Calling all inverted triangles! How do you compliment your shape?

[SundayBagel]

Hi,

Basically I'm just getting a bit sick of NOTHING fitting me properly! I'm a size 10, with broad shoulders, long legs, a high waist and a little bum.

I have a pretty decent figure outside of clothes, but in clothes, I feel so unattractive/unstylish. I have hips and curves, but they're just not in the place for most clothes to flatter me.

Against the 'rules' of my shape, skinny jeans seemed to actually flatter me, as long as I wore a top to balance me out, but now I just feel really dated. Although flares, bootcut and wide leg are in theory supposed to balance out my shape, I often just feel too big.

The fact I'm pushing 40 isn't helping, as I'm generally feeling a bit rubbish about myself.

Anyone have any tips on how to style this shape without looking frumpy or boxy?

TIA

I’m the same and it’s such a PITA. I’ve moved on from skinny jeans to straight - key thing is they have to be mid-low-rise, anything high-waisted just makes my top and bottom half both look bigger. Dresses anything with a waist of any kind, even a seam, is a no. Fitted shift styles are best, whatever length. Tops have to hit exactly on my hip bone to look good. Anything with any bunching round the waist (eg pleated skirts) is a no. I’ve found wide-leg trousers work well with a fitted top, also bias-cut satin skirts. Loving the backless trend at the moment and unlike the rest of MN I like a cold shoulder. Ignore anyone who says you should add volume to your hips with eg peplums to ‘balance’ your shoulders - they just make you look bigger all over.
I’m not sure how tall you are - I’m tallish and find large, bold prints or solid colours work best on me; ditsy florals make me look like a man in drag.

@IShouldBeSoLurky Yes, it's the exactness that does my head in. A cm off can be the difference between looking okay and looking completely wrong.

High waist trousers look bloody awful on me. Unless I want to look like a clown that is 🤡

I've only just discovered shift dresses and they seem to work well in terms of balancing me out.

I really wish the manufacturers would get on this though. I don't think we're that unusual. It would be amazing if clothes were cut more for this shape! It's so depressingly boring having to stick to what we know almost works. I wish I could be more adventurous in my style, but I end up sticking to my safety zone and tbh, always feeling a little bit uncomfortable 😕

Aw, it’s a shame you feel uncomfortable! I’ve learned to embrace it now - helped by doing lots and lots of weights so I’m v lean and look athletic rather than bulky. But it is annoying to try things on and just look absurd! I’d kill for a decent waist 🤣

@IShouldBeSoLurky you are so right, I'm this shape I love skinnie jeans, I branched out and brought straight leg and a couple of boot leg from ebay that I used to wear in the early 2000, wide leg just make me look big , I'm a 5ft 2 size 10 mostly, love a shift dress in a stretchy fabric to fit my bust and shoulders, as I have a size 8 hips, I can't wear pleated skirts too much bunching around to waist, do like a wide leg trousers if it's fitted around bum and hips. And love bias cut satin midi skirts, I have 3.

I loved being lean & athletic - it's how our shape was meant to be! Even so, all my clothes were either shifts or separates because manufacturers work to the pear-shaped woman. Now I'm neither lean nor athletic, more of a trapezium than a triangle - or some sort of geometric oddity with a circle overlaid on a triangle 😂 My waist has expanded the most, now it's even bigger than the size clothes shops think should go with my bust. Everything that fits my middle has loads of empty space around my hips. Gah.

I'm still in shifts a lot but have embraced the tool-shed aesthetic because I like wide trousers & oversized tops. I hope I'm a well put together shed! Am planning to explore the emerging trend for dresses with massively sticky-out skirts from high waists - I reckon if I'm gonna go large, I shall do it blatantly.

OP: while getting fatter, I enjoyed much success with 'skater' style dresses. Wrap front or not, the thing is to find dresses whose skirt flares from your actual waist or dropped waist. Standard Woman is only 167cm or something, so the majority of waists are too high. Best from tall ranges, I found, although I'm not especially tall at 173cm. Designers cater to taller women, if your budget goes that high.

Alternatively, look for dropped-waist designs. Any shape will work because the transition from your waist to your slender hips will be elegantly smooth, flattering the garment's midsection.

The best trouser shape for us - even the sheds among us - is a 70s-style flare, widening from a narrow thigh. Or, of course, a cigarette leg for you skinnies 🙂

This shape (am wearing these right now!)
https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-lightweight-wide-leg-jean-in-black/prd/204225348

@GarlicGrace thats same style as my jeans from oasis on ebay the name is scarlet, the only thing i don't like is they are lower on the waist then I would like ,

I'm an inverted triangle or strawberry shape. With massive knockers to make it even more tricky to dress myself.

Not sure I have much advice, lots of the standard advice seems to just be about making your bottom half look bigger rather than drawing the eye to slim bits which makes me look huge.

Patterned or bright/light coloured trousers with a more subtle top works but you can't wear that every day!