Style help for short busty hourglass!

[Nc123]

S&B Mumsnetters, please help! I’m on the verge of giving up on trying to look nice altogether!

I’m 39, 5’1”, hourglass and very top heavy (HH cup). I’m currently a size 18 but in the process of losing weight. I work in an office/from home, and spend the rest of the time running after my kids and out of doors.

I have always been shit at clothes. Layering, padding or oversizing looks terrible on me. I can’t wear heels of any sort. But I really, really want to start looking a bit nicer and more pulled together. The trouble is that all the clothes I try on which are supposed to suit my body shape just seem to look awful!

I have:

• bought new underwear and sorted out a proper bra fitting
• identified some good colours that I can wear and that go together

Please can you suggest some stuff I can wear that I won’t fall out of (like the wrap dress), look huge in (like the sensible padded coat) and stand a chance of looking nice in!

I’m a slightly smaller version of the same body type as you - 5’1, size 14, G cup boobs and very hourglass. It can be such a pain finding flattering stuff! Anything high-waisted makes me look like an Oompa Loompa. I’ve basically stopped wearing separates entirely - it’s dresses all the way now.

Anyway, I bought this dress recently and it’s the most flattering thing I’ve worn in years. My usual size fit perfectly but it did shrink slightly in the wash so I bought another one size up and it fits like a glove post-wash. They do it in leopard print too.
www.dorothyperkins.com/black-white-spot-v-frill-mini-dress/AQQ43123.html

V-necks are essential for me so that my boobs don’t look matronly. Can’t wear wrap dresses though because they just look weird. A-line tea dresses are definitely a safe bet. Nothing sleeveless either!

Collectif do amazing smart A-line coats, although I always get them shortened slightly (to hit at the knee) so I don’t look swamped. I have one of their hooded lightly-quilted velvet ones and it always gets tons of compliments.

www.collectiflondon.com/Mobile/en/Womens-Coats/m-c-215.aspx

Agree with previous poster, go for dresses. I'm a busty 5ft2 hour glass figure, Size 12. Separates look dreadful on me. Boat necks are great, with a belt around the middle.

I'm also a short busty hourglass, 12/14 34H 5'4, also live in dresses.
I look awful in jeans

Unlike the other poster here I think v neck can be a bit awkward with bustiness. I prefer sort of square cut or lower wide circle neck tops. But depends how you're made maybe - so you will know what works for you .

How are you in fitted jackets? I think they can be flattering on short busty hourglasses if they nip in at the waist and by being a bit structured they can maybe balance out the bustiness a little? And possible to get in variety of different styles, colours and materials so they can be quite informal and casual and don't have to be officey or anything.

v neck tight fitting tops or scoop neck tops. short to mid length skirt -
nothing long on the legs that goes below the knee. Boots look good with these skirts and visually seem to balance out the top heaviness a bit. Long loose or tighter well fitted cardigans (good quality cardigans made of nice material, expensive) or semi buttoned shirts over the jersey tops. It's a nightmare to dress this way and find clothes that fit (I am same)!!! You have my empathy! If I find something I like I try to buy 2-3 of it because I know it will be a long time before I find something else I like.

oh and decent jewellery can help balance out a bit - a good statement necklace (not long, but neck level) or nice earrings takes the visual balance away from the bust a bit. I live in scarves to do the same a bit!

I’m 5ft, massive norks and an hourglass 14. None of the stuff usually suggested for our shape ever looks good on me. Wrap dresses are the worst!
Plain colours are best. Patterns really do nothing for me. I like plain, well cut tops and ankle grazing trousers (chino-ish or mum jeans.) v necks can be a bit too much. I prefer a boat or wide crew neck.
I have recently discovered jumpsuits. This really cheap one from boohoo works well and I get so many compliments when i wear it.

www.boohoo.com/knot-front-woven-culotte-jumpsuit/DZZ02711.html?color=105

I also surprised myself by looking nice in a pair of navy dungarees recently. With plain coloured long sleeve T-shirt underneath. I feel more put together in them for being out and about with the kids than o do in leggings and a hoody!

Good fitting underwear is so important. And a decent haircut. My go to is definitely plain clothes and good accessories. Nothing fancy.

I used to think was hourglass and wonder why recommended styles didn’t work on me, but after some pinterest research established that am actually a busty rectangle!

Hourglass is v small waist relative to both hips and bust.

I'm also short, busty and hourglassy (with some weight around the middle to lose again, sigh).

Shirt dresses work much, much better on me than wrap dresses. Top can be left a bit open to add a V-shape around the collar.

And definitely, definitely, a proper bra fitting and really good bras underneath, if you haven't already.

I'm short, 32FF and a size 14. Sadly unlike you other ladies I don't have much of a waist. I'm very small framed so I find most dresses that cover my boobs without gaping or straining are too big on the shoulders and hips. The exception is some shift style dresses. I have very slim legs so for dressy occasions I wear short shift dresses mostly. For every day my uniform is Uniqlo cropped Jeggings in various colours with a narrow tunic top long that covers my lack of waist and stops just below my crotch. Knitted tops and boots in winter, loose silk or linen tops with trainers or sandals in the summer.

For casual wear look out for these

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B012B4K9EY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

They are a loose fitting harem pant style jumpsuit/dungaree. They were a big thing in the style and beauty forums a few years ago and were known on MN as the Flying Squirrel jumpsuit. Opinion was strongly divided about whether they were wonderful or hideous. I bought one as a joke and loved it so much I bought several more. For lounging round the house and garden or spending time in the heat they are great and IMO look much nicer in than you would imagine.

Look up the Kibbe body types method. I found it helpful in finding clothes I feel good in. I’m a 16, 5,2, 34FF. John Lewis personal shopping experience could be expensive but helpful. I wear this soft Whistles blazer a lot and it really works with my boobs. www.whistles.com/product/slim-jersey-jacket-30990.html#gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7rSBkaWQ9QIVDuztCh0FyQA5EAAYASAAEgJebfD_BwE&utm_term=blazers&utm_content=129077638477&utm_campaign=15095847970&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&cgid=Blazers&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=slim-jersey-jacket-30990&pos=4

I'm a 5 foot hourglass but size 10, do you have a flat stomach? If so it's pretty easy to dress an hourglass shape . Today I'm wearing this .

joanieclothing.com/macdougal-indigo-denim-long-sleeve-boilersuit.html

Also I long gave up on trying to make myself look taller / thinner / less curvy . I'd love longer legs but it is what it is .