The Curvy Thread

[timber]

I've started buying really light, semi-sheer button downs - they seem to fit curves a lot better. It seems like regardless of the brand, when I wear cotton dress shirts with a thicker heavier material, there's always a gap - unless I go into a size that it too large for me in the shoulders and waist.

I've also found that lower cuts, with buttons that don't go up all the way up, but rather just above your chest, seems to work better as well.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I use safety pins in the gaps. A bit fiddly if you are late though.

A bit fiddly even if you're not late I have a policy against pins, staples, scotch tape, and the like in clothes. That way lies trouble, and I find it to be the opposite of elegant ... YMMV

In my experience, button fronts stop working in the D/DD territory. I find one can have a full, satisfying life without buttons

 

[Belowen]

In my experience, button fronts stop working in the D/DD territory. I find one can have a full, satisfying life without buttons

I think I tried the safety pin thing once and ended up stabbing myself with it repeatedly throughout the day. Not fun. And also not really a safe option when you have an 11 month old crawling over you a lot

 

[Style-Addict]

Haha, I've also had bad experiences with the safety pin thing- not in blouses (I don't have that much up there). But I've tried to safety pin pants and shirts by my arms- not a smart thing to do when you're in college and walking all over campus all day.

 

[mermaidsandcats]

BTW I find the jeans that suit me the most (guess it's hourglass figure? My hips aren't very wide though) are semi high waisted skinny jeans. Can't wear boot cut or wide leg jeans because my legs are to long. It just looks akward.

What brands can you recommend that a semi high waisted?
I think Diesel jeans look awesome on curvy bodies, but they are not high enough in the back for me !





My body (I am 5'9") is pear shaped with my upper body always having the same size no matter what I weight and all the transformation happening on my hips and tighs. That means I can buy a lot of tshirts and tops that fit me perfectly from the rag, but sweaters & cardigans are usually a problem because they are huuuuge on my arms, have no waist definition and are too short for my long torso. Glad that I don't have any problems in the bust area - B !!

My lower half is a completely different story though. Thin, stretchy fabrics are what I try to avoid. Like I said before my hips are wide, my waist and knee areas are small compared to that. Jeans (if they are not skinny) are baggy below the knees (sometimes the only fit my hips and are baggy all the way down), fit tight on the hips and are usually not long enough to reach my waist - classy act, I tell you.
Skirts tend to ride up on me, so I try to buy heavy fabrics and I will have some pencil skirts made to my measurments in the future.

My focus is on elongating and slimming that half.

 

[gia0202]

i sooo want to do the french vogue thing, but am trying to adopt it to a curvy frame. my legs are okay. but not amazing. i carry more of my weight there. my waist and shoulders are the most slim. Any pointers on how to look left bank existentialist chic? I am still looking for a blazer that fits. maybe that would make sure i still look slim despite showing my legs in skirts or tight jeans?

 

[fashionista-ta]

bump for merging

 

[Evy]

This thread is for "curvy girl", but it seems it's all about big boobs.
What about girls with curvy hips and butt?

I don't know if I should start a new thread on the subject or not.

Anyway, my point is, being pear shaped can be a bit tricky. I realized only recently that this is my bodytype. I wouldn't get why skinny jeans and flats wouldn't suit me! I also look kinda awkward wearing leggings that stop in the middle of the calves.

Being pear shaped is also good, as I love having thin arms and waist and small boobs. But it can be tricky to find clothes that balance the body.

Thinking about it, there are quite a lot of celebrities with this bodytype - I'm thinking Leighton Meester, Kate Hudson, Rachel Bilson...

But before I go on, is this ok to talk about that on this thread?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I'm pretty positive we have a pear thread ... let me look.

We had two ... I just merged them & bumped for you: http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f58/what-wear-if-you-re-pear-shaped-62608.html

 

[The_Ida]

What brands can you recommend that a semi high waisted?
I think Diesel jeans look awesome on curvy bodies, but they are not high enough in the back for me !

Well...better late than never I can highly recommend Tiger of Sweden, the Skinny model (and Skogsberg too, if you're not into really skinny jeans). Diesel does absolutely not look good on curvy girls, they're cut way too low...everybody looks like they have love handles when wearing Diesel jeans, even if they don't have any Won Hundred also makes nice jeans once in a while.

 

[Meg]

yes, I hate jeans with super low rises. They never fit my bum. As for leggings, they don't look good on anyone when they stop halfway on your calf. I dont' care who you are. I hate that look.

I find increasingly that I am drawn to separates due to my shape. I love dresses, but because I am petite and curvy they are either too short/long, fit my chest but not my hips, fit my hips but not my chest, etc. Having multiple pieces means I can fit exactly what I want to the right size.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Agreed about separates ... I bought a dress for the first time in years this spring. And it's a halter style that falls straight down from the neck ...

 

[Milada]

I would say I count as curvy. I have a remarkable chest for my frame. I would say it's expanded recently and maybe along with my stomach unfortunately due to my eating habits here . . . it's complicated. I think I have hips too, but I can't tell. It's that I'm high-waisted, so the seem to jut out up high and then curve inward (like what the heck, right?) and then go out again where my thighs begin . . . Hard to explain, but it's the part of my body I'm most self-conscious about.

It is sooo hard to find a pair pants that fits. Things look horrible on my butt, because at the same time I have none. I think I'm about a size 2 in pants. I wouldn't know because nothing ever fits me. Definitely not more than a size 2 though. There's always air in the back and whatnot. I have such a flat butt.

So for those keeping tally, I'm BOOBS, high waist, hips-ish, minus the butt. Skinny legs What is that anyway?

Gauging what works on my body has been so trial and error. I've been trying to go for things that create a sleek hourglass shape, but sometimes what I think works will come back to haunt me later. I only just realized why I can't wear cute little jackets, especially opened up. It swamps my figure. So how can I work with this?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I'm thinking you need a tailor ... sometimes, if a particular piece of clothing is just too problematic, I eliminate it altogether. But I'm thinking a peplum jacket might be very good on you ... it would give the illusion of some shape at the back.

I do know this ... when you're hard to fit you just have to be super patient in the dressing room, and best is to shop someplace with good tailors in house. They can come consult with you in the dressing room & help you make decisions.

I had a job in retail when I was in college in a store that sold professional clothing to men & women (mostly men). We had great tailors & it has served me well to know what they can do. Especially for dress pants is where it comes in handy for me. I remember an SA being amazed and saying "I didn't know they could do that" about what the tailor & I were agreeing on. So I recommend that too ... besides, having a service job is probably an experience everyone should have.

 

[Milada]

^ This is what I've been thinking lately. How much does a tailor cost though? And how do they price? Based on the article of clothing or material or amount of work?

Until fairly recently I thought I had a smaller bust than I really have because I never had cleavage like seemingly everyone has. Then I realized, it's because I wear extra small shirts and therefore my chest never fits into the "bust compartment" and therefore falls below it. I most definitely need a discreet push-up bra. My chest literally hangs below empire waists in so much of what I own.

So as far as tops what should I be going for? *off to look up peplum jackets*

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ It depends ... but if you need one, you need one. It's based on the amount of work.

The importance of foundation garments cannot be overestimated. I would say to look for good support rather than a push-up. It's hard to say without seeing whether your clothes simply don't fit or whether your foundation isn't doing its job, or both, but what you're describing is definitely not how it should be ... I find that La Mystere fits me better than anything else, and the support is very good. Sometimes I go to a specialty lingerie shop that specializes in unusual sizes. That can be helpful. But I can get my size at Nordstrom so lately I've been going there as it's more convenient (plus I get points ).

As far as tops, I find that knits are the answer. I have a variety of lightweight sweaters and cotton knit tops. I almost always wear separates, but you might have good luck with a dress that falls straight down from the shoulders (I do).

 

[GasolineRainbow]

How much does a tailor cost though? And how do they price? Based on the article of clothing or material or amount of work?

They price their work on a combination of those things, fabric, technique, and so on. For example, denim is surprisingly difficult to work with, so they might charge more to tailor denim than another fabric. Sometimes it depends on the type of garment, like jackets are more intricate and time-consuming than skirts.

As for their general prices, it depends on where you live. I don't know much about Chile. Some places have a tradition of tailors, just regular little stores in every neighborhood. Tailors where I live are easy to locate, and charge around 3-5 euros for simple things like hemming sleeves and trouser-legs, but it might be ten times that amount somewhere else.

 

[Melisande]

I would say I count as curvy. I have a remarkable chest for my frame. I would say it's expanded recently and maybe along with my stomach unfortunately due to my eating habits here . . . it's complicated. I think I have hips too, but I can't tell. It's that I'm high-waisted, so the seem to jut out up high and then curve inward (like what the heck, right?) and then go out again where my thighs begin . . . Hard to explain, but it's the part of my body I'm most self-conscious about.

It is sooo hard to find a pair pants that fits. Things look horrible on my butt, because at the same time I have none. I think I'm about a size 2 in pants. I wouldn't know because nothing ever fits me. Definitely not more than a size 2 though. There's always air in the back and whatnot. I have such a flat butt.

So for those keeping tally, I'm BOOBS, high waist, hips-ish, minus the butt. Skinny legs What is that anyway?

Gauging what works on my body has been so trial and error. I've been trying to go for things that create a sleek hourglass shape, but sometimes what I think works will come back to haunt me later. I only just realized why I can't wear cute little jackets, especially opened up. It swamps my figure. So how can I work with this?

It sounds like you are the perfect candidate for flowy tunic tops and skinny jeans, or a lovely mini tent dress. Just make sure there isn't too much gathered fabric around the bust and that the neckline is not too high. Structured strapless dresses and shift dresses would work too, if their cut fits you--they skim over the are you are conscious about while highlighting your legs and flattering your bust. Cardigans may be better than little jackets.

 

[from: sophia]

I am curvy up top but have chicken legs with no butt at all but I am wider in the hip but without the depth this is what I am shaped like [IIIIIIII] if it was an above view of just my waist down. any ideas of jeans mine always sag unless they are super highwasted?

 

[GasolineRainbow]

So for those keeping tally, I'm BOOBS, high waist, hips-ish, minus the butt. Skinny legs What is that anyway?

Trinny and Susannah would say you're a Ferrari body type. You're in good company, Angelina Jolie is also a Ferrari. Btw I am not making this up, they have these body-type categories named after inanimate objects (column, brick, etc.), and even though they try to be neutral, it's painfully obvious that yours is considered the ideal body type. I do have issues with these women, but some of their practical advice for dressing like a Ferrari, lol, might be helpful to you. Melisande's advice is also really good.

From:sophia, I don't really have a clear idea of what your body looks like, but you also sound like a good candidate for Melisande's tips.