Why am I shaped like a rectangle and how should I dress? Pics included

[LilyFeather]

It’s dawned on me that I don’t have a curvy figure and am actually like a square box. Is it possible to have a big ribcage or something? I can never find a bra to fit me

Im 5 foot 2 and a half, weigh 9 stone 8 and am a size 10. But I always look so dumpy in photos - see proof - and wondered if anyone had any styling tips for my specific body type ? Thanks!

That outfit suits you perfectly

If you don’t naturally have a waist you need to give yourself one. Some high waisted, figure hugging jeans could do that. Abercrombie & Fitch do nice ones. If wearing a straight skirt, don’t wear a loose fitting top. But I’d avoid straight skirts.

Give yourself boobs a bit of oomph to try and create an hourglass.

Try Boux Avenue for a good push up bra. Pretty sure they will stock whatever size you are online. My DD is the opposite, with large boobs but tiny back (28E) and she swears by Boux Avenue for stocking every size under the sun.

ETA: you look lovely by the way, none of the above was meant as a criticism!

You're not boxy. The clothes are boxy. That's a hard outfit for anyone to pull off.

I like your outfits. I think they suit you and give you a nice shape.

The colour me beautiful website has info on body shapes. I like their books as they cover colours and styles.

Plus mate, get some new pants. 😳😳😳

@catpigeon oh stop 🤣 I have a job lot of Sloggi bikini knickers and I know they’re not the best.

The skirt and jumper combo is really lovely. I'd dress like that if I were slim. Not everyone has to look curvy, I think you look great. But yes, the other outfits are not as lovely.

Yes a flared or wide ribcage is perfectly possible. Bras shouldn’t be an issue if you measure your band size and then find the right cup size too.

Id recommend wearing things that flare out at hip/waist - empire lines, A line skirts, peplums, barrel jeans to create the illusion of the waist going in and the hips out again to balance the ribcage.

But you look fine, I like the striped top with those jeans. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

I agree that your skirt outfit suits you and also that you would look good in wide leg trousers or jeans.

You look completely fine and if I knew you I would not notice that you were boxy or rectangular (your words.) I’m not keen on the elasticated waist trousers though.

I'm a similar shape to you OP, albeit a bit taller at 5'7" and It has never bothered me. I embrace my relatively slender hips, as jeans always look good on them, I add a belt to high waist jeans which creates a long lean silouhette and choose tunic shaped short dresses to show off the legs but don't cling to the body and emphasise my slightly thick waist. I think I look good- I get compliments on my figure all the time and you look good too!

Try Abercrombie’s 90s flared relaxed jeans. They sound similar

Going to agree with previous posters that you need a better bra.

I agree with others- wide leg jeans look best as will add width at the lower half of body to balance out your wider shoulders.

I'm a similar shape (though taller) and spent years trying to 'create a waist' as per the received wisdom. But that makes me look bigger, I've found, as does anything which accentuates my large rib-cage measurement. Instead I draw attention to my slim hips, so rather than striped top with plain skirt, I go for striped skirt with plain top. Jeans and trousers are most flattering when the waist band is adjustable or has a bit of give in it, so I can size down and get a pair that are slim fitting over the hips, but the legs need to then flare out or go wider again, to balance out my broad shoulders. There are lots of these trousers around at the moment.
Boat neck or even off the shoulder plain tops that end at hip length and don't draw attention to waist look best on me but are hard to find.

The fellowship of the parsnip has just about finished me off 🤣

and to the poster who measures - bra wise - at about a 38 C. Yep me too. B or C cup but boob or bust tell me I’m wrong or I’m a size 18. I’m not a size 18 (not that I’d particularly care if I was tbh!) , I’m a size 10 or 8 in everything - but it just means I can never find a bra to fit me.

im going to take some of these tips on board. I do LOVE fashion but I gravitate towards dressed down and casual stuff. I do wear dresses from time to time but they do nothing for me either - see exhibit A and B

Hi @LilyFeather I am a similar shape to you, but larger. My bra size is 40B - I totally get the large ribcage small boobs combo.
I have always considered myself an apple. I've recently discovered wide leg jeans, and find them quite flattering.

You're being too critical of yourself OP - I actually think the dress with jacket over looks great
The blue looks great from waist down but would benefit from a looser more draped top and a shorter length (as the length is making you look shorter)

You look great!!

Hello from the Order of the Apple 👋
I think you look fab OP! Have you tried a wrap/knotted/tied skirt? The knot and draping will add some bulk to your hips and emphasise your small waist.

Something like this:
www.isawitfirst.com/i-saw-it-first-knot-front-maxi-skirt-325032?google#colcode=32503206

Hi, I have a huge ribcage and am usually a 38C or 40C though more like a 36C or B now. Bravissimo aren’t for us. Marks or John Lewis usually have bras that work well, and I also sometimes buy them off eBay or lovehoney. You want bras that allow for widely set boobs - I go for underwired styles with a really noticeable longish link between the two cups and fairly deep straps at the side. Then do experiment with shortening the shoulder straps and altering the fit.

As for trousers, try high waisted side fastening styles. Much more flattering over the belly.

I have a massive ribcage, no waistline, narrow hips and small boobs, although I'm taller than you. I find wide-leg trousers flattering, like palazzo pants. A bra fitting will probably help. I go to John Lewis. I've also used their personal stylist a couple of times - they help you try things you wouldn't have considered and they don't get commission, so there's no pressure to buy.

Fellow parsnipper here! 🌶 (closest I could find)

For trousers, I can recommend the Maeve Colette linen wide-leg trousers or jeans from Anthropologie. The "cropped" ones are a normal floor-grazing full length on me (5ft 3). They're snug around the hips and then flare out in a satisfyingly swishy way. But be warned, the sizing is weird - I ended up with a size 26 even though my waist is 29in.

Why not look at the style of Katharine Hepburn? That would be comfortable and possibly more flattering than little flippy skirts or heavy jumpers and jeans together.

I think you look great in this outfit! You have shapely slim legs and the hips and solders look a balanced width!