Fashion for smaller waist, powerful arse and muscular thighs

[Erinbarker]

47F here. Any similar mums out there who have a small upper body that equates to a wilted petunia (slim face, weak noodle arms, narrow shoulders, collar bond protruding, no chest, small waist). But…it’s then as if the lower body belongs to someone else: wide hips, big solid powerful arse (it’s round and pert in my late 40s but just huge), massive quads and hamstrings. I’m not overweight but I also wouldn’t put myself into that fashionable curvy look that is popular with the young ones as I’m more like an athletic spoon shape. I was quite a serious track cyclist back in the day and still cycle a lot. We also hike a lot with our two kids. I have never really been a gym person and friends are shocked if they find out how much I weigh (5ft 8 and 160) but it’s just all lower body and I’m pretty sure muscle weighs.

anyway, fashion has passed me by. Maths lecturer with a love for cycling and hiking is never going to be on the frontier for fashion. I have started trying to wear dressed trousers for work, more tailored shorts in summer and smarter jeans going out. There is a consistent problem in that I have to size up to accommodate my quads and glutes but then I get the gap at the waist. Wearing a belt to cinch the material makes me look like a sack of potatoes. Should I just forget work trousers and go for skirts instead? How can I look a bit smaller in my lower body? In the office if trousers are too tight I want to avoid the stares. Any ideas? Thanks all

I’m the same shape and wish I was young now when my massive lower body would be a cause for celebration, instead of growing up in an era when my body was considered all wrong. Nothing ever fits properly.

The best clothes for me are tight tops and A-line skirts, so maybe a fit and flare dress. Trousers are a disaster. I’ve only ever had one pair of jeans that worked, and even then they gaped at the back a bit.

I seem to be saying this all over S&B at the moment, but - get your clothes altered to fit. Quick, easy, generally doesn’t cost much.

(I am genuinely confused as to why this just doesn’t seem to be obvious to people!)

As regards looking ‘smaller in your lower body’ - think you need to balance the two halves of the equation? (Memories of countless evil Maths teachers …) So the very current oversized jackets, maybe with shoulder pads, ought to be perfect for you. Big shoulders, cinched waist, probably tapered trousers? Does that sound a reasonable silhouette?

https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/uk/womens-curve-love-bottoms

Abeecrombie do this range. I work in professional role, I am younger but tend to go for knit dress’s they are smart and comfy. Can be dressed up or down. Skirt dresses are a good option.

outside of work lots of stretchy dresses, skirts and tops. Leather leggings (M&S ones are amazing)

So you're a pear shape, albeit one which is a little more extreme given your powerful thighs and backside.

Not that unusual.

Powerful arse makes me think of farts! Sorry op!

asos hour glass range trousers would be a good shout for you

Thank you. Yes it seems to be celebrated now and whilst it can be rather nauseating looking at an over confident young woman flaunt their big backsides, it's probably great that different body images are being accepted.

I will try a few of these suggestions as I didn't realize fashion caters to the athletic pear. Zara and H&M are def the wrong fit. That's a non starter

Thanks. I do sometimes get them taken in but I don't know where you live but it's really not practical to pay for this per piece of clothing? It racks up. I may take up sewing but just doesn't really float my boat so instead I will look for brands that work

Oooo never though ASOS. I have been shopping in store lately but will try.

I do also have powerful farts haha. Maybe there is a correlation

I think I have a similar figure OP, though I wouldn’t describe my arse as powerful really, just large 😂

I find M&S good for trousers and jeans as they do a range of styles to fit different shapes. I think dresses with a waist and flared / A line skirts often work well as they sort of skim over the arse and it’s easier to find things that fit.

Melissa Murrell does body shape master classes. Maybe this one will help? I find her advice sensible and not too fashion-y if that makes sense.

Thanks. I feel like my upper body gets drowned in baggy jumpers and I look a bit lost in the upper body. With respect, the woman in that video is just not my shape at all - I'm big but solid in my lower body and thin up top. The problem comes with trousers being too big at the waist and paying an extra £20 to take the waist in. Even then many brands ride up my bum and takes the hem of the jeans of trousers up from the ankle. Yes my buttocks are literally swallowing clothes.

I appreciate all the help but to keep the topic of thread on the right track in case any other athletic older women are similar, I'm not in that plus size camp. I would say I'm very similar to Anna Meares the cyclist (now with a tiny bit more mum squish but not much difference at all). Photo of Anna below...my kindred spirit...

Have you got any jeans/ trousers that do fit you well? What styles suit you?

Again, I was coming on to recommend hourglass range from ASOS. There really is a distinct difference in the size of the waist.

I'm a pear shape, but without the athletic Ness unfortunately. I hate the advice to make the top side bigger to match the smaller- I don't want to wear big baggy stuff on the part of me that generally is more flattering! So I wear fitted stuff on the top.
H&M doesn't normally fit me on the bottom, but these jeans have been a very good fit for me in 1 size up https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0941666049.html
Something like this beaded jumper works well with it, slim fit and not overly heavy
https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0920718003.html
And this skirt is really nice on with that type of jumper too- again I sized up one, because it's h&m 🤷‍♀️ I avoid the oversized jumpers that finish on my hips because it just gives my a line across my widest part, when I've got a small waist above it that I like to show off.
https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/free-form-campaigns/autumn-winter-2023.html#/drop-3/default/product/article-318

Wide leg trousers with pleats seem to fit nicely, but aren't a slimming look if that's what you're bothered about. Something like these
https://www.next.co.uk/clearance/search?w=khaki%20wide%20leg&af=gender:women%20gender:women%20#searchpos_1_5
I then again play up the proportions with a slim fitting blouse/ top, tucked in with a belt on.

I personally avoid boxy fit, oversized and dropped shoulders, as I don't want to look like a rectangle the same size as my widest part personally.

Yes to all of this. Trying to go wider up top and/or wear baggy jumpers feels like too rectangle'ee and I would look like a fridge.

Thanks. Will try those H&M ones again. Next wide trousers could be an option. I find the waists are slightly bigger but I do like the room in the quads and backside with next. I'm not after overly tight slim fit stuff.

I have also been recommended Fran Denim. Not sure if I'm too old for that style. They look good though. They seem really pricey but being so unfashionable I find everything does. Maybe I just have to pay up

Waistbands are coming down - embrace mid and low-rise trousers/jeans with fitted or cropped tops (you could layer for winter/if you don't want bare midriff flesh.

So hipster bootcut trousers or wide legs, vest tucked in or bodysuit, cropped knit.

Apple bottom jeans were the thing back in the day!

Also embrace lycra tube skirts and vests/bodysuits (dresses might be too baggy on top for you?)
Wear a slip so no vpl.

This is a good fashion moment for you! Not so much for us apples/inverted triangles!

@Whataretheodds unfortunately lower waistbands (normally) are not good for pear shapes- they often give a muffin top as that's the widest section. Not the clearest picture, but this is similar to how low rise jeans look on me, but with a mom pouch on top 😂

That's not a muffin top! The line is smooth. And that pic looks amazing.

Muffin top is when belly/back fat hangs over the waistband (like this)

@Whataretheodds that lady is a picture with little to no fat, I can assure you that, I, as a pear shape, get a muffin top, as all my fat sits on my hips 😁

I don't find that picture an attractive look personally, very extreme, and going by what the OP posted (she wants to look a bit smaller on the bottom) it's not what she's looking for either. But hey, were all different, glad there is a fashion coming back you enjoy.

Crikey I don't enjoy it at all. Current fashions are hell for me. I need skinny jeans and miniskirts. I'm a busty apple, 26 weeks pregnant.

I think if you look for high waisted barrel leg trousers and then size down you might find it works. I also have a large bum, heavier legs and I can get away with smaller sizes if I go for more generous leg shapes. Mom jeans, barrel leg, wide leg. M&S have high waisted wide leg cords which are lovely.

Def not this. Im in late 40s, not early 20s

Low rise jeans are a nightmare with a small waist/ wide hips and arse. Instead of the jeans and trousers just gaping, they now gape so much everyone can see your arse crack. I also spent most of the early 2000s pulling up my jeans because they kept falling down. I spent years with a hoodie tied around my waist to hide the builder’s bum. Bad times.

OP I recommend going full 50s style. I have a small waist and super wide hips and thighs (weirdly flat bum though) with hip dip so extreme it makes it look like I am wearing knickers too small for me. 50s style circle skirts and dresses with underskirts hides all the nonsense from the waist down. In regard to trousers, I mostly avoid them, but ASOS hourglass, Pretty Little Thing Shape (only for denim) and Emmy Design do trousers with small waists and wide hips/ thighs. The ED trousers are mad expensive though; I got them on sale or eBay, but opportunities for that are few and far between.

PLT shape range is grand for jeans but the trousers feel like they are made out of plastic bags.