Shirts do not suit me - is it possible?

[MistressOfCopperMountain]

I have two boyfriend style shirts that are perfect in every way - crisp, petite oversized, stepped hem, just great. And yet I do not feel a touch sassy, even with sleeves pushed up and a dainty necklace. I love them but why do they not work? Anyone else with similar “problems”, may be another item?

Wear open or half buttoned with a vest or tee inside? That works better for me and looks less blocky. Cropped tee would be even better, but I can't pull that off!

Are you quite petite?
If do they can bury you a bit

How are you wearing them/what with?
Maybe a French tuck or half tuck

Good belt too

I look hilariously bad in shirts. They're just too formal and I look like I'm dressing up in my Mum's clothes. The best for me would be if they were in a really soft fabric and I wore them open over something else, with the sleeves rolled up. In reality, I just don't bother with them. Similar problem with shirt dresses and structured jackets.

I look awful in shirts, petite and curvy so too much fabric in all the wrong places.

When I worked in a smart office job I wore dresses with jackets, silk T shirts or shell tops, smart jersey (KettleWell) wrap tops with matching camisole under etc.

Shirts don’t work on me either, it’s something to do with my body shape I think but I haven’t quite worked out what! I seem to look best in fairly simple, fitted tops.

I have a lovely shirt but I'm fat and it looks awful. Even fatter than I am. I just can't do the French tuck thing at all.

Look up kibbe style personalities, might explain it. Crisp cotton shirts are very classic, if you don’t suit that style then they will just look very odd on you, like you’re wearing someone else’s clothes. It isn’t body type necessarily.

This describes me perfectly, though I’ve never worked out why. Brilliantly put, @WeRateSquirrels

Thanks, all. Blazers are my everyday go to and classic style is very me. The shirts I would tuck into high waist, or loose over slim or tapered trousers. It’s something to do with a collar, it’s like there is too much of it. Comforting to know I am not the only one. I will persevere with the two I have but will not buy any more.

Hmm, I actually think I look better in a shirt - I think a good collar is flattering but I'm not sure why - but I rarely wear them because I hate ironing!

I know it's always on every list of classic items to have in your wardrobe, but i agree that not all of us suit button up shirts. If you are at all busty, they can look as bit dowdy.

Especially with wider trousers, it can be tricky. I find my shirts look better on slimmer trousers or jeans, untucked, and with sleeves rolled up.

I can’t make shirts work. I’ve tried many shirts over the years and I always look and feel uncomfortable and awkward. In my case, I think it’s my shape. I’m a tall inverted triangle, so shirts accentuate my broad shoulders and hide my waist which makes me look like a great big plank.

I can’t wear them at all, it’s my shoulders. I need flow and elegance not structure. It’s a pity because at heart Id love to suit them, I have a long neck, fine collarbones etc and you’d think that would do it, but my frame is just too wide. And my best feature is my waist which I think gets lost in shirts anyway. Plus facially I look like Jimmy Nail. That doesn’t help either. 🤮🤮🤮

makes me so fucking mad 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@WeRateSquirrels me too! You speak for a multitude

I love a decent shirt & am lucky they look good on me but I agree, they don't suit everyone.

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have 1 shirt which is fantastic. It's the softest material so has no sharp creases or pointy collar.
If anyone knows of any like this... please tell! (Wish I'd bought more!!)

I can only wear them open with a vest top, I'm a inverted triangle shape, I think its the big bust and broad shoulders why they don't work, I have one shirt I can wear buttoned up , it's in a crinkle cheesecloth material so not stiff.

They look crap on me because I have a short neck.

Me too, short body, short neck, big bust, I feel like a Christmas cracker in them. The only exception is soft, silky ones where the collar lies flat and they drape nicely over shoulders and bust, I can't do crisp cotton.

Shirts have never suited me!

I wish I could carry off a crisp cotton shirt but I just look like some sort of enormous monument in them.

I always feel ill at ease in a shirt, or a blouse, so I don’t own any (I have had some, but got rid). It’s the buttons over the breasts that don’t work for me. No matter what, they always gape at some point and I hate it.

What is a shell top?

@MaidOfAle like these. Shirts always seem to have too much material between the shoulder seam and collar on me to sit nicely under a jacket. These have a neater line.

🙋‍♀️
They don’t work on me either, I’m short, narrow shoulders, menopausal tummy and have boobs. They gape if done up and just never fit.

Soft material is a possibility but I usually can’t be bothered.

I can do a shirt dress though.