What on earth would suit my shape?!

[SingleHandSue]

I look truly dreadful in everything I wear and think I might be missing a trick and there’s just the thing to flatter my shape.

I’m 5’3, a size 14/16 with short dumpy legs, reasonably large thighs, hips and bum, a huge pregnant looking belly but strangely narrow around the rib cage and upper back.

I know I’m overweight so I’ll be working on that but what can I wear in the meantime?

I don’t even know what shape to look for. Apples are supposed to have good legs - I don’t. Pears are supposed to have good waists - I don’t.

I have good boobs but because of my smaller ribcage they don’t exactly match my lower half.

I wish I could dress nicely for my shape but I’m totally lost for ideas. Any clues oh wise ones?

Thanks for any help!

Go for fitted shapes and good quality Jersey. make the most of your narrow upper and curvy bum. i have an awkward shape and find that anything loose adds bulk. strapless fitted dresses would look great for evening

I bet you don't look dreadful in everything you wear at all!

If you feel your stomach is not in proportion have you tried Spanx? Real proper Spanx, not cheap own brand versions? They really do make a massive difference. Possibly not an everyday thing but for occasions they are great.

The thought of fitted anything brings me out in hives! I’m not a toned 14/16, in fact I’m more like a very large wobbly lady in miniature 🙈

@ItsmineAllmine

I bet you don't look dreadful in everything you wear at all!

If you feel your stomach is not in proportion have you tried Spanx? Real proper Spanx, not cheap own brand versions? They really do make a massive difference. Possibly not an everyday thing but for occasions they are great.

I’ve never tried any shapewear, is Spanx really worth the money? I worry they’ll be like my leggings and plop under my belly every time I move 😂 (I only wear leggings in the house, don’t worry)

Have you tried the shift dresses in next? They seem to suit a lot of people

i promise you Spanx are worth the money. Just make you more streamlined and smooth, and sort of flatten down any bumpy bits. Go for the ones the pull right up to under your boobs and down to your thighs. Magical

Would empire line suit you?

I think we are a similar shape OP. Spanx is amazing, and well tailored clothes make me look a million dollars. If clothes don't fit and hihglight my best bits I look much bigger than I am. I tend to wear maxi dresses and skirts as I have very large legs; suspected lipedema in fact.

You sound a bit diamond shape, does this look accurate?

If so, keep it interesting on top to draw the eye there, interesting necklines and sleeves, wrap dresses, etc. You can also play with colour and layering as well as jewellery. Use wider belts to cheat a waistline, go for slight boot cut jeans below (look for petite cuts or ones that come in lengths because taking a standard length in to a 5"3 frame will probably stop it being a boot cut) and keep the denim as dark as possible (and other bottom choices).

What about cocoon and tulip dresses?

Great advice from @Botemp!

I carry a lot of weight on my tummy but similarly don’t have the amazing legs I’m meant to get as pay off! A look that really works for me is a fitted 7/8 trouser or a good pair of girlfriend jeans with a turn up, and a woven (ie not jersey) top that hits at high hip. Either good quality shirts in heavy cotton, silk or satin, or more t-shirt shapes in wovens: linen, poplin, silk. I also try for a 3/4 length sleeve where possible. In winter I often wear slightly oversized v-neck cashmere jumpers.

It has taken me years to realise these are my best shapes and I’m still not entirely sure why they work. But I think it’s about the structure on the top half which works much better than anything too drapey over my tummy. (Tho weirdly I have a couple of heavy satin shirts that work fine). An open neckline shows off your boobs or a strong necklace over a higher neck balances things out.

The most important things are fit particularly on trousers (Levi’s and weirdly M&S work for me) and always buying the most quality fabrics you can afford. I tend to wear mostly natural fabrics unless it’s a shift dress in a thick ottoman fabric which are also useful in block colours with architectural jewellery.

Don’t know if this helps? Might depend on your shoulder width a bit. But it really took me ages to understand so I thought worth sharing!

It would be great if you would post a photo (face cropped out) as sometimes posters are too harsh on themselves and paint an inaccurate picture of their body.

It's not uncommon for pears after childbirth to change shape due to stomach area.

Finding out that there is a shape called 'The Spoon'was a revelation!
Enter your measurements using a tape measure here to check what shape you are:
www.calculator.net/body-type-calculator.html

Thanks everybody for your help, it is very much appreciated.

I’m going to try that body shape calculator once I can track down my tape measure, and if I can take a decent enough photo I may post that later.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Eek I look even worse in photos than I thought 🙈

As you can see from front view I don’t look too awful but from the side... I mean who the fuck has a belly as out of proportion as that?! 😂

Be kind.

Well from how you painted yourself I was expecting totally different! You've a lovely figure and curves and a waist! I'm shit at clothes though but I'm quite similar to you although my belly swings lower. Tasty!

I mean who the fuck has a belly as out of proportion as that?!

Well I do! Mine is a real apron. I have never had kids so can't blame them!

OP you have a lovely figure! Have you tried a high waisted full skirt, or paper bag waist on trousers or a skirt? Something nipped in then flowing out might suit?

I have the same shape - but never knew there was a word for it!
Used to be a pear / hourglass until 2 children messed with my tummy muscles.
Sadly I still think of myself as having a waist, as I used to, but those nipped-in jackets and shirts don't work with a sticking-out tum. Still trying to find the shapes to both disguise and enhance. Tangelo and Botemp's comments are really helpful.

@SingleHandSue you've got a lovely figure!! You're really too hard on yourself. From what you were describing I was imaging you about 3 times larger than you are. I think you may have previously been an hourglass, it now maybe an apple like others have said. You want clothing that balances you out and draws the eye upwards and away from your tummy area. I would suggest some narrower fitting trousers / jeans with tops that skim over the tummy and then some casual blazers & cardigans.

On a side note, have you spoken to your doctor about diastasis recti? There is some physio and exercises you can do to help bring the muscles back together again.

@BugEyedBeans, they're probably not the easiest thing to find at the moment as they've somewhat fallen out of fashion but you can try cropped jackets that hang above your smallest part at the ribs. You'll create an illusion of a smaller waist as it hangs above it where the shadow makes everything below look nipped and keep focus to the top half. I've attached photos (obviously very different context and body shapes) but just to show the effect in a more pronounced way.

your figure is nice. I'd go for layering, myself, so you can play up the parts you like and play down the parts you don't. So, for a casual look you can dress up or down:

loose tops, in a petite fitting so they're not too long, so... sleeveless trapeze vests, or plain 'shift dress' style smocks, or long sleeve jersey swing tunics, to disguise the section you don't like,

with a fitted around the shoulders jacket with bust darts, to draw the eye towards that narrowest part, preferably collarless or Nehru collar (like a Beatles/Indian jacket) (or cropped jackets, like Botemp suggests) and, on the bottom,

skinny jeans, jeggings, or midi skirts. As a 'uniform', you can play with fabrics depending on the season, or add a statement earring, fancy shoes, etc, for nights out.

Thank you all so much for your advice

It seems that I’m already wearing some styles that you have recommended.

I do tend to wear dark jeans turned up with looser tops that sit on my hips. And my only ‘posh frock’ has a cropped sticky out top like those botemp posted.

Maybe it’s the fabrics I need to change, I do tend to wear cheap and cheerful from Tesco or Matalan so maybe I should think about investing in better quality stuff to see if that makes me look better.