What do you do when the expert what to wear advice conflicts with itself? Like bootcut balancing hips and tapered lengthening legs and you have hips and short legs?
Allow me to suggest a few responses:
- Stick to classics.
- Pick whichever option is currently in style.
- Throw on a pair of high heels. High heels fix everything.
- Wear whatever you want, even if you know it looks ugly.
What conflicting advice do you run up against?
– Consider your own opinion on what is most flattering to you
– Consider what best fits your personal style
– Consider what will make you feel most comfortable & beautiful
I do like 4, though.
Well, in that case, I’d go with straight legs, just the tiniest bit above floor length since tapered legs rarely look good. And if they are too short (which they almost always are), then tapered pants make people look even shorter!
So, I’ll add: 5. Look for another option.
I try on both in front of the mirror to check what’s better for me…
I also find out if one of the options isn’t an absolute no-no for my figure. Fore example, while I think that short legs look ok in bootcut, large hips in tapering jeans don’t look do hot.
Sometimes I might go for something in between, like only a slight bootcut instead of a wide one.
If I’m too lazy to think, I’ll wear a skirt 😀
Go with the visual! If something looks off, it probably is. It may be workalbe with alterations, but factor those into the garment’s price.
1. Stick to classics.
2. Pick whichever option is currently in style.
lol . . . 🙂
“You have a defined waist! You should tuck your shirt to show off your hourglass figure.”
That would be a great idea if the waist bands on pants or skirts large enough to work with my hips weren’t 4+ inches larger than my waist. They just don’t make pants to fit me, let alone to tuck a shirt into… And then there is a proportion thing should I try to work with it… Shaped princess dresses and sheaths to show my shape: yes. Tucked in shirts: NO!
An expert formula isn’t any good if it doesn’t work for me. So I work with what I’ve got and look at visual balance too.
Janel – since you sew, do you ever take in the waist bands? Recently I’ve been seeing alot of advice concerning jeans gape that says to fit the hips and then have a tailor take in the waist. I’ve also been thinking recently about whether I should look for a tailor or try to learn to do alterations myself. I’m really reluctant to pay more for alterations on something than I did for the garment itself, not to mention I’m just an obstinate do it yourselfer. lol
I have two maxims that apply here:
1. When in doubt, buy it in black or another dark, matte color. Everything is more flattering in darker colors – they tend to hide flaws, after all.
2. Always wear heels, the higher the better. I’ve been loving the platform trend that has been going on for the past couple years (of course, I’m only 5’2 and am very used to wearing heels, so your mileage may vary on this one. I also don’t have a job where I have to stand all day, so it is easier to get away with slightly impractical shoes).
Rebecca, yes actually I do take in waistbands, if I can add tucks without major reconstruction. I hate alterations. I’m still learning proper fitting. It’s by far my greatest weakness in sewing.
If you’re going to make a good purchase, I think it would be worth the money to pay a tailor to make alterations.
Pants alterations are difficult to do well, if there’s anything more to it than adding a dart. The problem for me comes in when the lie of the pocket is impacted – and when you have to REMOVE the waistband to properly adjust the fit – arrggghhhh
I had a great seamstress really screw up some lovely grey flannels for me – the pocket sat back past the sides of my hip by the time we were done…. ha! i don’t even attempt this at home.
I did get a dressform for Xmas last year and have great ambitions of padding her out so I can alter tops and dresses – but a pants form is another investment.
I think I’ll put alterations ambitions on the back burner for the time being. Oh well. Unless it’s easy to take a little out of the bust of a jacket that fits through the shoulders.