

Yes, that’s the sort of thing I mean! Obviously they wouldn’t work with super casual outfits but for medium casual outfits it’s a good trick. I know what you mean about being able to do dressy outfits well, it is the casual sort of outfits that are harder.

I’ve ordered them! I think you need to change your name from Spuriouser to SpuriouserAndSuperEnabler :)

Hello - a fellow hourglass here - 16/18 - but summer colouring. I'm finding the colours this winter dreadful for me! I have a very short waist, so need stuff to continue past my waist slightly, otherwise my waist sits (almost) under my bust.

I agree with others - wear anything with a nipped in waist, small patterns, high waisted jeans, and anything with a high neck gets balanced out by a long necklace or some kind of scarf.

Ive not heard about the chunky shoes to balance things out. I have a LOT of flat court shoes - eeek!

Love the boots OP!

The biker ones MrsG? I was inspired by your chunky boots advice :)

Well I’m pretty sure you’re enabling me because I really want the hush blazer now!

Hourglass here too but I’m 5 ft 9

I’ve got a bit of a tum since having DS though.

I’m a shorty booby hourglass too.

I have that whistles slim jacket! It’s a great fit and looks good with jeans and also over dresses if needed. I find my jackets need to be kept quite short. I can however where cropped card is with dresses. Look much better in a v neck or wrap neckline as opposed to scooped - but difficult in winter as it can be chilly

One other thing I’ve found - more for summer - is I have to be really careful where short sleeves fall. If they are quite wide and in line with the top of boobs they make me look really wide. A slightly slanted short sleeve usually looks best.

I also avoid pockets at chest level which look terrible for some reason.

I my head is really love to be able to to the whole smart trousers, casual shirt slightly masculine dressing but I’ve given up that dream! I do think being hourglass makes cool dressing more difficult too!

Unlike others I find in jeans - because I’m short/high waisted a mid rise works best ( hard to find atm!)

Following. I really struggle with casual and always have. Short, short waisted and a 14 so v easy to look dumpy.

I have been trying to find a fine knit navy wrap cardigan for ages but no luck - something like that monsoon one but navy.

H&M do jersey jackets like that whistles one for 25 quid. I have a few colours (wear got work mostly).

I have that cardigan and it’s really lovely. I think it’s flattering but maybe I’m delusional!

More hourglasses! Brilliant - so while we’re busy helping each other out with casual outfits, shall we share what things we’ve found for smarter occasions?

I love both boots! I agree with BigMouse, shorter jackets work best.

@slipperyeel - so Pleased to hear that, I just loved the look of it, cool biker style. I think I’m going to try it on next time I go to John Lewis -pay day-

@freddy45 - it’s a pain isn’t it? Re- your hunt for navy wrap cardigan - have you seen this one? I’ve just filled out the John Lewis personal style edit thing and it’s just popped up - www.johnlewis.com/jigsaw-cloud-rib-wrap-cashmere-top/p4533043?sku=238319947&colour=Navy&size=l&s_ppc=2dx-KELKOO-FASHION92700045364872510&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAiAwZTuBRAYEiwAcr67OYdHpBjOCu8-NrjEWyLkwk0j_vqH4APGJEPM38QvcjqykNeLAriKLhoCVb8QAvD_BwE

Has anyone bought a bombshell dress?

I'm a 5'2" hourglass and find when I'm a healthy weight and a size 10 or 8 that I can wear anything and look good but as soon as I put on a bit of weight and go up to a size 12/BMI above 25 I need to think more carefully or I look very matronly. Hush's V necks are a work of genius and look fabulous, when overweight petite skinnies are the best thing (my arse is awesome due to the amount of exercise I do though) but once I get to a BMI below 25 I like girlfriend cut jeans. Agree that a high waist is fabulous (have some wide legged cropped cords from Uniqlo that are very vah vah voom). Big fan of silk shirts, the drape is so flattering to my boobs.