do you 'dress for your shape' i.e. to make some bits look smaller etc

[GoodieMcTwoshoes]

I feel like I should as I'm a bit of an 'English pear' shape at the moment, but there are so many pretty skirts that aren't black/dark.

Ha! No. I’m really short and about two stone overweight but I wear cropped wide leg jeans and oversized long dresses and feel great in them.

I used to but not any more. In fact I have a magnificent pair of trousers that make my already large legs look even bigger and I love them so much! Who dictates which parts of our bodies should be larger or smaller anyway? I say pah to rules!

I was going through a nostalgic phase so I got some black stretch jeans like I would've worn as a teen. But they really don't look the same on chunky thighs. Might have to experiment with different sizes and cuts. I don't usually wear jeans/trousers at all.

Not a consideration at all. I don't wear jeans but that's because I don't like them. Even when I was a size 8 I didn't wear them.

I've never had "my colours" done either. It's "my colour" if I like it, and it isn't if I don't.

I did more when I was younger, not so much now.

I'm a bit appley so do avoid things that accentuate that. Tops, jumpers and jackets that are cropped do not work on me.

Yes, I do. It's not just making things look smaller, it's balancing things out, or accentuating things. Obviously if I'm just doing school run/WFH/Tesco I couldn't care less, but when I dress up I like to create a nice visual effect, else why bother dressing up? I enjoy the art of it. I'm not going to pretend that I happily choose unflattering clothes with no reference to my figure. I also prefer wearing colours that suit me, shock horror. It feels good to find a shape or a colour which "becomes you", in that old-fashioned phrase!

I do like the trend of cropped cardis/coats etc as my waist is relatively ok. But my issue is the hip/thigh area.

I honestly have no idea what people mean by "colours that suit me".

It's not something I ever think about for myself and I don't notice this phenomenon on anyone else. It's the clothes that I look at. A dress I think is horrible is still going to be horrible no matter it's the wearer's "colours" and vice versa if the dress itself is fabulous.

I'm fairly sure my clothes create a "nice visual effect" given the amount of compliments they get, but they're not chosen because they flatter my figure.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle Maybe you're a natural at picking clothes out, or you have a pretty impeccable figure.

When I was a brunette with pale skin it did seem like blue would emphasize the dark circles under my eyes.

It's the same as decorating a room, say. You buy a roll of wallpaper that looks nice in the shop, but in that dark corner of your house it suddenly looks dreadful and garish. Or you buy a pot of boring looking neutral paint, and once it's on the wall it somehow looks amazing and actually makes you realise how nice your carpet is too (that you'd never particularly noticed since moving in).

A colour will either fight with its surroundings, or they will bring out the best in each other. Or something in between.

Have you never tried on a plain looking top and been amazed at how you somehow look prettier in it (because it flatters your colouring)? Or tried on a top that looked lovely on your best friend but when you look in the mirror, a pasty washed-out face looks back?

Lipstick, if you wear it? (As in, finding the right shade?)

I guess some people are more sensitive to this than others, but it's nothing mysterious. It makes a difference even if you don't think you consciously notice it. Personally, it gives me pleasure to find tones and hues that boost each other, whether they are worn by me or worn by my house. It's one of those small sensory pleasures that cost nothing. Maybe you are doing it without realising!

P.S. I feel I have waffled on so pretentiously that it would now be hilarious if I'm actually sitting here in clashing colours looking washed out and haggard, and you're shrugging at this thread baffled, meanwhile clad in an effortlessly flattering symphony of colours 😆

Thank you, but no, that's just not the basis on which I choose anything.

Yes, I avoid black like the plague because I'm blonde with light skin and eyes and I dont wear black skinny jeans because i have thin legs. Similarly, i avoid any ruffles/frills, boatnecks, padded shoulders because I'm broad shouldered and want to avoid the linebacker look.

I think balancing your figure visually makes sense.

Absolutely not. I’ve got broad shoulders. No matter what I wear, I will always have broad shoulders, they are still there, they haven’t magically shrunk. I think people that dress to try and hide things probably feel better for doing it but I don’t believe anyone else thinks they’ve magically got narrower or more busty or taller or whatever else you might want to disguise/accentuate.
I just wear what I like and the same as a pp, I don’t know what colours ‘suit me’ other than the ones I like and choose.

I dress to what suits me

I didnt know colours was a thing until I joined here, I know I suit navy and deep reds, black and some greens so those are the colours a gravitate towards

As for shape? I have a midriff, no arse, no hips, skinny legs, decent bust and just over 5ft. I tend to wear fitted tops, minis, skinnies ,capris , fitted jackets

I cant wear midi or over sized or cropped , i disappear into them

🤷‍♀️ I feel like my clothes need to be doing something for me, else why would I give them wardrobe space? If they're not working with me, they do not spark joy and they will find their way to the charity shop!

Yes, I'm a 14-16 curvy hourglass so suit and tend to wear; fitted v neck or low scoop or wrap tops/ tshirts with fitted jackets and bootcut/ slim jeans or pencil skirts. Waist belts on a slim pencil dress or wrap dress.

What I avoid; high necks(matronly), backless (i need a bra on), boxy/ shapeless tops. Wide legs make my legs look elephantic due to my wide hips.

To some extent. I'm fairly slim and have decent legs but always had a big stomach and no waist to speak of and small boobs, so I never wear anything that draws attention to my waist, like belts as a feature, or tops/dresses gathered below the bust, which make me look pregnant. Anything that skims the waist is good, like a dress with a skater skirt and slightly high waist is good.

I still wear stuff I'm probably not 'supposed to', like fairly clingy tops, but only if they have colours/patterns that don't draw attention to the stomach (so no horizontal stripes on my lower torso)

Yes I do. I'm a pear shape and very aware of my large bum and thighs. I never wear light colours on my bottom half and I tend to wear long tops that partially cover my bum.

I always dress for my shape. I know exactly what will suit me and what I'll look awful in.
If I find something that looks great on me but hate the pattern and colour I dye it in the washing machine with great results.

I don't care too much but I accidentally found a way of making my waist look smaller. I used to have a tiny waist but no more but I accidentally caught the sides of my t-shirt in my trousers and that made my waist look smaller.

I've tried it a few times and it doesn't work with stripes.

Up to a point.
I haven't got my colours done though. And I rarely wear black because it makes me feel miserable. Even though it is slimming.

@Gettingbysomehow Ooh interesting. What do you use to dye stuff and how long do you give it etc? I've tried the Dylon stuff years ago but it never gave a strong result.

All my clothes spark joy. I love clothes. I love dressing up.

I think your comment is spot on. It certainly resonates with me when I see "stylists" attempting to do that. I never see any difference, other than often these clothes of magical shape shifting properties are quite dull.