Why do I suit raglan tops?

[eldorado02]

Just that, really. It’s nice to know I suit them, as it makes shopping for jumpers and tops so much easier, but I’d love to know why!

I’m somewhere between an Apple and a strawberry/inverted triangle shape, as I have wide shoulders and a broad back, but also have a thick waist in comparison with my hips. My arms are pretty chunky too, so I can look a bit ‘hulking’ - and this is true whatever size I am.

I’ve made peace with my shape and I love knowing tricks to make me look my best/avoid unflattering looks. Back to tops, I look comically dreadful in dropped shoulder tops, and look pretty good in button up shirts, but the raglan style is definitely the best.

I’ll stop wittering now! Happy Easter, all!

I suit raglans too. I'm an inverted triangle.
Dropped shoulders look terrible on me.
I have broad square shoulders but the rest of me is narrow, and I think the diagonal in the shoulder makes them look less broad.
You probably also suit halter necks.

I imagine they soften the line of your broad shoulders, giving a tapered illusion - versus normal tops where the seam would sit on the widest part of your shoulders.

Shoulders is a really funny word when you say it a few times.

It's very simple. The dark sleeves narrow your shoulders and the lighter middle of the top widens your hips to match your middle.

It's simply an optical illusion that balances your shape.

Same here. I have swimmers shoulders.

@Lordofthebutterfloofs , raglans aren't necessarily dark sleeves. It's the style. There is no way I'd wear two tone raglans.

I'm inverted triangle shape too, with very slim hips, I find shirts very hard to fit, unless they are stretch material or flowing material with some give, I couldn't wear anything that is stiff fabric on my top half, I suit halter tops in summer that I wear with wide leg trousers, and yes to raglan sleeves , dresses have to be stretch too, otherwise they wouldn't fit my hips if it fits my bust, I'm a twelve on top with size 10 hips.

@lindyloo57 , which brands do you find fit well? And any to avoid?

@KirstenBlest I have lots of brands, as I said if it's a stretch material it will fit, cheaper brands like newlook which I no longer buy, I would always go up a size so a 14 in tops, I have a couple of dresses from mint velvet size 12 that fit great, hush in a small I find they come up large, zara don't even go there, can be a medium or large. I have a cos simple black sleeveless dress brought from ebay in a medium that feel a little big, its really hard to buy online as the sizing is so hit or miss.

just to add its shirts i struggle with, i only own 3, a red satin from newlook, been in my wardrobe for around 4 years, never worn, one from m& s around 6 years old animal print size 12 that one I love, and one I brought last year from Anthropology a cheese cloth one in small, I love it, it's a bit fitted I did wonder if I should of brought the medium , but I always seem to be inbetween sizes, I'm the same with jeans.

Thanks @lindyloo57 . Apologise to others for using a thread for my own benefit.

The raglan seams slant inward making the width of you shoulders appear smaller. If you have a large chest, it can actually make you look less booby too!

Sounds like you could be a Natural in the Kibbe style system, suits unconstructed, flowing lines.

@AbsolutePixels I’m becoming interested in the kibbe system, but get horribly overwhelmed with it! Any tips?

Raglans suit broad shoulders and long arms. like @Lordofthebutterfloofs said they narrow white shoulders. Raglans don't look good on pears.

No, sorry. I've been following Kibbe stuff for years and I'm no closer to working out what I am! 😭

I suit raglan. It balances my neck/shoulders with my lower body and legs. I've got biggish shoulders and large muscular arms. Sleeves are often tight and I go up a size. If I wear the opposite, so dropped shoulders i look 'butch'.
I suit halter necks which follow the same eye /seam line as a ranglan.
It's actually quite hard to buy dresses or tops that have the arm hole seam sitting on the shoulder rather than off. That would probably suit you too.

@JudgeRudy Yes!! I’ve lost a lot of weight recently (though I’m still the same shape), so I’ve been trying on lots of smaller clothes, and it’s really made me notice how important the placement of a shoulder seam is.

Plus, I don’t know if it’s just me, but being broad on my top half means most women’s blazers/suit jackets look wrong on me, as they kind of pull apart at the chest, even though I don’t have a large bust. My solution is to buy men’s suit jackets as they are cut for a broad chest!

I’ve only just realised that raglan tops & jackets suit me too! I’m slim but have broad shoulders & long arms. It’s a revelation! I can’t wear vest tops/tops that end at my armpit/shoulder either. I can wear a dropped shoulder if the arms are wide.