When your body doesn’t match your personal style

[Tarantellah]

I have an English Rose kind of look. Pale, rosy cheeks, fair wavy hair, rounded body with full hips. I look great in soft pastels and flowery dresses cinched in at the waist.

The problem is it doesn’t match my personality or what I want to look like. I want to look like an architect. Black clothes, plain colours, boxy shapes which suit a skinny body with no hips. Styles which don’t suit me at all, and which don’t look right on me.

Basically what happens is I try on clothes I like but I look shit in them. Then I try on clothes I hate which look great on my body but they aren’t me. So I end up not buying anything. I live in plain sweaters and black trousers because I can’t find anything that I like which also suits me. Help!

Well we all need another woman to look down on and ridicule online! If it helps...

The best thing to do is to forget “style” and choose good clothes in nice fabrics that suit your body shape and are comfortable. Then get on with your life and express your personality in what you do rather than how you dress. That’s real style.

Ha ha, in my mind’s eye I am Mrs Maisel !!

I think there should be a Shape Service, rather than any rules based on age. When people say, “Oh, So and So is 70 and she looks stunning” invariably said woman is tall, angular, with slim arms and legs and a washboard stomach. And a fine head of art teacher hair.

I want style advice for a shortie, with a soft pear shape, fine hair and no desire to wear cropped trousers, Skechers and a Seasalt top.

@borntobequiet , this section is Style&Beauty, not Personality&FuckIt. I am (reasonably) ok with my personality, but looking as stylish as one can manage is not sinful, is it?

Agreed @Picklebawl Looking as stylish as one can manage is often a fun, enjoyable expression of creativity. It's also often fraught with various negative feelings as many S&B threads demonstrate. I choose to focus on the joy from now on.

I am shaped somewhat like Susie M. I like what Mrs Maisel's ex-husband's new girlfriend wears. But she is a lot younger than I am, and her style perhaps doesn't translate well to 2023.

but looking as stylish as one can manage is not sinful, is it?

No one said it was. I was suggesting that one should develop ones’ own style that suits.

Oh FFS - Susi Myerson is a comedy character in a comedy series, not known for her sartorial elegance. If it helps...

Sounds just like me and being short just adds to the issue.

And I could have written your post, apart from an extra 2 inches in height.

I don’t think you can be plump with a BMI of 22. How tall are you and what are your measurements?

Really nasty comment about Anna Cascarina upthread. Better suited to Tattle. Let's not go down that route. And, for information, she is a size 14/16 and not very tall. And, is cool as fuck.

On topic. I hear ya re boobs. Also love the high waist, tucked in look. Long may it reign.

I have small boobs, small hips, no waist but reasonably chunky legs and am really short. I look like a rectangle. I don't think its possible for me to have a waist. If I lose weight my boobs get even smaller.
I don't feel I have a particular style but I find it hard to find clothes to fit because they all meant for people much taller. And my waist to bust ratio isn't right! I feel my problems would partially be solved if I took 2 inches from my waist and added it to my height!

i doubt you were chuckling at her comedy work, lol. If you look like that and loathe yourself, I guess it's tough for you.

I like classic Parisian chic but I am a short pear shape with massive hips and arse for my height, so it doesn't really work!

Doubt away - I care not.

Agree! If anyone has any ideas how to do Parisian chic on a short pear shape please share!

Sorry it did sound a bit brutal. I had stuff all over my hands so was typing a bit abruptly with one finger. Could have said it much better.
I didn't realise she was not tall. She looks really big. Like an Amazonian woman (and that's not an insult btw). She looks like she's a 16-18 at 5'10 maybe.
My poorly written post really meant to say that I don't think her style suits her body and that is what the OP struggles with. Sometimes what we like doesn't work on us. I wasn't meaning she is a bad looking woman.

I just struggle to see how she is considered stylish

Oooh @ToastedPear, I love your trousers! Where are they from?

Or cool. She always looks like she's just got clothes that are too big for her and not in some insouciant chic way but as in just too big and unflattering. Everything cuts her at her widest point making her look like a brick.

I'm joining the Paris party.

I think she looks ok in the first photo but yes absolutely shocking in the other one. Which makes me think that she would look amazing with black and darker colours and softer materials.

It’s disappointing that this thread has gone from supporting the OP to embrace her style choices despite her natural body shape, to criticising an influencer who embraces her style choices despite her natural body shape.

(I like Anna Cascarina’s style and have started flowing her too)

I have no idea who Anna Cascarina is but that purple blazer is bad.