Tall apple shape : have i been dressing all wrong?

[Moaningminnieagain]

My go to is wide legged jeans, tight top, trainers.

Sibling said that my legs are great and the wide legged look is making me look bigger than I am.

Any tips?! Panicking as I have about 3 pairs of linen wide legged trousers, one denim look, one white denim one. Essentially loads of stuff and im thinking ive got it all wrong!

I think wide leg trousers are unflattering unless you have a tiny waist

I’m a tall apple. I’ve been known to wear wide legged trousers that drape but not jeans as I haven’t bought any recently and it’s true I’d find them too bulky. But wide legged jeans are everywhere aren’t they? Quite hard to avoid if you’re buying new stuff? Also if your legs and hips are quite slim, wide trousers aren’t necessarily going to make you yourself look big. I don’t often wear very tight tops though as I carry a lot of weight round my middle.

i guess no harm in trying some other looks?

Panicking? Genuinely?

Contrary to a general belief on S&B, a woman’s purpose in life is not actually to seek out clothes that make her look as tiny as possible and ensure she takes up as little space as possible in the world.

Hmmm I think the problem is that the alternative style of styling trousers & tops would be tight trousers eg skinny jeans and a looser top - which is very 2012! So I can see your dilemma if you want to look current (before the posters on here start screaming that they don’t care and will wear what suits them etc etc - which is fine, if you’re not interested in staying up to date, but a lot of us are)
You could maybe try straight leg jeans that aren’t quite as wide? If you have good legs it’s a shame not to highlight them and straight jeans would do that. And then a jumper which isn’t super clingy? That would give a sleeker silhouette while not looking too dated and making your legs look great too. Or try a short skirt and boots? Again, if you’ve got great legs that’s a good option.

It's not the only alternative. Bootcut/flare or straight

This is why I gave up the dressing for your shape rules: I was obsessing about my perfectly normal body and losing faith in my own judgement. Presumably you were happy with this look when you chose it so what’s actually changed?

If it’s niggling at you then go and try on lots of different styles, check the mirror and take photos and then see what you think. You might find you prefer another shape but then that’s the beauty of jeans fashion at the moment - there’s still a choice (although not as much as there was a year or so ago). But changing everything because of what one person said (probably heard on social media) is a recipe for a wardrobe that lacks confidence, and that, in my opinion, is the worst look of all.

@TheRavenKingsDaughter I dont want to look tiny, I want to look good! Ill never be tiny at a busty size 16 but I want to wear flattering clothes which highlight my shape and legs without making me look bad.

Ok - the emoji probably conveyed a little more disapproval than I actually felt!

But to me flattering can equally mean Look! I have enough energy in my brain to respond to evolving fashions with wit and stylishness. And I have enough confidence not to need to present my legs directly to your gaze, but if you have any sense you’ll realise that every bit of me is utterly brilliant.

I know MN loves linen trousers, but I do find that unless you have a great arse, they make normal arses look flat and wide. I also think white jeans are very unflattering on everyone some people. Wide leg dark jeans are likely to be more flattering than lighter imo.

OP, you sound like me! I’m 5’ 10”, size 16 with a narrow waist but a big stomach. Bug chest too, and long legs. My stomach is definitely my absolute worst bit. Legs aren’t bad.

The shops are just full of wide leg trousers at the moment. They do nothing for me. I only wear them if I’m wearing a shorter top as they’re definitely more flattering on the stomach than a tighter trouser or jeans. I do look for a less flowy leg though just so they don’t veer into flappy territory.

Typically, I’ll wear jeans with a slight bootcut (love Next for these) or straight legged trousers with a longer top that covers my stomach, but cinches the waist.

I think those basic rules work for me and breaks up my body into roughly thirds so I have either a shorter top with wide leg trousers, or a longer top with jeans. My best points are my waist and legs so I focus on accentuating those, where possible.

For me, anything that is wide across the legs and on top at the same time just makes me look blocky.

I'd have thought that flowy wide legs would balance out your figure nicely.

If you're a busty size 16, ie like me, the best thing you can do is a dramatic top so no-one looks at your lower half.

I'm a similar build to you OP - tall, bigger bust than hips, waist not hugely defined, slim legs.

After a few seasons of feeling chunky and not quite right in widelegs and shortish tops, I've started wearing straight jeans and cords with long (crotch-covering) jumpers and slouchy/biker/hiker boots again. With a frock-coat-style coat, as opposed to oversize, cocoon or puffa. It occurred to me that it's a kind of a WW1 'tommy' vibe, in autumnal colours, and battered leather accessories I've had for years.

And weirdly, I feel great! Like this is 'me', and not out of fashion at all, if fashion is having a style that you own. I've realised that I do like a bit of a historical dress-up element to my outfits, even if only I know about it - which of course won't be everyone's cup of tea.

But my tip would be to really think about when you've felt best in your clothes, and recreate that with a nod to contemporary trends - if you want to signal that, which most of us do.

@Homegrownberries that's what I thought but sibling says I have great legs so should show them off. I like styles with car coats, trousers, trainers, fitted tops. But I can see their point as the trousers are just straight down making me look like a big rectangle if you know what I mean. Chest is 38G, most of my weight is on my belly plus feels tender due to being peri. Im not as tall as others as only 5ft 7. I think M&S Eva is probably my best jeans though thinking about it

This is how I want to feel

bump any more tips?

id like to wear this to work, so would a tight top, wide pinstripe trousers, short cropped coat blazer work?

Well, it depends.

How do they look in your mirror?

Why do you assume your siblings is right?

Your clothes sound good.

Why do you need to 'show off' your legs anyway? You're not a show pony.