I really want to wear big, chunky jumpers...

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

...with leggings and boots for the winter. The problem is, it's not a style that suits me at all.

I'm an inverted triangle - I'm slim but with huge boobs (30G), slim legs, flattish stomach, narrow waist and hips and no bum to speak of. My shoulders, whilst not particularly broad, are the widest part of my body, so in fitted clothes I look quite athletic, but adding any kind of volume to my top half makes me look much bigger than I am, as it hangs from my shoulders/boobs.

Is there any way to style this out, or do I just have to accept that it's not a look that'll work for me, in the same way I've had to accept I'm never going to look gamine?

The most flattering look on me, incidentally, is wide leg trousers with a fitted top, but it's not ideal in wet weather. My hems get soggy.

I'm a bad shape for chunky jumpers, size 16 ( sometimes 18 ) top and skinny legs with a tum and no bum.

If I want to wear that look I don't go too oversized and I balance the bottom out with really chunky boots, either some Fairfax and Favor explorers or slightly longer biker boots that are everywhere this season. It does work it's just a question of my not wearing horizontal stripes and then reaching my upper thigh.

Could you wear a fitted top with a chunky cardigan over?

One option is just to wear something because you love it regardless of whether you look your best in it or not. I have a couple of outfits which don't do anything for me but which I love regardless.

Oh but its good that you know what flatters you, and the move to volume on the bottom half, tighter on top half, will look great on you.

Midi length skirts with chunky boots and fine knit jumpers would look great, and midi length would avoid the soggy hem issue.

Balloon leg trousers or straight leg would work.

Chunky knits are over rated anyway, they are too hot indoors, and hard to get a coat over the top outdoors, and how often is it cold enough for chunky knits but dry enough for no coat in the UK? You end up with that stuff armpit feeling.

I think chunky cardigans might be the way forward. I wondered about adding a wide belt, but that's a bit 80s, isn't it? I was thinking a wide v neck jumper, slouching off one shoulder might look quite good, but it's hardly practical in cold weather.

I do have unflattering clothes that I love and wear anyway, such my dungarees. I just worry that leggings and chunky jumpers might make look like a pom-pom on a stick.

I feel you pain. I want to wear big and chunky jumpers. But i am big and chunky and look awful.

I think the cardigan sounds like a good option for you.

@MargosKaftan

Oh but its good that you know what flatters you, and the move to volume on the bottom half, tighter on top half, will look great on you.

Midi length skirts with chunky boots and fine knit jumpers would look great, and midi length would avoid the soggy hem issue.

Balloon leg trousers or straight leg would work.

Chunky knits are over rated anyway, they are too hot indoors, and hard to get a coat over the top outdoors, and how often is it cold enough for chunky knits but dry enough for no coat in the UK? You end up with that stuff armpit feeling.

Your last point is an excellent one which I hadn't considered.

I'm not sure I can do skirts though. Haven't work one in years.

Do it. I'm getting sick and tired of style rules - they're a useful guide but that's all. There's so much more to getting dressed: self expression, personality, not to mention lifestyle. If I'm really drawn to something that's not quite right then I'd rather figure out a way of making it work better, e.g. in your case a big, slouchy V-neck cardigan as suggested.

Incidentally I'm a 28F/FF and one of my bras is a G cup, so I don't think my boobs will be that much smaller than yours and while they're certainly bigger than they used to be, they're not huge and I very much doubt yours are either.

They're not huge, no, but they're the biggest bit of me, so everything hangs off them and makes me look as big as my biggest bit. Unless I wear very fitted clothes, and if I do it can be a bit "va va voom."

I'm too old to voom. 😆

I have to belt this kind of outfit to make it work - I'll take looking slightly retro over looking several sizes bigger because my waist has vanished.

sleeveless chunky/fluffy gilet with belt?

If you wear a V neck cardigan with a top underneath in a much finer fabric but the same colour as the cardigan you will look longer and slimmer. The finer top won't enlarge your boobs and the cardigan won't add bulk across the whole top of you . I'm broad shouldered and big boobed too and this gives a lighter line down your central area .

I would say a jumper with a low v neck would look good and balance things out ?

what about a chunky cropped jumper, so your waist can be seen? Or would that cancel out the cosy feel you may be looking for?

How wide are your shoulders? If it's just your boobs that are big, why not try to go for slouchy but cashmere jumpers with movement.
Perhaps turtlenecks where the eye goes upwards and slightly breaks up the line or my current favorite collared jumpers. There are a few about and the are not as boring as the usual v neck jumpers which I think of as quite dated but allow you to do the whole slouchy and chunky but with a hint of a v. I find that as an inverted triangle the problem isnt only the chunky jumper per se but actually the crew neck collar

Not very, I'm quite a narrow build generally. They're wider than my hips though.

I'm an inverted triangle and am slim, but I look like a blob in seme chunky jumpers. I find that ones that skim the body are better.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal then i guess you are an inverted triangle as it's about the width of shoulders rather than boobs. Am an inverted triangle and size 6 but quite short. Honestly, they've always overwhelmed me and I always look short and like a blob. I do fitted turtlenecks for that chunky jumper feel.

Guess it just depends - you are unlikely to make the look the most flattering (unless you are really tall with long legs, then it could work) but does it matter.

I think the cardigan idea is great, those balloon sleeve chunky cardies look great. What about a chunky v neck jumper that's shorter at the front, longer at the back, so less bulk?

Like these....

I'm reasonable tall, @Djjf28dhs - 5'7, and it is mostly legs.

I like those suggestions and examples, @Rina66, thank you. Will see if I can find similar.

Wear what you want. Who is looking at you?!?

Love my oversized cardigans, always go up a size so they're really warm. Found a coatigan in Cotton traders the other week in duck egg lovely details on it.

www.cottontraders.com/women/knitwear/cardigans/longline-cable-coatigan/AL11135.html?dwvar_AL11135_color=Pale%20Duck%20Egg#q=coatigan&start=11&list=search%20result&p=5

@Mirw

Wear what you want. Who is looking at you?!?

I'm an actor. So, actually, quite a few people.

Also, is Style & Beauty really the right forum for you, do you think?

I'm your shape but petite, so look much wider if I wear anything chunky on top I am only a size 10 hips and 12 top but feel i look huge when i wear the chunky jumpers, I do wear a thin polo/turtleneck tops nearly all winter for extra warmth under either a dress, a long sleeved top, or finer jumper. Then add a long cardigen when it's really cold.