What if your aesthetic taste doesn’t match your body?!

[HedgeSparrow]

Inspired by some recent threads on here, I thought I’d reach out and see if anyone shares my perpetual fashion dilemma - one which has been responsible for far too many impulse purchases and unhappy outfits over the years.

What do you do if what you like fashion wise doesn’t really suit you? I love the French-girl classics with a twist kind of style, neat and gamine. Tailoring, neutrals, based around jeans, trousers and knitwear.

However, I’m a large armed, ruddy complexioned Anglo-Saxon, large size 12 with a large bust, hourglass figure, tummy and chunky thighs. All my family look like we’ve just jumped off a Viking longboat but NOT in a Scandi-chic way.

So really my body suits skirts and dresses and I feel more comfortable in them. My body calls for Seasalt tunics. The upshot is I’m either comfortable but feel I don’t look good, or I’m wearing clothes I really like but I’m uncomfortable (and disappointed when I catch a glimpse of myself in them as I just don’t have the right vibe).

Can anyone else relate? How do you square the circle?

ROFL at this thread. I love a jumpsuit but the reality is a camel toe

Don't knock resting bitch face though - I'm convinced I've slightly less lines due to ability to register disapproval without actually frowning.

I absolutely love the idea of dungarees, especially when worn by older women, like myself. Think a bit rock chic, a bit boho. I've bought three different pairs and sent them all back, as what I've actually seen in the mirror is a combination of really pissed off tubby toddler and painter/decorator.

@Steelesauce

I was complaining about this the other day. I would love to be dainty and short. Instead I'm tall, curvy and strong looking. With an absolute resting bitch face. I put a gorgeous jump suit on the other day, got severe camal toe. Any cute summer dresses are always really short because I am so leggy. I know some people would love my figure but we always want what we can't have

It’s so true. If I wear a dress or jumpsuit that aren’t specifically petite sized then I look like a slightly podgy, grumpy child who’s playing at dressing-up in their mum’s clothes. Fortunately I don’t get camel toe - but instead sport the gusset-at-knees look.

Christ - all I said was that I look like a hippo in leggings and now some 21 year old is asking if I’m REALLY a woman.

@nokaa I looked at your survey and I have to say I find it really depressing. If you've read this thread you will realise that a lot of women are struggling to find clothes that suit their (female) body shapes. Your sponsor COS is one of the prime offenders in serving up racks and racks of clothes that only suit one very particular body shape that is almost impossible to find amongst women who have had children as it most closely resembles that of a teenager or prepubescent girl (or a boy.....). I would say that the majority of COS designers are completely unaware of the fact that real women have a bust (let alone a stomach or chunky legs).

It is a real pity that in the race to be the most virtue signalling - sustainable/trans inclusive etc etc you have forgotten that real women are the market. I'm picking COS out here as they are your sponsor but, if you have read this thread at all, you will realise that so many women finding it so hard to find clothes that work for their bodies means that many other brands are missing this too. If COS could produce sustainable clothing that actually suited women it would be on to a commercial winner......

What did I miss from @nokaa?!

If COS could produce sustainable clothing that actually suited women it would be on to a commercial winner......

I didn't see @nokka's post.

Totally disagree about COS it's my favourite shop have been a customer for over 12 years. I'm tall and slim and I have a friend who is 5'4" and curvy she also loves COS . It caters for many people if you disagree there's plenty of alternative shops on the High Street.

She was asking us to compete her uni survey if we “identify as female”.

@Imnotweirdimlimitededition1

ROFL at this thread. I love a jumpsuit but the reality is a camel toe

To be fair, I don’t think that would look good on anyone

I think every woman in the world looks good in well fitting dark jeans or well cut trousers, a tailored white cotton of linen blouse and a tailored navy blazer. That classic French chic look works because it it is clean and crisp. It is especially attractive on gamine women but lots of well built women carry it off too.
The blonde woman below mixes up the Seasalt tunic with classic blazer. Would that be a good compromise?

Don't think the images posted. Try again

I’ve had some good stuff from COS over the years but they’ve not been from the space-age asymmetrical muumuu side of the collection.

I totally agree re the disconnect. I’m the same as you @middleager. I want to look casual and cool in the jeans, retro trainers and skinny/slim fit T’s of my youth. Sadly my huge tits make skinny T’s look porny and slim fit ones look frumpy.

Fucksake if I could identify as someone who fit the boyish H&M aesthetic I would in a heartbeat. It would save me so. much. money. Especially if I could identify as someone who could run without £50 worth of tit support.

Admit to not having bothered with Cos as the clothes look as if they want to add volume and shape to the typical H&M straight up and down figure. But I'd be interested if any other tall & curvy people rate it and if so what?

@EdgeOfSeventeenAndThreeQuarter

She was asking us to compete her uni survey if we “identify as female”.

Oh dear god… 🙄

@gingerhills I'm afraid not. The white shirt/blazer/dark trousers combo makes me look mostly like someones dad, though with a shirt tucked in my legs go up to my bust and untucked its more that I should have been an 80's East German shot putter

Re jumpsuits, I am tall and (ahem) sturdy like my farm labourer foremothers and have found that a black linen cropped wide-leg jumpsuit with a belt looks amazing on me. I realise this is an extremely specific set of criteria but honestly I've never felt so glamorous wearing anything else in my entire life so if you are built like me I highly recommend giving it a go.

@raspberrymuffin

Re jumpsuits, I am tall and (ahem) sturdy like my farm labourer foremothers and have found that a black linen cropped wide-leg jumpsuit with a belt looks amazing on me. I realise this is an extremely specific set of criteria but honestly I've never felt so glamorous wearing anything else in my entire life so if you are built like me I highly recommend giving it a go.

Me too! I was a very late adopter but they really work on me I've a dodgy shoulder though so find them too awkward for the loo on a daily basis.

I went trawling last night after the Suzie Meyerson comment inspired me above and have bought three pairs of trousers and I'm going to see if I can find a decent one-suits-all-purposes leather bike jacket. Maybe dark grey.

Are you really going to dress like Suzie Myerson?!

I love Paris Chic but unfortunately I am built like an Andalucian Grandma
I try to bridge the gap between the 2 (unsuccessfully)

@Snog

My dd (aged 22) preaches to wear what you love not what the mainstream says looks good on you or suits you.

I have found that there is a lot of freedom and joy in this approach.

For many people, what they love is what they look good in. There are also some young and beautiful people who wear unflattering things on purpose because they know they look good in anything.

I'd love to wear shirt dresses and wrap dresses. Big waist and small boobs say 'No', alas!

My body calls for Seasalt tunics

😂