Casual

[askmehowiknow]

I'm a slim hourglass shape. Similar to Holly W but taller I imagine (5'8). I'm brunette. I wear lots of dresses and pencil skirts to work, similar to her style.

However I'd like to update my casual wardrobe but always struggle with less fitted clothes as I just look much larger and frumpy.

I tend to wear slim fit jeans and tops that end before my hips. I prefer grey/blue/neutrals to colour

I am a mum (30s) but hate anything that makes me look 'mumsy'!

Are there styles I'm missing? Anyone I can follow for inspiration? Coming into Autumn I'm keen in a wardrobe overhaul but not just a load more jeans and t shirts!!

Thanks

Go For:

Tops tucked in
Oversize/boyfriend shirts with open collars but tucked in to emphasise your waist
Great necklaces
Mom/High waisted jeans

Avoid
Skinny jeans
Plain long sleeve T-shirts

Thanks so much

You're right high waisted jeans do suit me. I should look into getting some more.

Would never have consider tucked in shirt though. I'll google some photos! Sounds very 90s but maybe in a good way!



www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.popsugar.co.uk/fashion/photo-gallery/46562006/image/46561818/Style-Your-T-Shirt-With-Jeans-Sneakers/amp

This is what I basically wear most days in some form or other

If you look up "we are twin set" on instagram and YouTube they have tons of videos on how to style jeans and t shirts to make it up to date and styled

Another neat hourglass, I'd avoid most hourglass advice about emphasising the waist as that works for a full hourglass but just looks bulky and hides your waist when you're slimmer. Tucking in does work well but you have to be a bit nonchalant about it, the French tuck, for example, often looks quite contrived (probably because it's so ubiquitous), as a base you do need a bit of excess fabric, that way how you tuck directs itself, if it's all too fitted it'll read formal and a bit frumpy. Roll up sleeves, bracelets are a good eye catcher to balance out the extra material.

For me, key is thicker quality fabrics that have some stiffness and feel of tailoring to them but wear them upsized. So (casual) men's shirts, stiff 100% denim jeans just several sizes larger so they sit slightly lower. Don't go mad belting everything but a slim dark brown belt can be really useful. Oversized blazers work well too, but instead of buying some boyfriend version you're better off just going straight to the men's section as the fabric and finish is much better (doesn't work for jeans).

You can then contrast that with drapier lightweight fabrics like silk but in more structured shapes like equipment's signature shirt (the slim version is more formal, classic version is more casual). French brands for casual shirts like American vintage and Majestic Filatures work well as they're often cut on the bias or otherwise in a way that wraps around the body as opposed to just hanging down from your boobs without direction obscuring any shape you have below.

@botemp do you have any online examples of what you mean?

It's interesting that we are both similar shapes but I just can't imagine wearing what you're describing

Although I also never wear belts I agree about that

And also agree we can easily end up looking formal and frumpy. I don't think hour glass shape can ever look edgy or cool

Absolutely tuck stuff in. I tuck pretty much everything nowadays (that is tuckable). You could do a french tuck

Agree always do french tuck.

I have a petite figure with a waist but lots of casual stuff looks frumpy on me too.

I'm probably more pear than hourglass - not much boobs, but a small waist with bigger hips. I always wear high waists with either something tucked in, or things which are slightly cropped that just sit on my waist band.

For jeans I like Whistles barrel leg, Levi's 501s or balloon legs, and recently got some new black jeans for autumn from Monki which are called something like Zami. Trousers I always get from Cos, and in winter I really like a leather mini-ish skirt, with a neat jumper, opaque tights, and either leather trainers or DM monkey boots.

Today I'm in navy barrel leg jeans from Whistles, with a stripy t-shirt from Jigsaw in a sort of tan and white, tucked in, a big acrylic necklace, and gold Nike Air Max.

I wear belts as belts, they can be helpful in that sense as sort of demarcation line but the whole using them to gather in doesn't really work unless it's a giant outerwear coat and you're shapeless anyhow.

Have a look at Emanuele Alt (post her skinny jeans/trousers obsession), it's not casual casual, there's a slight dressiness to it that can be toned down with different shoes, but IME it's the choice of incorporating that or just looking shapeless. I'm okay with being slightly overdressed though.

@botemp

I wear belts as belts, they can be helpful in that sense as sort of demarcation line but the whole using them to gather in doesn't really work unless it's a giant outerwear coat and you're shapeless anyhow.

Have a look at Emanuele Alt (post her skinny jeans/trousers obsession), it's not casual casual, there's a slight dressiness to it that can be toned down with different shoes, but IME it's the choice of incorporating that or just looking shapeless. I'm okay with being slightly overdressed though.

Weirdly I look very similar to her lol

Thanks will be great to see how she dresses

I love the fact I've just said I look like the Vogue Paris editor cringe

@askmehowiknow

I love the fact I've just said I look like the Vogue Paris editor cringe

In our (deluded) minds, I think we all do